THE GATHERING, JAN-2012

What a gathering could do to four lonely souls was the unexpected outcome of this one day jaunt to my favorite hang out, just a stone’s throw from my home. A, B, C and D are at various stages of life and when they came together to munch a national holiday, it was a serious manifestation of the power of gathering. Gathering is a moment when people come together to, may be, discuss for a result, make a strategic decision, celebrate, drink, travel or mourn. Our agenda was to travel for a stimulant and the 63rd Republic Day of India came as welcome relief to implement our plan. Mr. A, the oldest member to attend this gathering, was accompanied by Mr. B who hails from God’s own country and both work with Mr. D in the same multi national corporation. Mr. C gets his monthly pay from Bosch and spends a good amount of it sponsoring Mr. D on his photographic assignments, while enhancing himself in the process. Each one made an insignificant sacrifice and uttered a white lie to their caring ones to accompany me for this hike through the rocky terrain of southern Andhra Pradesh. It was my 7th visit to this rugged beauty but the first for remaining three, and it was already a “not so” fair battle as the views exchanged on the way were “Three vs One” or “Assumptions vs Experience”. Each of their apprehensions had to be silenced with facts, sometimes, and with “appealing” fictions, sometimes. The 90 Km Journey was disposed like brushing the teeth and the rocky landscape reminded me of the “addictive pain” I would be enjoying late that evening, while I was thinking what the effects would be on A, B and C?? We ventured into the trek path at 11:15 AM, the earliest ever I had managed, while I was busy keeping A, B and C away from trivial attractions on the way, like small pools/ gushing streams etc (Photos 1,3 and 6). Thankfully, sun wasn’t let to show his ugly hot face (Photo 7) as massive chunks of clouds blanketed us from the heat like a temporary roof and there wasn’t a need to worry about the “tan”. My goal was to show, somehow, the final fall, lying few Kms up ahead in the gorge, to A, B and C for which they had to traverse through an unknown terrain which I knew like the back of my palm. Playing navigator was fun and in the same time, that required certain levels of “common sense” as I had to predict the results before their next step. Reached stage 1 where A, B and C turned reluctant to proceed further on coming face to face with a ten feet vertical, smooth boulder with water trickling over its face constantly. I had climbed this boulder twice in the past and it was time to demonstrate the power of mind to A, B and C but alas, I had a minor fall on the first attempt as I failed to recognize the “Grip slots” available above this massive natural obstruction. After few minutes of letting my fingers “play piano” over the rocky buddy, I identified the consecutive grip slots available and in matter of seconds, I was above them and few other unknown hikers. I pulled a couple of strangers up the boulder and helped A, B and C reach where I stood to proceed towards the primary target we had chalked out. From here onwards the hike is not “risky” but, exhaustive on energy levels and extremely slippery as we had to walk against gravity to reach the massive gorge Ubbalamadugu had carved over millions of years through its relentless existence. To me it was like visiting my native but for A, B and C, it was “a moment in their life” as they were struck with awe by the shear beauty of the Gorge, the fall and the ambience prevailing up there. As they were exploring the beauty I checked out the time at 3:00 PM and my instinct prompted to attempt the next major task, reach the “out of the world” pool (Photos 24,25,26 and 27) lying at the base of the “major fall” some 150 meters above us. In the past I never bothered to attempt this hike and now, it was time to demonstrate to myself what I demonstrated to A, B and C few minutes back. Climbing rocks is considered the biggest exercise of enhancing concentration as it’s a sport of “Mind vs Fear” every second, every step and every decision, and the first time is always a trembling iteration than the repetitive attempts. A, B and C stayed back as I crossed the aggressively flowing water, on its way to the pool some 70 meters below, on a 40’ slope and inserted my fingers on the first grip slot available. After few minutes of climbing I came across one particular section where I had a look back and there was instant loss of concentration as legs began to tremble. When you climb up alone there comes that “soft excuse”, “I could have stayed back like others below” and the same feel made me weak on legs. The rocks above were as smooth as well polished granites and I took an unusually long time to make the next move and reach a “moderately safe” position, as I hug to the rock like a lizard. Upon reaching the next level, all it required was a cautious “semi bent” walk to reach the base of the main fall. On reaching there the ambience changed instantly from a moderately sunny day to cold and windy as the massive walls of the Gorge stood 100’s of meters above on either sides and the main fall was made to dance like an “Arabian Belly Dancer” by the strong gust. More than photography it’s all about sitting on a well sorted out rock and keep looking at this shear beauty, as you lose yourself. I only could imagine what on earth this place could feel like when NE Monsoon ravages the east coast and the plan for 8th and 9th attempts were already finalized as I clicked away few shots to show this place to my friends below. While I was climbing down, it was surprising to see A and C climbing their way up, towards the pool, and it was yet another demonstration of “Mind vs Fear” as they gained altitude rapidly, not to forget the backpacks and the tripod they were carrying with them. I collected the bags and the tripod and asked them to complete their task, as I kept waiting for them on a “reasonably level” rock (Photo 28) looking at the distant clouds (Photos 11 and 13) and the far away lands of southern Andhra Pradesh. Once they were back, it was a casual hike down the cliff and we completed the task with no major incident as stains of blood all over the rocks manifested the serious consequences of not respecting the terrain. Yet again mind won over my fear, nevertheless; I consider fear a powerful agent in fortifying your capabilities for without it, there would be no planning and thinking incurred for a task of this magnitude. On reaching the base a good 2 hours later sun was “imperceptibly” going down in the distant west (Photo 30) as we looked into each other and wondered what this Gathering had done to us – For A, it was yet another fulfillment of his adulthood dream as he completed one more soul satisfying jaunt; for B, it was a valuable learning of overcoming fear, fatigue and fortifying stamina; for C, it was an another usual body tiring hike to enhance capabilities with his DSLR; and for D, it was another experience enhancing gamble which laid that “something” to keep him going through the 11 months ahead before 2012 becomes a history. As I stood in the tea shop in a nearby village, with my favorite local snack and tea for company, I was wondering if 2012 would end with an optimistic note as 2011 did and it remains to be seen through the coming months…...