Trekking with a Rookie

 Ugis Peak 1st Invatational Climb

Esperanza ,Sultan Kudarat

July 26-27,2014

Hosted by: Esperanza LGU

Organized by: Happy Trip

Trekking is interacting with nature. It is a travel experience that is much different from the comfort of promoted tourist attractions and destinations. It is an adventure and a test of self endurance for neophytes.

Everybody was excited about the event. The organizer and the host may have felt overwhelmed by the spirit of camaraderie demonstrated by 70 participants who came from as far as Mati, Davao Oriental (17 hrs travel); Davao City;  General Santos City; Alabel, Sarangani Province;Polomolok and Marbel, South Cotabato, KIdapawan & Makilala, North Cotabato; Lebak and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. All were Mountaineers. 

As we are about to jump off, one from Cotabato City participant arrived and was introduced to me by the organizer as a travel blogger. Getting to know each other as we started our trek, he told me  it was his first ever mountain climbing activity. As an  organizer myself, I am compelled to protect him from the natural harm we want to avoid in any of our mountaineering event. We were orient to climb the peak in 2 and a half hour but i doubt if we can make it with the phasing we have and the technicality of the range. Rappelling, muddy trail, steep rock, and a stiff trail might not be good for him to love our passion without the basic orientation we require before we climb every summit we dream to conquer.

At Mt. Ugis The sky was fair to give us the view of the peak. A little rain shower welcomed us while killing our time at its foothills. Sitting under the shade of a small tree he shared me his crackers while i give him mountaineering fun experiences. A local Tiruray named Jun warmly exchanged conversation with us and offered a place for us to sit and relax. As we look down  in the flat terrain of Ezperanza, Jun pointed the direction where they heard the gun shots echoes of Maguindanao Masaccre.

And who would disagree?  

Coconut water chasing has always been  part of our trekking event.

And the appreciation of  floral  landscape

 and its color that can be attributed to its fair climate and soil fertility.

To our  newly found friend, Chris Sodusta Gonzales, welcome to the community of mountaineers. I hope we have imparted a new great experience in nourishing your career with mother nature.

How I Knew Mountaineers As Volunteers: A Trek with Team Bundol

Just as I had the chance to be a guest member of Team Bundol Mountaineers during a trek to Sitio Lanao, Sapu Masla, Malapatan, Sarangani Province in a community service led by Dr. Roel Cagape of Heart and Brains Inc,,weekend of July 19-20,2014 was an experience of great passion for volunteerism.

It was a short notice for anybody who is interested to support the cause who made it to be part of the event.

River trekking for a number of hours is nothing new to us, we love it . What will I be sharing to you is my unforgettable experience of  being with the team and how I evaluated the activity from my personal views.

1.  My event photo  documents mostly features mountaineers crossing  rivers with their seedling for tree planting in the the uplands. But this time they are carrying  carpentry tools and materials for construction.

2. Three among the team members were skilled in basic carpentry while others admitted that it was their first time to prove that they can use properly the given tools to come up with a finished product.

3. Sitio Lanao is a community of  40 households, with more or less 800 children, 270 pupils enrolled in grades 1&2 . With the hectic schedules of the volunteers, I find the urgency of this event did somehow address the needs of the pupils in time for the opening of the school year 2014-2015. The team were able to construct ten tables enough to fill the floor space of the two makeshift classrooms. 

4. The community can only be reached through river trekking for about 2-3 hours but because of the load in their shoulders and the reserved energy left from the previous day activity, we made it five. After the group evaluation, it was resolved that Breakfast is a Must. The energy that day,..really came from their hearts.

5. The reward of this group effort is nothing but the pristine beauty of  nature. All the fears along the trail, the comfort of our homes, and the abundance of civilization, is incomparable with the feeling of fullness of our hearts for the love of God.

100 Reasons Why We Climb Philippine Mountains

Why do we climb mountains?

For a hundred reasons..., simply because...

1. Its more fun in the mountains
2. Join Clean -Up Drives
3. We blog
4. Celebrate birthday
5. My Dream come true
6. To take photos of nature
7. My crush mountaineer is going
8. I want to see the sea of clouds
9. Just curious
10. I wan to stress it out!
11. Share my blessings to the less fortunate in the mountain community
12. Wear my outdoor gears
13. Freedom is up there
14. I love the adventure
15. I feel peace
16. I want to be in the middle of the forest
17.  I  love nature
18. Best place to bond with best friends and family
19. Air is fresh
20. I feel desperate, hope is up there
21. I forget my problems
22. I want to be with mother nature
23. It is my lifestyle
24. I can earn money by mountain guiding
25. I can sell my stuff
26. I pray
27. I enjoy the company of  fellow artists
28. I love camping
29. I have my new tent
30. I love mountains
31. I feel special and blessed
32. I want to get drunk
33.  I like the event shirt
34.  I want to meet new friends
35. I want to prove something to my self
36. Its my vacation
37. It is my vocation
38. I still have my energy
39. Water is pH10
40.We plant trees