The Gates of Heaven - Part-V

‘The Gates of Heaven’ & My Close Encounters with Peter

(These chronicles are dated May 2011)

Peter has leadership qualities beyond any description or tenets ever written before. He is a human avatar with extraordinary radiance and attraction. All his instructions are followed flawlessly by the volunteers. He and his team are well organised. Every schedule started and ended on the dot. Highly disciplined. Peter’s volunteers strictly follow the plan discussed a day before at his residence. Even a delay of ten to fifteen minutes in the movement of the trekking party could lead to huge complications, especially if the delay caused drags into the dark hours.

The Dawn

It slowly dawned, the visibility has come, and I once again switched on the mobile under my pillow only to know that it is just 5:45 am. I may have had rested only a few hours, but it was very much sound without any dream disturbing my deep sleep. A few in the camp started to wake and I quickly pulled out my tools to freshen up as early as possible. A few started to enjoy the pool and some still shifting in their beds, reluctant to start the day. Peter walked between the trees towards me, “Here are your things, Prem,” he said, handing over my watch, sunglasses and cap. I thanked him and then, he looked at the place I had slept last night. “Cool!” he said, “You selected the best place in the camp.” “Are you leaving for the Level 2 hike up to the peak as planned?” I enquired. “I don’t know. As such, no one is interested. Some more have to wake up and I shall wait until 7 am and see who is coming,” he replied and left hurriedly to get ready for a plunge in the pool.

Within a few minutes, one could hear the increased number of splashes in the pool. Peter jumped in and few others more, some with a swimming tube, some jumping from cliffs slightly high above and others gliding in the water enjoying their dip. Brijesh was still sleeping over the edge of the pool halfway of the main platform; his white linen covering him and nothing below to cushion from the rocky surface. He slept on the rugged terrain, a comfort that he alone can rate. I remembered him saying that he never carried any backpack for he never cared to bring any luggage, which means he was never at the mercy of modern comforts except for whatever is offered by nature. Suddenly, his simplicity radiated a million messages, he would never agree if I related to any similarities of enlightened souls. In my opinion, he shall reach great heights in whatever profession he is in, that’s for sure, and it is here clearly demonstrated right in front of our eyes. Peter slowly pedalled toward him, caught the ankles of his feet, which were accessible from the edge of the bank, and pulled them towards him into the pool. Brijesh glided on his back into the water, instantly making strokes and without any resistance, kick-starting his day with a refreshing swim. Whoever was witnessing the scene roared into splits of laughter. They all played and enjoyed in the pool, swimming from one end to the other and from time to time, taking a shower below the dribbling falls.

The call came for tea packets and whoever possessed them passed on to the stop-gap chef who brewed tasty hot tea within minutes. I took a bowl full and returned to my place, enjoying the hot potion sip by sip. Eric came along, “Good Morning!” he wished and I wished him in return. “You have successfully made it. Congratulations!” he said with a big smile. I spontaneously replied, “I totally mismanaged with my backpack and, had Brijesh not volunteered, I would have been a real liability,” I confessed. “No problem! But still, you made it good. You sure have the stamina,” he said, his eyes searching for something on the ground. “Here it is, a perfect place, very flat like a tablet.” He positioned himself for exercises. “I need to do some stretching and this is a perfect place,” having said so, he bent and started sweating it out. Later, he left for the pool. Eric and Christine also took the plunge in the main pool and after some time, ventured into the smaller pool at the other end. They were thrilled by the beauty of the smaller pool and cried for others to join them. Meanwhile, Sinu also joined the party and prepared herself for a daring jump from a height upon the right-side wall, two experienced swimmers assembled on alert to help her after the plunge at the signal of Naveen.

I changed into the dried-up swimsuit and preferred to take support of a swim tube and headed to the bank. I entered the pool from the rocky bank and spent almost half an hour exploring all corners of the pool. Despite having plunged in all the pools yesterday, the enjoyment in the present pool was outstanding and incomparable. It was like home and unforgettable.

As I returned to my quarters, Radhakrishna was preparing himself for the swim. “You had tea?” I enquired. “No,” he replied. “Then you should have tea before you go into the water,” I suggested. He immediately sped with his bowl and by that time, they were already collecting further noodle packets for breakfast. After a few minutes, Peter yelled, “Whoever is coming for the climb to the peak, please get ready in five minutes,” and the interested members started forming. After the deadline, Peter called the adventurers to follow him towards the narrow path uphill and few others swam across the pool towards the fall and started scaling the slippery rock behind the fall itself. They all disappeared in a few minutes, informing that they would return by 9:30 am.

Before leaving for the peak, Peter cautioned Naveen asking him to watch whoever is venturing into the pool and, accordingly, he was on alert with himself in the pool. Naveen gave his first announcement that whoever was slow should start by 8:30 am and the rest can begin their return journey by 9 am. The announcement was for people like me and immediately, I completed packing my backpack. I took with me the aluminium water bottle that I bought at Wildcraft; it had a convenient latch to lock it to the belt loops of my thin pants. I ripped open the glucose packet and tipped half the powder into the bottle. It was the only source I was depending on that day to keep me going, also the electrol that I inserted into my pant pocket. For a moment, I stood still and a strange fear enveloped me, instilling a doubt whether I could make it as good as yesterday. I pulled my laces and thanked my shoes for the marvellous support they had given me yesterday, and stood up to start off.

