A Trek to Nagala through a Downpour!

For a long time, I had been eagerly waiting for CTC to organize a Ladies trek and when at last, a mail about Trekking to Nagalapuram-East popped up in my inbox, I registered my name right away without a second thought. Soon, the much awaited day dawned with Showers of Blessing from the Rain Gods. The initial ride into Andhra was breezy with the raindrops pattering rhythmically against the windshields and most of us slipped into a steady slumber, our heads lolling back and forth.

By the time we entered Andhra, almost all of us had woken up and were feeling ravenous. Our savior was a roadside Kai-endhi Bhavan, where food was at its delicious best. Idlys and Dosas were served piping hot and we devoured them to satiate our grumbling stomachs. After our tummies were full, we rode again to reach the starting spot of the trek. Once we reached, the organizers handed out snacks, fruits and tetra pack drinks, supposed to sustain us through the trek. They also promised to treat us to Maggi and Paranthas for lunch at the top. Shortly after a pep-talk from our lady organizer, we - a clan of 29 enthusiastic ladies and 6 down-to-earth men, began marching slowly but determinedly into the still wilderness, leaving the routine hustle-bustle behind us.

Still not ready to familiarize within the gang, none of us spoke more than an occasional word with each other. For the next 30 minutes, we silently scaled the rising ground through the steady drizzle, listening to the distant babble of a brook and the soft plops that our shoes made. A few shoe soles succumbed to the muddy tracks and the pointy rocks but our zeal was not to be cowed down easily by worn-out soles. Then came the first freezing stream to be crossed, threatening to throw us off balance with it's currents. It took only a moment for our organizers to spring daringly into the waters to form a strong human chain across the stream and help us get to the other side. This is exactly where the surface tension broke between all of us. Suddenly, sunny smiles popped up all around, jokes were cracked, and helpful hands were extended. Inspired by our organisers' light-hearted humor and the green thicket encompassing us, we trudged forward with even more cheer than before, clicking selfies with nature here and there. 

Traipsing through the dense thicket, we braved thorny branches, itchy plants, moss covered precipice and three more streams - each more menacing than the last. Every time we felt our energy levels droop a little, we gave ourselves a stamina boost by munching into pears and guzzling down Frooti.

Just when we were beginning to get bashed up, our most sure-footed organizer who was leading the crew turned to us and announced gaily that we had neared the slide pool. We squinted our eyes hopefully through the clumps and spotted the cave, from where the slide pool was just a 10-minute trek away. Immediately, exhaustion took a backseat as all of us quickened our pace. Piqued with curiosity, we clambered over the final slippery rock-face that stood between us and the pool. With each step that we took, the pristine grandeur of the pool came into view. Exquisite it was, to behold the watercourse transform into a fall and spill gracefully to form a pool, flanked by rocky mini-cliffs. Maggi packets lay ignored in our bags as one after one of us began rock-sliding into the pool with elation while a few souls dared to take up mini-cliff diving. The pool was soon filled with colorful tubes as non-swimmers got in too. We were finally at a place where time brakes and the worries that crease our face are forgotten in order to cherish the joyousness of NOW.

Before one could realize, the skies began to darken, promising a squall anytime. It was time for us to retrace our way back to the terrains. Choosing a safe return over Maggi, we skipped lunch and started our descent. Not more than five minutes had passed when the clouds burst and drenched every last inch of us. The trail turned threateningly greasy and each of our steps became measured to avoid toppling over each other. Somehow, we dragged ourselves through the deluge and reached the plains safely before dusk befell, with the ever-active organizers guiding us intelligently. Before we could reach our starting point, we halted for a feedback session about the trek and shared our memories with the group. The next few minutes were spent changing hurriedly into dry clothes and dumping trash collected during the trek.

The ride back to Chennai was totally different from the morning ride. This time, instead of getting some sleep our bodies direly needed, we chatted incessantly about our hobbies and whatnot. That moment, I realized - new friendships had been forged, not on Facebook but for real. The feeling of getting to know new people was so refreshing.

Midway during the ride, we dined at a quaint Punjabi Dhaba and gobbled down Chapatis. Our van made it to Chennai around 11pm and we were dropped off safely at our pick-up points. The organizers bade us farewell, leaving us with rich memories and also a post-trek meetup promise. Slowly, the painful truth hit me - the day was over. I had successfully completed my first trek. Maybe I was washed out physically, but even that couldn't dampen my sky-high spirits. This is one good day I would never forget in life. Engrossed with the humdrum routine life, this trek has greatly helped me rekindle my buried relationship with Nature, alongwith kindred souls.

Awaiting the next trek to Nagalapuram-West soon!

Here's one final heartfelt Cheer for all our CTC organizers who made this a memorable experience for us.