Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Climbing @46 When Memory Gap Strikes Mt. Kalatungan (2880mASL) traverse Mt .Wiji February 20-23, 2015 w/ Andico Outdoors and Wowok Mountaineers

When Memory Gap Strikes          

         
Mt. Kalatungan (2880mASL)
traverse Mt .Wiji 
February 20-23, 2015 
w/ Andico Outdoors and Wowok Mountaineers



A dream climb is always well planned and hoped for. Surely, saving the climbing date is posted boldly in your calendar. A week long preparation of what to bring still gives you anxiety how heavy or light your load will be.
I  finally had a 7 kilogram  load from my usual 10-15 kg excluding food and water. These include the following: single tent, cook set,stove and a butane canister,water container, almug,spoon and fork,flash light, lighter, head lamp, clothes for 3 days and 2 nights camp&travel, a pair of mittens, head gear socks and slipper, a rain coat, rain ply, hammock, 5 m rope, my emergency kit in a bottle, and my vanity kit.
photo by: John Quimpan
The night before  my travel , I checked the on line weather forecast and it was considerably favorable. Final chats with friends whom survived and conquered Mt. Kalatungan and Mt. Wiji were my only chance to confirm what technicalities to expect. There is no turning back, I am going, it is another dream come true.


It was only after the first bus stop that I noticed my bag is lighter that expected. I forgot the tent bag where the poles, ply and pegs were packed.The sheets was in my backpack. I was in a panic mode for a while, calculating my travel time to go back home or what other options I could have.

It really did not bothered me at all, I just enjoyed the landscape view of Cotabato-Bukidnon highway and I was amused with their SK signage : "Toga Muna Bago Boda" which simply means : Education first before Marriage.

After the last bus stop, I bought 4 pairs of umbrella nails to serve as tent pegs, and another 5 m rope for the lack of tent poles. 

Simply life is a daily adventure. It is not how tough the trails are, but a dream worth to pursue.

Photo by: John Quimpan

Buko Buko Peak, Mt. Kalatungan Range

the photo owner : John Quimpan












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