A Few Lessons in Mt. Pulag

Climbing my first mountain did not just cross out one of the things I want to do in my life (or places to go to), but brought me some lessons I should value. Of course those "lessons" came upon further reflection or reminiscing of what happened.

February 21-22, 2009, through the "Climb a Mountain, Build a House" fund-raising for the JGC-Philippines - Gawad Kalinga Community Project, I did it. My first climb. Mt. Pulag in Benguet, via the Ambangeg Trail.

I have wanted to experience climbing a mountain and reach the summit because I want to show myself that I can do it. I am not a healthy and fit person with an active lifestyle - I usually just sit around in front of a computer almost all day, and walking is the most physical activity I get (with an umbrella - my pseudo-trekking pole - to assist me in stairs or in times of laziness.) I even have neurofibroma of the pelvis, but that only motivates me and does not stop me from climbing (I have my doctor's verbal permission, anyway.)

This climb is somehow special because, for one, it is MT. PULAG, and secondly, to add some spice to it, the climb is for a cause.

In an outdoor shop in Farmers in Cubao, while I was waiting for my friends purchase some camping equipment, I got to chat with one of the persons there, a climber, and got to tell him about our trip. He was surprised that it was my first climb, a major climb. Oh yes, I read somewhere that mountaineers consider it a major climb despite the easy trail. By the way, he added na sana hindi ako madala sa akyat na ito (na naramdaman ko, at muntik na ngang nangyari).

Easy trail: true. Even young and old people can climb Mt. Pulag: true. There is an established trail, and it is not steep. Yet, these cannot be true for a person without preparation. That's my first lesson. While it seemed easy, I shouldn't have taken it so lightly, especially since it is a new endeavor for me. That's my second lesson.

For everything, not just a climb, preparation is the key.

For new adventures, not just this one, and especially for life-changing decisions, forethought should be given.

As I didn't prepare, and I took the climb lightly, I had these infamous incidents: really slowing down everyone behind me because of my super slow pace on descending the mountain; removing the soles of my rubber shoes (damaged shoes); achy muscles at the back of my right knee that made going up or down an inclined plane really difficult; crappy breakfast; and a battery-drained camera in the summit. I survived those!

On climbing, here are the lessons I learned:

• Wear a good pair of shoes. The team leader, Jake, said that running shoes shouldn't have been a problem to use in trekking Mt. Pulag. My running shoes, however, did not survive the trek. I guess my pair was not properly conditioned like its owner.
• Trekking poles are a huge help, I guess. I use my big umbrella as a pseudo-trekking pole in the city, so I'm inferring that I need a trekking pole in a mountain.
• When three people try to sleep in a single-man tent, with two sleeping mats, a sleeping pad, a couple of jackets, a couple of jogging pants, gloves, socks and bonnet, it can get hot even in Mt. Pulag. I experienced that, which made me remove my socks, gloves, a jacket, bonnet, and almost made me remove one of my jogging pants, if not for the limited space.
• Offering eggs seems to work. I heard one of the participants offered eggs for good weather. And we got it! :)

Pictures here. Cheers!