Pinoy Mountaineer

PinoyMountaineer's position on DENR plan to extend Banahaw's closure

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Inasmuch as we mountaineers would love to climb Mt. Banahaw again, we respect the DENR's plan to extend the public closure of the mountain. As long as there are no facilities and manpower in place to regulate and educate visitors, we are afraid that the healing of the mountain would be interrupted, and it may suffer, to use a medical metaphor, a "relapse". The opportunity for hikers to enjoy a mountain is a privilege, not a right; it is secondary only to the protection of the mountain and the sustenance of its ecosystem.

Ultimately, however, the only win-win solution for Mt. Banahaw (and all the Philippine mountains) is regulation, not closure. A properly regulated national park is sustainable because the revenue from the visitors is itself the source of funds for the maintenance of the parks, and because the number of visitors are controlled so that there is minimal impact to the environment. Trained guides will themselves police trekkers if needed, and the trekkers themselves would serve as a deterrent to much more harmful activities such as illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming.

A mountain cannot prepare itself for reopening; guides must be trained, facilities need to set up and legislation enacted, if needed. We hope that all the stakeholders will make a concerted effort towards this end, particularly the DENR and the LGUs. If these things are not done, Banahaw will never be ready. I am sure that many mountaineering groups and individuals will be glad to support these measures.

Mountaineers may have to wait for Mt. Banahaw yet again; I trust that it will not be in vain.

Hiking matters #231: Winter trekking in the picturesque town of Monschau, Germany

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:13:00 +0000

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - I am here in Belgium for the weekend, as a guest of my fraternity brod, Dr. Philip Cruz. This brod of mine was so nice that, knowing that I am an avid climber, he decided that we will do a hike in spite of the frigid temperatures! (It would have been much easier to just sip Stella Artois in Brussels.) "But there are no mountains in Belgium!" I told him, pleasant. His response: "That's not a problem, we're going to Germany!"

So off we went, while Djokovic battled Nadal in the Australian Open finals, to the picturesque town of Monschau in the Aachen region of Germany, 150 kilometers away from Brussels. I'd forgotten my fleece layers in Amsterdam, but I had enough clothing to attempt a sub-zero hike. For trail food, strofwaffels - a Dutch delicacy - was in order.

After just two hours, we had arrived in Deutschland. Monschau was beautiful in a quaint, bucolic way, and I loved it the moment I set foot on that town. Ruins of ancient castles, and a spectacular forest surrounded the town, as did hills that were obscured by the winter mist.

Our planned route for the hike was a loop around the town, passing by some nice ruins and getting a taste of the Eifel National Park and its extensive network of trails, considered one of Germany's best. Of course, the 300 kms from Aachen to Trier was something I would love to do in the future, but considering the temperature (-5 degrees Celsius) and limited time (I would have to rush back to Amsterdam for my classes), we were not too ambitious. Just to be able to hit the trails, even for a moment, would have sufficed to make me happy.

Light snow was falling when we started treking. Though the mist limited our view, what we saw was more than enough as a feast for the eyes. When the whole town of Monschau came to view, for instance, I was overwhelmed by the sheer loveliness of it.

After reaching a small chapel which also overlooked Monschau, we descended back to some centuries-old paths to go up again, this time to the ruins of a medieval castle. I explored a bit further to see the trails leading to the forest, and I was really tempted to go further and further! But the threat of heavier snow pulled me back.

Still, there were a couple more attractions that awaited me: The 13th century Monschau castle, with some structures still intact, and as a finale, we passed by a little waterfall (more like a 'vertical brook') on the way back, with a couple of bridges passing through it.

Back in Monschau, the celebratory meal was in order, in true German fashion: fritten (fries), bratwurst (sausage), and sauerkraut (fermented cabbage). Although it is actually just a very short trek, probably at the level of Mt. Manalmon in the Philippines, this is my first hike of the year, and I am really very glad about it, and I am uber-thankful to my brod for his hospitality and kindness. Now, I am ready to go back to Amsterdam!

PS: Most of the things I've been seeing and doing here in Europe are non-hiking related so I can't write about them here. Too bad I'm not a travel blogger! Then again, I like it just the way it is. I like hiking more :)

Hiking matters #230: Aerial view of the Alps, the great mountain range of Europe

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:46:00 +0000

AMSTERDAM - I love to take aerial shots of mountains, that's why I always request for a window seat despite the inconvenience of it -- and I also always try to bring a camera. I will never forgive myself for not having a camera, when, on a flight to GenSan, I saw the full majesty of Mt. Apo flanked by Talomo, and with Matutum in front of it! Last year I had a great aerial shots of Bicol mountains (Hiking matters #184).

Yesterday, on my return flight from Milan - and just as the sun was about to set - I got great shots of the Alps, the great mountain range of Europe that straddles several countries and is home to some of the most famous mountains of the world: Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, Jungfrau, among many others. It is a great consolation that even though I won't get to hike during this trip, at least, I got to see the mountains!

They were truly beautiful!

Essay: I dream of Mt. Ragang, and I dream of peace in Mindanao

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:13:00 +0000

by Gideon Lasco

GENOA, ITALY - Here I am at the heart of the Italian Riviera, yet I dream of Mt. Ragang, the "Blue Mountain" in Lanao del Sur, one of the highest mountains in the Philippines. Perhaps it is because it has been a year since I first saw this mountain, from Mt. Kalatungan in Bukidnon. Yet, I have always thought of Mt. Ragang ever since I had to compile the list of the highest mountains in the Philippines. I have always wanted to climb it.

Mt. Ragang, at 2815 MASL, is one of the ten highest mountains in the Philippines. Also known as Mt. Piapayungan or Blue Mountain, it is the highest active volcano in the country. Based on what little we know about this mountain, it also has one of the most pristine forests we have. And yet, Mt. Ragang is the highest mountain in the Philippines that cannot be climbed. In fact, it has not even been documented as having been climbed!

It cannot be climbed because it is at the heart of the conflict that has cast the whole island of Mindanao under a perception of danger (unrightfully so: most of Mindanao is actually peaceful). Rumors surround this mountain. Some say there is a rebel fortress within it. Even the officials of the towns surrounding it say it is too dangerous to venture there. One tourism officer with whom I talked over the phone confessed to me that being "tourism officer" in their area is an irony in itself.

The veteran climbers tell me that there were attempts to climb Ragang before, and they tell tales of negotiations, of protection money being asked by some sides of the conflict, but ultimately, they all decided that it was too dangerous.

Yet, I still dream of Ragang, and I have faith that someday, we will be able to climb it. When I was in Maguindanao, I accidentally dropped my cellphone on a jeepney, and gave up hope of ever finding it, until, that same day, I was contacted by a family who lives at the foot of Mt. Ragang. They asked how they can return the phone that they picked up; they said that they are returning the phone because they are good Muslims. However, Zhamir, my Muslim friend, was the one who introduced himself as owner of the phone. If I were the one, would they have returned it? It takes some element of faith to see the goodness within people.

Returning what rightfully belongs to another is the crux of the conflict, and we need good people - Muslims and Christians alike - to join hands to make this happen. This is of course a very complex issue, and I have neither the right nor the knowledge to prescribe any specifics. I leave it up to those who are active in their fight for peace. But what I can offer is hope, and the willingness to return to that part of the country if there is an opportunity to demonstrate the potential (if not the realization) of peace.

Time is of the essence. When I first came to Mindanao in 2005, I spent a week at the highlands of Sultan Kudarat where there is no electricity and where we had to take baths in the river. There we visited the Manobo tribes, and when they found out that I was from Manila, they told me something I will never forget: "Tell them how much we suffer." Each day that hunger, displacement, illness, hidden violence, discrimination, and lost opportunity comes upon them is a great loss, a hemorrhage which we cannot allow to continue.

Even amid difficulty, however, I have seen the generosity and grace of the people of Mindanao. As a medical doctor with a deep interest in folk ways of healing, I have met acceptance instead of suspicion among indigenous villages that are Bagobo, Manobo, B'laan, Talaandig, and Tausug; the dignity by which the lumads cling on to their way of life is admirable, and my memories are as vivid as the garments of the T'boli or the finest cloth of the Samal. The generosity of the people I have met is too compelling to dissociate with the notion of hope that I harbor. Furthermore, the mountaineers I've met are very nice and I think of Mijan in Bukidnon, the Ateneo de Davao Mountaineers, Basil of Dipolog, among many others.

Yet this hope is tempered by the reality that danger truly exists. After climbing Mt. Kalatungan in Bukidnon, I experienced hiding behind a door of a village hut when some bandits arrived, and for a moment, I was actually afraid that something bad might happen in such a lawless environment. I have also experienced being hosted by some powerful politicians in Mindanao, and the level of protection that they employ by way of high walls, bodyguards and firearms is quite astounding.

