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| Start: | Jul 1, '11 6:00p | | Location: | Consunji Room, 2nd Floor, Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman |
Take your first leap to a life of endless adventure!
Map to the venue
By Jojo Gutierrez (UPM '88)as published in THE MOUNTAINEER: OPISYAL NA LATHALA NG U.P. MOUNTAINEERS Vol.1 Nov 1988Pagbaybay sa ilog, pista sa talangka, tubig kahit saan, langoy, mainit, fun climb, etc… MATULID, OK IYAN. Dahil hindi ako nakasama sa pre-climb miting, ganito ang mga naisip ko mula sa mga istorya ng mga nakapunta na gaya nina Gerry de Villa, Jimmy Hobro at iba, na nagpapatakam ng isang kasabik-sabik na karanasan. The matulid team was made up of members from the cancelled Halcon and Pico de Loro climbs. Boboy Francisco, Mi Ann Francisco, Nokman Jaravanta, Boy Siojo, Beth Begonia, Pio Fortuno, Bessie Lee, Jurgen Tanpho, Chiquit Concepcion, Bobby Menguito, James Malabed, and I made up the 12-man team. Being a lone Batch '88 member, I realized that I was going with very experienced (old) mountaineers so I thought that it meant being in good hands. What an experience this would be! DAY 1 : October 31, 1988Meeting place was at Smokey's Katipunan with the usual 6:00 a.m. meeting time. It was the usual climbing atmosphere with some doing their final packing and one lady arriving quite late (an hour and a half!!!). When all were ready, we took the jeep to Phil Rock, Montalban. From there, we were supposed to take the Weapons Carrier to Tongnay. I was expecting something like the ones used in the army with the canopy and and all. Instead what was there was something that looked like a bombed World War 11 truck taken from below the ocean! It's crude but apparently it still worked.Arriving late, we missed our targetted Weapons Carrier. In place of that, we had one which took us to Anginan which was quite far from Tongnay. From there we had to walk up to Tongnay then to Este del Sol, the jump off point. We started at 10:00 a.m. The first part of the trek was terribly hot. Este now became Peste! It was walking on a winding dirt road with no trees to shade us. Some described it like being in Pulog except for the hot climate. For hours, we walked hoping not to suffer from heat stroke. Boboy Francisco was the lead man so I supposed he was the self-appointed team leader. We had lunch on the road under a very small tree a few minutes before Este. The tree was the only one there so we did not have a choice… Midway through lunch, it started to rain… and H-A-R-D. . . followed by the cold winds so we packed up and continued on. Occassionally, we passed a few small barrios with stores so refreshments were not a problem. The prices did get slightly more expensive the farther we went but I don't think anyone minded. We continued trekking towards Kaingalan, the last of the villages before we went deep into the forest. The trail became very muddy because of the rain. Eeeeekkkk!!! Talagang lulubog and paa mo sa putik and it was only the first day. Finally, at 2:00 p.m. we arrived! Walang hiyang lakad iyon.After a few minutes of rest in Kaingalan, we continued trekking for Lagyo, the compsite for Day 1. The trail was basically easy except when it came to the part where we had to cross over a mud marinated log. What's difficult about that? First, it was absolutely slippery. Second, [you can’t] help but think of how much my future wife and kids depended on the success of that crossing. Step by step then finally… I made it!!! One. Yup, a few more logs to cross and they even became more difficult!There was one particular log which I really hated. The log was quite wide and covered with plants so it was not so slippery. Suddenly, I found my right leg stuck in a hole in the log covered with leaves! Bwisit, I couln't get myself upright! Bessie had to pull me out !!! Walang hiyang fun climb ito!Then came a perfect place for a rest stop while Nokman and Boboy were checking if we were on the right trail. (Yup, we were not sure where we were going!) Minutes later the two came back and said we were on the right track. We had reached Ilas but the bad news was that we were still a long way from Lagyo. It was getting quite late so we had to set camp in a small flat area planted with lots of camote. (Sabi pa nga ng mga villagers huwag tapakan ang mga Kamote, eh pano yon?) Ok n asana but the campsite was beside a stream and it kind a looked kike a gully (akala ko ba bawal iyon?). A few meters from the sitewas a thought it would be wise not to camp in the village. Tama sila doon. The people of Ilas were recent victims of a good to camp there with all the food and equipment that we had. While setting up camp, I was really quiet and because of that I became the object of Boy and Pio's amusement: natrauma daw ako! Actually, I think I was (…just a little) but more than that, I was trying to assess what I had done and was trying to figure out what I was doing there. Ok na sana but somehow I was also looking for some batch mates of mine. I pictured a few of them surfing in Jenny Hotter's place in Quezon. Mga bwisit!DAY 2: INUMANGising na. Ay puneta! Ano itong malamig sa paa ko?? Oh great the water trickled in the tent and my sleeping bag was all wet. Not only that, there seems to be a storm building up and a peek through the door confirmed it. BWISIT TALAGA!!!! We had breakfast inside the tent while I was trying to dry my sleeping bag. While eating, I overheard Boy and Boboy discussing whether to continue or to go back because of the weather. Apparently, being in a gully, the wind was somehow amplified and it sounded like a storm…(Who told them, I wondered???)After breakfast, we packed up and prepared to continue the trek. It was really cold while waiting for Chiquit to finish brushing her teeth before we could on na. Akala ko ba mainit sa Matulid? Sino nga bang may sabi?We started at 9:00 a.m. According to Boboy, Day 2 would be light and by 2:00, we would have reached the coupsite at Inuman. Salamat naman!I already pictured the talangka meal we were to have. The first part of Day 2 involved climbing a number of small mountains, go across them, and then do down again. Going up was no problem. Going across was OK, except for having to cross a few more logs (bwisit!). We also had to cross a very narrow ridge line only as wide as your foot. On its right was a steep slope. On the left was a steeper slope due to soil erosion. I was to cross the ridge after Boy but then, with his weight the soil to the ridge's left eroded some more right after he crossed it. Bad trip! Ah, bahala na! As long as they would rescue me from where ever, sige na!Going down was really steep so this time, we really had to follow the two meter distance between climbers. There was one instance when I was going quite fast that I thought I would so off the trail and fall. Good thing were was something to hold on to. Ay walang hiya! May thorns pala iyong nahawakan ko! ARAY!!!! My right thumb and forefinger were full of them! After painstalkingly removing each one, I continued. The rest of the trail was no problem. The last leg of the descent ended in a cold stream and that was where I felt pain in my right leg. Seconds later, it turned into cramps! Bwisit talaga. Natatawa na lang ako sa sakit! Akala ko ba Light lang ito?Following the narrow stream, we ended into the river where we went swimming for a while. The water was cold and the current was strong. After rest, we had to cross to get to the other side. Malalim pala!!! Nalubog na ang packs pero tuloy pa rin.While walking, I noticed that it was already late in the afternoon and we were still not there! Suddenly from across, we heard two Dumagat women shouting greetings at us. They were apparently very happy to have our team visit their place. Yup, it was Inuman already!!! The two women accompanied us till we came to a place where we could camp and all the way, they were expressing how much they were happy to see us.What I could not understand was why they were still yelling at us when we were at a talking distance? After awhile, nainis na kami sa kanila! Ang kukulit! According to Bobby, they probably took a kilo of nga-nga which made them sabog! Ang lakas siguro ng tama nila.We rested while Nokman was looking for a camp site. A few more Dumagats took their time out to have a chat with us but these ones were normal so siguro sabog nga iyong naunang dalawa.Setting camp, the Dumagats were all around us. Some were quiet observers, some were asking for medicine for sore eyes, some were bemused by our tents, and the two ladies were still expressing their emotions.We later noticed that all of them were concentrating around the tent where Bessie was busy cooking inside. We figured that Boboy, who was in our group cooking nearby, did not merit their attention since he resembled a Dumagats (heheh) so, what's new? Finally, since it was dyahe to eat while they were watching, Boboy requested the Dumagats to come back in the morning for the few medicines and old clothes we had with us, saying for these