“I am a novice mountaineer. I may be the slowest, but indeed, I got the best learnings from my climbs when I walked beside a sweeper.”
Looking back, I never thought that I’m already a mountaineer, and that I’m a bonafide member of SMB (Yipee!!). But all these became possible because of the people behind this group, people who’ll never left you, who will push you to your limits, and bringing out the strength within you. Honestly, I was hesitant to join my first climb because I never been to people whom I really don’t know. Ano bang mawawala? Since my friend was pushing me to join to my ever first climb at Mt. Natib, I thought that maybe these are good people, my good friend would not join this group, if they are not. Since I joined SMB last Sept. 2011, I already climbed 5 mountains (3 major, 2 minor).
but still I could say that I’m not a very good climber. I got tired easily, I walked too slow, I hate walking on a slippery muds, I almost give up in the middle of the trail, I’m afraid to be injured, such complaints to myself, blah, blah…
but I still climb, I want to reach the summit. I learned that every mountain has its own characteristics, so every mountain I climbed is a new experience. That muds, rocks, peaks are part of the trail, and I’m beginning to get used to them (as I encounter them going to Mt. batulao, and lake Yambo).
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| at Mt. Natib |
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| at Mt. Mariveles/Tarak ridge |
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| at Mt. Batulao |
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| at Mt. Pulag |
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| at Mt. Maculot |
but still I could say that I’m not a very good climber. I got tired easily, I walked too slow, I hate walking on a slippery muds, I almost give up in the middle of the trail, I’m afraid to be injured, such complaints to myself, blah, blah…
but I still climb, I want to reach the summit. I learned that every mountain has its own characteristics, so every mountain I climbed is a new experience. That muds, rocks, peaks are part of the trail, and I’m beginning to get used to them (as I encounter them going to Mt. batulao, and lake Yambo).
It makes the trail become more challenging. It tests every climber to proceed and look forward to more climbs, for more challenging and difficult trails, and for more higher peaks. Every climbed I had led me to a euphoric state. It inspires and energizes me in my everyday routine. But let me remind you, this is not about me, this not about my recent climb.
This is about one of the persons who I met to reach the summit, and make it possible. He became my tent buddy, my confidante, and my sweeper.
This is about one of the persons who I met to reach the summit, and make it possible. He became my tent buddy, my confidante, and my sweeper.
As I always say, “In life, there are people you will meet along the way, but they will never stay with you always. They will come and go. They come and cross your way to lead you to the right track, to teach you some important lessons in life, or sometimes teaches you to walk alone and not to depend on them.“
He’s a sweeper. For the longest time I had my climbs with him, I noticed that he usually doesn’t want to be the pacer, because he doesn’t want to be walking with someone else on his back. It gave him a lot of pressure. So, he's always at my back, watching every step I make.
I am at comfort when I climbed with him, because I know when I am almost at a point of giving up, I know that he will be the last person who will push and cheer me up. I learned that the goal in climbing every mountain is not just reaching the summit, but also appreciating the scenery, the trees, the flowers, the tiny creatures, the fresh air, the rainshowers, the faunas, and a lot of things along the journey which are most of the time are left unnoticed. That’s what I appreciate when you’re at the last line, when you’re beside a sweeper (of course, it’s a no, no, not to be behind the sweeper). You can see clearly the long trail that you have gone through when looking back.
I am at comfort when I climbed with him, because I know when I am almost at a point of giving up, I know that he will be the last person who will push and cheer me up. I learned that the goal in climbing every mountain is not just reaching the summit, but also appreciating the scenery, the trees, the flowers, the tiny creatures, the fresh air, the rainshowers, the faunas, and a lot of things along the journey which are most of the time are left unnoticed. That’s what I appreciate when you’re at the last line, when you’re beside a sweeper (of course, it’s a no, no, not to be behind the sweeper). You can see clearly the long trail that you have gone through when looking back.
He’s not only a sweeper, he’s also a trekking pole. Not because he’s thin, but he’s strong, and patient. He’ll assist you and offer his helping hand when you need something to hold on to (pero siyempre bawal ang magpabuhat, di na libre yon! Hehe). The goal of every sweeper is not just to push everyone to reach the summit. But he also builds your strength so that on your future climbs, you learned to stand and walk on your own without his supervision. Because not all the time, he’ll be there to walk beside you.
"A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure." - Sirach 6:14.
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He’s a sturdy shelter. We share the same humor, I guess, or shouId I say, his humor and laugh are really contagious. I never had my own tent, since a member of the group would provide and share his tent with me, I was relieved that I would have a free lodging and accommodation for the overnight climb (Sana sir lagi kang kasama sa climb, para may tutulugan ako, wehehe). One time, I honestly told him, “Sir alam mo nung una kitang nakita akala ko lesbian ka, me nakapagsabi na ba sayo nun?” Actually, he was not surprised when I told him about that. He said, “Marami ng nakapagsabi niyan.” I answered, “Ah ganun ba, so aware ka naman pala.”
He’s a trail sign. He’ll direct and guide you up to the summit.
He’s a trail sign. He’ll direct and guide you up to the summit.
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| Doing the ninja moves... |
But i think it's time for me to walk alone, not because i don't need him anymore, but because I'm a grown up mountaineer now. And mostly, my climbs will be never be the same without him.
" I’m surrounded with people who care and love me so much, though they come and go, the lessons they taught are always within me. " - From My pilgrimage through zero visibility
Because life is a big adventure, it will take us to a long journey. Each may travel a different path, but all of us will reach the same goal. As like climbing mountains doesn’t end when you reach the peak, but face the harder part, which is going down.
" I’m surrounded with people who care and love me so much, though they come and go, the lessons they taught are always within me. " - From My pilgrimage through zero visibility
Because life is a big adventure, it will take us to a long journey. Each may travel a different path, but all of us will reach the same goal. As like climbing mountains doesn’t end when you reach the peak, but face the harder part, which is going down.
