Most Basic Mountaineering Stuffs

In my previous post, I ranted about the upcoming climb to Lake Maughan, Tiboli. Myorthodoc shall act as one of our guides and we were assured of fun and excitement.

My co-bloggers were pessimistic of the climb but I was one of those who were excited to conquer this new place. I asked DocBone to orient the newbies of mountaineering which he promised to do before the actual climb.

But, since I had my prior experiences of climb, I was somehow expecting what to be brought and what should be left at home instead.

For a newbie, below are the basic mountaineer gears and stuffs I believe you should have:

1. easy to dry-comfy-light gear of pants and shirt/caps
-quite practical for smooth or light walks

2. mountaineer boots
- climbing on wrong shoes will be indeed bad for your feet and legs . I had full of foot blisters from using my running shoes on a 13-hour climb, tsk! tsk! tsk!

3. enough food for the entire climb days
- refrain from bringing too man cans of goods since you have to bring these down too.

4. tent for evening camps
- you don't want to be sucked dry by mosquitos or contract other illness from your climb.

5. enough water supply although you have to check site's sources for recharging.

6. first - aid kits
- bring anything you may find useful or handy. Don't forget to bring tissue too just in case you need to poof somewhere else. Hahahhah!

7. flashlights, tools and knives for cooking and others
- You may need these for cooking, eating or constructing your tent and others

8. Navigation tool
- if you don't have a climb guide or simply have it for your peace.

8. CAMERA
- you don't want to miss the scenery and your presence in it!

Fun Climb Scheduled for Lake Maughan

As part of our blogging activities as Soccsksargen Bloggers, we decided to have our luxury climb to Lake Maughan, Tiboli.

One of the community's proud member and certified mountaineer is Doc Bone and an active member of Talakudong Mountaineers from Tacurong.

I had my last climb to Kiamba mountains last Summer 2008. It was a struggling but enjoying 13-hour climb to the base camp.

I am only pretty excited to this next climb to a very popular lake known for its tribe, trail and scenery. I shall bring my kid with me. The climb trail can be completed in 3-4 hours. So, it shall be a new experience again and very timely for holy week.

This is indeed a passion I want to share with my kid, loving life and earth.

We Ate, Walked and Were Hung in Davao City

Our Zipline Gears, with Tammy and the rest of the bloggers. We don't want to fall from 300 feet top, right? What?!!!!

The first hurdle, the 45 degree climb. Whew!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! The only word I uttered from the start to stop!

This is heaven!

We had so much fun in Davao City, as part of their Foundation Day celebration. We traveled for 3 hours from Gensan City to this beautiful place and met some Davao City bloggers.

The entire food appreciation tour (fat), coupled with this zipline and climb stuffs and beautiful scenery made the trip all worth it!

Traversing the Lake on a Mountain Climb

Waiting for my turn to cross. Yikes!

As one of my passion, we choose to do mountain climbing whenever we have the chance. We however missed the last climb because we are all sick with chicken pox. We would pretty scare off the climb guides.Hahahahha!

But one thing I don't forget was the climb to Kiamba's beautiful mountains. We however had to cross this river with quite strong current that I had to hold on to another climber.Hahahahh!

It was a 13-hour climb to the base camp. We only settled with water from the sprouting springs along the trail. I can't wait to the next climb this summer!

On Top of the World

With my students on one of the Highest Mountains in Zamboanga City

Another passion of mine is mountain climbing. We had this shot on top of Zamboanga City's hill. My students and co-teacher joined me and some friends to this conquest. This was actually my second climb. It took us 2 hours to reach the stiff top but when we reached it and saw the entire city from our end, the exhaustion was all worth it. We could see the panorama of city and the Zamboanga waters.

My students in my former school would still ask me to come back and have new climbs again. I still go climbing here in Gen. Santos City. Though, I still wish I can climb again with old friends.

Sarangani's Pride: Mt. Matutum

I have been a resident of Gensan for over a decade, but I could only see the greatness of this mountain in vision. Now, that I am into mountain climbing and as I travel to Marbel for my masteral, I could not help but marvel Mt. Matutum. Its vastness is filled with pineapple field and other native crops. Other climbers would say, they can conquer this mountain only for few hours. So, I cant wait to have my tracks on it, and sleep over its peak. . .

Most Difficult Mountain Climb By Far

Sometime in May 2008, my college friend-classmate had invited me to a mountain-river-ocean adventure. And since, I had nothing much to do as I was jobless, I said "yes" right away. So, I packed for 2 days food and clothes and slept very early for the adventure ahead.

