What is the Reason Behind your First Climb?

Keep close to nature's heart., and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. 

Mountaineering is one of the most extreme outdoor and adventure sport. And a unique one. Just like any other sports, you have one goal in climbing mountains. In Running, it is to reach the finish line. In Basketball, it si to score more points than your opponent by making the basketball through the hoop. In boxing, it is to stun the opponent so that he cannot get to his feet before the count of ten. While in Mountaineering, we only have one goal: and that is to reach the summit no matter how high the mountain is. 

It is my biggest dream to climb mountains way back from high school. The first mountains I have climbed during those times were the mountains surrounding Montalban, but it's more of trekking. I don't know the concept of Mountaineering before until Romy Garduce, the first Filipino mountaineer who reached the summit of Mt. Everest became a headline, and became my inspiration. I don't have any concept on how to climb mountains because I don't know anyone who's fond of climbing mountains.

My first mountain selfie: at the Devil's Mountain MT. CRISTOBAL. :)

I reached college and still reaching a summit is only a dream, due to my hectic schedule, limited money, and most of all, I don’t know someone who is fond of climbing mountains. My friends are not used to this kind of adventure so I don’t see the sense of pursuing this passion. Maybe it’s not my time yet. So I just kept reading blogs and articles, envy and jealous about their experience, climbing from one mountain to another, from one summit to other.

There will come a time when you will be called by the mountain itself. Mountaineering is just like any other professions- you must have the passion to pursue it. And whether you believe it or not, every mountaineer was called by the mountain itself. You we’re chosen by nature to learn something from her, where only the chosen ones can experience. You will realize along the trail the purpose why the mountains called you. You have to sort it out.

My first Summit at MT. CRISTOBAL.

My first climbing buddies: THE PINOY BACKPACKERS TEAM.

AUGUST 5, 2013. It is the date when the mountains called me. Mt. Cristobal welcomed my first climb and marked me as an Official Backpacker. It is the time when I experienced all the exhaustions, depressions, and pressure and all I want is to explode. It’s the time when I graduated from college. The time I was betrayed by my “so-called” friends.  My first heartbreak.  I got terminated from my first job. And all I know is that I’m such a failure. I came to a point where I don’t know what to do, how will I find my inner peace and how will I release all those pain?

And that’s how the mountains made a move to welcome me in her arms. My first climb at Mt. Cristobal made me forget temporarily the stress of real life in the Metro. I climbed without the proper bag, proper attire (I was only wearing short jeans), a tent without pegs and cover, 1 liter of water, a black garbage bag as my bag’s raincover, no headlamps/flashlights, no jacket, and no proper training. But thanks to my company, I survived the trail with their help.

 It is the first time I laughed with my newly found friends and my co-climbers. And that's the time I realized that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. The first time I did that night was sit alone inside my tent after socials. And think about all those hatred, and decided that these hatreds should be buried in this campsite. Along side with the freezing temperature, heavy rain, and a very dark night, I meditate myself. I will enjoy this climb and I tell myself that after this, I will embrace a new life just like this mountain embraced me.

My second mountain: The MT. PINATUBO. (Actually it's a volcano and you have to cross 11 mountains to get there summing up to 14 mountains I've climbed so far. Haha.)

My second climbing buddies: THE TEAM MABALASIK.

One of the best part of climbing is the attachment with your buddies. And this is our post climb celebration all the way to Alabang!

AUGUST 6, 2013. 10:00am. That's the time we reached the summit of Mt. Cristobal. And upon seeing the view, it made me speechless. The first thing I did after reaching the summit? I closed my eyes and prayed. And enjoyed the view for almost 30 minutes. I almost cried seeing the view, looking at the entire Batangas and Quezon province and it made me realize how great life is. Life is what you make it as I call it. And Mt. Cristobal taught me one thing: The future is as blank as a plane sheet if you don't have an eagle's eye, that's why you should climb to a vantage point to get a perspective view at your future.

And that's the time I fell in love with mountains. The mountains will teach you something that is only designated for you. We are destined to learn different things appropriate to each of us. During the climb, it is normal if you tripped/stumbled along the trail. But always remember that your comrades will lend their hands to lift you up. And you will just laugh about it. Just like life. To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to able to laugh at yourself is maturity. And even the best fall out sometimes.

