Passing it on

Its always pleasure when new gives way to old. New blood in management gives companies new ideas, plans, energy and often lead to successes (though some negative case studies also exist, but in terms of % positive impact cases lead in nos). In 2007 world cup new blood leased life into Indian cricket taking it to inaugural ICC T20 win, test no 1, and ICC world cup. New directors are giving new dimension to bollywood, marathi film and theatre. Music has seen new stars.Only worrying aspect is marathi literature where old still rules, very few new talents have emerged. Maybe due to decline of marathi as language in education. Though some new Indian english talent has emerged. Change is constant. Thus one feels great when you pass on your legacy to new blood. I am not retiring or i dont claim to have great legacy but i am simply sharing a great experience of passing on a hobby or culture or lifestyle called as trekking to my 9 yr old daughter.
Trekking is life style. Its an addiction. Pack off your sack every weekend and head to hills. We in pune are blessed with options, accessibilty and suitable weather (except maybe 2-3 summer months when you can do night treks) Rains add new dimesion to trekking. But as they say every trekker memoir starts with climbing sinhagad. Go to any place with open view , or any high rise or a hill near pune. The big wall of sinhagad with its unique shape and TV tower is something you will see. It has omnipresence here. It challenges, it calls and you follow that. There are people who go there every week. For me last few years have been resurrection in my trekking life. Years before that due to work pressure or lack of like minded fellows, bad habits, laziness, young family chores, physical challenges, i admit to have taken urban cosmo lifestyle. The trekking lifestyle was there throughout my student and single working life. But since last few years, have found likeminded people, groups and will to complete my trekking cv. 2011 has been fantastic. Vasota, sinhagad atleast 4 times with friends. Himalayas are calling this summer/monsoon. But what i experience last sunday was amazing. Doing trek with my daugther.
In fact she was so excited to go to trek that she was wide awake till late. I had also promised her to see 4 planets visible beteen 510 t0 5 20 am for this week. I woke her up and there she was ready. we went to chandani chowk to see that. we could see only 3 as it was getting brighter. then drove towards base.
We started climbing. There was lot of encouragement from usual sunday morning crowd at sinhagad. She was bit tensed as she saw the climb and destination. she was comfortable till first met when road is wide with stones. Sun was still behind hills. It was bit chilly as last few nights in pune are very pleasant. Then we have those narrow steep climbs where she was bit sacred . But gave her solid instructions to hold my hand. we were slow but reached the final met after a stiry telling session from me to disctract her. we had water and lemon drops. That refreshed her. Final strech is narrow and bit winds through shrubs. she was comfortable then as she could see destination nearer. as we recahed she sensed the achievement when i showed her parking place. we had famous buttermilk, bhaji , guava, kairi. i gave her option to climb down by road. These days though cars are not allowed up due to raod repairs, jeeps di ply. she refused saying she wants to complete the trek.
She was slipping while cimbing down as one normally does. One has to control climb down. Same logic of hold me, story went off well. Now sun was up so we drank lime juice at one met. also we started counting no of slips as 'prasads' and who wins with most prasads. we reached parking. She then called her mom at home who was worried. My wife in typical mumbai girl. she gets scared on water and heights.
we (I) have made umpteen attempts to convince her but we could only manage ARAI hill, neelkantheshwar, karal bhaje caves, lohgad, pratapgad, panhala out of her.
As i was driving back, i could see her doze off due to early rise or exhaustion. she was claiming her legs were not aching but could sense that they were. But seeing her determination and eagerness, i was impressed. Though it does not mean much, atleast i have satisfaction to have exposed to healthy trekking lifestyle. Now its upto her to take this baton. One good thing pointed by my friend is that, now i have a trekking buddy for whole of my rest of the life. Thats something is very good news and something i look forward to. stay with this space for more such experiences.
I am sure all my dad friends and other parents will identify with my feeling. I see many such parents taking children to sinhagad or more difficult treks. So this is not big deal and i am not bragging. But idea is to share with you feeling of passing it on and getting new trekking buddy. Thats a significant moment in everyone's life