On the other hand, the tranquility of Mindanao is undeniable in a vast section of the island, and even though it is difficult to dissociate perception from reality, I have to try. Indeed, there are so many mountains in Mindanao that can be climbed without fear of harm. Vast sections of Tawi-Tawi, which I visited in 2006, are peaceful and I still remember walking around Sibutu island in the dusk. So close by was progressive Malaysia, proof that Islam can represent peace and progress. Unfortunately, the generalization of "Mindanao" has done harm to its repute, but not only that, there is also the generalization of the Philippines itself as a land of conflict.

Amid all these, and more, there lies Mt. Ragang, the Blue Mountain. If it could speak from the depths of its embers, what would it tell us, having seen what lies hidden from the view? Will it cry out? The sorry suspicion I have is: it will thank the fog of war for protecting it from the ills that have befallen mountains elsewhere: destruction. Indeed, if we are to achieve peace in Mindanao, what implication does it mean to a mountain like Ragang? We must be careful lest the price of peace become too much for a mountain to bear.

Nonetheless, we cannot pay the toll for this conflict forever, for the toll that I speak of is the disruption of our dreams. For me, it is to climb a mountain, but for many, it is to live decent, peaceful, meaningful lives, or simply to live, to survive, to breathe the air of freedom. The image of that old Manobo man who told me "Tell them how we suffer" still clings to me, and even though I did what he asked me to do by publishing their story in a national newspaper, his real dream, unspoken, ought also to be realized.

I dream of Mt. Ragang because I dream of peace in Mindanao, and I know that the only way for mountaineers to climb that beautiful mountain is for peace to descend in that beautiful land. This descent is not like rain which comes and goes by the whim of the Divine; there is no rain dance to call upon peace, only the long road of development which goes hand in hand with freedom. The people I have met in Mindanao give me reason to hope, and if in my lifetime my dream comes true, the summit would truly be a sight to behold. God bless Mindanao! You are homeland of my memories, and I always look forward to my return.

Genoa, Italy

January 21, 2012

Hiking matters #229: The Alps at first sight / Beautiful Genoa in the Italian Riviera

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:37:00 +0000

GENOA, ITALY - Here I am at the heart of the Italian Riviera, in the ancient port city of Genoa in Northern Italy. The beauty of this place, and the rich cuisine and delicious wines are simply overwhelming. Even the winter is warmer than usual, and for me, anything above zero feels pleasant.

The significance of Genoa in world history is its rich maritime heritage, and one of its most famous son is none other than Christopher Colombus, whose house I was able to visit. Genoa is almost home to a host of other famous people, like the composer Nicolo Paganini. I love it here and I am grateful to the hospitality of my Genovese tita and tito Julia and Fabrizio.

On the way to Genoa, I had to fly to Milan from Amsterdam, and while in flight and even after I arrived at the airport, the view of the Italian Alps was breathtaking, and personally significant to me considering that this is my first time to see the famous Alps of Europe - practically the birthplace of mountaineering.

I am not sure about the names of the peaks that I saw, nor I want to delve into specifics. There is a time for everything, and I am here in Europe to study, not to climb and my home base of Amsterdam is not As I said in PM Facebook, "A mountain climber in the Netherlands is like a diver in the desert." Bahala na, or as the Italians would say it: Comunque vada. Meanwhile, I will enjoy the beautiful Italian Riviera.

Share the passion with the new PinoyMountaineer shirts!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:41:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce a new PinoyMountaineer shirt that will be available starting this Thursday, January 19, 2012! Shirt no. 4 "Hike" shares the passion of hiking in a very simple statement drawn from the popular "Like" icon -- this allusion serves as a double meaning; that which we like is juxtaposed with the very image of liking.

Shirt no.4 is available in four basic colors: White, Black, Maroon, and Army Green. The shirts are priced at 350 pesos each.

METRO MANILA (available Jan. 19 - Thursday)

The Perfect White Shirt Branches specifically in:

1. Glorietta - 3rd Floor, Teenzone, Glorietta 3, Makati City
2. Trinoma - 2nd Floor, Teenzone, Trinoma, Quezon City, near Converse
3. Market!Market! - K6, Ground Floor, Redev Area, Market!Market!, Taguig City
4. Alabang Town Center - 2nd floor, in front of T-SHIRT PROJECT, near National Bookstore

5. Robinsons Place Ermita - Padre Faura Wing, First Level, in front of Goldilocks

MINDANAO (coming soon)

1. Viajero Outdoor Store, Cagayan de Oro

2. House of Lord Anthony, Davao City

3. RJ Treehouse Outdoor Shop in Pagadian City

ONLINE STORE

You may also order them ONLINE through shirts@pinoymountaineer.com! Just email us

*Since these are LIMITED EDITION shirts, we will be accepting PRE-ORDERS so that we may reserve shirts for you already. Pre-ordered shirts may be acquired through PICK-UP in any preferred The Perfect White Shirt Branch (Glorietta, Trinoma, Market!Market!, Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Place Manila) or thru SHIPPING/COURIER.

STEPS ON HOW TO ORDER/PRE-ORDER SHIRTS ONLINE (FOR BOTH PICK-UP AND SHIPPING)

1. Choose your design, shirt color and size.

For Shirt Designs and Color, please check out:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190649190983925.43107.170730572975787

For Sizing and Dimensions:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190708324311345.43137.170730572975787

- Please fill up this information and send/email them to us. More details below on how to fill up the information needed.

Full name:
Address for shipping/preferred pick-up branch: (Please choose from the branches listed above)
Contact number: (preferably Mobile number)
E-mail address:
Orders: (Quantity / Design / Color / Size / For Men's or Women's)
Mode of Payment: (BDO, BPI or G-cash or pay at the branch)

AVAILABLE MODES OF PAYMENTS
(Please take note that when you choose to have the shirt shipped, we will wait for your payment before we send the shirts thru courier.)

Bank Deposits:
Banco De Oro (BDO)
Account Name: The Perfect White Shirt Trading
Account No: 3520073360
Account Branch: Eastwood Techno Plaza, Quezon City

Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Account Name: The Perfect White Shirt Trading
Account No: 004339185684
Account Branch: Acropolis Branch, Quezon City

Gcash:
*You guys may go to any Globe Business Center or Gcash Outlets and ask to send Gcash to the following account number and details.
09178545696
Philippe Arenillo
1927 Road 5 NDC Compound Pureza Street, Sta. Mesa
*Please note that you may send Gcash through globe and gcash outlets even though you don't have a GCASH account.

Paypal:
*You may send paypal credits to Paypal Account email: marketing@perfectwhiteshirt.com
*Payments thru PAYPAL will be charged with an additional 3.9% of the Total bill plus 15 pesos (or as converted to a specific currency) for the service charge
*Non Paypal users may register at Paypal.com

Payment upon pick-up:
*Payment can be made upon pick up of shirts in any The Perfect White Shirt Branch listed above.

SHIPPING DETAILS/RATES:
*Minimum of:
P50 within metro manila (xend express)
P120 outside metro manila (air 21)
International Shipping rates will be depending on location.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 2-3 working days after payment (except weekend and holidays)
*rate may change depending on the weight and location

2. Please wait for our reply (usually 24-48 hours) to confirm your order and your total bill.
*People who will be choosing the PICK-UP option will be emailed their total bill and the schedule for pick-up from their preferred The Perfect White Shirt Branch.
*People who will be choosing the SHIPPING option will be emailed their total bill and will be reminded on how to finalize their payment on their preferred payment method.

3. For the SHIPPING OPTION – After payment has been made thru preferred method, please inform us thru email, facebook PM (www.facebook.com/account.everydayassault) or SMS (09178545696) the amount paid, method used and your name.

4. Once we have confirmed your payment, we will email or PM you your tracking number and estimated arrival of package.

Thank you very much for reading our update. Please don’t hesitate to email us back or contact us at 02-7389443 (10am-6pm Monday-Friday) for further questions and inquiries. Thank you very much!

CONTACT PERSON:

Philippe Arenillo
The Perfect White Shirt
Everyday Assault
www.facebook.com/everydayassault
02-7389443
shirts@pinoymountaineer.com

The numbered PinoyMountaineer Shirts are the visual representation of the outdoor spirit that we envision and cherish; they are the canvas by which we express and attempt to capture, then share, the beauty and adventure that we experience in and with the mountains. By collecting these shirts, you are also supporting the advocacy of the website of promoting Philippine mountains!

Hiking matters #223: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Day 3 - From Second to Third Cave via the Moorlands

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:19:00 +0000

On our third day in Mt. Kilimanjaro, we woke up to a splendid view of the snows of the mountain! To us, it was both a blessing and a sign. It was not yet chillingly cold at our 3450 MASL campsite; the goal was to push to 3900 MASL.