Up to this date, I already climbed 3 mountains: The Devil’s Mountain Cristobal, The Sleeping Giant Pinatubo, and The Great Batulao. And I’m looking forward for more mountains to climb because I’m excited on what other lessons the mountain would teach me.

What is your reason why you climb mountains? And what’s the story behind your first climb? J

First encounter with the Aetas at Mt. Pinatubo.

My third climbing group: TRAVEL TIPID. It doesn't have to be expensive!

Looking for more mountains to climb! Mabuhay ang mga Backpackers! Ipagbunyi ang mga mamumundok! Ipagdiwang ang pag-akyat!

MT. BATULAO: My Third Journey towards Nature

When life gets you down just look up and realize how beautiful it really is.

Friday night. 7:00pm. That's the only time I've decided to join my third climb, few hours before the meetup time. At first, I doubt because it will be my first climb with my newlyfound bestfriend to join a climb we just found through Facebook. And everything was all worth it. Happiness doesn't have to be expensive, and that's proven with this climb, with this mountain, and with my new friends.

Just like any other climb, it is expected that most of you don't know each other and you have to sort it out on the climb itself. We first met at the Coastal Terminal, with a call time at 4:00am. Due to excitement, like any climbers, Jonel (the man on green) and I arrived at the meet up place at 3:00am. We are the earliest birds among the earliest, and we won headmasks/headgears from the organizers. As first timers on the group, it really made me feel so welcomed. I bet few climb organizers think of this kind of idea to welcome their newbies.

From Coastal Terminal to Nasugbu, Batangas, it almost took 2 hours before we arrived at the main road entry to Mt. Batulao. The mountain is a gorgeous one just like the others on its surrounding, the Mt. Maculot (wherein according to Lyke Basilio, the highest mountain if straightened), and the Mt. Banahaw, which is visible from the summit. Before we start the climb, I was asked to lead the prayer and bravo, let the expedition start. 

Mt. Batulao, being my first minor climb, is not as hard like my previous climbs. "Puchu puchu climb" as I described it, because of it's easy trail on the way to the campsite compared to my previous ones. And during that time, it is the anniversary of the "New Trail", which makes the date more memorable. Mini stores are scattered along the way, offering Mountain Dew, Lugaw and the most dominant of all: Halo Halo. 

One of the best views on Mt. Batulao are the campsites. It looks like a tourist area designated for picnics. It is even comfortable to camp because all amenities we're available: from toilet (which was spoiled by my friend Jonel Bedano), a mini store, and benches. We arrived at almost 1:00 in the afternoon, giving us more time socializing with my fellow campers. 

Photo Credit: Joanna Peralta

One of the best part of an entire climb is the "socials" as they call it. It is the time when the group gathers together at night and have the opportunity to know each other. I can say that among my climbs, this is the best socials I've ever had. It was a great bonding after all, we introduced ourselves one by one, and all we did was laugh til midnight. We are being accompanied by clowns, of course led by the organizers itself, Ace and Rainier, as well as Jonel "The Kubeta Man". We we're also accompanied by Vhong Navarro (female version), Jessica Sojo, Gideon (of Pinoy Mountaineer Org), 2 Dermatologists, 3 rich kids (who left their cars at Silang Cavite), That's My Tomboy title holder, A Betch, the man who can walk without slippers and his loved/liked one Anne (sorry for dropping name), our chef Mimay, and of course, the Derek Ramsey of the group. All I know is we all had a great social, each and everyone of us. One thing I learned about this social is that the title "Mountaineer" is not applicable in our country. We are called backpackers. 

Breakfast time!

On our way to the summit, we we're surprised by various actors who also climbed Mt. Batulao such as Christian Vasquez and Nonie Buencamino. Now I know why traffic is heavy on the way to the summit. 

And of course, the best part was reaching the summit of Mt. Batulao. The view almost made me feel speechless. Good thing there is clearing during that time, so you can really appreciate the view from the top. You can even see the Prayer Mountain on its side, the Taal Lake and Volcano as well as Mt. Maculot. We spent almost an hour for photoshoots. 

It was all worth it. And that's what you call a climb. Every climb doesn't have to be expensive. Happiness doesn't have to be expensive. EXPERIENCE needs not to be expensive. And this is what this climb is all about. This is just the beginning of a new journey with the group. Til next climb!