Jarandeshwar & Pateshwar Trek

We had the July Walk-a-thon meeting on 10 July. Trek decided was the Jarandeshwar & Pateshwar Trek.  This time in meeting all peoples who accepted to join trek were those who have holidays on Saturday & Sunday. So it was decided to have the trek on Sat so one can take rest on Sun. So now planning and confirmation process started. Initially only 4 members there. But the decision was that whatever is the number of peoples we will surely go for the trek.  Suddenly Vaijanath Huddar mentioned that he is having many confirmations. The message for him was (looking at past exp) get Rs 300/- as confirmation. And we will not be refund in case of cancellation.

Till this time we were not sure how many of us will go.  We also thought of going on 20^th. Suddenly as per Huddar’s confirmation count reached to 35, an alarm raised.  I had confirmation from 5/6 ppl already, so now we had to finalize the bus and so the count. Finally we decided that we will not increase number, by then Vaijanath had confirmed to 37 ppl with many others following up with money, but had to deny all of them as but had limited seats and we don't wanted two buses.  I had reserved 2/3 seats for accommodating the people for last minute.  This can also be kept vacant for urgency.  So everything was finalized and Trek will be happening on Saturday!!!

Tuesday evening!!! I was told “Not to go for trek or take me along” aka my wife.  Just last Sunday only I went for trek, so it was very difficult to get the permission/convince her for next trek.  But on last Sunday only while returning from trek I told her that I might have to go on Saturday. After checking with everyone I asked her to join.  She was very happy, as this was the first time when she was joining me for trekking.  But on Thursday evening only she was down with cough & cold, so this time also I missed here company. 

T-Day!!!  Saturday!!! Bus driver has reached at 4:45AM, and was following up with me. I had to remove all my packed bag (protections from rain) and call Sunit to inform bus arrival. Bus started from Akurdi and reached Aundh at 5:45AM. By the time all seniors waiting at Aundh were angry for not starting on time. At Sancheti only one person boarded. I thought, now we will not have complete count. But someone said, people will be joining at Jade office. Now we reached at Jade office and there we had almost 35 ppl boarded and actual trek started. So many of them from Jade global I was not sure if they will like my intervention.  I was about to ask Vaijanath to start conversation and important money collection.

If I being earlier, would have opted to keep quite.  Now I have changed a lot, I cannot keep quite. So I decide to start main work.  Additionally, we are so called organizer so no option. So here I started collecting money.  We have given Bus driver full authority to choose route for Satara, I guess this was the mistake. But I don't wanted this one more additional responsibility.  Any way he has chosen a longest route possible, and bus only reached at Katraj lake, at 7:00AM. By this time, we have finished collection program. Now everyone wanted to have tea. You don't learn from your mistakes, I gave driver again this responsibility to stop at his preferred location. Once bus crossed all hotels, and headed to Khambataki ghat everyone started shouting on me. Now no option left with me/other so journey continued.

Antakshari! A common program which is played in group we also started playing that.  Oh! Forgot to mention we also had one round of introduction.  Kanade sir, when you introduce personalities like him you feel you have not done anything.  I always feel proud that I belong to a group where there are many such people comes. Sorry! Coming back to Antakshari we made two groups, one person only I remember from other group was KK.  Three ladies were leading singers from our group.  Enjoyment was on its full.

Finally! We stopped for Breakfast & Tea.  One dish for everyone is our rule.  So we decided to order Wada-Pav.  We were late and again one addition, person did not had sufficient Pav to serve us Wada-Pav.  Anyway Pav was delivered and we could finish everything in 45 minutes (we had planned for 30 min break).  Here we found that the youngest person is 22 yrs and Senior most person 67 years old. 

We reached at the base. Good I have checked on the Google map on how to reach. Seems there are more than two ways to reach Jarandeshwar.  Finally we reached Jarandeshwar base.  Missed to mention that, at hotel we had met the “Pune Mountaineers” group who was taking school picnic (2 buses) to develop the liking for trekking in kids. So at base we met the group again. 

When we got down it was drizzling best weather for trekking.  So we started climbing up. Before starting we ensured to give the instructions to everyone. And why it is important we found while returning, as one of us missed and came down without informing anyone in group.  Jarandeshwar view from mid was very good. The top was already covered in clouds. In 30 minutes only it seemed that we reached at top.  But in clouds you can’t understand the height.  We had to climb more.  The last person was now not visible, so we decided to move ahead and wait where trek finishes.  At last we finished and reached at temple in 45 minutes.  There was afternoon aarti going on, as if we plan and came for aarti only.  So by the time aarti finished everyone reached at top.  The first time trekkers required almost double time.  But the feel of achievement was seen on their faces. 

