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Feb. 09-10, 2008
1st Minor Climb
Mt. Daguldol, San Juan, Batangas
Feb. 16-17, 2008
Basic First Aid
Gilmore Townhomes, Greenhills,
San Juan
Mountaineering is more than climbing panoramic views and wilderness experience. It is also challenge, risk and hardship. Those drawn to the mountains can find them exhilarating and irresistible as well as frustrating and even sometimes deadly. There are qualities to mountaineering that inspire us and bring us to rebel in a pursuit that is more than a pastime, more than a sport, a passion certainly and sometimes a compulsion. Distant views of mountain may speak of adventure, but they seldom more than hint at the joys and hardship that await. If you want to climb mountain, be prepared for the totality of nature- storms as well as soft breezes, tangled brush as well as soft flowers, biting insects as well singing birds. Mountaineering takes place in an environment indifferent to human needs and not everyone is willing to pay the price in hardship for it's rich physical and spiritual rewards. (Mountaineering - Freedom of the Hills - 5th Edition)
Metropolitan Mountaineering Society
www.metropolitanms.org
Copyright April 2007
OTHER STORIES:
Exploring Batch 2007
2007 Thanksgiving Party & General Assembly
MMS Donates Uniform for La Mesa forest Rangers
3 PEAKS
Deyk Tajanlangit
Holy Week – MMS members and trainees went on a quest hoping to make a history. Taking the opportunity of having a long weekend, the group departed for Benguet where towering mountains stands to capture 3 peaks in 3 days. Yes, 3 peaks - 3 mountains. Aside from the fact that 3 peaks in 3 days posed a threat, it has become a concoction of fear and adventure; exploration oozed with the adrenalin of conquering daring summits and racing with time to get back to the base camp. 3 peaks climb has also become a seat of testing one’s endurance and patience, which turned to almost ran out from the agony and excitement of having completely conquered these breath-taking and enchanted mountains.
First Peak – Mt. Kabunian
The climber has quite underestimated this first peak. After a long,
tedious and anorexic ride from Baguio, the group arrived at Bakun,
Benguet where Mt. Kabunian is just a 3-hour trek (2 hours going up
and 1 hour going down) – for the locals; for us climbers where
half are trainees, this time is doubled. Kabunian has also
surprised us with a 15-30 minutes descent on
concrete steps, which became an annoying burden
upon our return – we have to climb these stairs back
to the base camp. One can imagine a lot of figures
(especially human faces) from the mountain ranges facing
our trail. Our camera cannot contain its audacity and
panoramic beauty. Crossing the hanging bridges have
become one of the highlights of this trek.
Legend says that Kabunian or Kabunyan is a goddess who guards the mountains. Whenever Igorots or travelers rest in Kabunyan cave, the guest would wake up with food on the golden plate. One day, a mortal by the name of Duligen brought this golden plate home and died. No more food sprang from the cave. A rock in human form then appeared in the cave with water flowing from its penis. This, according to the legend offered refreshing drink to tired and thirsty travelers. Once again a mortal stole the rock. This, according to our guide, prompted goddess Kabunyan to leave the mountain.
One of the highlights of Kabunian is the Hillary’s step. It’s a steep rocky ascent signaling an hour trek to the summit. One can see steel railing along the side of some trails, which pose threats to climbers but offer help for the locals who are tending grazing animals on the upland and/or for locals visiting the hanging coffins. Soon we have learned that there were foreigners visiting the place stealing these antiques for their collections.
MT. TENGLAWAN
This mountain is just adjacent to Mt. Kabunian but has a
totally different character. Legend says that Mt.
Kabunian and Mt. Tenglawan were once “lovers”.
Due to some misunderstanding the mountains
parted ways and created a huge distance between
them. (Bad news for the climbers) No one from the climbing
group has been in Mt. Tenglawan, hence we were warned
that the trek is somehow an exploration. Along the trail,
one will pass by a community with friendly people. This is
the first water source. We cannot help but appreciate
the sceneries and the replica of the famous Banaue
rice terraces. The temperature was quite hot during
the trek but became cloudy and drizzly by the
afternoon. At the summit, you will
see a steep and small twin of the
peak with a metal cross on top,
around a meter high. This,
according to the guide, is
the protrusion that we see from
the base camp as “sungay”.
Some climbers dared this peak
for a photo but have been
extremely careful because
of a small human error can
really cause a serious
accident or even death.
Courage was tested.
Going down, the climbers opted for a
different route-the “short cut”. The group
cannot help but smile every time this is being
mentioned because majority wants to go bak to
the base camp and have their dinner and rest.
Night fell and the climbers were hungry and cold, at
this point, sometimes the question “Why am I doing
this?” pops out from a climber’s mind. Nevertheless, the previous climb prepared the group for this kind of situation. Finally at around 2100H, the lights of the Poblacion were at sight. This has become a sign of both joy and a test of patience. This is the very definition of the phrase “So near, yet so far”. The group went for Mt. Tenglawan at 0700H and was able to reach base camp at midnight. 16 hrs of grueling marathon to summit and back, but truly was very rewarding for the climbers.