Past the second campsite, we trekked across the Moorlands of Kilimanjaro. It was another easy day of trekking, which kinda bothered me into thinking that perhaps all the difficulty will be concentrated on our final days!

Along the trail, I saw many remarkable flora, and there were some reptiles too, including the one below, which our guide Freddie told me was what they call a chameleon. Indeed, the wildlife so far has been stunning - I also glimpsed on some blue monkeys on our first day of trekking.

After another four hours of trekking, we arrived at the Third Cave Campsite. Since some groups go to the Mawenzi Tarn Campsite, there were only a few groups in our campsite, so it was a very quiet and peaceful place. In a rare burst of elation, I sang a song as the faint glow of Kilimanjaro's snow quietly dominated the night sky.

New slots for the PinoyMountaineer Mt. Kinabalu Expedition 2012 in April!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:56:00 +0000

The PinoyMountaineer Kinabalu Expedition 2012 is now fully booked, but to accommodate more of our friends and interested participants, we have secured 20 slots for the PinoyMountaineer Kinabalu Advance Team that will climb one day ahead of the main party, with an expedition schedule of April 12-15, 2012.

This schedule is perfect because I will be in Kota Kinabalu from April 12-16, and the participants of this new schedule will be accompanied by the blogger in KK on the 12th, and accompanied to the Mt. Kinabalu Park HQ the following day.

Please let us know if you wish to join the Advance Team. by emailing Cyrus Uy at expeditions@pinoymountaineer.com.

My top 10 international climbs of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:23:00 +0000

2011 was a very productive year for me not only in terms of local climbs, of which I had forty, but also international climbs, which totaled twenty. Of course, many 0f them are just small climbs but they are very important and memorable to me! Here's my top 10 international climbs of 2011:

1. Mt. Trusmadi (Malaysia)

I climbed the second highest mountain in Malaysia with my friends from the Orang Gunung Kuala Lumpur (OGKL) club. Narrated in HM #140.

2. Mt. Kinabalu (Malaysia)

Two weeks later, I returned to Malaysia to climb Mt. Kinabalu with a group of 30 Filipinos in the PinoyMountaineer Mt. Kinabalu Expedition 2011. Narrated in HM#151.

3. Hehuanshan 合歡山 (Taiwan)

Medical student Terence Kua and I explored the hiking wonders of Taiwan and ended up in beautiful Hehuanshan, set high in the Central Mountain Range, and rising up to 3421 MASL. Narrated in HM#173.

4. Taroko Gorge National Park (Taiwan)

Tantalizing Taroko is one of Taiwan's top attractions, and we did the Shakadang Trail, one of the most recommended trails that took us to some of the spectacular sights in the gorge. Narrated in HM#177.

5. Shuisheishan 水社山 (Taiwan)

The bamboo groves of this mountain, the highest in the Sun Moon Lake area, was just one of the highlights in a very challenging but rewarding dayhike. Narrated in HM#170.

6. Langbiang Mountain (Vietnam)

Swami Del and I climbed the highest mountain in South Vietnam, Langbiang Mountain in the beautiful city of Da Lat. The pine trees of Langbiang reminded us of the Cordilleras, and the climb was very nice. Narrated in HM#181.

7. Bukit Tabur (Malaysia)

Again thanks to Deeno Lot and his friends in OGKL, I was able to do my first climb in Peninsular Malaysia, Bukit Tabur, the popular dayhike within the KL area. Narrated in HM#195.

8. Shiraga-dake Traverse (Japan)

For three days in autumn, I did solo dayhikes in the Kansai region of Japan, and on the third day, I had great weather and did a very nice climb in Hyogo Prefecture - Shiraga-dake. Narrated in HM#201.

9. Snow Mountain (Taiwan)

My second trip to Taiwan this year features this three-day adventure with the Snow Mountain Expedition Team, which took us up the second highest point in Taiwan at 3886 MASL. What a beautiful climb! One of my all-time favorites. Narrative starts at HM#210.

10. Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

Kilimanjaro is one of my dream mountains, and the fulfillment of this dream concludes this year that has been filled with adventure. Ongoing narrative starts at HM#220.

Many thanks to the participants of the Kinabalu, Snow Mountain (Hi Lear, Mafel, Doc Koko, Julian, Coby, and Farah!), and Kilimanjaro Expeditions! Special mention to Terence Kua who joined me in Taiwan, Swami Del who joined me in Vietnam and Kili; the OGKL particularly Deeno Lot who took me to Trusmadi and Bukit Tabur, and finally, to the Kilimanjaro Team: FR, Swami, Mutya, Farah, and Doc Jun! Hope to see you all in future international climbs!

Announcing the Snow Mountain (3886) Spring Expedition on April 28 to May 1, 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:06:00 +0000

THE TAIWAN OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE - SPRING 2012:

Snow Mountain and Taipei (4D/3N)

Fresh from our successful Snow Mountain ascent last year, PinoyMountaineer wishes to share the experience of hiking in Taiwan by organizing another expedition to one of East Asia's highest mountains for Spring 2012, in an exciting trip scheduled from April 28-May 1, 2012 (see itinerary below)!

This trip is designed for an initial experience of high altitude climbing in a semi-temperature country. Snow Mountain, at 3886 MASL, is almost 1000 meters higher than Mt. Pulag and Mt. Apo, thereby creating a logical step for Filipino hikers. Notably, the Snow Mountain trek is significantly cheaper than the Kinabalu trek, thus making a nice alternative, or even a next destination for those who have already done Mt. Kinabalu.

Building on the our expereriences in hiking in Taiwan in Spring and Autumn 2011, we have designed an itinerary that enables the participants to experience not just Snow Mountain, but Taiwan itself. The scenic hot spring village of Wulai, with its famed waterfalls, is our pre-climb sidetrip, and our coordinators will also take you to Zhongshan Street in Taipei, with its breathtaking bargains - and where alpine gear can be purchased in affordable prices. Finally, the participants will have time to tour Taipei on their own, in the evenings of Day 1 and before returning back. Moreover, we have also crafted the itinerary with the Cebu Pacific flights (the cheapest to Taipei) in mind.

To prepare participants for the unique experience of mid-high altitude climbing, an introduction to alpine climbing will be conducted at R.O.X. Philippines as part of the pre-climb/orientation. Moreover, a training climb in Pulag via the Akiki Trail will be organized to those who are interested. With these preprations, any Filipino hiker can be prepared for this exciting expedition.

Only 20 slots will be opened for the cimb, and some of my friends have already reserved some of these. Thus, seriously interested parties are enjoined to contact us immediately to make your reservation. We will also provide assitance in visa applications for those who will require them.

COST AND INCLUSIONS

The Snow Mountain Spring 2012 Expedition will cost PHP17,500. A 50% deposit will be requested to reserve, and another 50% due one month prior to the climb. Inclusions are as follows:

*Introduction to Hiking in Taiwan (Venue: ROX Philippines)

*Two nights accommodation in a Taipei backpacker hostel

*Two nights stay in mountains cabins in Snow Mountain

*Park permits and entrance fees

*Camp meals (D,B,L,D,B)

*English maps of Wuling Farm and Snow Mountain

*Support from a Taiwan-based coordinator

*Group expenses (communication, logistics, etc.)

NOTE: NOT INCLUDED: Roundtrip airfare from Manila / Airport fees / visa fees / meals outside the trek / Personal expenses

SNOW MOUNTAIN PICTURES (FROM AUTUMN 2011)

The summit of Snow Mountain, 3886 MASL

The mountain huts in Snow Mountain are very basic but very comfortable.

ITINERARY

April 28-May 1, 2012

Day 1 (April 28, Saturday)

*Ceb Pac flight departs late evening April 27

Arrival via Cebu Pacific

Rest at backpacker's lodge in Central Taipei

10 AM - Wulai Waterfalls & Hot Springs

Outdoor shopping in Zhongshan Road

Day 2 (April 29, Sunday)

Taipei to Wuling

Wuling to Camp 1

Day 3 (April 30, Monday)

Camp 1 - Camp 2

Summit Assault

Day 4 (May 1, Tuesday)

Camp 2 - Wuling

Wuling - Taipei

Taipei - Manila

*Ceb Pac flight flight arrives early morning of May 2

BOOKINGS/RESERVATIONS

Please send the following information to taiwan@pinoymountaineer.com:

Full Name:

Nickname:

Birthdate (MM/DD/YY):

Occuptation:

Email address:

Mobile number:

Passport Number:

Passport Expiry Date:

Contact person in the Philippines:
Contact person's mobile number:

Hiking experience (I.e. notable mountains climbed):

Food restrictions (if any):

Medical concerns (if any):

NOTE ON TAIWAN VISAS
A Taiwan visa is required for Filipino passport holders, although holders of valid US, Canada, Schengen, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan visas are exempted and need only to secure an online entry permit form.

