Dhodap
Climbing
Date: 21st Oct - 23rd Oct 2006
Trek & Climb to Dhodap & Ikhara
Since
from a long I wanted to Trek to Dhodap. Fortunately I got this
opportunity through our infamous Diwali Trek which was on the verge of
cancellation due to last moment cancellation of few trustworthy
members. Fortunately our Trek Leader Ajay & one more trek member
Abhijeet stand still to make it any how. We merged our Trekking team
into the Climbing Team since our Climb leader Kaivalya & fellow
member climber agreed upon climbing in the same area with the grade of
easy. Dhodap was the ideal spot to do Trek and climb. Our other
climbing team member were Prashant & Rajesh who took the driving
responsibility of my new car first time out of Mumbai. It was dual
purpose in my mind, one is to find the mileage findings & second
thing is comfort. Our other climber was Hemant the member of Fooki
Regiment.
Kiran Bhramanti's field in charge had taken some extra pain to deliver some of the kitchen accessories on time.
We left mumbai in the night of 20th Oct. Reached Hatti Village via
Nashik-Vani road the next day in the morning at around 6:00am. We left
Hatti village after the sorting of our equipment, ration & kitchen
at 8:00am. We took 2 major halt on the way to reach the Base
Cave/Temple of the Dhodap. We crossed Sonar Wadi housing 2 families and
2 temples. This wadi is actually in side the fort of Dhodap. As per the
construction of the fort main gate looks like this must be a main fort
in this area commanding Satmaal range to the south and Ravlya-Javlya,
Markandya, Ahiwant, Achala etc fort in the north. The mountain range
looks beautiful from this cave-temple. Dhodap has unique twin wall like
structure which remind most of us about Telbaila. Though these walls
are much bigger in size, they are on the west side. Actually it is a
single wall separated due to might be rock fall in the center. to the
east prominent Ikhara pinnacle one can see as well further continuing
the range one can see Kanchana fort/pinnacle. Rajdher/Koldher lies
further ahead on eastern side of Kanchana.
We had
almost a circular survey around the fort base. After initial
observation we decided our traditional climbing route and prepared to
start the climb. It was 1:30pm. I was the lead climber this time and
reached the fist pitch of ht. 75ft and the second one of 125ft. It took
total 2 and half hrs. Since the further climb was easy but time
consuming we decided to continue the route next day. We had good food
prepared by Kaivalya and Ajay. It was Abhijeets first such experience
as an active support member. His enthusiastic relevant
queries(climbing) made us think sometime and respond like entertaining
new bees among the team. The cool potable water made life easy since it
was quite handy for all purpose. We closed our day by 11pm
Next day after morning tea and breakfast we started our climb
at 9:30am ascending till last patch. By
the time all 5 climbers reached the last patch Kaivalya has done
further ascent easy by reaching the last patch of summit. It was long
scree/grass filled walk of 240ft. We had a small tree for runner and at
the base of last patch he fixed a piton for anchoring. Further I
continued the last patch it was bit tricky but not difficult since the
top portion was filled with scree. While I was tackling the patch saw
two village boys approaching us without any protection and made our new
member bit embarrassed since they didn't expect the route was so easy.
Their we found the route from 1st pitch to 2nd pitch was kind of rock
cut step which I missed and climbed bit difficult patch to reach the
same 2nd pitch. Any way I summated at 12 noon. Our day of surprise
didn't stopped here since while searching for the anchor on top in the
grass found those two village boys approaching towards me. It looks
like their was another easy route to reach on top. Any way I celebrated
my first lead of this climbing season by wishing them Happy Diwali
since it was 1st day of Diwali. Meanwhile the rest of the team climbed
one by one to the summit. We all celebrated 23rd climb of Bhramanti by
our traditional summit sweet 'Dates'. Meanwhile Kaivalya was on his
rope management duty since it was one of the longest rope fixture for
Bhramanti almost 500ft one way. We left a Peg on top of summit since
there was nothing to anchor.
While returning
our surprise day never stopped, since further surprise lay ed on the
way. Another group had already started climbing from the same route
which we climbed. So it was like traffic jam situation so we waited for
their climbers to reach till the second patch. It was first ever such
incident in the history of Bhramanti had happened. We descended down
using the same rope fixed by the group to save our further
timing since we were supposed to reach our next climbing destination
the same evening. We left the cave after windup by 5:45pm and started
our journey to reach Ikhara ashram from where we planned to attempt
Ikhara pinnacle the next day. But our misfortune did gave us another
surprise that we missed the route and caught in the dense jungle. After
few struggle to find the route we decided to return back to Sonar Wadi
to spend the night. We reached the one of the temple and had
experienced another surprise of a Mauni baba, a sadhu who was has taken
maun vrat(Not to speak to anybody). Our the then coordinator Kaivalya
could able to manage to coordinate the Sadhu for night stay but it
looks like tough going.So add on to our surprise he opened his mouth
(braking his maun vrat) to explain his rules of staying in the area
since he alone is maintaining the place. On top of that he explained
about his vrat to us. Anyway overall it was good experience. Our Trek
Leader made good dinner for all of us with the help of all team members
that included getting dry wood from the jungle and making the new
chullha outside the ashram/temple though Sadhu has plenty of dry wood
but for his use only. After dinner we slept in his cozy hut passage.
Next day 23rd Oct we started early from this place and reached another
temple/ashram of Ikhara where we had our breakfast and planned
to move further for the climb. Again continuing our Diwali gift of
surprise, we found this sadhu baba was too much. He was offering us
whatever he has as well what we found is he travel from the village
Kolwan to this ashram on a bike. It's a steep scree filled track not a
road. Anyway we had difficulty in reaching the base of the Ikhara
pinnacle. We had climbed a small rock patch. By the time we saw the
pinnacle clearly it was 12:00noon and due to our time constrain we
decided to return back from the place though the climb was of easy
grade. We reached the ashram and had lunch then by 4:00pm started the
return journey. WE reached hatti by 6:00pm We then left the place by
7:00pm and reached mumbai by 3:00am of 24th oct.
It was a overall good experience full of surprise. Still I recommend
our proposed Diwali trek of this year to all interested trekkers, kind
of good & unique experience of this range of mountains.
Written By: -- Rajan Rikame
Photo Link: Click Here from Abhijeet Nagre