 |
Copyright Notice: Please obtain permission from the author before duplicating, re-publishing or adapting content of a trip report |
 |
Be a responsible traveler! Watch this video before you hit the road! Download Video: MP4|3gp |
 |
Do you like to contribute a Trip Report? learn how to or download template and start straight away! |
| Year and Month | June, 2014 (22nd) |
| Number of Days | One Day |
| Crew | 03 (Anupama, Ashan and My self) |
| Accommodation | N/A |
| Transport | Bus, Motor bike and walking |
| Activities | Mountain climbing, Sightseeing and Photography |
| Weather | Gloomy, later it cleared |
| Route | Colombo -> Matale -> Asgiriya junction in Madiwela road –> Asgiriya lime houses -> Etipola |
| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
|
| Related Resources | Trip report – Brandy Rock (1130m), Matale |
| Author | Niroshan |
| Comments | Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread |
Mighty Etipola Mountain drew my attention in two times. First experience was in our climb to Brandy rock (1130m) which was situated just below and front of Etipola Mountain. At that time we were wonder what is this Mountain. Then in my visit to Selagama mini world’s end, I noticed Etipola Mountain and it stimulated me to climb it.
Ashan and I came to Matale in early morning and got Madipola bus from old bus stand of Matale. When we got down at Asgiriya junction, Anupama was there in his bike. We three were not scared to go by the bike as we knew traffic police is not in that road.
Our wild guess is to find a path to climb Etipola behind Brandy rock.
We followed same pathway up to neck of Brandy rock. (Refer trip report on Brandy Rock)
 Etipola Mountain and Brandy rock. Photo taken by Ashan in his Wilshire climbing |
 Brandy rock (1130m) |
 Road condition was not good in some parts |
 Starting point |
 Climbing up along the forest patch. Those days there was a clear foot pathway in this part |
 This is a land mark water stream. We crossed it and climbed up in it’s left hand side till reach the Mana patch |
 This is the crucial part of Brandy rock climbing. It’s angle is about 60-70 degrees. But it can be climbed with the help of bushes |
 View of Brandy rock |
 Surrounding view. Black arrow shows Makulussa and red arrow shows Ambokka-only a part |
 Looked back. Black star shows the junction of Asgiriya lime houses. White arrow shows our pathway. This is the neighbor mountain-Wilshire |
 Asgiriya lime house junction. Zoomed view |
 At Brandy rock neck |
 View of Etipola Mountain from Brandy rock. Note there is a steep ascend between two rocks. No way to reach Etipola from this side |
After we realizing Etipola can’t be approached from this side we went back along the same pathway. Our next plan was to reach the other end of Etipola Mountain and climb along the edge of the mountain. But it was bit difficult to reach other end of the mountain because of forest patch. Then we went through the forest patch and climbed up along the Mana patch. There was a foot pathway through the Mana patch but was not that much clear. Sometimes Mana was higher than me. Once we tackled first Mana patch, then it was bit easy to go through rest of them which was on top of the Mountain. Actually the peak of the mountain on the other end. Then we had to climb further on top of the mountain to reach the peak. Before the peak we came across a forest patch with buses and some large trees. There was a clear foot pathway along that area till the peak.
 Same map taken from Ashan’s Brandy rock report. Green arrows show our way. Black star shows Asgiriya lime house junction/3 way junction. Blue star shows Brandy rock. Red arrow shows our way back up to other end of the mountain. Purple arrow-climbing along the edge of the mountain. Green star-Etipola peak. (Click Map to Enlarge) |
 Going back after failed attempt from Brandy rock side |
 Climbed up through initial Mana patch |
 Anupama and Ashan creeping through Mana bushes |
 Following initial Mana bushes, latter is not that much tall. Although this seemed as the peak, it is not |
 Having a rest |
 We filled our water bottles from there |
 Mana |
 I am struggling with Mana |
 A view point |
 He found a bony part |
 Looking back |
 Entering to the last forest patch. Almost clear foot pathway was there |
Reached the peak. Anupama is fixing the flag there
We came to the peak after 2hour climbing. Peak had a good panoramic view. Makulussa peaks, Ambokka, Arangala and Wilshire Mountain were seen in one side. Biso Gala, Batalagoda Lake and rest of Kurunegala district were seen in one side. We made our return journey in 1hour.
 Batalagoda Lake and Kurunegala District |
Isolated peaks of Kurunegala District
More view of Kurunegala side
 How we approached the peak. White star shows the starting point. Don’t know is it possible to climb from other side shown by white arrow |
 Brandy rock and Wilshire Mountain/Etigala. Note the acute steepness between Brandy rock and Etipola |
 Alawathugoda town zoomed |
 Successful three man team |
 Coming back. We were there…This is not the actual peak. It is far away |
 So common there…. |
 Makulussa with it’s three peaks. Might be next destination |
 Getting back. It was not easy to come down |
Thank you for reading