in the dark… palusot!Boboy said it was best to go back the same route the next day…because the water was extremely high and dangerous, besides he was a sinker. He checked in early that evening and that was when Boy convinced all of us to agree and go on down the river instead of via Este. This would be the news which will greet Boboy the next morning.DAY 3: Indiana Jones, Eat your heart out!Wow naman! I heard a wake up call from the locals and if I'm not mistaken, they were from the two women from yesterday. But when I got out of the tent, they were not there. As I looked around, the sky seemed clearer and the water level of the river was lower. The sun even shone occasionally while we were having breakfast and packing up.We were told by Boy that it would only take us 3 hours to Suwag through the river, so water proofing was important Si Boy na ba ang team leader now?After giving away some old clothes and medicine to the Dumagats care of Ka Suwilo, the head of the village, we left Inuman. We started at 9:00 a.m and passing by a number of Dumagat houses, we heard them warning us that we were going to have a hard time because the water was high and the current strong, every Dumagat we passed warned us! No fail Oh-oh?!? This time I was really quiet..Fifteen minutes later, we had no choice but to jump into the water which looked very deep and was really cold Nokman, Jurgen, Pio and Boy without hesitation jump in and let current bring them along the band. We couldn't see exactly where they would end up. This was my first time to do this and that thought plus the cold water brought up fear. I noticed though that Chiquit and Boboy looked a little hesitant too so at least I knew I was not alone.Bahala na! I jumped in immediately after Beth but along the way, she got stuck where the current was just spinning and spinning and getting her nowhere. After passing her, I noticed that I was actually doing it! As I approached the sand bank, I felt like an airplane on approach to the runway. My pack was my wings and my legs, the wheels. Presto, I made it! Seconds later, Beth came in. After awhile, Boboy came wearing a Life jacket and escorted by James and Boboy!! Parang Presidential entourage!All of us were quite amazed at ourselves after that swim. Our packs became much heavier but they still floated when we went back into the water. It was swim, trek, swim, trek and swim…Midway, we came to a point where we had no choice but to cut across the river. Nokman, Pio, Boy, James and Bobby went across the other side of the river without ropes. I don't know how they managed but they were already there! The rest of us crossed with the aid of the rope. This was when Bessie and Chiquit nearly had it…Bessie crossed holding her pack and the rope, with the current coming from behind her. I think we underestimated how strong the push of the current because it almost strangled Bessie and her head vanished into white waters and reappeared on the other side of the rope. Good thing Boy was there to pull her out.Chiquit came next. She was doing very well till she thought she was in trouble right in the middle of the crossing. It was Boy Siojo to the rescue again! Naglimatik si Chiquit around him!!Before Mi Ann went in, some smart person suggested to clip the hip belt to the rope and just push it along the way (Ed's Note : according to sources it's really the writer's idea). (Pwedeng isama ito sa BMC 1). It worked!!! When it was my turn, I just attached my back pack on the rope and with one push, the pack automatically went to the other side of the river. At least now, I had two hands firmly gripping the rope.We had lunch when all were across. It was already noon and we were still far from Suwag. Actually, no one knew where we were because the water level was so high that it covered most of the familiar landmarks. What was sure was that we'd and up somehow in Angat as long as we followed the Matulid River. While preparing for lunch, some of us laid out our wet items along the rocky shore. Among them were sleeping bags, rain jackets and Jurgen's packs of cigarettes!!!The rest of the day went more or less the same way—in and out of the water. We had to go down into the white waters (meaning it had rocks beneath which we couldn't see). It was just a mere 10 foot crossing so we tried to manage it without ropes via arm links with Bobby as the main anchor. Boy and Jurgen were supporting behind. Suddenly, Boy slowly slipped and was washed away into the rapids!!! Where he would and up no one really knew. He just yelled "See you later!", smiling as he went with the strong current. All we could do was to stand there and watch him make it through the rocks into more calm waters. We later caught up with him an a beautiful sand bank.That afternoon, we came upon another cardiac situation. We were on the left side of the river and the trail ahead was very steep, dropping into the water. To the right was white water that no one in his proper mind would dare try. Right in front were shooting rapids which looked manageable though dangerous. A sand bank could be seen about 100 meters away followed by a sharp turn to the right with more rapids that could probably kill you. So, who was the nut Guinea Pig to try it out? Boy Siojo na naman! He made it. So in we all came! (No choice naman kasi, eh!!!)Ahead of me were Mi Ann and Chiquit. When Mi Ann dove in, her head went below somewhere into the white waters and her pack kept twisting and turning. Moments later, she made it but that incident took out whatever life was left on my face and Chiquit's as well. She jumped in with Bessie, but was caught in a whirlpool so nagpasama nalang siya kay BoboyWhen all were ashore, we decided to camp because it was getting late. Our camp site was on eroding sail and we had no choice but to separate the three tents. Through the night, we were being plagued by small insects (Ed's Note: nik-nik iyon.) that attacked even were planning to make the next day.Day 4: THIS IS THE LIFE!!!By 8:00 a.m. were again having our morning swim! Umagang umaga palang, mababasa na kaagad. The waters this time seemed calmer and the level seemed lower. Swimming with the current became quite fun for this day. We just floated while watching the amazing scenery around. We glided through peaceful waters as neon blue kingfishers, and other small exotic birds flew overhead. Those who were able to go to Palawan last last summer described this as being far better than last frontier!By midday, we had finally reached Suwag! The last of the rapids led into calm waters which would flow to Angat. We were to take the banca from there to the dam in Bulacan. But, where were the bancas? Wala! Boy and Bobby saw a couple of Dumagats across the other side of the river and they desperately went after them since it would mean one more day for us there without the bancas! (Note that the bancas only travel once a day!)They caught up with them and after lunch, a tiny banca without katigs arrived!!! This would bring us to a much larger and motorized one which would in turn bring us to Angat Dam.The small boat when full was only about four inches from sinking. And because it didn't have any katig, a slight movement of one's ass would make the banca rock! The cardiac situations were still not over. Walang hiya! The larger banca took us on a three hour ride along the river across the sunken forest of Sierra Madre and through small Dumagat communities. The life and scenery of this river was astounding. Overhead were hawks, king fishers, herous and other creatures soaring above. Low parts of the trees and ridgelines sticking out from the water. By 5:00 p.m. we arrived at the gate of Angat Dam.Nokman walked to the town looking for a jeep which could take us back to Manila since public transport do't go as far as the dam. Unluckily for him, a Jeep arrived where we were waiting and we were able to arrange a ride home. We just picked up Nokman somewhere along the dark and creepy road. Kawawa naman siya.Just when I thought the cardiac situations were all over, freak out na naman. The light of the jeep would just suddenly turn off and to think we were negotiating a zigzag road which had no street lights! It would turn on again but later on switch off with all of us hoping the jeep would not fall off the road!!! Will this ever end??? Finally, the jeep made it and we ended up at Philcoa!I got home past nine tired, sun burnt with my pack and boots still wet. Most of the stories told by Gerry and Jimmy were quite distant from what I experienced. I went through Matulid and only passed by one single talangka!!!Disappointed? Not at All!!!So many things have been experienced and learnt that these would be rather difficult to enumerate. So may highs, laughters, even mistakes…. And I hope they'll all be there again….waiting for me…..for I want to be there to commit them all again in the future…Because, we were all there for our own crazy reasons and motivations… and the fact that it is still there, I know we would dare do it again! So, this is membership!!!