Hiking matters #222: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Day 2 - Onwards to Kikelwa Campsite via Rongai

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:02:00 +0000

The Kilimanjaro adventure continues from HM#221, onwards to the Second Campsite, also known as theKikelwa Cave Campsite. During the evening, I slept comfortably, probably because of the cumulative fatigue that began to build up in Manila. Nonetheless, when we woke up, the sun was also up, bearing the promise of better weather for our second day of hiking.

Moreover, the second day was to be another relaxing day, involving just four hours of trekking. The slope was very gradual, and we were just expected to gain a modest 570 meters, from 2880 MASL to 3450 MASL (see trail map above).

Along the trails, I took time to take pictures of the beautiful flora. The trail was very easy, and the description of "it's just like walking to Mt. Pinatubo" is quite accurate to describe this day! As for temperature, it was just like a summer day in Mt. Amuyao or Mt. Ugo...I was just wearing a shirt and occasionally, a windbreaker.

Still, even though it was a relaxing trek, we were being conditioned to walk slowly, much slower than usual. An occasional falls that ran with the brook to our right provided relief from the trail which practically looked the same from start to finish! "Pole pole" (Swahili for "slowly"), the guides keep saying, is the surest and only way to reach the summit.

The trek concluded upon our arrival at the Third Cave. Since we arrived very early in the afternoon, I took time to take pictures of the birds who have congregated in the campsite, likel attracted by the food we've brought. The robin, was particularly gorgeous as it circled around the campsite.

So far, so good! But we knew that the climb was just starting, and we had to brace for the inevitable difficulty that is upon us . It will be colder and tougher on the days to come. The adventure continues in HM#223.

Mt. Aconcagua Expedition from the Philippines reaches summit. Congratulations!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:58:00 +0000

The growing number of Filipinos pursuing international expeditions, whether to the Seven Summits or beyond, is a great reason to celebrate, and PinoyMountaineer seeks to chronicle these expeditions, as they are part of our legacy, as a mountaineering community in the Philippines.

Last month saw the successful Mt. Aconcagua Expedition launched by a Filipino team composed of Cheryl Bihag, Mon Dysangco, Zean Villongco together with their Philippine Support Crew: Arlene Teodoro, Jing Talesio, Leo Cuesta and expedition guides from Aconcagua Trek namely Lito Sanchez, and Cesar Quiroz. Che and Zean are members of AMCI, while Mon from Smart Mountaineering Club.

On December 14, 2011, Mon Dysangco reached the summit of Aconcagua, 6962 MASL, the highest mountain in South America while Che and Zean breached past the 6000 meter mark. Their climb is narrated in their Expedition Page on Facebook.

PinoyMountaineer congratulates the whole team for this great success, of perseverance, dedication and teamwork! Aside from Romi in 2005, I am not sure if there are other Filipinos who have done Aconcagua, but I'm sure that this new success will inspire more to follow.

My personal thoughts: What they've achieved (Aconcagua) is supercool. Aconcagua is a dream climb for me and I will be poring over their Facebook page with great interest. Thank you Phil Handang for relaying the information to us!

Hiking matters #221: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Day 1 - Up the Rongai Route to the First Campsite

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:49:00 +0000

On December 20, 2011, the actual climb of the PinoyMountaineer Kilimanjaro Expedition commenced via the Rongai Route, also known as the Nalemuru Route very near the border between Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Joining me in this grand adventure were medical doctors Mutya Bernardo and Jun Carnate, as well as my longtime hiking companions Del Bahena, Farah Pasamonte, and FR Hortelano.

We chose this particular route after a long consideration of weather patterns, acclimatization possibilities, scenic beauty, cost, trail difficulty, and most importantly, the fine details of the itinerary, especially prior to summit assault day. It was a tough choice between Rongai and Machame, but in the end, Rongai won over.

We registered in the Marangu Gate, because the Rongai Route's descending route is Marangu, the most popular of all the trails, and easiest, with no less than cabins to accommodate climbers, whereas for the rest of the routes tents are used. From Marangu, we took the almost two-hour trip to the Rongai Gate, where we had lunch.

After lunch, we started trekking. along with several other groups using the same route. At first, we passed by pine trees, which reminded me and Swami Del of Langbiang Mountain in Vietnam, which we climbed last June (HM#181), as well, as of course, the beautiful mountains of our Cordilleras. Beyond the pine trees were mostly flat but scenic trails, with creeks alongside.

The hike took just four hours in a relaxed pace, and it would have been even easier if it did not rain. However, the sheer excitement of being on the trail of Kilimanjaro was an overpowering feeling, and I was really delighted that after the long journey, we were starting to trek. A restful, dreamy sleep was in order in First Campsite. End of Day 1!

Some pictures courtesy of the members of the Expedition Team.

Congratulations, Romi Garduce, for reaching Vinson Massif and thereby completing the Seven Summits!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:38:00 +0000

PinoyMountaineer heartily congratulates Filipino mountaineer Romi Garduce for reaching the summit of Vinson Massif, at 4892 MASL the highest mountain in Antartica, and for being the first Filipino to reach all eight of the Seven Summits of the World!

His decade-long quest, which started in Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2002 and gained much attention with hils successful Everest bid in 2007, is a testament of what the Filipino can, and in the larger context, what an individual can achieve, through passion and dedication. In representing the Filipino nation, Romi Garduce's quest is a point of unity for all Filipinos, and particularly, all Filipino mountaineers.

The Mountain Madness website relayed news of the successful ascent of Romi, and also mentioned that Romi's hiking companion and fellow UP Mountaineer, Levi Nayahangan, is safely back in Punta Arenas ahead of Romi Garduce. Days before leaving for Antartica, Romi told PinoyMountaineer that Vinson will be a "mental climb", referring to the extreme conditions in Antarctica that make the climb a tough challenge.

We are excited to hear from Romi as soon as he comes back! Hopefully, Romi will once again send us photos of the summit and the climb!

ROMI GARDUCE'S SEVEN SUMMITS CLIMBS

2002	Kilimanjaro	Africa
2005	Aconcagua	South America
2006	Everest	Asia
2007	Elbrus	Europe
2008	McKinley	North America
2008	Kosciuszko	Australia (B)
2011	Puncak Jaya	Oceania (M)
2012	Vinson Massif	Antarctica

Mt. Talomo (2,674+) Traverse to Mt. Apo (2,956+)

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:02:00 +0000

TALOMO-APO TRAVERSE
Davao City and Davao del Sur
Entry point: Purok 6, Tamayong, Calinan, Davao City
Exit point: Sitio Mainit, Brgy. Kapatagan, Digos, Davao del Sur
LLA (Talomo): 2674 MASL (#13)
LLA (Apo):: 7°0′30″N, 125°16′33″E, 2,956 MASL (#1)
Days required / Hours to summits: 4-7 days / 10-14 (T); 20-28h (A)
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 9/9, Trail class 2-5, Exploratory
Features: Mossy forests, Sulfuric vents, Lake Venado, Boulders

One of the Top 10 Climbs in the Philippines

Note: This itinerary is still under construction. Content will be expanded and modified in the future.

BACKGROUND

Doubtless one of the most exciting and challenging trails in the whole Philippines, the Talomo-Apo "Megatraverse" is the ultimate tropical hiking experience, enabling an immersion into a variety of environments that represent the beauty and diversity of Philippine mountains. It takes at least four days, with a daily average of 12-14 hours trekking time, to complete the traverse, with some parts of it steep and exploratory; a five, six, or even seven-day climb is recommended. These specifications give the Talomo-Apo Traverse a Difficulty 9/9 rating, making it one of the toughest climbs in the Philippines; definitely it is much tougher than a regular Apo Traverse, even if it is combined with a Talomo; the connecting route between Talomo and Apo provide much of the challenge. For the classic Talomo-Apo Traverse, the Kapatagan Trail is recommended, so that the hiker will never have to repeat any part of the trail (unlike if the Kidapawan Trail will be used, in which case the hiker has to return to Lake Venado using the same trail).

The rewards, however, are immense. In just one climb, one gets to bag two of the highest peaks in the Philippines, Mt. Apo the highest, and Mt. Talomo at least the 13th highest mountain in the Philippines (or possibly higher). Several types of forests are encountered: from the primeval grandeur of the upper montane (mossy) forest in Talomo's summit to the stately grandeur of the century trees, bearded with lichens, of Mt. Apo. Finally, landmarks such as Lake Venado, the highest lake in the Philippines, and the vast Boulders are encountered, with sulfuric vents effusing steam beside it (beware of the fumes!). The summit itself, rocky and adorned with beautiful shrubs, has a very nice campsite and is an attraction in itself. From atop it, one can view many of the high mountains of Mindanao, and the sunrise is usually spectacular.

