MMS - Metropolitan Mountaineering Society

Feb. 09-10, 2008

1st Minor Climb

Mt. Daguldol, San Juan, Batangas

Feb. 16-17, 2008

Basic First Aid

Gilmore Townhomes, Greenhills,

San Juan

Rainless in Tarak Ridge

MMS president Cary Regaspi had climbed the Tarak Ridge several

times before and each time rain joined his climbing party

in the upward trek to that part of Mount Mariveles

in Bataan. But the weather in the small barangay

of Alas-asin in Mariveles, the jump-off point to

the ridge, was unusual when he led the

second minor climb of the 2008

BMC trainees there on Feb. 23 to 24.

No rain. The weather was beautiful during the two-day climb, Cary swears. So the trek to the summit of the 393-meter (1,288-feet) Tarak Ridge was smooth.

[There are conflicting measurements of the altitude of Tarak Ridge. A large metal signage in Alas-Asin declares it as 1,288 feet. Different mountaineering groups or mountaineers estimate its altitude to be 1,288m, 1,130m, 1,250m, 1,025m, etc. Maybe a GPS reading can verify its true height. -- Windsor]

29 climbers

Aside from Cary, eight MMS members guided the trainees’

climb. They were former MMS president Arin Desembrana, Sela

Bumanglag, Dell Soriao, Paeng, Lea Latayan, Jay, Otep

and Ronald.

The 20 trainees with them were Mimsie Alconsel, Lito

Asaldo, Dean Bautista, Jun Cama, Jane Cariaso,

Joemai Cumpa Jr., Sheila de Leon, Emoy Dedicatoria,

Jover Dizon, Gerry Escosio, Joel Flores, Hya Funa,

Jing Lenon, Mann Mangubat, Rumer Millera, Mark

Anthony Padil, Rachelle Pelayo, Lloyd Serquina, Lorna

Unday and Angeli Uy.

Sela was the team leader while Kiko was the medic. Arin

acted as the lead pack.

Climb colors: Yellow and gray

Yellow and light gray were the official colors of the

climb. These are the colors of the uniform of the

2008 trainees, who wore the shirts made by Cary’s

Regaspi Enterprise, his computerized embroidery company. Cary designed the uniform and the embroidery as he did for the shirts of the members of batches 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Explaining his choice of colors, Cary said yellow makes climbers easily recognizable in the forested mountain and helpful to rescuers in searching for lost climbers.

As for the material, which Cary calls dry-fit, it is light on the body, not warm and absorbs sweat while releasing body heat. The uniform’s material is more appropriate for climbing than cotton shirts because it easily dries.

Gully crossing and river stop

The climb itinerary was followed accordingly. Half an hour after the climbers registered and paid the climbing fees at the concrete barangay hall of Alas-asin around 8 a.m., they hit the trail. The climbers passed the dirt road and the triangular cogon clearing before being slowed down by a deep gully with 45-degree slopes.

Perhaps, the most difficult part of the trek is negotiating the gully. According to BMC 2008 trainer Dell Soriao, the gully was just 10 feet deep when he saw it during his BMC training batch’s climb last year. Now, it is twice deeper. There are ropes along the slopes to support descent and ascent.

After safely clearing the gully, the climbers arrived lunch time at the Papaya River. There, they refilled drinking bottles with natural river water. Others dipped their bodies in the cool water.

By 3:30 p.m., the climbers reached the campsite located in a ridge.

Stories from Lola Basyang

At the campsite, the climbers had dinner. After feasting on mechado, pork sinigang, red egg with tomatoes, dilis, beef tapa, and roast talong with bagoong, socials followed. The trainees re-introduced themselves to each other and to MMS members.

Ghost storytelling, which Cary called “Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang,” capped the socials, which ended at 8:30 p.m. The climbers then retired inside their five-star accommodation tents and slumbered amid Tarak Ridge’s starry ambience.

The mother and daughter trainees failed to bring blankets for cover during the cold night. But co-trainees shared extra blankets to them.

Eight to the summit

Dell, the team leader in the Mount Daguldol climb last Feb.

9-10, led eight trainees to the summit of Tarak Ridge. The

trainees were Joemai, Gerry, Mimi, Mark, Rachelle, Sheila, Lloyd

and Angeli.

The summit of Tarak Ridge is the lowest among three other

summits of Mount Mariveles’ other ridges. From there, a

spectacular view of the Manila Bay, the historic Corregidor

Island and Mariveles can be seen.

After pictorials, Dell and the trainees raced back to the

campsite. They took a quick breakfast because it was

time to go down the ridge.

As the climbers were breaking camp, there was a

rush of strong winds. The climbers struggled to undo

their tents. Poles of one tent also broke.

Tip: Panty liner painkiller

Unlike in the first minor climb in Mt. Daguldol, the Tarak Ridge trek was less draining to the climbers. The trainees had the right stamina because they have prepared physically before the climb.

There were minor complaints, though, from two climbers. Angeli’s tired toes and Jing’s strained lower kneecap got painful during the descent.

Cary told Angeli that applying petroleum jelly to her toes will lessen friction and ease the pain. But no one had petroleum jelly. As an alternative, and advised her to instead wrap her toes with panty liner as cushion.

Climbers have tried this before and the soft piece of feminine napkin worked well in easing pressure while trekking. And it worked for Angeli.

As to Jing’s problem, a co-trainee lent her a patella band to ease her knee pain.

Whistle blowers

The climbers encountered other climbers in Tarak. There was a couple who also camped at the ridge.

During the descent, before reaching the Papaya River, the climbers heard whistles blowing. It was from a lost lead pack of another group of climbers on the way to the summit.

The MMS members and trainees saw the three lost climbers in the wrong trail about 45 meters away. A ravine was separating the two groups, so the MMS people shouted to them and pointed to them the right trail.

The lost climbers introduced themselves as from the Manuel L. Quezon University and thanked the MMS climbers for the direction before resuming their trek.

Before the jump-off point, all the trainees were told to apply what they learned from the first aid training last Feb. 16-17, particularly various ways of bandaging. With bandages in their head, hand, arm and foot, they walked up to the barangay hall.

From the hall, the trainees were divided into groups and told to simulate an evacuation of an injured member. Each group took turns carrying a member for about half a kilometer.

Post climb

The post climb discussion was held at the house of Manong at 2:30 p.m. The comments were as follows.

The trainees failed to fairly distribute the loads, including water, food and equipment. Thus, some of them were carrying a heavy backpack while others were carrying a light backpack.

The trainees also failed to contribute in buying the food to be cooked at the campsite. They also failed to properly divide themselves into groups that will prepare and cook meals.

Sela did a good and professional job as team leader for the climb.

Metropolitan Mountaineering Society

www.metropolitanms.org