 | West Wall. photo: Tan-Torres
by Roel Tan-Torres An account of the Jan 29-31, 1993 ascent of the West Wall of Mt. Maculot (IV 5.8, 900 feet, 10 pitches). It was getting dark. The wind howled with a terrible power that a mountain musters in its' malevolent moods. Looking down I could see only a black pool as I clung to the rock. My strength ebbed and the pit grew, threatening to engulf me. I tugged on the rope below me, a tenuous link to the wall should I fall down the abyss. Death lurks in places where fear and risk abound. It is also the place to linger and feel the surge of life. Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas, is a cake walk. The trail to the campsite can be trudged up in less than an hour. Hundreds of climbers have hiked up the ridge. The rock face on its' western flank, however, had been climbed only once. In the early 70's, Gus Guerrero and a foreign climber succeeded on the West Wall. Their route took them up the Ampitheatre, a gully that wound its' way up the face. At least five other attempts had been made since, and all had failed. The scarcity of attempts attests to the committing nature of the wall, a 900-foot sweep of vertical to overhanging rock. That none had succeeded since Guerrero confirms its' difficulty (and makes evident Guerrero's guts and capability; Guerrero also organized the first white-water rafting expedition in the Philippines in 1982, down Amnay River in Mindoro). Our planned route would tackle the wall differently, climbing the face itself rather than the chimney-like Ampitheatre. It would top out nearer the ridge than Guerrero's route, which ended lower in the face then proceeded with easy scrambling through cogon areas. The team consisted of two others from the U.P. Mountaineers, a climbing group based in U.P. Diliman. Norman Jaravata, a strong and experienced rock-climber, would be my partner. Bobby Menguito, a triathlete and U.P.'s fastest climber, would support us from the base by pinpointing our position on the face and relaying the information to us via radio. A veteran of several mountain rescues, he would initiate one if needed. Two months before our ascent a woman took her life by jumping off the wall we had been planning to scale. Though I was involved in the search, the suicide still seemed remote and distant from our plans. My partner and I had already been training, doing hard climbs in the limestone crags of Rodriguez and Cogeo near Manila, and the death did not register any significance aside from a coincidence in place and time. When we got to Cuenca for the start of the climb the townsfolk gave us a sinister warning. Just the day before four persons were killed by a man who had gone amok with a bolo. He was still at large, roaming the fringes of Cuenca and the mountain we had set out to climb. Perhaps due to our state of mind --- a steely resolve to climb the big wall --- the thought of grappling with a crazed man was shrugged off. We had enough to worry about and the last thing we needed was the feeling that death seemed to be snapping at our heels. Our first day up followed the trail to the base of the wall. It soon disappeared as the vegetation became thicker. On a steep portion near the base we spotted a sack on the ground. We realized we were already in the vicinity of the suicide site. The ground had been abraded by the retrieval and we had a hard time getting purchase on the loose soil. Obscured by trees, the wall rose above us. We felt suffocated, clawing for traction on the unstable slope. Night fell as we bivouacked 200 feet up the wall. As we tried to sleep we heard what seemed to be powerful flaps of wings. The sound swept near us at a furious pace several times. After studiously trying to ignore it the sound abated and we drifted off into fitful sleep. Five more pitches (a pitch is a 100-150 foot rope length) up the next day and we were in trouble. Darkness was imminent and there was no ledge in sight for a bivouac. The crux I was on had refused to show any weaknesses, a solid stretch of blank rock. Progress had stalled at the worst possible time. My protection below had been placed on crumbling rock, and a long fall might be too much for the rope to hold. Retreat would have been prudent but desperate situations brought out desperate, and dangerous, actions. My left hand grasped a slight bulge purely by friction while two fingertips on my right hand managed to cling to a minute indentation. As my right foot tried to smear on the smooth rock my arms started to quiver in fatigue. Then I was off, plunging into the abyss. My first piece of protection popped out and I continued falling. The rope became taut as it jerked me back up, and held. I traversed right and found another line but with no protection. The pitch was completed in fading light but there was still no place to sleep on. We spent the night tied onto the wall and hanging by our harnesses. During the night the wind kept blowing, buffeting us with cold gusts as we swayed from our anchors. We topped out after four more pitches the next day. I had the last lead on the rope and crested the ridge at noon. Shouting in joy atop the mountain I noticed several trekkers on the next ridge moving hastily away. Maybe they too had been warned of the mad man running loose. Having made it to the top brought out things that I had kept out of my mind during the ascent. Pushed by desperation, I had climbed out of the abyss that I had set out to confront. Suicide and insanity were also desperate acts, but plunges to a much deeper pit that no rope can cut short. Having reached the summit, a rush of exultation swept through me. It was not a surge of accomplishment or conquest, but simply, of life. Getting there:Take a bus to Cuenca (about 2 hours) in Batangas, hike down to the lakeside town (same start as the Maculot Rockies trail, but head down the Thousand Steps instead; 45 minutes). Hire a banca to the base of the West Wall (a tiny beach with a big flat-topped boulder at the shoreline; this boulder makes a nice observation deck), 30 - 45 minutes. Approach up a steep, loose slope takes 2 hours. Climb on. Gear:A standard full rack with extra slings. Hauling a pack up this route is not a good idea. Slabs and small shrubs will snag it. Better to have the second wear it. Hammocks will come in handy for the wall bivvy in case you don't luck upon a ledge. When to climb:It's best from December to early February. Slim chance of rain and a fat percentage of overcast days. Sunny days will cook you past noon. Supplies:Water is vital. We were blessed with overcast weather the whole time and got by with 4 liters/day for both. Sunny days will require much more. Food should be as light as possible and not make you thirsty (mango chips are nice). Route-finding:Having radios and a spotter on the base is a luxury that can be dispensed with if you scope your route well beforehand and remember features on the wall to guide you by. Also, ramps dissect the broken series of walls that lead all the way up to the Rockies. If you go off-route you can probably rap down to a ramp and traverse to another line. Descent:Going down takes 45 minutes to Cuenca on the Rockies trail. Other lines:Take your pick. Our route took us through a series of rock faces to within a hundred vertical feet of the Rockies, from which point we mostly scrambled (still roped) to the top. On the right side of the West Wall (as you face it) is a huge 500-600 feet unclimbed stretch of pristine basalt, with intimidating overhangs. The descent will entail rappeling or a 400-foot scramble to the Rockies from which you can hike down.
| Start: | Feb 18, '11 10:00p | | End: | Feb 21, '11 03:00a | | Location: | Mt. Pulag National Park, Benguet |
Sunrise at Mt. Pulag. Photo by Princess Que
Date: (departure) 18 February,10:00PM / (estimated arrival back in Metro Manila) 21 February, 3:00 AM
LIMITED TO 30 SLOTS ONLY
Registration Fee: P3,000.00
Inclusive of:
- Transportation
- souvenir shirt
- park and guide fees
- camp equipment will be provided for those without gear.
(UP undergrads currently-enrolled have a discounted registration fee)
Deadline for registration: 13 February 2011
FILL OUT OUR ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM by clicking on this link http://bit.ly/iks8fz
Registration details:
1. It is understood that the participants have joined the trip on their own volition. All adult participants will be required to sign a waiver of indemnity. Minors (17 and below) will need to have their waivers signed by a parent or guardian.
2. For safety reasons and limited camping space, we will be limiting the number of participants to 30. Priority will be given to UP students.
3. To reserve a slot, make an advanced payment of P1,000 (nonrefundable for cancellations after 13 February 2011). Deposit to this account:
ACC# 2426-2123-65
c/o Dennis Lopez
BPI SM Megamall Branch
(email a scanned copy of the deposit slip to denshowman@yahoo.com)
4. We will send you an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment.
5. Participants must attend the PreClimb Meeting (15 February 2011, 7:30 PM, venue to follow).
About the hike:
1. The summit of Mt. Pulag from the trailhead is about 8.7 kilometers (or a walking time of 5-6 hours for novice hikers with minimal equipment).
2. Do not be intimidated by the distance. The team will only cover half the way to the summit on the first day and camp for the night. The team will then wake up very early in the morning and start the hike to the summit to catch the first rays of the sun for a majestic photo-session.
3. Since this is the highest point in Luzon, the air is thinner and the temperature colder. Participants will be briefed on what to do and bring during the trip.
4. For the complete outdoor experience, participants will have the chance to join in doing camp chores and activities like setting up tents and cooking.
5. While this is the "easiest" route available, it may still be physically challenging for some. Simple exercises and cardio-vascular workouts (like jogging or walking) prior to the trip would help tremendously in making the trip more enjoyable.
6. More information will be available to the participants during the pre-climb meeting on 15 February 2011 at a venue to be announced at a later date.
Fore more information and to reserve your slot text 0918-9375816. Registration forms will be emailed on request.