The Talomo-Apo "Megatraverse" is truly a wonderful journey and is highly recommended for adventure seekers who wish for a longer-than-usual, tougher-than-usual climb. The difficulty and beauty of this climb make it an unforgettable journey.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: FOUR-DAY TALOMO-APO TRAVERSE

Note: We are describing the actual four-day climb that we did in October 2011; just use the information to fit your preferred timeframe for the climb.

Day 1: Up Mt. Talomo

The Megatraverse starts off at the Mt. Talomo jump-off at Purok 6, Barangay Tamayong in Calinan district, Davao City. From here, hikers will make their way through villages and banana plantations until they reach Mt. Sicao Village (named after the patriarch of the villagers), the last refuge before Mt. Talomo’s mossy forest. Here, there is a water source and an area where lunch/ packed dinner may be prepared.

Depending on the pace of the hikers, they may either summit Talomo and camp there or settle for Lumot campsite some 400m below the summit. Both will entail night trekking as Mt. Talomo in itself is already a 7/9 climb. A variation, however, is to camp at Sicao village on day 1 and assault Talomo on day 2, extending the trip but shortening the hiking time on each day.

Day 2: Talomo to Basinan campsite

On day 2, it's an early start from Lumot campsite and assault Talomo arriving in the summit before noon. From here, the group will cross the ridgeline of Mt. Talomo and two more high points: Lipopocan Peak and Dalag Peak (both at 2650~2700MASL). Good views of the prominent, yet distant, Mt. Apo can be seen.

The group, hereon, will push for the Basinan Campsite somewhere in the dense jungles within the Mt. Apo National Park; again, night trekking is highly likely as the distance between Talomo and Basinan Campsite is lengthy. The trail is "insanely difficult", sometimes effaced, often steep and slippery. Prepare some balancing acts on logs, scrambling on loose soil, and, as of 2011, and navigating through unfamiliar territory, as trails are not yet established. The final kilometer leading to the Basinan campsite, past the river, is particularly challenging.

Day 3: Basinan to Mt. Apo Summit campsie

The group will again start early for a lunchtime at Lake Venado- the familiar high lake of Mt. Apo. From Basinan to Lake Venado, except a few more "balancing acts" on logs and some steep parts, the trail is easier relative to the previous day.

At Lake Venado, hikers will get their much awaited close-up with the grandfather of Philippine Mountains, and perhaps unwind in the lake (there are no rules against swimming, but caution is recommended, and at times, the lake can get murky).

Past Lake Venado, the group will push for the summit campsite of Mt. Apo. Again, expect night trekking as the assault will take around 3-5 hours.

Day 4: Mt. Apo Summit to Kapatagan via Boulders

A quick assault from the campsite takes you the summit of Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines! This is a perfect spot for awaiting the sunrise and viewing the various peaks of Mindanao, including Talomo itself, the Bukidnon mountains, albeit faint; White Peak and the highlands of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental; the conical Mt. Matutum, and at the foot of Apo, a round shaped Mt. Tampurong.

After breaking camp, the descending route is via the spectacular Boulders - a massive array of volcanic rocks, where the trail runs parallel to a crevice of sulfuric vents. Pray that the wind blows in the other direction, lest the noxious fumes irritate your lungs (cover your nose and mouth with a piece of cloth if it happens) - but don't worry, there's no long-term damage to a brief, acute exposure to this. Otherwise, enjoy one of the most famous trails in the country, down to the forests of Gudi-Gudi and then Kapatagan. It's still a long way but a continuous descent should take you only until early evening at the latest. End of the Megatraverse!

ITINERARY

Day 0

Arrival in Davao City. Prepare logistics.

Day 1

0500 Early breakfast

0600 From Davao City, take jeep transport to Calinan

0700 ETA Calinan Public Market, take vehicle to jumpoff

0800 ETA jump-off (Purok 6,Tamayong)

0830 Start Trek

1000 ETA Mt. Sicao Village, Register, Prepare lunch

1300 Resume Trek

1600 ETA River

2000 ETA Lumot Campsite, Set-up camp

Day 2

0600 Early breakfast/ Break camp

0800 Start Summit Assault

1030 ETA Mt. Talomo Summit (2,674+ MASL)

1100 Start traverse

1700 ETA Cabacan River

2300 ETA Basinan Campsite, Set-up camp

Day 3

0600 Early Breakfast/ Break camp

0800 Start trek to Lake Venado

1200 ETA Lake Venado, prepare lunch, relax

1430 Start summit assault

1800 ETA Mt. Apo Summit Campsite, Set-up camp

Day 4

0520 Watch sunrise atop Mt. Apo Summit (2,956 MASL)

0700 Breakfast/break camp

0900 Descend via Boulders

1500 ETA Gudi-Gudi Campsite

2000 ETA Paradise Village

2200 ETA Digos City, camp or take forward trucker to Davao City

SPECIAL CONCERNS

Warning: This climb must only be attempted by serious and experienced hikers with a well-equipped team, ample supplies, and knowledge in first aid and safety (considering the distance of Basinan campsite to the nearest help). Moreover, this climb would entail either double-digit hiking hours per day and daily night trekking OR an almost week-long climb.

Itinerary notes. To reduce the number of hiking hours per day, this itinerary can be spread to 6 or more days depending on the interested group. The trail is overgrown and will require agility and flexibility to bend and twist with the branches, aside from endurance. Moreover, the trail can be dangerous with steep ascents and descents- rope and BMC knowledge is a must. Water sources are primarily rivers, so stock up when necessary. The majority of the climb will be at elevations greater than 2,000MASL so expect cool days and chilly nights.

Logistics. From Davao City, it is easy to head to Purok 6 of Brgy. Tamayong; options including taking a jeep to Calinan, then a habal-habal, or renting a jeepney all the way. Take note that at times, it is possible to take a habal-habal all the way to Sicao village. It is better if prior arrangements for return transportation to Davao be made via Kapatagan.

Guides. As of 2012, there is no central body that regulates permits in Mt. Apo; thus, one can simply go to the jumpoff of Mt. Talomo, pay the registration fee there. However, exiting at Kapatagan entails paying an exit fee at the gate (the advantage is that you theoretically should get a climb certificate from the tourism office of Digos). Guide fees may be higher than the regular Mt. Apo climb. For pre-arranged trips and guidance, Jhoc Nalda, who helped the blogger organize his climb in October 2011, may be contacted at +639994948129.

Hiking notes. Cellphone signal: Present in many parts of Mt. Apo, and also in Talomo summit, but there is a blind spot during the traverse between Talomo and Lake Venado. Basinan campsite is without signal. Campsites are small in the Talomo side, with the Talomo summit campsite able to fit 6-7 tents, and same thing for the Basinan campsite.

GPS DATA

PinoyMountaineer will be sharing the GPS data from the traverse soon.

TALOMO-APO TRAVERSE PICTURES AND VIDEOS

The mystical forest of Mt. Talomo is just the first of many captivating sights that await the trekker in the Megatraverse.

Mt. Apo, as viewed from the summit of Mt.Talomo

Initially, the traverse from Talomo passes across two other peaks and a scenic ridgeline. Javi Cang, in this picture, accompanied the blogger in his Talomo-Apo climb and co-authored this itinerary.

Video: Crossing the logs en route to Basinan campsite (Day 2)

Video: Arriving at Lake Venado after a challenging traverse (Day 3)

Lake Venado: photo taken from the slopes of Mt. Apo's peak during the ascent to the campsite (Day 3).

Sunrise viewed from the summit of Mt. Apo, the highest point in the Philippines.

The high peaks of Mindanao are visible from the peaks of Mt. Apo, as seen in this collage.

Surveying the Boulders, with the sulfuric vents and steam running parallel to the trail.

TRIVIA

The basis of this itinerary is the blogger's climb with his Malaysian friends led by Deeno Lot in October 2011. He was accompanied by Javi Cang, who co-authored this itinerary, as well as Jhoc Nalda who helped organize the climb, and has done the traverse twice. This climb is described in Hiking matters #203-206 (see below).

This is the longest itinerary ever written in PinoyMountaineer, the first to include videos, and the first where the blogger co-authored with a hiking companion.

