Ironwulf.net Ver 6: En Route - Philippines, Travel, Photography

Taal viewed from the highlands of Tagaytay has never failed to mesmerize people. I for one am enchanted everytime I’m in the area whether to just pass by or to eat at one of my favourite restaurants overlooking the Taal volcano.

It’s interesting going down as this time you could see the view, whereas when you climb all was in darkness. Though for some, the darkness was good to cover out the scene, because now you could actually see where you could fall. Going down from the summit is kinda hard on the knees and toes as your body have to balance itself from the pull down. Then navigating through the ropes requires a bit of rapeling skills. Which I found to be fun actually.

We barely have a couple of hours of sleep. We had to wake up around 2:30am for our summit assault. Or better yet, we were awaken by the constant sound of footsteps from other climbers on the hallway, getting ready as well. Navigatng through a ton of scattered drenched clothes above our room heater and after having something for breakfast at the canteen we set off to climb the last 2.7km toward the summit.

Mt. Kinabalu’s trail are mostly stairs, and I hate stair trails. They are more tiring and would put too much pressure on your legs and butts. Especially if you have your packs on. From the start I could already see myself getting wobbly legs when I go down these uneven steps. Like how I see most of the other foreigners descending from the mountain limping on every step down and mostly with sticks for support.

I’m back in Manila, and my legs are just aching from those endless flight of stair trails in Mt. Kinabalu, a world Heritage site and one of the highest mountain in the South East Asia.

I’ve been longing to go back to the mountain for quite sometime so I accepted an invitation from, fellow climber Ruby of MFPI to climb Mt. Daguldol in San Juan, Batangas. Still weary-eyed from lack off sleep, I packed my bags around 4am Saturday morning and quickly set off to sleep. Good thing our assembly was noon time in Buendia where our Vans would pick us up. Don’t know much of the guys who will be coming along, but I saw some guys mostly with “daypacks” and large sleeping bags. Some girls even have shoulder bags with them. Are they going to a mall? Probably first time climbers, I thought. We were around 18 people inside the Van, but good thing, it was spacious, cool and comfortable.

I think it’s been 7 months since I climbed a mountain. And what a way to start the year with the same mountain I last climbed in 2004, Gulugod Baboy (”Pig’s Spine”). This was supposed to be real easy but since my endurance have somehow waned down bit, I felt a bit exhaustion. Still, the first trip from “Lakbay Unlimited” was successful. Last year was a real bummer for the group’s travel activity since everyone were busy with their own stuff. And finally the experience of being on top of a mountain is back! And also the blistering cold!