Torna -- sixth time!
Unlike my habbit of not going for a bit risky treks in monsoon, I had gone for hike to Torna on 29-30th aug 2006. The plan materialized quickly and 5 of us from Persistent (Me, Makarand, Aseem, Trinabh and Nikhil) and Anup planned to go for it. The rains in Pune had subsided a bit, so we thought it would be pretty good time to visit the fort and relish the beauty on the hills and also get some work out done.
With a plan to climb in the night (29th), we left office by bikes and gathered at Anup's home on Sinhgad road. From there took his car, some how packed 6 of us and started the journey around 9pm. Then we had dinner in a restaurant on Pune-satara highway and should have left there at around midnight.
It was pretty good climate in Pune, with no rain. So we all were pretty optimistic of climbing the fort in the night. But as we passed Nasrapur phata and then approached Margasni, we got into heavy rain. Also, it was very windy, but still we did not want to change the plan. Even though it was raining a bit when we reached Velhe, we were to walk in the night, but as we started our hike, we soon realized that because of cloudy weather and lack of enough torches, it would be very difficult to climb.
We got back to the village and since it was Ganapati Festival time, we could sleep in the pandal setup for its purpose. Anyway, we had just 3/4hrs, as we planned to leave about 6am. We could hardly sleep in the windy and cold night and every one got up at 5:30 voluntarily. When we reached again the trail, it was dark enough, forcing us to wait for another half an hour till dawn. Finally, started the trek around 6:45, crossed few streams to join the actual trail.
Half of the hike was pretty normal, buth once we reached the rock patches, we realized that it was a good decision - not to climb at night. Because even in the day light, we were finding it a bit tough because of the slippery rocks. At few places, we had to really strech ourselves to climb up. But after that, it was simple but exhausting climb. We could not see the beautiful surroundings as well, because of clouds all around us.
After reaching atop, everyone hungry, as we had not had anything after dinner. So, had food, relaxed a bit in the temple, tried to see few places, but it was not possible because of the cloud cover. So within 2/3hrs after reaching the fort, we started descending, which was Ok till the rock faces and then we had real trouble there. As couple of people were on their first hike, so they did not have good shoes. Actually one person had carried plastic bag for his belongings. We had to put all such in our sacks before we could proceed. It was necessary to keep both hands free for holding whatever we can!
Once we crossed the rock patch portion, it was again smooth hike back to the village. On the way, we decided to cool and relax ourselves in stream, but it was pretty difficult to find a place where we could swim (at least stand) thoroughly. When we started going a bit away from the village to find good place, we realized, we had to go upstrem, which no one of us wanted. So, finalized a place where only 4/5 of us could seat. But then rain forced us to come out, as heavy rain could not only drenched our clothes on the bank but we might have trapped into a fast flood.
After coming back to village, had misal :-), tea and camne back to Pune, where it was pretty sunny, hot and humid (and polluted too!)
Milind (!)
P.S.: Have taken snaps, but need to put them on some site, before I can share.