Camping experience on Knuckles

Year and Month	June, 2014 (28th to 29th)
Number of Days	Two Day Trip
Crew	04 – Akila,Sadaruwan,Lalinda and my self
Accommodation	Camping on 2nd Knuckles peak
Transport	Bus, Three wheel and walking
Activities	Mountain climbing, Sightseeing and Photography
Weather	Misty, windy and drizzling
Route	Colombo -> Kandy -> Waththegama -> Panwila -> Bambaralla -> Knuckles peaks -> Back to same route to Colombo
Tips, Notes and Special remark	There are two camp sites on Knuckles peak: One is at first peak covered with tress. Other one is on second peak which has only surrounding bushes. But none of them have water. Therefore carrying enough water is a must for cooking. I was told by Ashan about a third camp site over 4th peak with a water well in his visit to Knuckles on later day. But I didn’t notice such a place. Hope Ashan will give more details about that. Be ready with a tent which suitable for wind. Camp site at second Knuckles peak faces extreme wind during night (We experienced). Carry some warm clothes for extreme cold during night. Firewood can be easily found from surrounding area of second camp site. But it is a bit challenge to make a fire with the wind.
Author	Niroshan
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Camping experience on Knuckles

This trip was happened almost one year back and I thought this is the correct place to discuss it.

We departure early morning from Colombo and reached Waththegama around 7.00am. After collecting our necessary stuff from there and hired a three wheeler to Thawalanthanna. (It was kind a fair taxi cost Rs 1500!!!).

Early morning weather was good but upper peaks were slightly covered with mist. But surrounding was misty on our way up and we reached the camp site around 3.00pm. For hard luck we couldn’t have any of the pictures I showed in above report.
We pitched our tent and prepared our dinner. It was extreme windy on top of second peak and it was a sleepless night.
Following day morning weather was same but we headed towards third peak and experienced furious wind at open area of second and third peaks.
Any way we reached 4th peak but then turned back as we couldn’t see even nearby things due to thick mist.