Kerala Trekker's Four-Day Forest Ordeal Strengthens Her Love for Wilderness
G S Sharanya, a 36-year-old IT professional from Kerala, has emerged from a harrowing four-day survival experience in the dense forests near Tadiandamol, Madikeri, Karnataka, with her passion for trekking not only intact but reinforced. Speaking from her home in Nadapuram, Kozhikode, Sharanya described the forest not as a source of fear but as a place of profound beauty and quiet companionship.
A Beautiful Yet Challenging Night in the Wilderness
"As darkness fell, the forest slowly came alive, first with the sound of cicadas and then with fireflies," Sharanya recalled. "It seemed like a full moon and the night was bright to the point that one couldn't sleep. It was the first time that I was seeing a night inside the forest, and it was beautiful." Despite this serene moment, she faced practical challenges, having only a 500ml water bottle and no food left after consuming a banana upon reaching the peak.
Strategic Survival Decisions
Sharanya's survival was marked by careful planning and resilience. On the first day, she stayed put due to leg pain from walking from 8 am to 6:45 pm the previous day. The second day, she remained in an open area to increase her visibility to search teams, especially drones. Heavy rain on the third day disrupted her plan to climb to a higher point. By noon on the fourth day, as clouds gathered again, she began walking to the top.
"I heard someone calling out and I responded. I realised they were locals. Since they hadn't spotted me yet, I shook a tree to signal my location," she said, describing her rescue. Throughout the ordeal, she drank three litres of water daily from a stream, noting that the spot felt relatively safe as it wasn't easily accessible for large animals, though she observed elephant dung along the route.
How She Lost Her Way
Sharanya recounted losing her way on April 2 after reaching the peak of Tadiandamol. She and two others began their descent around 10:40 am. When she looked back, she saw them resting and decided to wait, but they soon disappeared from sight. Noticing other group members still at the peak, she attempted to climb back via a path to her left but lost sight of them and strayed off route.
She then tried following Google Maps. "Around 2 pm, when I briefly got network, I called the homestay and informed them that I had lost my way," she added. Despite calling out for help, she felt unheard due to the sound of the flowing stream and dense surroundings.
Undeterred Spirit and Future Plans
Despite the ordeal, Sharanya remains undeterred. She emphasized that the experience hasn't shaken her love for trekking and she plans to continue pursuing her passion for the wilderness. She has already planned a trip to Tawang and intends to go if she gets leave. "The forest is a place of striking beauty," she affirmed, showcasing her unwavering commitment to adventure and nature.