Leonard Co, ethnobotanist and plant taxonomist extraordinaire, and one of the first inducted members of the UP Mountaineers, was killed in a reported crossfire in the forest of Upper Mahiao, Brgy. Lim-ao, Kananga town, Leyte, along with two other companions. He was doing research work for the Energy Development Corporation and was with four other team members.
The following is a recollection of the time when Leonard was very active during the early days of the UP Mountaineers. Written by Art Ellson
LEONARDO L. CO (Member, U.P Mountaineers, Batch 1978)
Si Leonardo L. Co ay pumasok sa application ng UP Mountaineers bilang trainee noong unang semestre ng 1978. Nang makumpleto niya ang regular requirements ay nakapanumpa (inducted) siya noong Nobyembre 1978 bilang bagong kasapi. Nagkaroon ng ikalawang induction kay Leonard (sang-ayon sa kaniyang sariling hiling) sa summit ng Mt. Irid noong ika-11 ng Marso 1979, Linggo (sa pagitan ng 9:40-9:50 a.m.) mismo sa limestone pinnacle kasabay ang apat pang kalalakihan na na-induct [See: Mt. Irid Climb-2, Explo & Induction, duration: 09-12 March 1979].
Si Leonard ang nagsilbing guide sa kauna-unahang official climb ng UPM sa Mt. Pulog/Pulag noong October 26-30, 1978. Nang tuluyan namang lisanin ang Stall No. 40-“Dilimall” bilang official ‘recruitment-application center at tambayan’ ng UPM, si Leonard ay nagpaunlak na sa Herbarium pansamantalang iposisyon ang tanggapan ng UPM.
Mula sa ikalawang-semestre ng 1978 hanggang summer of 1980, ang Herbarium ang naging panibagong sentro ng pagpapaunlad sa UP Mountaineers -- ito ay dahil sa pangunahing tulong ni Kasamang Leonard. Dito sa Herbarium ay kaniyang iminungkahi na mapasimulan ang UPM mini-library, ang equipment storage at iba pang “low-impact activities” sa loob ng nasabing silid (officer-of-the week, EB meetings at short orientation/s about botany & ecology).
Summer of 1980, nagkita kami ni Leonard sa Dilimall at ini-report niya ang isang potential na bagong tambayan para sa UPM. Isinama niya ako sa Main Library at kanyang itinuro ang left stairs (northwing) nito. First semester ng 1980 nang simulan na gamitin para sa mga “large gatherings” (e.g. Gen-Meets) ang nasabing mga konkretong baytang (stairs) bilang bago at opisyal na ‘Tambayan ng U.P.M.’ hanggang sa kasalukuyan.
Noong Noviembre 1980, inimbitahan ako ni Leonard na dumalo sa second (2nd) National Environmental Congress sa UP-Los Baños (College of Forestry), Laguna Prov. sponsored by the Philippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC). Ini-representa ko dito ang UP Mountaineers (observer status-congress participant) at nang sumunod na annual congress ay naging regular/official affiliate na ang UPM sa loob ng PFEC na nang una ay ako ang kumakatawan na sinundan ni Lormie Valino-Lazo at ni Rommel Gutierrez.
Dahil sa mga exposure activities ng PFEC, umangat ang oryentasyong pang-kalikasan ng UP Mountaineers mula sa diwa ng Conservation of natural resources tungo sa popular Environmentalism (grassroots participation). Ang mountaineering ay lalong lumaki ang kahalagahan, relevance at mga tulong na maibibigay para sa -- active advocacy ng ‘mountain-environmentalism’ (people, fauna, flora, mineral resources).
Nagpatuloy si Leonard na tumulong para higit pang umunlad ang diwang-environmentalist sa loob ng UP Mountaineers. Aktibong naging bahagi si Leonard sa apat o limang (4-5) core group members para aming maitatag ang UPM-Environmental Committee (EnCom) na nagsimula muna sa “Ad-Hoc Committee on Environmental Concerns”. Ang unang regular na EnCom ay pinamunuan ni Kasamang Lormie Valino (single pa siya dito noong panahong iyon).
Noong Enero 06, 1981, matapos ang explorasyon sa Angelo Mountains (mountain boundaries ng Rizal, Bulacan at Quezon provinces) na nagsimula ng January 03, 1981 ay unang dumaan ang UPM sa aktuwal na pagsubok para isa-praktika ang Mountain Environmentalism – ang pagtulong sa upland people at tribal Filipinos. Nakiusap ang mga opisyales ng Barangay Sta. Inez (letra ‘z” ang official na ginagamit sa Tanay municipal gov’t.) para tulungan sila sa kanilang pagtutol na ma-konstrukta ang Leyban/Laiban Dam (nasa confluence ng Kaliwa-Kanan River Basin) dahil ilulubog ang mga tahanan at kabuhayan ng 1, 500 pamilya (one thousand five hundred households) sa pitong (7) barangay kapag hinarang na ng Laiban Dam ang tubig mula sa mga tributaries ng Kaliwa River at Kanan River [Pakibasa ang huling pahina ng “Explo Climb sa Angelo Mountains].
Buong sipag na nagbuhos nang panahon si Ka Leonard para lumapit at humingi ng suporta sa iba’t-ibang mga organisasyon sa loob ng UP-Diliman gayundin sa ibang NGO’s at tri-media support. Naging punong abala rin siya sa inilunsad na symposium para sa ‘Tanay residents’ noong Pebrero 04, 1982 (1-4 pm, UP Faculty Center, UP-Diliman) na dinaluhan ng mga representante mula sa maaapektuhang mga pamilya ng Laiban Dam construction, mula sa NaPoCor at MWSS, mga UP-Diliman organizations mula sa iba’t-ibang kolehiyo at departamento, at siempre ang mga kasapi ng UP Mountaineers.
Nagpatuloy ang pag-alalay ni Ka Leonard sa UPM tungo sa wholistic at comprehensibong pananaw at pagkilos para sa kalikasan, kapaligiran at lipunang Pilipino. Mula sa mga bundok-kagubatan ng Sierra Madre hanggang sa mga halamang gamot at 'vochong' (tribal peace pacts) sa Cordillera mountains ay naging buhay na saksi ako at ang U.P. Mountaineers sa walang-halos kapagurang dedikasyon ni Kasamang Leonard Co sa mga pag-aaral at pagmamahal sa ‘Mountain Environment’. Tunay na kahanga-hanga ang sipag, kamulatan at praktis ng kasama nating ito. Napakahirap makalimutan ang napakaraming nai-ambag na kabutihan ni Kasamang Leonardo L. Co para sa kalikasan-kapaligiran at sa mga tao.
Kaya para kay Ka Leonard, isa kang mahusay na modelo para sa buong kasapian ng University of the Philippines MOUNTAINEERS.
MABUHAY ang diwa at mga buting nai-ambag ni Kasamang LEONARD CO !
MABUHAY ang U.P. MOUNTAINEERS !
Art Ellson Martes, Ika-23 ng Nobyembre, taong 2010 Pilipinas
| Full Course:
Nonoy Jopson 4:54:32 (2nd - M35-39 age group)
Heyman Rodil 5:26:35 (5th - M18-24 age group)
Levi Nayahangan 5:49:10
Marnel Ratio 6:05:08
Danny Dematera 6:07:15
Makoy Almanzor 6:19:16
Beth Siojo 6:35:59
Relay:
Popo Remigio (Bike)
Miles Young (Bike)
Olive Cortez (Run)
Well done, guys!!! |
Juana Run! The UP Mountaineers Women's Epic Relay
(Photo: Leslie Regio)
UP Baguio - 31 women--all members of the UP Mountaineers--waved orange flags in the air after successfully completed a running relay 255-kilometers long, from the Oblation in UP Diliman to the Oblation in UP Baguio.
They ran in pairs, even solo in some segments; running 10-kilometers each on flat terrain, and in shorter distances in the final climb to the summer capital of the Philippines.
They ran through scorching heat and under dark rainy skies through the highays crossing Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, and Benguet; contending with buses, pedestrians, and the ocassional dog.