The starting climb was all difficult, only my feet could tremble and complain of fatigue. We stopped for a break when we visited a village of Tibolis (natives of Kiamba) and saw a log coffin as their burial tradition. This tradition has been practised for 75 years. . .

The next 7 hours of climb was more tiring and draining but I just loved the nature I was in. I could only marvel of their wonders. What I couldnt forget was the 1-hour climb down to the base camp, It was almost 90 degrees slope down with muddy steps. I could only grip to the grass and pray that I wouldnt fall. . . whew! The sleep at night was fast! I could feel every bone complaining. . . z z z z z z z

But the experience was all great. The spring water was endless and all cold and sweet. I couldnt wait to have my new adventure in Mt. Busa. A mountain much stiffer and farther in Kiamba. Come August!!!!!!!

Second Climb to Pulong Bato of Zamboanga City

I had the chance to imprint my mark on the legendary, Pulong Bato of Zamboanga City with my students from Pilar College and few close friends.

Natives of Zamboanga would say that Pulong Bato was the hailed sanctuary of Subanun Datu, the first inhabitants of Zamboanga. However, since migrants had occupied the place, the natives moved farther uphill. So, this place only holds now as backdrop, the famous Abong-Abong's 14 Stations of the Cross.

So, sometime in March 2008, around 15 people, students, co-teacher, and veteran climbers. The start was very difficult for amateurs as we climbed a 45-degree stiffer walk. We had to hold on to tall grasses just to keep us from sliding down. The water tanks we had were easily quenched. We had to grip well on a rock wall, as we aimed to Pulong Bato summit. I could only breath for a prayer!


But, as we reached the summit of Pulong Bato for lunch, we were all amazed and awed of the panoramic beauty of the Zamboanga Peninsula. All the sweats, thirsts, foot blisters, and fatigue were vain when we reached the top. The meager and humble lunch we had tasted sweeter and heavenly (perhaps, being closed to heaven, made us feel that!). We then took pictures here and there!


But, the climb didnt end there as we proceeded to the next stop, the Telecomm Summit. We again endured the slope with tall and blady grasses. We could only hold on to them as we were closed to the brinks of falling!!!

The other summit was even more breathtaking! The top where we rested was quite open from trees, so we had a wider vision of the city. I could only thank the Lord for the grandness and splendor of His works. Of course, we took pictures again and endless more!!

The descent was easier and more relaxed. My students couldnt help but thank us for the experience!

We cant wait to visit it again!

First Climb to Danny's Hill

I am quite a laid back person, as I only consumed my time teaching college students and writing articles on our school paper. I was all drained and had been looking for adventure, and so when my friend, Weng, a climber in Zamboanga City, invited me and my friends to join him in a fun climb to Danny's Hill, I just said, "Sure!"

I really did not know the basics of mountain climbing, so I just wore clothes, I was most comfortable, and brought luxury food. The first hour was all uphill, and I started losing my breath, but I did not miss at all the wonderful slopes of Pasonanca hills. When, the climb got longer, and as we took more steps under the raging son, I could only ask the rest of the climbers for a rest! Geez, I thought climbing would be that easy!

We saw strange looking trees and plants along the way and met hill residents along the way. We just bid them hello's and continuously walked towards our destination, the Ostrich and Kennel Farms.

Before we reached the farms, the fog had set low and started to rain, I could only clutch to my jacket but continue walking. We stopped when we reached the ostrich and deer farm and took some pictures with them so I could show them off to my son, Yuri. We proceeded directly to the Kennel Farm, and saw, at least a dozen of hybrid dogs.

Funny that we traversed the mountains for 3 hours to just capture the pictures of these animals. But, what was more satisfying was reaching one of the hills and saw the panorama of Zamboanga City. There, I realized how my personal problems and conflicts can be that mediocre to the grandess of what I saw uphill. My exhaustion had gone vain and I could only yearn that I could climb more and experience more with Mother earth. So, my friends who joined me and I vowed that we would cover other mountains in the city and promote the experience to other mountain lovers.

Two months after the climb, we however, saw our Danny's Hill bombarded with bombs and dynamites as the government soldiers used the mountain for their military exercise. It really broke my heart and wish, people could better protect these mountains instead of killing them. Perhaps, this blog, is about promoting too, earth preservation!