was quite hesitant to join a couple of days before the actual climb. It was technically my third time to go to Mt. Batulao and I didn't like the idea of going back there again and again. The first time I went there was with the MMS (Metropolitan Mountaineering Society) Open Climb. Though it was a good climb overall, I never really got to appreciate the mountain that much. It was noisy that night and the climb to the summit just left a "So-so" impression for my taste, since it was all misty and white. The peak was also crowded with noisy campers who passed by the night bringing up some noise pollution with them. The 2nd time around was when I joined Hopia Buddies, Pete and Marco do an ocular of the camps there for an intended Open Climb for a company. We were drenched wet that day and had to traverse a trail of mud-mixed-with-horse-poo. It was somewhat fun in the rain, but again it's an ok mountain. Maybe my taste for mountains has somehow gone up to the standard of the majesty of Pulag.
Laziness struck Friday evening. There were no more Open Climb, got no money at that moment since all ATM's were in freeze and I wanted to tell them that I wouldn't join their climb tomorrow. But then again, I came to a realization that I was being selfish. I was only thinking about myself and almost forgot the promise I made that anytime they would want to climb that mountain they can just tell me. So I told myself that I am not going there for myself but for my fellow Hopia Club. So I pulled myself together and started preparing for the climb.
