Checking the ropes, harness, carabiner and all the technical equipments right, we were set to unleash one of the pinnacles in the Mahuli range in Thane district. On Sunday, we left Pune at 11am to Vandre village the foothills of Mahuli range after collecting necessary food items and vital information of the pinnacle which were crucial for the accomplishment of the task. After having a hefty dinner at night and a much needed rest we started marching on our limbs with a guide before the dawn towards the climbing base of Vajir pinnacle the next day. The area being deprived of water we needed to ensure that we carried enough of it from the village itself.
The next most difficult task ahead of us was to teach the guide to operate camera and capture some pics of ours during the climb. After an hour or so Mr. Baban Kengavde our guide who took the initiative to learn it was firm that he would click nice snaps for us and that we now focus on our task. Soon we geared up ourselves, marked the route of climb and then we just headed for it.
The climb was quite enduring since the route was set through a monotonous overhang and a roof of 25ft of the total height of the pinnacle which was 450ft.The climbing pitch was divided into 4 stations and loose scree of 25ft near the summit. Clinching on our nerves at some moves at exposure to a valley of 2000ft increasing with each step above the other we made it to the summit at around 12.30pm.
We were quite overwhelmed with the accomplishment of our task and just hug each other before we yelled the climbing call 'Summit Summit Summit'. Looking at the great panorama of Mahuli range pinnacles from the summit our quenched thirst of climbing once again surged to go on for another one. The unusual perception that time was tickling and we had no other option then to capture our memories right on the LCD screen from the lens and abseil down to meet our guide and thank him for his extraordinary effort.
- Harshad Rao & Ajay More
