The climb to Camel Back.
Camel back, was the name given to this very quaint looking peak near Tamhini ghat. It roused memories of a very beautiful full moon evening, where a bunch of our friends were sitting at a friend's farmhouse, that he had recently purchased at Tamhini. We could get a spectacular view of the hills, that loomed around the farmhouse. At about 7 pm, this peak appeared to have a silver halo. The skies were getting illuminated by an unseen source of luminescence, and the silhouette of the peak was almost like a frame of radiant blue light. And then, in the next few minutes, this celestial globe of enchanting shades of yellow, blue, green, white, silver, made a stellar entry on this cosmic stage.
The moon was actually the star of the evening. Breathtakingly beautiful, we all were left speechless as this celestial drama was being enacted. The Camelback peak was being flooded with this spotlight of benevolent beauty. Ever since, this mountain range had carved a special place in heart.
Yesterday, as part of an outbound training program, i finally had the opportunity to set foot on this peak. My tryst with camelback, the rockstar of one of the greatest celestial shows i had witnessed a couple of years ago.
The peak is at an elevation of about 1200 feet from the camp site. The route is dangerous, as it involves doing some extremely narrow crest walking. Either sides are steep almost vertical drops of close to 1000 feet. Safety mandated the use of technical gear, fixed rope, harnesses, cowtails to anchor to the fixed rope with Carabiners, etc. Revived fond memories of the basic mountaineering course at NIM, Uttar Kashi.
We reached the point, where we had to anchor ourselves to the fixed rope. There was a crest walk of about 900 meters, that rose steeply into the skies. Looked treacherous, but got the adrenaline rush. After replenishing my body with water, we start the climb. Every step had to carefully planned and executed thanks to the rocky, absolutely irregular surface, and of course the highly restricted space available to choose the next step. The harness is in place, as are the cowtails, which are two, meter long ropes anchored to the harness. The tips of both these cowtails have a carabiner each.
The carabiner,is a metallic oval ring, that has a spring loaded locking mechanism. A small 5 cm hinged portion of the ring is to be pressed inwards, and the ring can be snapped onto the fixed rope to anchor ourselves. In the unfortunate event of losing ones hold on the mountain face, this connection with the fixed rope becomes the life line. In the true sense. The life of the climber hangs by this one meter of rope and the integrity of the carabiner.
We make steady progress as we disengage and reconnect the carabineer to the fixed rope, when we encounter a piton ( a steel bolt about 8 inches that's hammered into the rock to anchor the fixed rope).
The sun starts beating down mercilessly, as we stubbornly continue our climb into the skies. There are moments, when one curses oneself for undertaking such a perilous journey, forsaking the comfort and luxuries of our dwelling and puff and pant, and take on the elements.
We make gradual progress. As I throw a glimpse on the path ahead, I notice the narrow ledge, that lies ahead. It is barely a foot wide, with menacing,yawning valleys on either side, poised to consume the perpetrator of the slightest indiscretion. We inch ahead, and finally get across to a small table like landing. We catch our breaths, and then start the final ascent. The elements are in their element. The sun roasts our bodies, the height and the incline intimidate, and gravity relentlessly makes us aware of our vulnerability.
As I finally set foot onto the hump, I am filled with exultation and sheer ecstasy. The camel had been vanquished. I was astride the hump, and the view from there was surreal. As I turn back to trace the path we took, I marvel at my quadriceps, that defied gravity and my insane passion, that defied reason and sanity.
I prepare to descend, and there is this moment of epiphany.
Whilst negotiating this dangerous incline of life, we need to be anchored by the carabiner of discrimination and pragmatism to the fixed rope of reality. Any disconnect with the fixed rope, will spell disaster and doom.
Camel back, was the name given to this very quaint looking peak near Tamhini ghat. It roused memories of a very beautiful full moon evening, where a bunch of our friends were sitting at a friend's farmhouse, that he had recently purchased at Tamhini. We could get a spectacular view of the hills, that loomed around the farmhouse. At about 7 pm, this peak appeared to have a silver halo. The skies were getting illuminated by an unseen source of luminescence, and the silhouette of the peak was almost like a frame of radiant blue light. And then, in the next few minutes, this celestial globe of enchanting shades of yellow, blue, green, white, silver, made a stellar entry on this cosmic stage.
The moon was actually the star of the evening. Breathtakingly beautiful, we all were left speechless as this celestial drama was being enacted. The Camelback peak was being flooded with this spotlight of benevolent beauty. Ever since, this mountain range had carved a special place in heart.
Yesterday, as part of an outbound training program, i finally had the opportunity to set foot on this peak. My tryst with camelback, the rockstar of one of the greatest celestial shows i had witnessed a couple of years ago.
The peak is at an elevation of about 1200 feet from the camp site. The route is dangerous, as it involves doing some extremely narrow crest walking. Either sides are steep almost vertical drops of close to 1000 feet. Safety mandated the use of technical gear, fixed rope, harnesses, cowtails to anchor to the fixed rope with Carabiners, etc. Revived fond memories of the basic mountaineering course at NIM, Uttar Kashi.
We reached the point, where we had to anchor ourselves to the fixed rope. There was a crest walk of about 900 meters, that rose steeply into the skies. Looked treacherous, but got the adrenaline rush. After replenishing my body with water, we start the climb. Every step had to carefully planned and executed thanks to the rocky, absolutely irregular surface, and of course the highly restricted space available to choose the next step. The harness is in place, as are the cowtails, which are two, meter long ropes anchored to the harness. The tips of both these cowtails have a carabiner each.
The carabiner,is a metallic oval ring, that has a spring loaded locking mechanism. A small 5 cm hinged portion of the ring is to be pressed inwards, and the ring can be snapped onto the fixed rope to anchor ourselves. In the unfortunate event of losing ones hold on the mountain face, this connection with the fixed rope becomes the life line. In the true sense. The life of the climber hangs by this one meter of rope and the integrity of the carabiner.
We make steady progress as we disengage and reconnect the carabineer to the fixed rope, when we encounter a piton ( a steel bolt about 8 inches that's hammered into the rock to anchor the fixed rope).
The sun starts beating down mercilessly, as we stubbornly continue our climb into the skies. There are moments, when one curses oneself for undertaking such a perilous journey, forsaking the comfort and luxuries of our dwelling and puff and pant, and take on the elements.
We make gradual progress. As I throw a glimpse on the path ahead, I notice the narrow ledge, that lies ahead. It is barely a foot wide, with menacing,yawning valleys on either side, poised to consume the perpetrator of the slightest indiscretion. We inch ahead, and finally get across to a small table like landing. We catch our breaths, and then start the final ascent. The elements are in their element. The sun roasts our bodies, the height and the incline intimidate, and gravity relentlessly makes us aware of our vulnerability.
As I finally set foot onto the hump, I am filled with exultation and sheer ecstasy. The camel had been vanquished. I was astride the hump, and the view from there was surreal. As I turn back to trace the path we took, I marvel at my quadriceps, that defied gravity and my insane passion, that defied reason and sanity.
I prepare to descend, and there is this moment of epiphany.
Whilst negotiating this dangerous incline of life, we need to be anchored by the carabiner of discrimination and pragmatism to the fixed rope of reality. Any disconnect with the fixed rope, will spell disaster and doom.
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