MEGATRAVERSE: MT. TALOMO TO MT. APO

Day 1: Sicao Village - Mt. Talomo

Day 2: Mt. Talomo - Summit - Basinan Campsite

Day 3: Basinan Campsite - Lake Venado -Apo Summit

Day 4: Apo Summit - Boulders - Kapatagan

Megatraverse pictures on PinoyMountaineer Facebook

MountainTalk #11: Ten questions for PinoyMountaineer

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:16:00 +0000

At the start of the year, some of my hiking friends sent me one question each, and my answers to them comprise the latest "MountainTalk" on PinoyMountaineer.

1. With all the hiking you do, international ones at that, you must have a lot of money!

It's not about the money. All the money I spent on hiking last year can't even buy a second-hand car, and you have lots of people with plenty of cars. Many of our country's elites can afford Everest or even all the Seven Summits if they want to, but they choose to splurge on BMWs. So it's more a question of priority than a question of money. I'm sure Romi Garduce will agree, because before he got to be sponsored, he really poured his heart and resources into hiking.

As for international climbs, hiking is actually the cheapest activity you can do abroad because you can have a good day of hiking without paying for anything! Usually, there are no guides or fees. Also, I use budget airlines and was even cited in Inquirer for doing so. I stay in backpacker inns, and I end up spending lower than what is usually assumed for international climbs. Moreover, I sometimes combine climbs with work. This month, I'm going to Europe for my studies but will try to squeeze in some winter hikes.

Finally, I combine several hikes into one trip, whenever I have a chance, so that I end up paying less for each climb. When I went to Bicol last year to do the Bicol Express, I did seven climbs and ended up paying less than 1000 for each! When we did the Visayan Voyage, I spent only 9,000 pesos for 5 Visayan mountains: Madjaas, Kanlaon, Osmena Peak, Talinis, and Pan de Azucar!

2. Congratulations on Kilimanjaro! How was the climb?

Even though it's labelled as one of the easiest of the Seven Summits, it was actually very challenging, particularly the last two days. In terms of the trails, even the steepest parts are quite easy, but it was really the cold (-10 degrees during our summit assault) and the altitude (twice the height of Apo at the summit) that made things difficult. I made some mistakes during the climb, including bringing more than 6 kilos during summit assault, but as a result, it was a great learning experience as well.

I will narrate the details of the climb in "Hiking matters". But right now, what I can say is that it was truly a profound experience, and I will always cherish the people in my team because we shared Kilimanjaro.

3. Did you get sponsored for Kili?
No, I didn't get financial support for the climb, but I got supported by a lot of people, and I'm very thankful for them. Columbia Sportswear and R.O.X. Philippines, through C.O.R.E. and the very kind Tin Villaflor, gave me much-needed alpine gear and equipment from Columbia and Black Diamond, and I'm particularly grateful for the Columbia jackets and BD trekking poles, which made life easier for Kilimanjaro. I requested for a specific hiking shoe from Merrell Philippines, which they gave in time for the climb, and it also performed very well during the climb! My dad and my uncle Larry bought me some gear from the US, and my sister and brother accompanied me during a frantic search for base layers in Japan.

Everest climbers Romi Garduce, Regie Pablo, Leo Oracion gave me and my team much-needed advice on high altitude climbing, and my final training climb with Kibungan was with Leo, which helped a lot. Dr. Ted Esguerra, the expedition doctor of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition, gave us advice on how to prevent altitude sickness and I think it worked for our team! Ivan Henares, my blogging partner, relayed my updates while in Kili on the PM Facebook page, and I thank him for his support as well!

Finally, my friends and blog readers sent a lot of encouraging messages before and during the climb. I am full of gratitude to everyone who helped make Kilimanjaro a safe, successful and special climb!

4. You did 60 climbs in 2011. Do you plan to beat that record in 2012?

I wish I could, but I doubt if I can. 2011 was the perfect combination of free time and right opportunities, but as I move in my medical career, I don't think 2012 will be that friendly to my hiking.

Still, I have some "conservative goals" that I want to meet this year, including return trips to my favorite foreign countries, Japan and Taiwan, as well as at least five major climbs in the Philippines. If Halcon will open, I'd like to climb it, but even if it does not, I have a lot of options in my "wish list" (many of them are in Mindanao). Given my limited time this year, I'll go for quality, not quantity, even as I end up doing dayhikes in some of my favorite spots like Batulao and Makiling!

5. Any plan to climb another one of the Seven Summits this year?

I can't say yet. Let's see how this year goes. An Elbrus climb will be nice, if there's an opportunity, but it's really tough to squeeze in a two-week trip in the middle of work and school. Yes, my next target is Elbrus. But I'm not in a hurry to pursue a lifetime goal.

6. What do you think of the Freedom Climb and other so-called "mass climbing" events?

One of my reasons for climbing is to find peace, not a crowd, on the trails (I also avoid camping in Maculot or Batulao for the same reasons) so I am averse to big climbs in general. But of course, if people want to do it, let them be, as long as they do not harm the mountains by unduly overcrowding it, or worse, by leaving garbage (The only garbage that a person who leaves garbage in the mountains takes home is himself). I'm sure that many people who join or even organize such events have good intentions, but considering the controversy that surrounds some of them, and, as Fredd Ochavo of UPM puts it, the advantage of "erring on the side of the environment", I will continue my policy of not endorsing such events in the future (and probably, it would be better for me not to post any such event in the website, because it is sometimes interpreted as a sign of support).

I do not want to dwell on the negative, and instead of looking at things we are "against", let us highlight instead what are for. PinoyMountaineer stands for responsible hiking and minimal-impact outdoor recreation. As an individual, I do not have the organizational resources to "save the world" by conducting clean-up climbs or tree-planting activities, but through my blog, I can support those who do so. Moreover, just by promoting responsible hiking, and promoting more destinations in order to spread (and thus reduce) impact, I think we can already contribute towards protecting the mountains. Like I said before, "If all climbs are clean climbs, there'll be no need for clean up climbs."

7. If you can change something in the way people climb in the Philippines, what will it be?

I will go for a change in perspective. I would like more people to pursue hiking as both an end in itself and as a means to creating a stronger relationship between ourselves and the natural environment, with a heightened sense of environmental awareness as the goal. This kind of perspective, once rooted in the consciousness of everyone, will uproot both unhealthy attitudes and unhealthy behaviors.

Unhealthy attitudes include climbing as a form of competition, which, although healthy at a certain level, when taken to the extreme, can lead to petty fights among climbers. Unhealthy behaviors, of course, including treating the mountains as an extension of the city, and thus bringing loud noises and excessive merry-making at the campsites. A healthy respect for the mountains will lead people to think twice before leaving trash in the trails. A health respect for other mountaineers will lead people to behave accordingly in the campsites, and to seek to preserve the mountain the way they saw it: as pristine as possible.

I believe that most people do not willingly violate the LNT principles; they simply don't know what it means, and thus education is a must, and it must be done in a non-antagonistic, non-self-righteous way. Thus, hikers, instead of berating others, must take the lead to educating others in a gentle but comprehensive way. In this sense, I still highly recommend beginners to take a Basic Mountaineering Course, unless they are being mentored by an experienced hiker.

8. Can you tell us about your hiking companions? Have you selected "Team 2012" already?

My hiking companions are usually people who share my passion for hiking, and also share my preferences (i.e. small groups, post-climb food trips). For instance, Iron Lady Jo Steven and I, aside from our mutual craziness for the mountains, also enjoy Japanese food, green tea latte, and other small things. I highly value people for their loyalty, passion, unique personality, and of course, team spirit.

Somehow, I've managed to coalesce with these people, in serendipitous ways. Team 2012 is just an informal label and will include more people who share my passion for hiking (I have already contacted some who applied). I would like to focus on the younger generation because we need to get the youth to go hiking, in order for the sport to flourish even more in the Philippines.

If, by reading my blog, you are convinced that you and I will get along well in the trails, then you are most welcome to seek me out by emailing me!

9. How do you prepare for your climbs?

Hiking is the best preparation for more hiking, but I am sometimes in the academic oval of UP Diliman to do training runs, and I'd like to do more swimming this year. If I get too busy, I'll probably do more runs too, in two UP campuses (Diliman and my home, UPLB). Blogging is a way of mentally preparing for climbs, too, because it makes me more excited to hit the trails, since I know that I am able to connect to people through my blog and social networks, and share my experiences to others.

10. Are you planning to climb Mt. Everest in the future?

With all humility, yes, I'd love to, given the chance.

Hiking matters #220: The road to Mt. Kilimanjaro

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

On December 17, 2011, the six-person PinoyMountaineer Kilimanjaro Expedition took off from Manila to Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa via Qatar Airways to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and one of the famed Seven Summits of the World. Joining me were fellow medical doctors Mutya Bernardo and Jun Carnate, and my longtime hiking companions Swami Del Bahena, Farah Pasamonte, and FR Hortelano.