They ran for 22 hours; way before the sun came out on Saturday until it was nearly noon on Sunday.
Why did they?
Because women can!
This run was all about women. Through this Relay Run, the women of the UP Mountaineers hoped to inspire and enable all women to step out of their comfort zone and improve the quality of their lives and people around them through fitness.
This 255-kilometer journey, ran by working women, mothers, students, professional and weekend athletes of all ages, should stand as a reminder that no goal is impossible.
Congratulations to the "Juanas"! You make the UP Mountaineers, and women everywhere, proud.  Runners (name and batch), in no particular order: 1. Binky De Leon-Ulanday '90 2. Molly Mallari-Cuerdo '89 3. Nangnang Cornejo-Tomacruz '93 4. Tal Uy-Chan 5. Weewee Badoy-Partosa '83 6. Russ Chan '89 7. Chiqui Salaveria-Tronco '82 8. Imelda Palacay '90 9. Jocelyn Saw '89 10. Ina Ocampo '00 11. Jenny Padro '04 12. Cat Gamez '06 13. Cha Nicart '03 14. Popo Remigio '04 15. Pen Nepomuceno '03 16. Lei Mangubat '07 17. Ria Concepcion '06 18. Ross Arayata '02 19. Bo Pichay '02 20. Mo Francisco '09 21. Jam Macabeo '10A 22. Frances Pacheco '10A 23. Celina Cruz '08 24. Gela Fabic '08 25. Jeng Reyes '09 26. Regine Abuel '10A 27. Dara Redulla 28. Twylah Rubin '99 29. Sahlee Bugna-Barrer '95 30. Ginger Aganon '93 31. Francine Longid-Dalumpines '85
(Thanks also to the wonderful work of the support crew, sponsors, and well-wishers)
By Tope Ordoñez, UPM 2006
 Just last Sunday, June 27, 5 members of the UP Mountaineers conquered the summit of Bulacan's highest point, Mt. Oriod (1206 masl). The team consists of Tope Ordoñez (Batch 2006), Donald Yasay (Batch 2005), Dennis Salazar (Batch 2007), Mike Reyes (Batch 2008) and Leslie Regio (Batch 2009). This is the first documented summit climb of Mt. Oriod in recent history.
But, prior to this momentous victory, 3 earlier expeditions were conducted.
 The first was on March 8-10, led by Fredd Ochavo (Batch 2005), together with Boy Calunsod, Cavz Austria and Tope Ordoñez (all three from Batch 2006) and Anthony Arbias, a plant enthusiast. The team was also accompanied by 17-yr old Jun, their local guide. During this attempt, the team aimed to reach the summit in three days but settled to stop at 1126 meters above sea level (masl) due to time constraints. Last hint of an established trail was at 943 masl so the team was able to hack a good 183 meters worth of elevation before going home.
 The second was done March 29-30, this time led by Tope Ordoñez. The team includes three other members from UPM Batch 2006 including repeaters, Calunsod and Austria and newcomer, Joji Evangelista. Their guide this time is Kuya Abe, a self-confessed illegal logger. Now, because mostly of Kuya Abe's trail knowledge, and pure strength, the team was able to locate shortcuts and blaze through trails faster than the last time. Mt. Oriod's Peak 1 (Ochavo Peak) was reached and measured at 1192 masl.
A "blue" snake at 941 masl and 2 reticulated pythons at 1161 masl were spotted during this ascent. A certain raptor was also seen circling the summit at the same time the team reached Ochavo Peak.
 The third attempt (dated May 17-19) consisted only of three members, repeater Ordoñez with Wino Nava and Harris dela Cruz (all of whom are from Batch 2006 yet again). The team opted not to hire the services of a guide this time for obvious environmental reasons***. Not much was done after reaching Ochavo's Peak besides exploring possible routes to the next ridge leading to Denial Peak and ultimately, to the summit, nicknamed Maarar**. It was during this ascent though that a more direct trail was mapped, making trekking time to Mahantik Trail (kindly refer to the maps) be cut in half.
The team was also able to explore (by accident) nearby Mt. Cabaun (628 masl)****.
The fourth and final installment of this project was the most draining 17 trek hours ever experienced by any of the climb members. It was also the bloodiest (due to leech bites), wettest (for the first time in four attempts, it constantly was raining) and darkest (night-trekked for two straight days).
The first day ended at 1147 masl with the team making emergency camp due to a suspicious-looking blockage - a shirt stretched out hanging on the trail. The shirt was so meticulously-placed that the team suspected possible danger ahead. The worry was abated come morning when we saw that it was just a trail sign put in by somebody coming off from another trail*****.
 Second day commenced with the team filled with hope and motivation. They started to trek around 630am and reached Ochavo Peak around 7am. Base camp was established at the saddle and the team was divided into two groups. The first group (Ordoñez, Reyes and Regio) was to start with the summit trail exploration, carrying nothing but essentials like gps, water and hacking equipment (a bolo and believe-it-or-not, garden scissors) while the second group (Salazar and Yasay) remains at camp, at least for a while, to set camp and cook food. The first group was hacking through Denial Peak when Regio was asked to go back and fetch food and additional water from camp. He came back with the requested supplies and was followed shortly by the second group, with them lunch, a UPM banner, a tarp, headlamp, another bolo and more water.
 It was the trail to the summit from Denial Peak that it rained the hardest.
The team reached the summit at around 330pm. There was a minor dispute of where the actual summit is because the coordinates plotted in the GPS does not match the actual coordinates they're getting (the summit being off by around 40 meters). It was only by mutual inspection that the summit point was decided pending actual plotting during data processing (which did confirm that the team was able to summit that day).
From the Saddle at 1168 masl (final point reached by Team Oriod 3), it took the team 7 and a half hours to reach the summit (1206 masl). If not for the intermittent local trails by locals harvesting Pandan the team found along the way, ascent from the saddle might have been longer.
 The team arrived back at Saddle Camp around 6pm. Although the team was well-provisioned for up to 4 days (emergency rations and trail food included), they still decided to go down the mountain by request of one of the team members whose having a bit of an occupational emergency.
Descent is faster as expected but aside from the also expected getting lost, nothing outside the ordinary happened. Well except probably at around 850 to 950 masl when an eerie cry similar to that of a baby's broke the night's silence. Some say it's a bird. Others think it's a cat, might be a toad, or even a crab. The team never thought of stopping to find out.
They were back by the last water source (665 masl) before midnight.
 NOW, what's next? Conquering Mt. Oriod is not the only goal of this entire project. It also aimed to expose and document the illegal activities being done blatantly in the vicinity of the mountain's foothills. People there won't even believe that it's their cutting of trees that will eventually kill their rivers. Most of what's left of the foothills were planted Ipil-ipil so in just a short time, they'll have new sources of charcoal. Log porters there start young (as early as 12) and charcoal cooks, even younger. Illegal logging and unsustainable kaingin is eating up Sierra Madre because of this. Kindly check the following photos to have a better understanding on what is threatening this magnificent mountain: 
**christened by Team Oriod 3 after Fredd Ochavo, the person who started this all. Denial and Maarar Peaks are names given by the same team also for reasons far from normal comprehension:))
***Kuya Abe, Team Oriod 2's guide, keeps on marking big trees along the way often giving remarks like "Eto, P2000 na ito." and "Babalikan ko 'to." His bestseller comment would be: "Tingin nyo, tutubo ang Baguio Beans dito?" He asked the team this question when they're already camped at 1126 masl, where no trees but stunt, mossy ones are present.
****the team then was taking a shortcut from Sitio Makaingalan to Sitio Ilas when they lost their way. They suddenly find themselves trekking for 5 hours in a mountain they're not supposed to go into. Mt. Cabaun showcases nice limestone caves but a major part of the mountain top already fell because of indiscriminate slash and burn farming.
*****which also got into the team's heads a bit for they were thinking that some other group made it to the summit first for the trail according to Ordoñez wasn't there before - a worry that was doused when they saw no opened or established trail from the saddle (team oriod 3's last point) to the summit..
