2013-01-04-Kathra chi Nali and Ratangad old route from Dehne

Team:
Arun Sawant – Leader
Prakash – Deputy Leader
Prasad, Raj Bakre, Kunal, Suraj, Zenosh – Team Members
Savle Mama from Savarne, Gopal from Samrad and 2 villagers from Savarne – Support Team
 

Photos:

Picassa – https://picasaweb.google.com/zenosh/20130104KathraChiNaliAndRatangadOldRouteFromDehne#

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151385870876181.533800.595556180&type=1&l=780c76fb31

Route:
Samrad – Katrabai Pass – Katra mountain top (Night Stay 1) – Descent via Katra Nali on river Bed (Night Stay 2) – Bara Pairiacha Rasta (Old Ratangad Route) – Samrad.
 

The experience:

It was bone chilling cold on Thursday night when I and Prasad met at Kalwa and started the ride towards Bhandardara – Samrad Village. Within some time my bike rear tyre puncture and we lost precious one hour in mending the puncture.

After one break before Kasara where we stopped to take rest from riding in relentless cold, and another break at Kasara for food we reached Samrad at around 3 AM in the night. It was way too cold to ride comfortably but we made it, enjoying the night sky in the small breaks we took.

Next morning after quick preparation and sorting out gear and load we started our trek to Katrabai pass. It was a nice trek through the jungles with cool breeze blowing and amazingly clear views of AMK, Shipnur, Kalsubai, Ratangad, Khutta all around. The best part was the timely fruit / food breaks managed by Arun sir.

The fun started after we reached Katrabai Pass top where we met Savle Mama and 2 other villagers who had come from Panchnai and Kumshet route. We started our trek to Katra top and probable water point from the wrong side which we realized after reaching the Kada at the other end. So now instead of complete back tracking we instead decided to climb the mountain straight up which was difficult due to the scree and slippery grass but never the less we made it to the top.

We got amazing views of the mountains all around specially Ratangad and Khutta, since Katra is higher than both they looked pretty small from the top. The AMK, Kalsubai, Ghanchakkar, Muda and Wakri hills were visible in the golden light of sunset.

By gods grace Arun sir also found water on top just by chance wedged between the empty space between 2 rocks. That made our dinner and breakfast cooking very easy and everyone had enough water to drink for the night and next day during the descent through the nail.

After setting up the camp area it was dinner prep time with everyone chipping in with some help or the other – cutting onions, garlic, vegetables, getting water etc along with music from our cell phones – what a night to remember, a wholesome dinner and then a session of star gazing before we all go to sleep under the star lit open sky.

Next morning the view from Katra top was mind blowing with orange tinge in the sky and mist between the mountain valleys. The Kalsubai and AMK range visible between the mist and Ratangad / Khutta looking most beautiful in the orange light.

The fun starts now – everyone getting ready with their gear – Harness, Crab, Figure of 8 etc for the rappel patches which we would get while descending. Arun sir leading the way with Prasad and Suraj, Prakash sir, myself and Gopal staying as the Last team to clean up the rappel equipment as we descent. It was fun descending down the Nali with total 5 rappel points and some boulder hopping, also found a virgin pinnacle and named it Ranjan. I learnt a lot from Prakash during our rappel descents about the systems part.

The Nali was over finally and the gradient was gentle now and it was a boulder hopping through the big stream towards the old Ratangad route. The last team was very much behind – Prakash, Kunal, Raj and myself and we could not even hear the front team and thought we had lost our way. It was already dark and never the less with radio communication we kept walking downhill and finally met Prasad and Suraj who came in our direction to share some load we had.

Again it was dinner time with some amazing food and later music, star gazing and sleep on the grassland besides the river bed.

Next day we headed towards the forested col between a projection in the mountain in hopes of finding the old route to Ratangad. And we did but at the very end after doing bits of rock climbing, scree traverse,, walking on loose rolling stones terrain and thorny bushes to reach the Bara Pairiacha rasta top. Luckily none of this was exposed and we had enough jungle cover and Karvy to protect us in case of a fall.

After this it was a scenic and easy walk to Samrad village from the back side of Ratangad and Khutta with some nice water, fruits and lunch break thrown in at regular intervals.

Finally reached Samrad at 4 PM and after relaxing and packing our stuff we bade goodbye the the villagers and the rest of the team and started the bike ride back home. And yes it was very cold again J

The good coordination between the team, leadership of Arun and Prakash sir and with help from the support  team we made this expedition a grand success.

 

Details:

Samrad - 747 mts - 2450 feet

Kathra pass top 1218 mts - 3996 feet
Campsite 1374 mts - 4507 feet
1st rappel start point 1355 mts - 4445 feet
2nd rappel start pt 1289 mts - 4229 feet
3rd rappel start 1214 mts - 3982 feet
3rd rappel end 1192 mts - 3910 feet
4th rappel end 1182 mts- 3877 feet
5th rappel sttart 986 mts - 3234 feet
5th rappel end 963 mts - 3159 feet
Nite camp - 292 mts - 958 feet
Bara Pairacha rasta top 879 mts - 2883 feet