When it comes to adventures, I am not very enthusiastic about it. Not because I do not want to, but because I think I can’t—which in itself is a mental block. My adrenaline high sessions are limited to meeting unacceptable deadlines and appearing for competitive exams. I am good at it. However, last week I was requested by my colleague and a dear friend, Chitra, to be a part of a weekend one day trek to a destination close to Mumbai. As always my answer was ‘may be’ which is generally a precursor to the upcoming NO. But somehow I could not say no to her, and Saturday 5 AM, I found myself in the bus, among 17 others, directed towards the first trek of my life.
On my way I was still thinking, “Asma, was it a wise call? Why are you in this bus? There is still time to return back to home?” I fought back these thoughts and finally reached the destination as per the scheduled time, details of which are as below:
Destination: Prabalmachi
Location: Panvel, Raigad District, Maharashtra-India
Trek Grade: Moderate (Beginner’s level – Guided Trek)
Guide: Save Tours and Treks (Save; pronounced as Saa-way)
Time: February 2022
Schedule:
5.00 AM: Departure from Borivali at around 5 AM
7:00 AM: Reach Base village
8:00 AM: After Breakfast to start the trek
10:30 AM: Reach Prabalgadmachi & Lunch
12:00 PM: Start Descend
2:20 PM: Start return journey to Mumbai
Food: Lemon Drink/snacks at food stops, Lunch near campsite
Toilet: Campsite (Sip water during the trek. Full bladder and trek is not a good combination.)
Cost: Between 1300 – 1800 rupees, depending on the number of people in the group and where you stay in Mumbai
Do’s: Wear breathable-comfortable-flexible garments. Ensure nothing is constricting your blood flow—clothing or jewelry or bags, etc. Rest and take deep breaths if you feel tired. Lemon-salt-sugar-water, keep it handy to make a drink if need be. Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Cap, Good Shoes, Sanitizer, Wet Wipes, Medical kit/Medicines are a must. Be in the group and follow guide’s instructions.
Don’t’s: Too many layers of clothes will make you feel hot in the later hours of the day. Heavy backpack; lighter the bag, easier to climb. If you have any health related concern, then best take your doctor’s advice before planning for any trek. Start early, end early; heat can drain you of energy. Never be too focused on clicking selfies and pictures without checking the surroundings. It can be very dangerous as the trail is zigzag and extremely rocky.
Well, post breakfast and an introduction session we all started with the trek. It was a two-hour ascend followed by a stop for lunch-pictures-rest session and two hours descend. Add 30 minutes extra to both the way up and down as I was the one to reach last. And this 30 minutes (which could have been longer) credit goes to the Rs. 20 stick plus the trekkers from the team who were there with me through to encourage. If not for them then high chances I would have not completed this trek successfully at all. They did an awesome job. I can be impossibly stubborn at times, so yes, they were awesome in convincing me that I can do it. I am grateful I met them. I am not sure if they think the same though. 🙂
And yes, if I can do it, then I think many who have that mental block can. It was difficult but in no ways impossible. Those five hours taught me that no classroom can ever teach, something/s I needed to know like…
A. It is nothing to do with age. It is to do with your will power. Easier said than done—yes, I know. I used to say, but this time I did it before completing the four decades of my life. The team had people between the age group 30 to 70 years.
B. Never say never. Keep the possibility, a possibility. There is a first time for everything; you just may not know what. By being part of this trip, I broke the ice with my colleagues. I joined the organization during the pandemic. Barely knew any one. But now, I know a few and I am happy that I do.
C. One life, one chance. There were numerous obstacles during the trek ascent and descent, but I overcame all of them. Some by myself, some with the support of the trekkers, a few with my team members, and of course, a lot by ‘the Stick’. All these were my support system. The whole trek was a metaphor to my life—ebb and flow, smile and frown, yes and no, easy and tough, smooth and rough, hurt and heal, sickness and health, victory and failure, just and unjust, fair and unfair, rise and fall, rest and unrest, quiet and noise, alone and company, full and empty, like and dislike, ever and never, do and don’t and everything in plural. Every decade, year, day in my life, the Universe has surrounded me with support systems—some I notice, some just go unnoticed. I am truly grateful for all that I am guarded, granted and gifted in life. Not that I wasn’t earlier. But I realized I have missed a few.
D. Let Go, and Let God. Now, the Stick, I was suggested to carry as a souvenir. I thought I should, but last minute I decided to leave it for the next first-time trekker. He/she may need it more than I would now. No point sticking to the stick now. Its job was done in my life. Unstick. I am back, sound, safe and sane.
E. Stay motivated. For the villagers, those rocks and stones were just a part of everyday routine. They never saw them as any kind of obstruction. And seeing them taking that rough and tough path with weight on shoulders and head but a smile on the face was a very big motivation besides the support systems around me.
Hmmm, these are some Stick-Unstick thoughts in my head as of today. Yesterday, 5 AM I started with doubts and 5 PM I was at home with lessons learnt. I am not a trekker, not sure if I would do it again, but again, never say never…so I would never know!
Note: A BIG THANK YOU to the Save Tours and Treks. Especial thanks to Sachin trekker (that’s how he introduces himself), Jiya – the photographer and Saveji for being with me, for motivating me and lending hand whenever I summoned help. Thanks to Sam for leading the trek. For those interested, the contact to the Save Treks and Tours is as below:
Mobile: +91 8655563635
Website: www.savetoursandtravel.com
Some glimpses…
…Ashu Bolar
ashubolar@gmail.com
PANORAMAA 