Itinerary varies per climb as well as budget but jumpoff (Sitio Ilas) remains the same all throughout the project and budget is averaged at a cheap P400.00. Not bad isn't it?
Special thanks to all the teams' supporters from day 1 (Bunny, Trina, Punks, Puje, Boboy, Frances, RR and the rest of UPM). "Sabi nga ni Punks, Explo pa mga packers!"
By Henry Nakpil (UPM89) First appeared in Dispatch Magazine of R.O.X.
For most mere mortals, running a 42-km marathon remains the stuff of wishful thinking. These men and women however, want you to consider going twice that distance.
<i>photo by Nards Coll</i>
“You know how it is when you’re in the middle of doing something really difficult and you realize you still had a long way to go? Well, we definitely had a long, long way to go.”
At this point, Manaois and his five co-runners have been running close to nine hours along Metro Manila’s darkened highways and side streets, dodging Saturday-night traffic and commuters. EDSA was particularly brutal with its bus fumes and grimy, uneven, underlit sidewalks. They are kept company by about two dozen friends - mostly riding as support crews on mountain bikes. Two riders are assigned to each runner: carrying water bottles and acting as road marshals, flagging cars at intersections and making way through a sea of unmindful pedestrians. A couple of team vans are also nearby carrying more food and a doctor who keeps the runners under a watchful eye. The pace was tediously slow by race standards but then no one was aiming to set a speed record.
That night and the next day, it was all about distance: one hundred kilometers.
Each of the six runners would be attempting the feat for only the first time in their lives and though ultra-running was hardly a new sport elsewhere in the world, no one in this rookie group was quite certain just how much to push their bodies without hitting their physical and mental limits. Not that early anyway. They had yet to reach the halfway point.
Basically, ‘Ultras’ are runs that cover any distance over the standard marathon length of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195-km). The term ‘marathon’ of course, tends to be used quite loosely - with private subdivisions and giant corporations regularly staging 5-km and 10-km ‘marathon’ runs. A more accurate understanding of the term is found by examining its origins, which beginning in the 19th century traditionally holds to be the distance a messenger ran from the city of Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the Greek victory there over the Persians in 490 B.C. - a distance of approximately 22 miles (35-km). Yeah, you’ve probably heard of that story before. What you may not have heard of however is a different tradition based on the original account by Herodotus which tells of the messenger Pheidippides running from Athens toSparta before the battle to seek help. Distance? 150 miles (240-km).
Nowadays, the modern ultra-marathon has no strictly defined upper limit - its final form is left mostly to the race organizers’ imaginations or the participant’s capacities for suffering and willingness to endure. 30 mile (48-km) and 50 mile (80-km) races are fairly typical though much longer ones are regularly held throughout the race calendar taking place usually in the United States and Europe. There are also time-based ultras - 12-hr, 24-hr and even 48-hr and multi-day individual and team relay affairs that take place on road, trails and even track. Only a handful of Filipinos are known to have participated in such extreme events; there is a local 100-plus km run that commemorates the Bataan Death March though that is divided into two separate stages.
Insanity? Consider however a recent theory advanced by biologist Dennis Bramble of the University of Utah and paleoanthropologist Daniel Lieberman of Harvard University and published in Nature which argues that the human body is naturally built - and even better so than nature’s other great endurance runners such as wolves, hyenas and antelope - to run long distances and that this ability played a major role in our survival as a species; Bramble and Lieberman point to our two-legged stance, long and lean builds, and a laundry list of features that include less appreciated ones such as our tail-less, better-endowed, much-misused butts. True, humans couldn’t possibly hope to out-sprint deer or even beat a chimpanzee for that matter in, say, a 100-meter dash - but try to find any other creature as inclined or as capable as we are in running continuously for extended periods. Most animals (such as the blindingly fast cheetahs) shed heat by panting - which unfortunately is not a terribly efficient method especially when matched with all that fur. At some point, they are forced to slow down or stop completely in an effort to keep their body temperatures in check. On the other hand, humans are endowed with millions of sweat glands which give off internal heat in a quicker, much more effective manner which allow us to keep going for far longer. From lesser known tendons in our neck to wider, lower shoulders, lighter forearms and huge spring-loaded tendons in our feet, Bramble and Lieberman argue that humans are packed from head to foot with features that otherwise have no roles in plain walking. So yeah, go ahead and look in the mirror and tell yourself you ARE a mean machine. (Leave the can of beer and bag of chips before you do.)
Admittedly, running - as well as other forms of physical exertion - has become less an instrument of survival in a society that now benefits from modern day conveniences such as automobiles, elevators, telecommunications and fast food. As a result some would even argue that modern day scourges such as heart disease and diabetes are the consequences of our bodies not getting the same sort of workout our ancestors did running down prey in the open savannah. Happily, inasmuch as it has become unnecessary, more and more people it seems nowadays, have begun to rediscover the joys of running, jogging or even just plain brisk walking.
Last Christmas, the athletic goods chain Sportshouse compiled a list of its bestselling merchandise and found that treadmills remained at the top of the list. Gym memberships (if you would base it on the number of such establishments that seem to be sprouting all over the metro) are up and there are now a few hundred shoe, equipment and accessory choices for any consumer buying gear for any single sport. And yet hardly any other activity beats the basic simplicity of idea, mechanics and proven benefits of putting a foot in front of the other again and again. There is no unfamiliar or overly complex movements to master in running - only that which we’ve learned the moment we got up from all fours. When the Milo Marathon began in 1974, there were ‘only’ 767 runners. Last year, about 150,000 reportedly took part in the 3-km, 5-km, 10-km, half-marathon and full-marathon events in various stagings throughout the country.
For the Pinoy Ultra-Runners then, one goal, quite simply, was to up the ante by running 100 kilometers as a single, continuous leg - a feat yet untried on local shores. Held last year, it would be this team’s maiden effort to introduce ultra-running into the Philippines. You would think it made more sense to recruit professional athletes or the country’s top amateur runners to make the attempt but, from the very start, a conscious decision was made to use ‘normal’ men and women.
<i>photo by Nards Coll</i>
There is Rachito Abellanosa, a white-water rafting guide in Cagayan de Oro; Olive Cortez who has her hands full managing the family business; Danny Dematera who works for the U.P. Math Department; Kiko Francisco, a U.P. Varsity swimming coach; Neville Manaois - a history professor currently working on his doctorate; and Elizabeth Siojo, a TV network executive and mother of two. Each one is passionate about running and inasmuch as they are also devotees of other sports such as mountaineering, biking, triathlons, ultimate frisbee and weight lifting, they could very well be any one of us going through fairly normal lives.
Beginning in U.P. Diliman early on a Saturday evening, they had run a southbound route along Katipunan Ave. and C-5 to Fort Bonifacio and Makati, arcing back to Quezon City along EDSA, with the intent of doing laps again in Diliman before turning westward along Quezon Ave. and Espana - a course covering approximately 58-km - arriving at Rizal Park just before dawn, in time to join a full marathon that would be setting off on Sunday from Km-0. Problem was, insofar as completing Part I of the plan was concerned, the entire team was running (no pun intended) late, and members were getting a bit too bruised and worn out a little ahead of schedule. On to Plan B - forget the extra Quezon City laps, go straight to the marathon for Part II and worry about the final distance tally later.
To describe ultras as ‘races’ that are ‘gaining popularity’ however, is to risk creating misconceptions about the sport in the mind of the general public. One must understand that there is far less an obsession here with ‘winners’ and ‘top three’s’ than with most other running events. And while about 407,000 are recorded to have completed a full marathon in the U.S. alone in 2007, only 70,000 are estimated to have competed in ultras worldwide. There is little in terms of cash rewards and little recognition to gain from outside the community. Sponsors are naturally reluctant in coming forth for the sport itself is hardly media friendly. There are no flashy shots, fancy moves, no frequent lead changes... And the entire thing just takes too damn long.