After a 16-hour flight (including a two-hour layover in Doha, Qatar), we arrived in Nairobi, and walking from the tarmac, the significance of finally being in Africa was not long among us; we got a Kenyan visa-on-arrival for $50 (one of the good things about the Kili climb for Filipinos is that no prior visa application is required).

From Nairobi, we had a private bus drive us through the Namanga border with Tanzania, where we got another visa-on-arrival for $50. After crossing the border, we passed by the small town of Longido, and Mt. Longido rose to our right - it was but a herald to the majestic Mount Meru, and of course, our much-awaited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The drive continued on to Arusha, the de facto capital and diplomatic hub of the East African community, where we had a very nice feast of various meat (goat, lamb, beef) with ugali, a staple made of cassava or cornflour in a local grill house. The meal went well with Kilimanjaro beer, a famous beverage in the region, which will eventually find its way with me to the Philippines as celebratory drink over New Year's Eve!

The drive continued. The over 260-km. road trip has taken the whole day, and we were anxious to rest after a long journey from Manila. But then, suddenly, it came to view, albeit half-obscured, albeit fleeting, what Hemingway wrote about, what we had dreamed about, and our excitement was renewed: The snows of Kilimanjaro!

Pictures courtesy of the members of the Kilimanjaro Expedition Team.

My Top 10 Philippine climbs of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:44:00 +0000

Every last day of the year, it has been my tradition to post what I consider my "Top 10" climbs for each year. The job gets tougher every year, with more and more climbs to choose from! This year, I did a separate listing of my Top 10 Philippine climbs of 2011, separate from my Top 10 climbs abroad, which I will also be posting soon.

1. Mt. Kalawitan (Sabangan, Mt. Province) - Mt. Kalawitan is a candidate for the 10th highest mountain in the Philippines, and it has been on my list ever since Jay Lorenzo and Regie Pablo brought it up. What I saw was a very beautiful mountain at the heart of the Cordilleras! Acknowledgment: Rolf Boller and the friendly officials and guides of Sabangan.

2. Talipanan-Malasimbo-Alinbayan Traverse (Puerto Galera)

Iron Lady Jo Steven and I climbed from one end of Puerto Galera to another, from Talipnan to Sabang, in what can be called the "Puerto Galera Mountain Trail" passing by three peaks. The deep jungle with its voracious limatik made for the setting of an intense climb!

3. Mt. Sicapoo (Solsona, Ilocos Norte)

Iron Lady and I continued our "winning streak" with a record-setting three-day Sicapoo/Timarid-Simagaysay Traverse, a destination of deep significance to me since I joined the first exploratory climb in 2009, during which I had a "close interaction" with the Gasgas River. This time, we enjoyed the trek thoroughly and even slept outside our tents in an exceptionally sunny day! Acknowledgment: Aggie and Archie Pinzon and the ODMG

4. Mt. Kalatungan Traverse (Pangantucan, Bukidnon)

This one is a very unforgettable climb with our very friendly and loyal Manobo guides, and included a near-encounter with some bandits on the loose! Beautiful was the mossy forest, as well as the dramatic slopes of Kalatungan and Wiji.

5. The Bicol Express (7 Mountains in 8 Days)

Seven Bicol mountains in eight days (Asog, Mayon - Old Trail, Mayon - New Trail, Malinao, Pulog, Binanderahan, and Masaraga). I was really so tired after the seventh mountain, but hiking is so much fun that it's even harder to quit the rally, especially if you have Iron Lady Jo Steven as your hiking partner! The actual itinerary for this adventure is posted here.

6. Mt. Thumbpeak (Palawan)

My final major climb with Iron Lady Jo Steven was an overnight climb of Mt. Thumbpeak in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. A swollen river nearly forced us to abort the climb, but we waited on the riverbank, crossed the river before dawn, and reached the beautiful summit of Thumbpeak, which reminded me of the further, tougher Mt. Mantalingajan. Acknowledgment: Jasper Camacho, for helping us!

7. Tarak and Malipunyo Traverses with Sky Biscocho

It was a great honor to climb with the legendary Sky Biscocho, not once, but twice, in two intense traverse dayhikes of Tarak and Malipunyo! The Tarak climb took us to Tarak Peak via Paniquian River, and even up Mt. Skysam (Dome Peak). Both climbs showed the two mountains in a different light.

8. CLIMB WITH ME: Third Annual Charity Climbs (Ugo and Pulag)

Aiming to raise PHP50,o00 for the health information website Kalusugan.PH, I organized two climbs in the Cordilleras, both of which were fun! Mt. Ugo was rainy but we had a nice campout at Domolpos Elementary School; Mt. Pulag had great weather and great views at the summit! Thank you to everyone who joined these events and their advocacy!

9. Talomo-Apo Traverse (Davao)

This is an epic climb of four action-packed days with my friends from Malaysia! Each day featured long hours of trekking (an average of 14 hours) and was very intense and difficult, but the diversity of environments made it a rewarding sojourn; great was our joy when we finally reached Lake Venado on the third day, then the summit, and by the evening of Day 4 we were back in Davao City. Whew!

10. Kibungan Circuit v. 2 (Kibungan, Benguet)

My final climb in the Philippines, a week before Kilimanjaro, was a Kibungan Circuit in its second version, rounding up Mt. Tagpaya, Oten, and Tagpew. My hiking partner in this climb was no less than Leo Oracion, the first Filipino to climb Everest, and we're planning more climbs in the future! Acknowledgment: Sir Martin Cortez for organizing the climb.

TOP 10 CLIMBS OF THE YEAR

Top 10 Climbs of 2011 (PH)

Top 10 Climbs of 2010

Top 10 Climbs of 2009

Top 10 Climbs of 2008

PinoyMountaineer reaches Mt. Kilimanjaro summit

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:57:00 +0000

MANILA - The PinoyMountaineer Kilimanjaro Expedition 2011 has ended with a successful and safe climb, with our group of six Filipinos ascending Mt. Kilimanjaro via the Rongai route from December 20-25, 2011. Four members of the team reached the summit, Uhuru Peak, at 1115H Tanzanian time (1615H Manila time) on December 24, 2011.

Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 5895 MASL the highest mountain in Africa, is one of the fabled Seven Summits of the world. I will be blogging about the climb from Hiking matters #220-227 in the coming days, and will be posting more pictures in the PM Facebook site. I thank Columbia Sportswear, Black Diamond, and R.O.X. Philippines for the gear and clothing that I used in the expedition, which worked very well and I will also be doing a lot of gear reviews about them!

Gear Review: Dexshell Coolvent Lite Socks (Preliminary)

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:16:00 +0000

It's waterproof, and it's breathable...unbelievable! These two characteristics have always been the 'Holy Grail' of all outdoor products, from shoes to jackets, and finding both of them on your socks would be a true outdoorsman's delight.

I too, was initially skeptical, but the Dexshell Coolvent Lite Socks proved its worth when I went it up Kibungan, Benguet to do the Kibungan Circuit Version 2 last weekend. Its breathability was put to test with the 23.5-km circuit, and I used the socks the whole time, except when I was sleeping. I didn't have any moisture problems! Of course, it helped too that my Merrell Moab Men's Mid Waterproof Boots was also waterproof and breathable.

The ultimate test was at the end of the trail, at Mayos River, when I dipped the socks on the river itself! The inside of the socks didn't get wet! My feet remained dry, and when I put my socks inside my shoes, the amount of moisture gathered by the socks wasn't so much, and my feet felt and remained dry!

I will write a more extensive review of the socks after a couple of months for use. I am interested on how it can withstand sustained use, and how it will perform in the cold (I'm bringing it up Kilimanjaro). But for now, I like it and I already got my second pair.

In the Philippines, this product is distributed by SPG (Survival Plus Gear) and you can visit their Facebook page here. The price is P1,200.

Mountain News: Romi Garduce, Levi Nayahangan, to scale Vinson Massif, highest peak in Antarctica, in Seven Summits bid

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:38:00 +0000

Two Pinoy mountaineers, Romi Garduce and his hiking partner Levi Nayahangan are leaving Manila on December 23 to travel to Antarctica to climb Vinson Massif, which would complete Romi's bid to complete the Seven Summits of the World. Both Romi and Levi and members of the UP Mountaineeers, and they had most recently climbed Cartensz Pyramid in Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

Romi Garduce told PinoyMountaineer.com that Vinson Massif will be "a mental climb". The Vinson Massif climb normally takes 13 days, so we are expecting them to reach the summit in the last few days of the year.

GMA Network is supporting Romi and will surely provide live updates and news about their expedition. ROX Philippines is also supporting them.

