Before booking for this camp I was not sure if I will be able to do it. Almost every day was asking our friend & relatives who had participated in the same camp whether this is doable. they kept saying its very easy and that I can do it with out much trouble. Just got to over come fear of heights.
27th Nov : The day. We were to be picked up at Teen Haath Naka at around 11PM. We got into the bus which was already full and hence had to occupy last seats which are on top of wheels. It was a small bus and our back pack was bulky. We quickly closed our eyes and tried to sleep.
28th Nov : By around 3AM we reached Khubi village. It was cold outside so they gave us option to either sleep in the bus or get out and sleep outside village school. I and Mahesh decided to spread our legs and sleep in the corridor of the village school. At 5AM we got up to answer our nature call out in the open before sunrise. Volunteers of Camp Fire India handed us Rappelling Gears that consisted of 4 Gloves, a helmet, a harness with descender. We were told we need to trek to the Rappelling point which could take an hour, but its a easy 20mnt walk on the way we met Guru of Rappelling and owner of Camp Fire India Mr Arun Sawant, he was picking up twigs and asked us to do the same for a cup of tea at the rappelling point. We were around 5-8 of us walking behind Mr Sawant the leader. Rest around 35 of them were not to be seen behind us. We soon reached Malshej Water fall start point. We put twigs and bags down and waited for that hot tea and some breakfast. After breakfast they gave us some instructions and how to tie harness. They said keep you legs as wide as possible and watch your step and keep your hands away from descender as during free fall it gets hot and may burn skin. They set up the 1st Patch. Day one we will be Rappelling 2 Patch 1st one 350ft and second around 300ft. On day two we will be doing 3 patches. Myself and Mahesh were ready and we were one of the 1st to rappel and 1st few steps was very scary after around 10-15ft rest was just free fall. They had told us how to feed rope and how to stop the speed of our descent. My stomach was in my mouth! every now and then I used to break my speed scared of falling down, the fact is that we are controlled by a guy who is down. But still could not trust the guy below. We were rappelling beside the water fall so while free falling tried to enjoy the view. 1st Patch had 4 ropes beside each other so that more people can rappel. While free falling we are not in control and so we start rotating out of control. But soon I found my grip and within minutes I was down and since the rock was wet and slippery and I was just come out of my 1st rappelling I could not stand for a while, I tried standing and down I fall. Carefully came and sat beside Mahesh who was sitting and enjoying me free falling.
After around 20 people had descended they started 2nd patch again we were the 1st few who started. This one had 3 ropes together. But the rappelling point was in such a place where one the way there were lose rocks and if we miss our step we will just fall 300ft down. I carefully reached the point and they one was 20ft of rappelling and rest free fall. This one I enjoyed, I had courage to see down from top and enjoy just free falling. Mahesh was already down taking a bath in the water fall. I was hungry so i started eating my Lunch which they had asked us to pack from home it was 1PM. This huge patch of bolder will be our home for the night. We soon found a flat enough place where we could spread our legs and sleep for the night. Volunteers arranged for change room for girls with huge plastic cover. By around 4PM all of us were down and were waiting for a cup of tea which came in. We socialized and soon it was dark and they started Camp Fire and we sang songs and clicked some snaps. Had simple yet Delicious dinner made fresh on location open air. The day ended with star gazing and snoring.
29th Nov : Got up before sunrise, Know why? Well got ready had breakfast and around 9AM we started Rappelling 3rd Patch which was more of rappelling and no free falling so it was hard for the hands and we had to feed rope through the 8 shape descender. So was 4th patch which was very close to water fall and could not enjoy the water splash as was already tired of waiting for my turn to rappel as there were just 2 ropes and this time I was not the 1st to start. I barely managed to avoid falling into the water fall pool. Then by the time I was at 5th patch, Mahesh was down and was screaming to take off my rain jacket and shoes as 5th patch no matter how much we try to avoid the water pool, volunteers who control our rope will make sure we get a dip. I took off my rain jacket and shoes and started rappelling with just socks and few steps down I started slipping so I came back up allowed the person behind me to rappel and I decided to ware shoes and rappel even if it gets wet. It was short rappel but since I was tired as it was mid afternoon was slow and soon was down and they took off my back pack and dipped me into the water and they had a good laugh and I had a cold dip and was refreshing. changed dress and around 5-8 of us started walking to Thidabi village to Mr Sable Mama's house for lunch. This was long walk of around an hour. We followed water path and then we saw arrow marks leading to the village. They collected the gear that they had given us. By around 3PM all of them had come to the Village and we had lunch and started back to Mumbai by around 5PM. On the way they stopped for Tea break where we exchanged our email Ids with new found friends. At 9PM We were safe HOME!