Which suits most ultra runners just fine. The spirit of the sport, they insist, lies not in trophies and public adulation but in a personal desire to test and surpass their own limits. Fulfillment, for some, is in achieving that state when running 6-minute miles is no more an effort than taking deep breaths and you feel you could just go on and on and on. When the idea to do a local ultra first came up, the initial plan was to do two marathons back-to-back for a total distance of 84 kilometers. “So why not just go for 100?”, someone interrupted.
So why not?
The same question was probably asked by Gordy Ainsleigh - the first man to do the Western States Endurance Run in California’s Sierra Nevada - a 100-mile (that’s 160-km to you) long course that is currently considered as one of the world’s premier ultra running events. The run actually started as the Tevis Cup Trail Ride which back then, was ridden on horseback. But in 1974, Ainsleigh’s horse turned up lame and according to legend, he declared he’d just do the course on foot. He crossed the finish line 23 hours and 47 minutes later, almost incoherent. The Badwater Marathon is a 135-mile (215-km) event that describes itself as “the world’s toughest foot race”. It begins in Death Valley and climbs up Mount Whitney in July when temperatures could soar to up to 49 C in the shade where runners master the art of running on the road’s painted white lines (their shoes begin to melt on the dark asphalt). The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc covers 163-km and 9400 meters total altitude change across the French, Italian and Swiss Alps in 46 hours. In 2006, 1135 finished the course out of 2535 runners (average age: 43) with the winner crossing the finish line in just 21 hours and 6 minutes. Compare these with the Boston Marathon (25,000 entrants and $796,000 in prize money) and the New York City Marathon (39,000 entrants, $600,000) Oh, did I mention the Trail du Mont Blanc offers NO monetary rewards whatsoever? (Participants of the WSER who complete the course in less than 24 hours are given a silver belt buckle.) In 2006, Dean Karnazes, the american poster boy for ultra running, completed a personal project dubbed the Endurance 50 i.e. fifty marathons infifty states in fifty consecutive days; he’s also run 262 miles (422-km) in just a little over 46 sleepless hours and is hoping to one day do a 500-mile (804-km) run nonstop.
So how much effort does the human body exert on these runs? Marathon runners consume on average about 110 calories per mile but the human body can store only about 1800 calories in its muscles, liver and blood. Most of us grew up with our moms telling us not to run around with a full stomach and sure, you’d get by 42-K well enough with prior carbo-loading and Gatorade. On the other hand, during one 200-mile run, Karnazes’ diet featured calorie-dense items such as pizza and pie (foods most elite athletes would normally avoid like the plague but which, according to him, are the only sort that could pack and deliver the energy his body needs while on a run). Put another way, there is a reason you don’t put your car-grade gasoline in a jet fighter engine. Karnazes’ food log reveals that he’d consume 28,000 calories throughout the ordeal. In the end, he still ended up losing 5 pounds.
By the time Dematera crosses the marathon finish line (the first among the six runners to do so) the race timer reads 6 hours and 30 minutes - that the effort was tortuous can be better understood when one realizes that this is a man whose marathon times hover at just around two-and-a-half hours. Earlier, he had zoomed off with the other lead runners, as he was so used to doing, on a blistering pace until his teamates reminded him of the previous night’s efforts and suggested that he conserve his strength and pull back. It was good advice. As the sun slowly rose, each one of them was draining fast and by the time they reached the finish, they could barely manage to limp across. It would be an obvious understatement to say each team member was exhausted at this point but the cruel fact was that they’ve only completed 88 kilometers based on measurements made on one support bike’s computer.
When asked about his motivations, Karnazes once replied in an interview, “I think it's just--making the most of every minute of life. Just taking a concept and saying, 'It should be bigger. It should be more fun.' And when I say 'big,'... I mean big in our lives. What I've learned in my experience is that pushing the way I push, you have the ability to reach others in a positive sort of way. I think people see, 'Hey, this guy loves to do this, and he's doing it to the best of his ability, so darn it, I'm going to go pursue my passion to the best of my ability.' To me, that's very gratifying."
Nor was ‘Karno’ simply referring to motivating other runners. Nor did he hope to create an impact just within running. When he did his 262-mile run (or ten nonstop marathons), he did so in honor of the tenth aniversary of Nicholas Green, a young boy who died while vacationing in Italy and who donated his organs to seven Italians. The idea for the run was to honor Nicholas and to raise money for childhood organ donation.
When they started planning for their own run, and the possibility of raising funds from sponsors came up, Manaois says there was a unanimous, similar desire to dedicate the run to a cause. “We were saying, ‘If we’re going to do this thing, it would be a shame if we couldn’t give something to someone who’d need it more’.” He adds, “Sayang naman yung effort if all it amounted to was a stunt or marketing gimmick - it’d be better if it could actually create an impact elsewhere”. They opted for the Kythe foundation whose main beneficiaries are child cancer patients. “The wards are in bad shape and the kids really need help”, Nev recounts his visit to one beneficiary. “They didn’t understand what cancer was, what their treatment (chemotherapy) was about and 2-3 kids would have to share a single bed.” The partnership is a virtually heart-rending contrast - one group so rooted in sunshine and strength and the other finding themselves confined in hospitals, betrayed by their very bodies so early on in life. And yet both groups are joined by a common desire to be bigger than themselves and to push beyond boundaries at times so unfairly thrust upon them.
<i>photo by Nards Coll</i>
For many of us who had the privilege of being there that Sunday at the marathon finish line, the most memorable, most admirable moment came perhaps when the decision was made to go and complete the whole hundred. It is a testament to the six runners’ spirits that though they’ve already completed a distance more than anyone had the right to ask of them, they didn’t see it fit to let go of their initial goal. Their reasoning went, “we decided to do a hundred, so we’ll do a hundred”. There is no pressure from anyone - but that which we apply to ourselves.
“The hardest part is that in the past, your mind and body has grown conditioned to thinking that once it crosses a finish line, it’s over.”, Dematera says. By the time they crossed the event’s finish, the Milo crew had already begun dismantling the stage and sponsor’s booths while other participants had already taken their souvenir photos and were heading home to rest. “To force your mind and body to do 12 more kilometers is no small thing. Especially not on foot.”
It takes them more than another hour, traversing a stretch of Roxas Blvd and going back before they cross this - their own finish line. They actually return to the area only to be told they had to do yet another lap around the grandstand - just to make sure they get the distance right. In the end, you better believe it was worth every hobbled step.
As for those I’d-push-myself-but-my-body-really-can’t-run-that-far people out there like myself, consider this little thing called the Four Deserts - a series of four challenges each of which is basically a six-day, 250-kilometer, carry-all-your-own-food-and-equipment crossing of four of the driest regions on Earth: the Gobi, the Sahara, the Atacama and the Last Desert also known as Antarctica. As daunting as these tasks sound, these are ultras unlike most with cut-off times that allow ‘competitors’ to either run or walk the whole course. The organizer’s official FAQ reads “Each competitor has his or her own goal. We simply want everyone to finish.”
It is never about crossing the finish line set by others - only that which we’ve set for ourselves.
