My first camping adventure with Karnataka Mountaineering Association (KMA) - By Ishanvi Harish
Day 1
Then we were told to assemble at a ground area and asked to make a circle. We were asked to count from 1 to 8 and divided into ROPES. I was in Rope 3 and my rope instructor was Ms. Chinmay ma’m. After this, we learnt about the different equipment used in mountaineering, how to use them, where and in which situation to use them. Soon after that we had some fresh lemon juice and went to our tents.We were served lunch which was very delicious. After lunch we all were taken to another camp site which was wonderful. We walked beside the lake and view was very nice.
We reached the other place where we were taught about tent pitching and about different kinds of knots and their uses. It was 5.15 pm when we returned to the camp. We all had hot pakoda’s and coffee/tea. We all were told to fall in at 6.30pm and meet the first ever TREE DOCTOR of India Mr. Vijay Nishanth. He explained how trees breath and how he has saved trees from acid attacks. We all were shocked about this miracle. I took his autograph which I will cherish. After the session, we had yummy dinner and went back to out tents. My tentmate was Aditi and that night we did not have proper sleep. Everyone was restless and were excited for the next day. I somehow managed to get 4 hours of sleep.
Day 2
Wake up call was at 5.30am. We assembled at the ground area at 6am. We did exercise, jogging and a song was taught to us by Ms. Poornima mam. The song was about the Penguin. Our PT was till 7am. We had breakfast at 7.30am. The next activity was trekking for which I was very excited. We started trekking at 8.15am. It was a nice long morning walk in between the fields of the maize, banana and other corps/plantations. It was 10am when we reached the peak and view was amazing. We could see our camp, lake beside it and everything looked very small. Our instructors took many drone shots. It was windy and it was lot of fun.. sitting on the rocks, smiling for photos and drone camera. We returned back to the camp at 12.30pm and we had our lunch by 1pm. Again it was a yummy lunch and I ate to the full.Our next adventure activity started at 1.30 and it included Commando Net, Ladder climbing, “and many other things. It was very nice and satisfying to complete all the activities. We were hungry again 😊 It was 5.35 pm and we had pakodas & coffee like the previous day. Soon after we got to know that we were going on a NIGHT TREK. This is something which I had never done before and I was scared. We started at 7pm and we turned on our torches. We walked about 2 kms and sat on a boulder. We turned off our torches and it was pitch dark.
Our instructors told us a story about the “KOLLI DEVVA”. I felt it was just a story and nothing like that exists. We returned back to the camp and I was happy. I had a heavy dinner and slept nicely in the tent.
Day 3
Wake up call was at 5.30 am and followed by PT and breakfast. Activities for the day included Rock climbing, rappelling, boulder climbing, zip line. These really sounded adventurous and I was excited. I completed all the activities with fun but was very scared and nervous when I reached the top to do rappelling. I tried and gave few attempts but could not complete and finally completed in the 4th attempt. My instructors were very supportive and encouraged me a lot to complete it. It was very tiring and but filled with fear and fun. We had packed lunch and reached back to the camp by 6pm. As this was our last camping night and we had DJ night with music and we danced for long time. had dinner and slept.
Day 4
Today’s activities were very exciting – slush games, water games. After PT and breakfast, it was full into slush games which we all enjoyed a great. Zip line was scary in starting as it was landing in the lake. I sawm in the lake for 20 mins which was very great experience and first time for me. All of us were provided life jackets and we were not scared. Next fun activity was “RAIN DANCE” and we danced for more than an hour. This was our last activity.
In this camp I met India’s first ever tree doctor Vijay Nishanth, Col Srinivasan, a retired army colonel who had served the nation for 30 years and Mohan sir who had swam across the English Channel. I took the autograph of all my instructors and celebrities.
Next, was the certificate distribution ceremony. I received my certificate, bag and water bottle. These are my souvenirs. My first Certificate from
KMA and I hope to get many more 😊. We started back at 4.30pm with lot of fun and memories and reached home by 6.30pm.
I thank KMA for this wonderful experience. All adventure activities, accommodation were secured and safe. Food was delicious. KMA helped me to overcome my fears and taught me to be independent and gave me knowledge on how to survive in the nature/wild. I have the confidence to go for many more camps, treks with KMA.
Thank You
Ishanvi Harish
