A trek to the top of Skandagiri in the middle of the night is all it takes to convert a couch potato into an outdoor enthusiastu00a0 <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2009/feb/caper.jpg" align="right" border="1" />I have always been a couch potato. Adventure trips and treks were never my idea of chilling out, until I was literally forced to pack my bags for a night trek to Skandagiri. Cursing, I joined a bunch of trekking enthusiasts and started from Bangalore at around 8 pm. I grudgingly confessed that the drive was good fun.u00a0 Singing and dancing in the bus, it was like any other college trip. Crossing the chaos of the city, we reached Chikballapur and after getting instructions from the local people, we finally reached Skandagiri.u00a0 When I alighted, I couldn't believe that we would be climbing a rocky hill in the inky blackness of the night. Thankfully, we carried quite a few wooden sticks and torches. Given half a chance, I would have got right back into the bus and slept I am scared of creepy crawlies but I continued, partly egged on by friends and partly driven by my own curiosity.u00a0 It was a tedious trek and involved skipping over lots of small rocks, which are dangerous because you could trip over them and break a bone. After covering a small distance, I was gasping for breath. We took a brief snack break, clicked the mandatory photographs and got into the serious business of putting one foot in front of the other.u00a0u00a0 By this time, the enthusiasm of my fellow trekkers has worked wonders on my flagging spirit and I started enjoying myself, especially when I chanced upon small caves enroute. After three long hours, we reached the peak and a sense of achievement overcame me. I realised why trekking is so addictive. Our thumping hearts and the howling wind were the only sounds that disturbed the silence and the serenity. It was a magical moment that I'll treasure always.u00a0u00a0 We set up camp. Close to 5 am, drama began unfolding in the horizon. This was the loveliest sunrise I have ever enjoyed. Drinking in the beauty, I stood mesmerized as the sun climbed higher and higher. It was soon time to pack up and head downhill.u00a0u00a0 Clambering down was as tough as climbing up the hill. After an hour of carefully negotiating rocks and stray pebbles, just as we were about to reach the foot of the hill, I tripped and sprained my ankle. That wasn't quite the perfect way to end the trip but I wasn't complaining.u00a0 My midnight trek to Skandagiri converted me. Believe me, it's never too late to start exploring the great outdoors.u00a0

Eat, shop and be merry

A trek to the top of Skandagiri in the middle of the night is all it takes to convert a couch potato into an outdoor enthusiast  

Midnight caper

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Midnight caper

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