Solo trek to Japfu peak, Nagaland

Solo trip to the Northeast

Japfü Christian College

Day 4

The day. Solo trek to the treacherous Japfu peak. Started the trek early morning. The homestay owner, Mrs Rovi, drew me an excellent map of the trek. And she preferred to take a guide. But i was in a different mood.

Following the map all alone I reached the top. There were two dangerous stages of pure rock climbing and a cave. Ropes were fixed, but they were quite old. And in the other there was a PVC pipe. I reached the peak in 5 hrs of continuous steep rise.

The view from the top was awesome, breathtaking and marvellous. You can see whole of Nagaland, the Dzukou valley, the Saramati peak, highest peak of Nagaland. Luckily there was not much wind at the peak. The view at the top was so hypnotizing, that one hr passed by in no time.

Rock climbing was ok, but getting down some 100ft holding just a PVC pipe was frightening. Specifically, with no one near by. But i did it. It was a great experience. While going to the peak, i was bit tensed and followed the map. But while returning, i was overconfident. I was busy taking video shots and photos. And say what, i missed the track. Now in a jungle if you miss track. You r gone, you will never be able to get back to the track. Trekking becomes different. The small Bamboo trees are like nets. Moreover it is getting dark. I brought out my mobile. GPS tracking was ok. Just some 1000ft from the base camp. I called Miss Rovi. She told, neednot worry. Look for the track and keep your mobile charged. I fixed up my mind. By hook or crook i have to return to the base camp within half an hr. It gets dark quite early here. Started following GPS. Oh! It was treacherous. The path which was so smooth now is very frightening. The dried leaves and the mosses are so soft the feet is going deep inside it. Heard, it's a place full of snakes and leeches. The bamboo plants are like nets, literally they are not allowing to move. The roots hanging from trees are like. Oh forget it, i have to move forward following GPS. After 45 mins of climbing and descending, finally I reached the base camp. It was great relief. Another 5 kms to my homestay.

On reaching Dawn homestay, first job is to check for any leeches. No leeches. However, i found an insect stuck on my leg. Mrs Rovi shouted, " This is more dangerous than leeches, they put their head inside and go inside your body" puhhh!

With the fabulous early dinner, she told me that I was the only second person who could do it solo. Initially, it was done by an Israeli. She also told that jungle is filled with bear...very scary.

Tomorrow it will be to the dream valley , the valley of flower of northeast....the Dzouku valley

THE ROUTE:

- trek starts from Japfu Christian College

- Motorable road for 3km to Pony farm.. there is a watch tower

- follow the same route upto a wooden steps... basically, starting point of the trek

- then the potato field... be careful, lots of trail.... but follow the right hand trail... or ask any farmer

- you enter picturesque bamboo gates trail... naturally made

- you reach the base camp after 1km... a tin shaded house... can stay at night... however, didn't find any water source... there is a dry stream nearby

- take the right hand trail into the jungle... follow the trail ...forest of rhododendron .... picturesque....the tallest rhododendron somewhere here.

-after nearly 3kms steep rise through the jungle you will enter another motorable road coming from some other village... no one to ask.... even after returning, the homestay owner couldn't confirm

- follow the road towards left and after 3km the road suddenly ends....now you have to climb the last trail through the jungle.

- after trekking for 2kms you will encounter the first rock climb.... 25 ft of rock climb.. there are descent foot holds and a rope is hanging

- another 1km and you reach the final deadly rock climb of nearly 100ft... pvc pipe fixed....be careful, specially while coming down.... though it has quite descent footholds