Suddenly, someone mentioned that near temple there is small hotel (cannot call tapari, but can be called home converted in tea coffee stall) where we can get tea.  Though it looked small but many of us adjusted ourselves and had a very nice tea.  This was required as it was still drizzling.  Rain was playing hide and seek.  We decided to climb down.  When counted the heads it was 42.  One person was missing.  Now search started.  I guess he missed us when we went for tea.  Anyway the group who took more time asked to climb down.  I guess person was climbing down and no network even for BSNL.  After everyone’s agreement we decided to climb down.  Now myself and Vaijnath opted for getting down fast and find the missing person.  We were too angry, but we had instructed if you miss wait for us at base where bus was parked.  From base only we asked Kanade sir to be at last and ensure everyone reaches down.  And he ensured both times that everyone reaches and does not stop in between.  When climbed down half received call that person has safely reached down and followed the instruction of reaching near bus.  Now we were relaxed and slowed down our speed.

One by one everyone reached down where the bus was there.  Now it was time for trek-lunch (name given by Vaijanath).  We had taken for everyone a packet of “Methi Thepale” and “Puran Poli + Gul Poli”.  After lunch we had to head for Pateshwar.  On the way we noticed that our water bottles are empty.  On road I did not “find any place where we can get water.  We were about to reach the main road I asked driver to stop.  I wanted to check if we can get water anywhere.  Luckily we stopped near water filtration plant.  We have filled all our bottles and now we were ready for climbing Pateshwar.  

We had to check if our bus will reach top.  So we enquired and people had different opinions.  We had to cross Degaon to reach Pateshwar, so we decided we will ask someone there.  People mentioned that it is possible for taking bus.  It seemed single lane road.  Any way we were on our way to Pateshwar from Degaon.  Now there was a inclined sharp turn and I guess driver was on phone.  He missed the motion and bus stopped.  Driver declared bus cannot go ahead and we should get down there.  Now one more problem was to turn the bus.  Now we had to search the place where we can turn the bus.  We had to take bus in reverse for almost 1 to 2 kms.  One place driver tried but tires were slipping because of wet grass.  Again reverse we found a place where there was a possibility of taking a turn.  Driver has not taken the turn correctly and instead of going on rock went to water.  Now we were little worried if bus will come out.  Driver something else in his mind.  He has taken a full turn in good speed and bus was on road.  Three of us (Vaijanath, KK & myself) were relieved as we were not sure of this.  But again we were lucky.  It was good decision of ours to take the turn during day light.  Otherwise it was not possible when it becomes dark.  We asked driver to relax and decided to climb up. 

So we started climbing Pateshwar.  I was sure that we will reach with the last team.  But no one was visible.  We have spent almost 45 minutes in this bus turning activity.  We had taken all sorts of short cuts and started climbing.  There were few village peoples who guided us.  Till now no one was visible from our group.  We had to reach and come back before it gets too dark.  Because when we started it was almost 5:00PM.  And we were not sure of distance.  We reached at the place up to where there was the road.  All small vehicles can come up to this place.  This was also not a very big place.  We had to head towards Pateshwar temple.  We just stopped once and continued our walking.  We tried to see the other side of Pateshwar and there was a very nice view.  Complete valley on one side and almost like valley on the side from where we were climbing.  Some PP were taken while resting for 2 min and we started again.  Valley side there was too much wind and other side no wind.  Then road goes towards forest like area.  Now it seemed dark when we entered that area.  We started walking in hurry.  Finally we reached near pond.  A beautiful place and pond had few of Lotus flowers.  We headed to temple, by this time our group has reached and all were busy taking photographs. 

I was told that there are caves at top.  We started searching but then we were told not to go there as it was becoming dark and it will be difficult for us to find road.  We opted to return back.  Few of us had plan to go to Sajjangad.  So we started returning back.  Kanade sir this time told me and Vaijanath to be at last. We started climbing down and reached before it became too dark.  Now the decision was to go for Sajjangad or not.  Many of us were interested to go to Sajjangad but looking at timings I was forced to decide to go back to Pune.  We required tea badly, but could not stop at 2/3 restaurants as it was too muddy.  After that for long time there was no hotel on the road.  All the hotels were coming on the other side of the road and we don’t wanted to go other side.  Finally we found one and had tea.  The last thing that was pending was to do final calculations.  Everyone was tired and resting by now.  There seemed a feel of satisfaction on everyone’s face.  Everyone started discussing about the next trek. 

I reached home and when the last lady who got down at last stop, informed me that she reached safely. Now, I can say that trek was completed.  I was knowing here this is not the end of the day for Kanade Sir.  As it was Saturday after Fool-Noon, Pune-Sinhgad moon light walk was pending.  I mentioned this to the some of them.  I know people nowJ.  Kanade sir went for the moon light walk and completed it. 

This is how we completed the J&P trek.  I made many new friends and now I can plan for trekking with them.  :)  Happy Trekking everyone!!!