MT. LOBO
Early morning of the 3rd day, the group headed for Brgy. Dada for Mt Lobo. This mountain was placed last of the 3 peaks. It has a wide road, which one can be reminded of Mt. Makiling in Los Banos. Vegetable farms dominate this area making the group want to pick some and create a salad. After 2 hrs of trekking, the summit challenged the climbers with its steep, loosed, rocky peak. Another climbing group were ahead and the number of climbers set a delay in coming up and going down. This particular experience somehow concretized the principle that “Going down is as hard, or sometimes harder, than going up.” One really has to basically descent sitting down, not to mention the falling rocks that did hit some climbers below. A keen sense of balance is vital at the summit, it offers a very limited space like that of the cross of Mt. Tenglawan.
THREE PEAKS EXPLORATION: the trainee’s journey.
By Karen Macapagal
Climbing mountains is like “David facing Goliath” for me not only because of the fear of height but also due to the uncertainties that goes along with each and every climb.
When we learned that there’ll be two new options for the first major training climb which were Mt. Napulauan and 3 peaks, we decided to join the latter because of the negative feedbacks that we heard for the former. Little did we know of the challenge that awaits us at 3 peaks. It was indeed a ‘fun climb’ but of a different level. This is my fourth time to climb and my first ever major climb. This is also the first time that I won’t be with the people who encouraged me to experience this adventure.
The trip to Poblacion Bakun, Benguet from Baguio was quite exhausting already. It took us several hours to get there and most of us were already not feeling well – dizziness and headache strikes some of the members already. Warm welcome by the locals greeted us on our arrival to the base camp and we’re led to the barangay hall which served as our resting place for the next couple of days. It was almost noon on our first day when we started to head for Mt. Kabunian, the first peak on our itinerary. Everyone seemed excited, I suppose, to start the trek amidst the scorching heat of the summer sun. To get to Mt. Kabunian we had to go down first from Poblacion which is on top of a mountain as well. On this day I had to overcome my fear of height as we went thru the hanging bridges and steep trail – the Hilary’s Steps - on our way up to the summit. Almost 8 hours of walking has passed and we were finally backed in Poblacion. My knees were already sore and my legs painful.
The exploration of Mt. Tenglawan on the second day challenged me physically, mentally and emotionally. The long trek, the steep trails, scorching heat and the pain I was feeling is slowly discouraging me which almost made me decide to give up to the point that I was already causing delay to the group. This made the officials of the group to decide to put me in front and ‘sandwich’ me to get me going and give me some support. Thanks to this and their patience and persistence on me as I was able to reach the summit of Mt. Tenglawan. The best reward for me that day was the breath taking scenery/view of the place. We decided to take an alternative route on our way back since we thought this is a short cut. We passed thru rice field, ponds and it was quite an adventure (also very tiring). Everyone is very eager to finish the trek as we are all exhausted and tired already and want to eat dinner and rest. Imagine what 16 hours of trekking can do to you.
But I won’t be able to get through this if not for the encouragement of my co-trainees and other MMS members. We became much closer and bonded. Their concern and trust means so much during those times. Even the sharing of foods that was left on our way back to Sinipsip was a memorable one.
I was faced by Goliath at 3 peaks but there is nothing to regret and I was glad to overcome it. There will be new mountains for me to climb but I’ll be ready for it. I’ll prepare for it to ensure that I would be equipped the next time I face a new challenge.
March 19-22, 2008
Mt. Napulauan
Mountain Province
Feb. 23-24, 2008
2nd Minor Climb
Tarak Ridge, Mariveles, Bataan
Feb. 16-17, 2008
Basic First Aid
Gilmore Townhomes, Greenhills,
San Juan
Feb. 09-10, 2003
1st Minor Climb
Mt. Daguldol, San Juan, Batangas
Jan. 26-27, 2008
BMC 2008
La Mesa Eco Park, Q.C.
Another milestone and achievement – the group brought this with them as they headed back to Brgy. Dada. MMS again marks some history in the mountaineering field!
MMS BANNER TOURED SAGADA
Jover Dizon
Sagada!!! After a very tiring 3 peaks exploration, imagine a very rewarding side trip. Actually, it may not also be considered side trip because it is still around 3 hours trip from Bakun. The town of Sagada is extraordinary. Together with some MMS officers/members and my batchmates, we toured the MMS banner to the four corners of Sagada.
We went spelunking in the multi-chambered Sumaging cave. This cave is really huge and watery. Our guide was equipped with lanterns. There were parts of the cave that we were advised to remove our footwears. We did some crawling, got wet (up to stomach level) and did some hand rappelling to pass through. However, the good news is, we still managed to protect the banner from getting wet and took some pictures with it. We were really amazed about the limestone structures that we saw. I will surely go back to this cave when I return to Sagada.
Since our energy for hiking was still present after the 3 peaks hike in Bakun, we still decided to hike for the Big Falls. The scenery is more than worth the effort. The trail along green rice terraces and the big falls. The water was really clear, where a few minutes dip refreshed us. And again, the good news is, the banner reached this Big Falls for the first time.
The other corners of Sagada where we brought the banner were the Lumiang Cave (cave with stack coffins), St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Echo Valley hanging coffins, Echo Valley cliff, Echo Valley cemetery, Sagada Weaving, Souvenir shops and Yoghurt’s house.
This was truly a memorable experience for all of us. We are so glad to be part of the first MMS exploration that completed the 3 peaks and Sagada escapade. Thanks to our TL, ATL, to MMS officers/members and my batchmates.
March 19-22, 2008
Bakun, Benguet (3 Peaks)