[venkat_iyer]

Thanks for the wishes, getsurya and Satyen (Monaro). It was definitely an awesome way to have a birthday celebration! To cut a birthday cake with fog and rain all around, in the back of a fortuner, well that definitely was a first for me.
Having missed the Rajmachi trip earlier, I definitely wanted to make it to the next off-roading trip at all costs. When 28th July was decided, I made sure that i kept the first half of the day clear for this, having secured the necessary approvals and permits from the LOH . I had clocked 8000+ Km with my Callandor in 7 months, and had still not had the opportunity to engage HL, LL or do any kind of off-roading yet. The ride sure was fun, and managed to climb comfortably till "slope point", without having to use HL or LL. Of course, the road was incredibly narrow, with the overhanging branches closing in, and whipping up the sides! From the slope point to the summit, began in HL, and then switched to LL for the final push, as it was slushy and very steep! No heart-stopping moments fortunately
In hindsight, i guess this was the perfect way to break-in my fortuner to off-roading, as the Rajmachi trail was definitely more tough with all the clay and slush!
Here are a few pics from my side:

Enroute to Slopes of hell


The trail


Pretty sights all round...when the fog lifted momentarily!


At the top!




A hitchhiker on Manish's fortuner...snail!


View of the expressway...awesome!




The way down..trailing Kedar.





Karan's beast!

[venkat_iyer]

And some more...

The Posse!




Karan's Fortuner


My Callandor


Objects in the rear view mirror...


Karan's attempt to climb the mountain!


Kedar's beast




And here is the video...apologies for the low quality, but had to do it to manage size.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRE-a...ature=youtu.be

[kedarwalke]

Originally Posted by venkat_iyer

And here is the video...apologies for the low quality, but had to do it to manage size.

http://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=oRE-a...ature=Youtu.be

Venkat,those are some superb picutres.
I spent the entire night uploading videos in high resolution,here they are....

Venkat in action ,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOR_-1USqS4

Manish brushing his skills,before he hits Ladakh this Friday,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN6dUPvZwOU

Karan climbing the slope effortlessly,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDpuneHO87A

My fortuner rescued by Karan,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqrSEXRzx_c

Thanks for watching guys!!

[venkat_iyer]

Originally Posted by kedarwalke

Venkat,those are some superb picutres.
I spent the entire night uploading videos in high resolution,here they are....


Thanks for watching guys!!

Lovely Kedar! couldn't watch videos 2 and 4 (Manish's and Karan in your fortuner), saying its private.

[parsh]

Stupendous! Thanks for sharing.

Care to share approx of what could be that gradient? I know it is hell of one and must be torturous especially in monsoon.

Had come across a biker group going on to do the trail sometime back making it to the mid-point with barricades where the EWay is visible, and that was in dry season.

Lately I have been thinking why Toyota should get free publicity for the daredevil stunts of the Team-BHPian Fortuners. Instead it should freely start sponsoring these. Why the hell the group is giving it out to Toyota freely when they are doing the daredevilry self? Plus Toyota should also selflessly consider covering the bashing these brave Fortuners receive from the narrow roads lined with such unforgiving tress. Make a case guys and atleast get the fills (both the Fortuner bellies and yours too) and (toll) bills from Toyota. Its high time some royalty comes in.

And when you get that royalty, kindly share it here with us

[SDP]

Originally Posted by kedarwalke

....
...
Thanks for watching guys!!

Kedar,
#3 and #8 are not opening. Getting "This video is private" message. Can you please check?

[kedarwalke]

Originally Posted by venkat_iyer

Lovely Kedar! couldn't watch videos 2 and 4 (Manish's and Karan in your fortuner), saying its private.

Originally Posted by SDP

Kedar,
#3 and #8 are not opening. Getting "This video is private" message. Can you please check?

Please check now,have changed the privacy settings.

[contactme27]

Thanks for sharing the trip details. It is worth for a weekend call....

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Good fun you guys have had it seems. Nice pics.

We did the slopes of hell and more with our jeeps a few years ago:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ex...-rajmachi.html

[karan561]

Originally Posted by venkat_iyer

Here are a few pics from my side:

Hey Venkat, there you are

Finally we have your report, pics & the video, thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by parsh

Stupendous! Thanks for sharing.

