29 June, Biking to Kakani - Gurje Bhanjyang

Mudkhu-Kakani-Gurje Bhanjyang- Tokha

Saturday, June 29, 2013.

Blocked Trail had to revert

It was a rainy Saturday and the rendezvous point for the Mud Trailers was Mudkhu. (For outsiders Mudkhu falls on the Pasang Lhamu Highway going to Trishuli Dhunche via Kakani). Kakani is situated in ridge top and is the view point for the Himlayas (Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal, Manasalu etc.) The meet time was set at 6:25 and the departure time was set for 6:45 but it was raining from the previous night to early morning and hence there was further delay in our departure. The delay was further fueled by the cake cutting ceremony as this day also coincided with the birthday of Binod Lama. Amongst the Mud Trailers, Binod is the Coordinator, Leader, Captain, Skipper, full of humor, poet, singer (ardent fan of Narayan Gopal), and lot more.

The ride from Mudkhu to Kakani was uneventful, riding on the rainy highway (very little traffic) distance was roughly 20, 21 kms. all uphill and strenuous.  There were eleven riders in total and it took us nearly two and a half hours to reach Kakani as we had to wait and give time for the slow riders. It was decided to have our brunch in Kakani itself so ordered for Dal Bhat with Kukhura ko masu, with strawberry (local) wine. After the hefty meal, everyone was keen to find a downhill trail to ease one’s stomach, but it is so true that one never gets what one wants. The owner of the hotel where we had our lunch suggested us to go via Gurje Bhanjyang trail rather than Takreshwor trail which we had inquired about. None of us had ventured in this particular trail before.

The trail goes east of Kakani and after crossing the compound of scout training center it enters the Shivapuri National Park. Then the trail starts to climb and after some 800, 900 meters the trail forks into two, both going to Gurje Bhanjyang via south or north of the ridge. (see photo) After one phone call, it was agreed to take the Southern trail. After riding for a kilometer or so the trail was closed by the overgrown bushes and shrubs and it was impenetrable. (see photo) We traced back and took the northern trail, though by now some of us were opining to go back the way we came. The north trail was better than its counterparts, at least the trail could be seen, though it was narrow. The trail began climbing and at places we had to drag our bike and sometimes we were riding. It was fully green forest, the rain had stopped but at times we were inside the cloud. The left side of the trail was kind of a cliff and looked pretty dangerous. If there were trees it would not look dangerous but at times trees could be seen after a drop of 15 meters. So we all had made our decision/resolution to fall on the right side of the trail, if we had to take a fall (as if we could make the choice). To make our adventure more interesting the trail was full of leeches. Somehow the birthday boy miraculously escaped being a victim of leech. Otherwise everyone had the marks of three or four bites in our body.  The ascent of the trail finished and the downhill started, which was so thrilling. The trail at places was further deepened by the monsoon rains, and could not ride thru it and hence had to look over the rocks on the right side and ride over it with a vertical drop of 4-5 feet at the end of the rock. Some places the trail was on rocky formation making it like stairs going downwards. Though there were some falling of the bike but nobody fell over the cliff. One cycle was punctured when the rider could not manage to ride thru the rocks and fell off.

After Gurje Bhajyang till Tokha the ride was still comfortable but after Tokha, we entered the bustling city of Kathmandu and the perennial traffic woes of it.

By the time I reached back home it was 5 in the evening. The total distance that I had done would be plus sixty kilometers. My phone went dead, the app that I used drained the battery and it has recorded only 36.38 KM up to Kakani. Another mud trailer’s app recorded approx 57 KM.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/314470647