Inspired from an article of the same title written by Paulo Coehlo
It has been asked to newbies several times by the group, “What is a mountaineer?” with a follow up question, “Why do you want to climb mountains?” The answer is as simple as, a mountaineer is the one who climb mountains. We joined SMB and climb mountains for several reasons such as to appreciate mother nature, to know one’s strength, “para makilala/mahanap ang sarili,” (though knowing one’s self is a life-long process) “outlet ng isang heartbroken,” (Ooops! May tinatamaan) “Magdestress sa trabaho o sa bahay,” (huwat?! Na stress drilon ka na naman ba?), “trip lang,” “I’m just exploring,” “for good times,” in summary, “may pinagdadaanan.”
In a not so, so long time ago, when I was browsing my friends in FB (Wala ng Friendster non’), i saw the profile pic of my highschool friend, Tine. She was sitting on a rock where clouds were almost within her reach. I asked, “Nasan ka nyan?” She answered, “nasa summit ng Mt. Marami.” “Talaga?! Posible? Paano? Parang it’s complicated naman nyan?” then more questions went on…I thought maybe she was just looking for some adventure or, having reasons like what I stated above (Direction: please encircle the correct answer). She introduced me to the group last May 2011. A group which is composed of individuals in different walks of life. It seemed that they knew each other for a long time though they only gather about once to twice a month. I joined without an idea of what mountaineering is all about. They told me the basic things I needed for the climb, to attend the meetings, the itinerary, but woolah! I was thinking a lot of things beforehand, but my friend kept on pushing me, though she could not be with me anymore for my climb. I was just got tired of thinking things, which I think are not really problems to be think about (Ganyan kagulo talaga ang utak ko before), but I threw all my worries, and just found myself packing my things for the training climb.
Mountains are just in my distant vision before. How would I really know how to climb a mountain? How could I reach it to the top? My question was answered when I had my first climb at Mt. Natib. To climb a mountain was not taught to me, I just learned it. It was more than a training climb I think. Spoon-feeding is not the latest trend anymore. it’s more about learning from the experience. Going through the trail was very challenging. The scenery changed from time to time along with the trail I was walking on. From the rough roads, then the trail would become grassy, then muddy, slippery, with peaks and troughs, and so on. You have to look at the trail you’re walking through because you might slip due to inattention and inadequate technique. There was this time when I couldn’t see my colleagues in my front and at my back. I was being left, but getting ahead of the others, but I just took a deep breath, walked, and followed the trail.
I observed that each mountaineer has his own strength, speed, pace and endurance. There will be really times that you’ll see yourself walking alone. Fear may intervene, but you don’t have to be afraid, just follow the trail, or the footprints of the pacer and you’ll be lead to the right track (ang sabi nga nya, “Ako ang daan! Ang sinumang sumunod sa akin ay hindi maliligaw!).
After about more than two hours of walking, we didn’t know that there were two trails: one going to the summit, and the other one, to nowhere. But everything happens for a reason, we were led to the other path (Hindi naman kami naligaw, as they might think). There was this other trail we took for about an hour and ended with a body of water. A place which is not usually seen, or should I say, it’s just being ignored at. “Parang, the road not taken lang ni Robert Frost,” we just took the one less travelled by, and that had made all the difference.
The plan was to go back to the grassland where we could pitch tents, and go home the next day. There was no disappointment, since mountains can stand there for many years, we can just go back whenever we want to, but I just felt incomplete (naks! Me ganon?! Parang na billy-bitin naman ako dun). Though we didn’t meet our main objective in the first place, I knew that the decision was for the safety of the group. Fatigue may set in that we needed to stop every now and then. In this time, do not demand from your body, you may rest, take your time but not too much. Night will fall and you might get lost.
We had our dinner together, good times indeed. But God really moves in mysterious ways, he just sent us an angel who did tell us the right way. He’s in the person of Manong Willie (He may also be the long-lost father of Roshan in his past life). We just never knew that all along, the trail going to the summit was already beside our campsite (toinks!).
The following day was going to the summit. “Going to the top is optional, but going down is mandatory” (pahiram ng linya). I know it’s hard climbing 45 to 90 degree elevations, but in reality, it was harder than I thought. Hazards may cross your way such as falling rocks, cliffs, “limatiks,” thorns, but that should not interrupt you from achieving your objective. You don’t need to depend on the person in front of you, to step on where he steps in. You don’t also need to compete with them, because whether you are a pacer or the sweeper, you have the same goal.
But know your limits, you can ask for help when you really need it. Hold a helping hand whenever it is offered. Taking it doesn’t mean you’re weak, but it just means that you don’t have to worry because someone will catch you when you might get fall (ahem arisse!). It seems that your goal is still far away, and you walk with no end (huwag ka ng magtanong ng, “sir, gaano pa po kalayo?” kasi alam mo na ang isasagot, okay?!). But what was worse than finding out you were wrong in the first place, because if you were wrong, you can just go, step back or move forward without wondering what might have been. Still, continue walking, do not give up until you reach the top. And when you reach the top, clap your hands, shout out loud that you made it.
Upon reaching the summit, I removed my jacket, my headcover, and my gloves (hanggang dun lang po ang nahubad ko dahil baka macensored po tayo) to let the wind embrace me. Exposing my hands, there were 3 “limatiks,” wiggling and sucking my blood. It hurts, but It’s okay anyway, It feels good to be alive.
Then say a prayer to God thanking for his beautiful creations, to the branches and roots of the trees, and to the rocks we hold on, to the river for the water we drink, to the rich soil and grass we use for downloading, to the mountain which became already a part of your life, for bringing out the strength you never knew before that you had.
Leave a trace, your footprints show that every step you make is a product of hardwork. Tell your story, so that you may encourage other people to climb their own mountains, because I think each person is a born mountaineer. We may travel a different path but at the end, we will reach the same goal, the summit.