Care to share approx of what could be that gradient? I know it is hell of one and must be torturous especially in monsoon.

^ More than 70% was gravel & bits of broken tarmac, only the last 25-30% bit was tricky (i.e. required some spotting for the 1st car to pass) & slushy once approaching the peak.

Originally Posted by kedarwalke

I spent the entire night uploading videos in high resolution,here they are....

Hey Kedar,

Thanks man for uploading the videos.

Originally Posted by contactme27

Thanks for sharing the trip details. It is worth for a weekend call....

Hey, Thanks !

It sure is, make sure you get there in a 4x4, if not u can hike the last 25% bit on foot.

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

Good fun you guys have had it seems. Nice pics.

We did the slopes of hell and more with our jeeps a few years ago:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ex...-rajmachi.html

Hey Tejas,

Thanks, we appreciate your comment.

Yes had gone through your thread before planning the trip, thanks

[Guderian]

Another great thread from the Fortuner Boys !
Great snaps and videos.

Those flats on top look deceptively simple to maneuver till the tyres sink into them and some deft moves are required to extricate them.

I, for one, am looking forward to our next adventure to make up for this missed one for sure !

And for a few scenes of what happened during & after the OTR...Of course I am sure that it did happen:

- Venkat's better half giving him suspicious looks on reaching home after spotting blades of grass on his T-shirt. Well, lying down to take snaps on a wet turf has its own hobby hazards. "Getting off the road and for for that...Venkat !!!"

- Many members (at least 2 ) swearing to reduce weight. Far too many times their Fortuners getting stuck in the mud with them in it. And the same Fortuners springing across the same terrain like young bucks when someone lighter sits in it and drives them out of the mud pit.

- Tyre cursing - again. And looking at Karan's tyres (his Fortuner's really) with envy.

Aloha !

[Ahmed]

My first no show to a T-Fogger event. Really down with sorry on not being able to attend the event due to an unavoidable event. I was ready to hit the road at 0400 hrs and to catch the gang @ Kamats. My younger son bed tripped and landed on his left elbow dislocating it at midnght. Had to rush to the hospital and it had to be operated.

Needless to say that I was glued to my phone for updates on both TBHP and Facebook while in hospital.

Guderian!
Salaami, Salaami, Salaami (Its the respect given and not the chicken salaami! They should have a smilie which bows here too) Man you are awesome.

Kedar, Manish, Karan and Venkat ! you guys have a better 'kasbekar' in you than me! Loved the snaps and the write-ups. Video's too.

So the no-show breakfast penalty rightly accepted shall be abided by. Guderian and Monaro - you can wait for your turn later.

Cheers!

[nilanjanray]

Karan, did the Continental tyres make a difference compared to the stock Dunlops?

[karan561]

Originally Posted by Guderian

Another great thread from the Fortuner Boys !
Great snaps and videos.

Hey Thanks again Guderian ! I say it again, wish Admiral would have been a part of the drill.

Originally Posted by Guderian

- Tyre cursing - again. And looking at Karan's tyres (his Fortuner's really) with envy.
Aloha !

HaHa, im sure you have planned a set for yourself too, especially after the ' Pottery classes' you conducted last month.

Originally Posted by Ahmed

Kedar, Manish, Karan and Venkat ! you guys have a better 'kasbekar' in you than me! Loved the snaps and the write-ups. Video's too.
Cheers!

Hey Ahmed Thanks !

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Karan, did the Continental tyres make a difference compared to the stock Dunlops?

Nilanjan,

The slopes were steep & rocky not much of slush till we were up the hill. So i dont think there was much demanded from the OE Dunlops.

But, after conquering Slopes oh Hell, we head to a new trail, where i had attempted a Hill Climb;



^ I went up quite a bit & was back to ground zero without any trouble.

But when Kedar attempted the same, he got stuck with his OE Dunlops & i think this is where the tires took over

[pdev29]

Karan/Manish,

Finally you guys made it there. Good to see you guys in action.
Next time do let me know if you plan something. one of the members from Extreme Offroaders gang owns a fortuner might join you.. he will sure enjoy such trips too.