Their climb has a special significance for me as I will climbing one of the Seven Summits, Mt. Kilamanjaro, hopefully my first, also later this month, as the organizer of a six-person, all-Filipino team that will ascend the mountain via the Rongai Trail.

We will be praying for the success of Romi and Levi in their Vinson Massif climb, which would make them the first Filipinos to climb Antarctica's highest peak.

PinoyMountaineer Shirts on Christmas sale! Two shirts for only P500!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:07:00 +0000

As the year draws to a close, we decided this Christmas season would be a great opportunity to express our gratitude to all the blog readers and hikers who have supported the website through the PinoyMountaineer shirt series. Thank you very much for sharing our passion for the peaks by wearing our shirts!

As our Christmas offering, I am pleased to announce that PinoyMountaineer Shirts will go on sale from December 15, 2011-January 15, 2012! During this period, you can get two shirts at only P500!

New stocks of Shirt no.1 ("Don't change the mountain"), Shirt no. 2 (Take nothing but pictures), and Shirt no. 3 ("I love the mountains.") will all be available during this period, as well as the rider shirt (Buti na lang may climb bukas).

Shirt no 1: Don't Change the Mountain

Shirt no.2: Take nothing but pictures

Sbirt no. 3: I love the mountains

Please note that this is a Metro Manila-wide sale on The Perfect White Shirt branches:

5. Robinsons Place Ermita - Padre Faura Wing, First Level, in front of Goldilocks

Again, PinoyMountaineer and The Perfect White Shirt wish to say many thanks for the support that you've given since we started this shirt project!

For more information, you can email Philippe at shirts@pinoymountaineer.com or +639178858797. Home deliveries and shipping services are welcome!

Gear Review: Eureka! Solitaire Tent (Preliminary)

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:52:00 +0000

Self-containment is always a beautiful thing to achieve, and often, it is the tent that is the limiting factor. I've always had two-man tents, and I find them too spacious to put inside my regular backpack, a 55+10 Deuter Aircontact. So I welcomed the opportunity to try a one-man bivouac-type tent, which will surely be a great upgrade.

So I was pleasantly surprised when I first tried out the Eureka Solitaire Tent for a Kibungan Circuit climb. It weighs just over a kilo (2 lbs 9 oz) and has just 60-70% the volume of my other tents! It is also light on the pocket, costing just half the price of an MSR Hubba Tent.

The Eureka Solitaire is a non-free standing, three-season tent which means that it needs to be pegged in order to stand. This was somewhat of a challenge when we camped at the summit of Mt. Oten, which had a very hard surface (no pun intended!). But I was able to set it up quite easily. The fly is attached to the tent itself, so it was easy to just put it over the main body. The

poles are thin, like malnourished aluminum poles, but (so far) they've proven to be stronger than they look.

Inside, the Eureka was very comfortable, even luxurious, for me. Length-wise, it is 8 feet long, which makes it very good for me too! I don't know if it's because of lack of sleep the previous night, or the pleasant mountain weather, or truly because of the Eureka, but I had one of my best outdoor slumbers ever! And mind you, I didn't drink, inhale, or inject anything to assist me!

In dire (or ultralight) situations, it can accommodate two people, just like the Frosty Ridge II, but the backpacks have to be placed outside. It has practically no vestibule, but what I do is just put a garbage bag over the entrance of my tent, so it can have "unclean" stuff like shoes, gaiters, and a semi-wet backpack. Later, I can place my feet on the pack, which is also good for the circulation (and the legs).

It rained that night, but I didn't notice. Neither my body nor my gear got wet or moist inside the tent - a promising sign!

My decision? I will use it in future climbs! I'd like to try other bivouac tents, but for now, this tent will be my main tent especially since my theme for 2012 is self-containment. So I'm looking forward to another great year of hiking! Of course, since I've only tried the tent once, this gear review is "preliminary". Will put it into tougher tests soon!

THE BLOGGER'S TENTS IN CURRENT USE

Eureka! Solitaire (2011)

Columbia Frosty Ridge II (2008)

SwissGear Elite Hiking Tent (2009)

Hiking matters #219: Kibungan Circuit version 2, day 2: Mt. Tagpew and back to Tanap

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:03:00 +0000

I had a lengthy and relaxing sleep inside my bivouac tent at the summit of Mt. Oten! The temperature was just right; cool enough to be pleasant, but not chilling. Indeed, the temperature probably reached 10 degrees at the lowest that night. Later, they told me that there was a brief episode of rain but I didn't even notice it!

We resumed trekking at 0800H, passing through a series of narrow trails that run along the pine-covered slopes that made me reminisce about Mt. Sicapoo. Our next target was Mt. Tagpew, which was, according to our itinerary, about four hours away. Leo and I went ahead with one of the guides, Disenio.

It was a leisurely trek across beautiful scenery, and we had much conversation along the way. Also, I tried to identify the distant mountains, and I succeeded in some of them: there was Mt. Sto. Tomas, Mt. Ugo, as well as the Bakun mountains. Mountains, like old friends, are always nice to see again, even from afar.

Eventually, we reached Mt. Tagpew, which is accessible as a sidetrip from the regular trail system; the final assault is quite precarious. It was a nice viewpoint, and would have been nicer if not for the clouds that were beginning to obscure the views. Leo picked up some nearby cassava (kamote) tubers which he later boiled as his lunch!

Past Mt. Tagpew, we reached Legleg village, where we had lunch at the grounds of the elementary school. Just a few hundred meters past the village was a burial cave, with two coffins in the traditional Kankaney style. It was another nice sidetrip that added a cultural flavor to the beautiful trek.

Clouds have enveloped much of the view, and by the time we reached the Bato Viewpoint, there was nothing to see, except for ourselves and the rock that caused it to be called as such. However, as we continued our descent, we caught occasional glimpses of the beautiful terraces. At one point, we even trekked through some of them.

We reached the Mayos river at 1440H, well ahead of schedule. Here, I tested the Dexshell waterproof, breathable socks which will be the topic of a future gear review. From the river, we did a leisurely walk of the less than 2 km stretch until we arrived at Sitio Tanap, completing the Kibungan circuit!

What can I say? It was a great trek! The trail possibilities in Kibungan seem infinite and I would like to do more hikes there in the future! Thank you to the team, especially Sir Martin who organized the climb and Farah who provided private transport! It was, of course a great honor to climb with Leo Oracion, and I look forward to more in the future!

Hiking matters #218: Kibungan Circuit version 2, Day 1: Mt. Tagpaya and Mt. Oten

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:12:00 +0000

We had long planned a Kibungan climb, and after some delays, including a last-minute cancellation brought about by typhoon Mina, the opportunity finally came to do the Kibungan Circuit from December 10-11, 2011, in a climb organized by Sir Martin Cortez. My hiking partner during the climb was no other than Leo Oracion, the first Filipino to climb Everest!

It was a long, winding, and rough road from Baguio to Kibungan, and although we arrived in Baguio City at past four, it was already around 0715H when we arrived at the municipal hall of Kibungan, where we registered and met our guides Roger and Martin. We had breakfast at a nearby eatery, then took the jeep again to Sitio Tanap, where we started trekking.

Since the Kibungan Circuit is a circuit, we would end the trek at the jumpoff, but using a different trail. So it's like a traverse in the sense that you don't pass by the same trail twice, but it's like a backtrail in the sense that you end up where you started. Circuit climbs are not common in the Philippines, but we're discovering more and more of them!

We decided to do the version 2, which will take us to three peaks: Tagpaya, Oten, and Tagpew, in two days. It was already 0930H when we started trekking from Tanap; a quick descent took us to a hanging bridge, then up a community called Abas, and it was a delight when we finally reached the pine tree line; we had lunch in Buga. Along the way, we saw views of the Tanap Rice Terraces.

It started raining after lunch, and we took shelter in a nameless rock cleft beneath Mt. Tagpaya, and wonderfully, I fell into a siesta! Rains stopped eventually, and soon we were at Mt. Tagpaya, at 1820 MASL the first peak in the Kibungan Circuit. Although there was cloud cover, the peak was nonetheless a dramatic, rocky ridge.

From Mt. Tagpaya, we proceeded to Mt. Oten, via a series of narrow trails on rolling slopes and ridges surrounded with pine trees. One of the highlights of the trail is what locals call the "Oldest Pine Tree" - a big pine tree that stands out and marks the start of the final descent-then-ascent on the way to Mt. Oten.

Finally, by 1730H, we arrived at Mt. Oten, where we spent the night. The name oten means 'wild berry tree' in Kankaney, and should not be given additional definitions! The campsite was small, just enough for our five tents, and for the first time, I used my Eureka! Solitaire bivouac tent, which worked perfectly! We were very sleepy and I went straight to sleep after a quick dinner!