Trek from Donigal to Yedakumeri and then descent to Gundia

21^st–22^nd November, 2009

Check the pics at Picasa

Read Gans Views on the trek here 

Read Sameer's Views on the trek here

It had been a long time since I had been on a trek. So when Deepak Sibal suggested the Sakleshpur trek decided to join him. This would be different as the entire trek is done on railway tracks. I had done something similar a long time back when I was in school. Had trekked from Lonavala railway station to Khandala railway station and then got into a goods train at Khandala and reached Lonavala back. The only exciting part that I remember of that is walking through the tunnels and the goods train passing through tunnels. It was an open goods car so it was very scary at that age.

So Gans, Deepak, Sameer and myself were on for the trek. Deepak booked KSRTC bus tickets till Mangalore (no option to book tickets till Sakleshpur). It took around 5 hours to reach Sakleshpur bus stand and we were there at 4.30 a.m., 21^st November, 2009. We started walking towards Donigal station and luckily got a local bus that dropped us up the road where we could see the railway tracks.

Got down to the tracks and the first thing we heard was a train whistle and there was the first train that we saw on the way to Mangalore. 50/600 read the first board which means 50 kms 600 mtrs from Hassan. Started walking down the tracks. The fresh air and the green surroundings were exhilarating. Each one of us wanted to capture photos of anything that was beautiful. A flower, a tree, the clouds, birds, grass and even the distance markers. Its funny that we miss nature so much but do not find the time for it.

And then we saw the first bridge. There is a thin strip of metal on the bridge so makes crossing the bridge easier. But then one has to be sure that there are no trains coming. Who wants to jump off a bridge to avoid a running train???

And so we walked, trying to place our foot on the sleepers thus avoiding the hard stones. Crossed the bridges without fear – the thin strips of metal were helpful. Walked faster in the tunnels, we did not want to be clinging the tunnel walls with rats, bats and snakes as companions. Clicked photographs, digital cameras making it easier to capture all. Saw the railway workers – some of them who walk these tracks everyday, checking the fishplates that hold the tracks, cracks on the tracks. What a life, man! To walk through such beautiful surroundings but having to keep your eyes glued to the tracks so that you don’t miss a broken fishplate or bolt.

Met an interesting character, a railway staff, who told us, “No trekking on the railway tracks is not allowed here. It is government property!” Remembered my school English teachers grammar classes which said that two negatives in a sentence is a positive and interpreted what he meant as “Trekking on the railway tracks is allowed here!”

Around 1 p.m., when we were having lunch, met a few people from BMCIndia who were on the way to Yedakumeri too. Decided to walk faster as these guys had left Donigal 2 hours after us. We were too slow or probably clicking too many photographs. Picked up speed, walked faster and overtook the BMC guys and stayed ahead of them. On the way there are 2 bridges, one with the strip of metal and the other without. Crossed the one without and felt good. It was not very difficult and do-able.

Around 4.30 p.m. reached Yedakumeri station. There was a good train on the tracks and confusion amongst us on whether to take that train and reach Subhramanya road or continue with the original plan of camping at Yedakumeri station. Decided on Yedakumeri. On reaching the station found a small room and the Talking Man of Yedakumeri. For how he earned the title read on.

Coaxed the Talking Man to prepare dinner as we did not have any food and he also arranged a small room for us for the night. Were dead tired and slept around 10. At around 1 a.m., I mean 1 in the morning, enters the Talking Man in our room and starts speaking in Kannada to himself. I and Sameer don’t understand the language and try to sleep on. Blissful Gans knows the language, is in a different room and is oblivious to the blabbering. At 3.30 the Talking Man is more excited and I make a tremendous effort and wake Gans. As per Gans, the Talking Man wants us to leave the room and catch the Bangalore-Mangalore Express train which will be arriving at 4.30 and go to Subramanya Road. Efforts to explain that we are not interested in doing the same and will leave in the morning have no effect on the Talking Man. It seems that at night he only talks. Nothing makes sense to the Talking Man. Nothing makes sense to me and Sameer anyways as we do not understand Kannada. We get out of the room.

4.30 a.m. and half of the BMC group is in the train. The other half cannot get in as the passengers do not open the doors of the train. We have an option – wait for daylight and then decide what next. But then decide to join the BMC guys who plan to trek till Tunnel 35 where there is a path downhill that leads to Gundia. No one knows if the path is before or after the tunnel. If that does not work out the option was to trek to Subramanya Road.

Anyways, 4.30 a.m. and we are walking in the dark towards tunnel 35. Not much to see in the dark. As daylight breaks, see the Bangalore-Mangalore highway on the right. Can also see a stream that we will have to cross if we have to reach the highway.

Reach tunnel 35, no path is seen that leads down. Cross tunnel 35, still no path that leads down. Meet a guy who has walked from Mangalore till here and wants to go further. He has no money to buy train tickets. What courage! He too wants to get off the tracks now and joins us. Walking on stones for the past 30 kms is now getting monotonous. Come back to the beginning of tunnel 35 and see a path which seems to be a path that follows a waterfall. No one is ready to listen to me to go down that path. Climb down the path and see that there is a chance to get down. Ask Gans to join me. He too seems to agree that we will reach somewhere, looks like a path. Sameer and Deepak too climb down and the BMC folks follow. Though this is not a proper path, one needs to get on his haunches at some places to climb. But it is better that walking another 10-15 kms on the tracks. Sameers sports shoes soles were broken to 2 pieces and Deepak had cuts on his feet as he was wearing slippers and not shoes.

See a proper path after some time and elephant dung. Hope there are elephants nearby but then no such luck. A half an hour walk and we are on the Subramaya Road – Gundia Road. Reached the Mangalore-Bangalore highway and got into a bus to Bangalore.