“You may leave your bag, Prem” Naveen called from a distance “Brijesh will carry it." He was standing at the far end, making an assessment of the group under his supervision. I left my backpack at the centre of the main platform so that Brijesh could never miss it. I felt that if at all Brijesh cursed me, I deserved it, but I was sure that I would not return to civilisation in one piece within the sunset if I have to carry the bag. I felt convinced that the Brijesh sacrifice would be a better option than the liability I would impose on the entire team. I cleared my guilt, convinced with a theory of my own.

The Return Journey

The previous night, I voiced my apprehension to Naveen whether I would be able to overcome all those hurdles while returning. My only doubt was whether I could continue the second day with similar timing as I had shown on the first day. The strength would drain and confidence could be beaten with strain.

I was dropped by a volunteer in yesterday’s fashion, from ‘The Picnic Poll’ to the last clearing, by waterway. With shoes around my neck, I managed to reach safely. After wearing my shoes, I started off and, in the meanwhile, Naveen appeared climbing down the hill. I started hopping and jumping on the boulder path from thereon. Naveen assigned Divesh at the initial stint to watch over me, showing the pathway until the gorge. Divesh was very kind and slowed down whenever I could not keep his pace. I managed to cover as much ground as I could and after some time, it was Muthu who accompanied me, keeping an eye and assisting me wherever I could not dare — over the larger boulders or across slippery streams. Today, I should have fallen more times into the stream while crossing it than the number of times the day before.

By the time we reached the gorge, Peter and his Level 2 hikers were almost behind us. Brijesh and the others reached the spot while we were resting. “How was your early morning adventure?” I eagerly enquired. “Fantastic!” he replied, “Take anything from your bag if you need,” he suggested. I told him that there was nothing for me to take for I decided to eat lesser today than the day before. Instead, I gulped, frequently, the water from my aluminium bottle mixed with glucose from time to time. The glucose recipe was more effective than anything I could imagine for the moment. I looked up to the climb towards the loose soil and boulders. Naveen was already accompanying the group, giving instructions while climbing. “You can take rest, Prem, there is time and come along with Peter’s group,” he advised and left towards the slope.

Meanwhile, Brijesh and the others were engrossed in a discussion, sitting on a large platform-shaped boulder. “Don’t lag behind,” he warned, turning towards me. “No, I shall come along with you,” I said, looking at the steep climb. “No. Peter and we are going down the falls by ropes and you have to follow the others going before you,” he declared. Having no choice, I ran to fall in line with the others and quickly started towards the slope.

“Naveen!” I cried out loud so that he could hear if he was still on the way to the cliff. There was no response, but I started gathering all my will and courage to climb it alone. I remembered the support of the green plants and accordingly succeeded to the top. After I reached the clearing a little further, I could hear voices. I shouted again for Naveen and moved further with a doubt whether I was on the right path or not. After reaching the top, I could see Naveen helping a couple cross the edgy rock over the gorge. “Yes sir, we are here,” he said. Relieved, I approached the slender path that I rated yesterday as the most critical. But the ordeal was over within seconds today, to my surprise, and I wondered whether it was the mental state that made it easier today. Actually, I apprehended disaster with reference to my abilities today, but my fears overcame now. We climbed down slowly, not letting body weight disturb the soil below, which could make way for a fall. I succeeded with Naveen’s guidance, landing with ease and we all started again. The journey resumed and I observed that many were in a hurry to reach early to return to their homes. The pace was much quicker than the day before. We finally reached the ‘Dead End Pool’. By that time, Radhakrishna caught up with us. “How was the morning hike?” I asked inquisitively. “Fantastic!” he replied, “A great view from the top.”

Just like yesterday, Naveen was organising the transport of the backpacks and shoes with a few volunteers to the other side of the bank and he was helping the members cross the boulders with the support of another set of volunteers. “I suggest you go through the water instead of crossing the boulders,” Radhakrishna suggested. “I came through the water yesterday too, but only until the second boulder,” I informed him. He then pointed to the deep pool below and said that it was very deep and I could cross with the help of tubes and the assistance of a good swimmer. I agreed immediately after experiencing the episode with Peter yesterday, but the difference was that now, I needed to jump from a height of ten to twelve feet. I decided to dare. Immediately, I removed my shoes along with other items and handed them over for safe transfer. I was given a colourful tube to wear. With the assistance of Radhakrishna, I slid a few feet down to reduce the length of the fall and then, jumped with a leap towards the water, avoiding hitting the cliff walls. No sooner I surfaced after the splash, I was pulled by my swimming companion and he slowly pulled me with one hand. At the halfway, I said that I could manage to the bank for I had become familiar with the exercise.