(end)
| Start: | May 29, '10 | | End: | May 30, '10 | | Location: | Laiya, San Juan, Batangas |
| Start: | May 28, '10 7:00p | | End: | May 31, '10 05:00a | | Location: | Marinduque |
Mt. Malindig Poctoy White Beach Bathala cave system/Python cave May 28 7PM - May 31 5AM for inquiries: email super.boboy@gmail.com text 0916-359-2002
| Start: | May 14, '10 9:00p | | End: | May 17, '10 03:00a | | Location: | Mt. Pulag National Park, Benguet |
 Mt. Pulag (via Ambangeg) 14-17 May 2010 Departure for Baguio: 14 May 2010, 10:00pm Climb proper: 15-16 May 2010 Arrival in Manila: 17 May 2010 Registration fee: PhP 2,800 Inclusive of the following: >>Transportation >>3 standard meals >>Souvenir shirt >>Local fees (park and guides) Registration details: 1. It is understood that the participants have joined the trip on their own volition. All adult participants will be required to sign a waiver of indemnity. Minors (17 and below) will need to have their waivers signed by a parent or guardian. 2. For safety reasons and limited camping space, we will be limiting the number of participants to 30. Priority will be given to UP students. 3. To reserve a slot, make an advanced payment of P1,000 (nonrefundable for cancellations after 10 May 2010). Deposit to this account: BPI Account name: Ellaine Grace L. Nagpala Account number: 3379-0168-11 Branch: Visayas Avenue (email a scanned copy of the deposit slip to upmountaineers08@gmail.com) 4. We will send you an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. 5. Participants must attend the Pre-climb Meeting (11 May 2010, 7:30 PM, venue to follow). Deadline for registration: 10 May 2010 About the hike: ::The summit of Mt. Pulag from the trailhead is about 8.7 kilometers (or a walking time of 5-6 hours for novice hikers with minimal equipment) :: Do not be intimidated by the distance. The team will only cover half the way to the summit on the first day and camp for the night. The team will then wake up very early in the morning and start the hike to the summit to catch the first rays of the sun for a majestic photo-session. :: Since this is the highest point in Luzon, the air is thinner and the temperature colder. Participants will be briefed on what to do and bring during the trip. :: For the complete outdoor experience, participants will have the chance to join in doing camp chores and activities like setting up tents and cooking. :: While this is the "easiest" route available, it may still be physically challenging for some. Simple exercises and cardio-vascular workouts (like jogging or walking) prior to the trip would help tremendously in making the trip more enjoyable. :: More information will be available to the participants during the pre-climb meeting on 11 May 2010 at a venue to be announced at a later date. Fore more information and to reserve your slot upmountaineers08@gmail.com or text 0908-9976818. Registration forms will be emailed on request.
Congratulations to everyone who participated and completed the grueling course!
100KM | | | | | Female | | | | | Rank | Bib# | SURNAME | NAME | Time | 6th | 792 | NEPOMUCENO | PEN | 26:53:56 | 9th | 716 | CORAL | ODESSA | 30:31:35 | | | | | | Male | | | | | Rank | Bib# | SURNAME | NAME | Time | 15th | 1254 | GENIO | DENNIS | 21:10:20 | 19th | 1253 | YOUNG | MILES | 22:10:51 | 34th | 1252 | MORAL | RYAN | 26:51:44 | 35th | 799 | NEPOMUCENO | CECENG | 26:53:56 | 43rd | 798 | VILLEGAS | PAUL | 28:36:00 | 50th | 755 | SANDOVAL | SIMON | 29:31:35 | 57th | 800 | DE LA ROCA | GIFT | 30:42:10 | | | | | | 50KM | | | | | Female | | | | | Rank | Bib# | SURNAME | NAME | Time | 5th | 690 | MANGUBAT | ANAMARIA | 12:02:56 | 7th | 684 | SAW | JOCELYN | 12:48:28 | 8th | 689 | PADRO | JENNY BETH | 14:02:13 | | | | | | Male | | | | | Rank | Bib# | SURNAME | NAME | Time | 12th | 1244 | ACOSTA | ROBERT | 9:10:39 | 17th | 683 | DE VERA | JOSE | 10:54:55 | 21st | 695 | LOPEZ | DENNIS | 11:34:46 | 24th | 692 | AUSTRIA | CAVS | 11:45:22 | 27th | 693 | LUCIO | EDUARDO | 12:01:49 | 43rd | 691 | YASAY | DONALD | 14:41:37 | 46th | 694 | CALUNSOD | MARK ROLAND | 14:54:25 | 57th | 696 | CASTRO | LOUIE LEE | 16:54:56 | 58th | 686 | HENRY | NAKPIL | 16:54:58 |
MABUHAY ANG UP MOUNTAINEERS!
Produced by Jeff Javier for the 2005 application period of the UP Mountaineers.
music by Moony.
Watch out for new AVPs for this year's recruitment!
Mabuhay!
Download the original: M4V10016.MP4 (17.8 MB)
|  | March 26-29, 2010
Ambangeg Trail
More pics to follow... |
- By Kerwin Nicolas (UPM'93)
(Printed in UPM Newsletter 2002)
March 11, 1998, It's Jeff Del Rosario’s birthday (UPM97). We are on a grassy vacant lot near the U.P. College of Mass Communication. This is where the U.P. Mountaineers holds it’s monthly party for birthday celebrants that we call “Fullmoonia”. Jeff brought pasta and a few cases of beer. Hard drinks poured in too from those who went to the celebration. Around 30 UPM members and close friends where present and all where having fun, getting rowdier as the night progress.
Probably out of drunkenness, we agreed to go on a 60+ kilometer cross-country mountain biking trip from Calapan, Mindoro to White Beach, Puerto Galera to meet other UPM members (Januarie, Cherry and Tracy) who assisted a U.P. camping class on the beach. There were 8 of us who agreed to meet in Calapan on March 18, 2 days before the activity. Jeff suggested that we stay for a night at the foot of Mt. Halcon (Lantuyan) so we can swim on the river. “Usap-usap na lang sa Cell phone” were are parting words that night. Luzon Bayacal (UPM94), Jeff and I met again a few days after at the UPM Tambayan for an equipment check – tent stove and mountain bikes etc.
March 18 1998, 4:00pm, Calapan, Mindoro
Tommy Caspellan (UPM97) leader of the second party of our biking team called us up and told us that they were coming a day later than planned and that we will have to extend our stay in Lantuyang. Before going to Lantuyang, we did a courtesy visit to the Halcon Mountaineers (HALMS) and planned to stay with them only for a few minutes. If we stay longer, our swimming will definitely be postponed since the Halcon Mountaineers are notorious in entertaining U.P. Mountaineers – they will really get you drunk and you will wish you never gave them a visit. But we were lucky because they agreed to give us a party when half of our team arrives.
We left our bikes at the HALMS tambayan and took a jeep to Lantuyang. Luzon borrowed a 2-way radio because he felt that we might need it. (I think he only wants to chat with a pretty HALMS member whom we saw earlier holding another radio).
7:30 pm Lantuyang River:
After dinner, we had apples for dessert. We had this conversation about hiking a little tomorrow and see if we can reach Dulangan River before nightfall where we will have a better view of the area.Another idea came to our minds… what if we hike farther than Dulangan river and camp out kung saan gabihin? Anyway we have enough supplies and “banana chips” for an overnight trip(?). Luzon later on pushed the idea that we can camp anywhere before nightfall. He said, he’s been thinking about this climb for about 5 years now that we might reach the summit. Our reaction was “sssige nga!?” Luzon set his pager to alarm at 6:00 am.
March 19, 1998.
It’s was still dark and we agreed to have breakfast as soon as we reach a water source and have enough sunlight to manage cooking breakfast. During the trek, Jeff hit his left eye on a protruding branch that made his eyelid bleed but this did not bother him as we continued trekking.
11:00 am
We radioed Baracuda (Nowie’s Call sign) that we are on Balugbog Baboy already, a clearing after crossing Dulangan river. By some luck, good weather and dry terrain helped us reached this site earlier than we expected. Our spirits were so high we joked and imagined ourselves that we were in an eco-challenge race representing the UPM adventure team.
In 1985, the U.P. Mountaineers introduced Mt. Halcon to the federation climbers. It is also the year the Halcon Mountaineers was established. The itinerary to Mt. Halcon needs 2 days to get to the peak and another 2 days to get down. The best spots for camping out on the first night is definitely by the banks of Dulangan River, but not for us. Because we imagined that we are on an eco-adventure race, we had to move fast and try to reach the summit within the day.
3:00 pm
We had to rest. Everyone was silent and trying to recover from the strenuous trek we just had. Our gums were swelling from eating too much banana chips. I did recall leaving some unnecessary stuff at Nowie’s house to lighten the weight off my pack – extra ladder locks, the aluminum frames, extra clothes and I even cut the handles off my toothbrush and comb, I even removed some of my food supply’s labels and packages and transferred just a small amount of toothpaste in a smaller container so I can still have fresh breath before I freeze. But to no avail, my pack was still too heavy.
After more trekking, we came nearer the summit ridge but fatigue has definitely come upon me. It seems to me that my pack gets heavier by the moment… my pace got slower... bakit pa ako nagdala ng toothpaste? Pampabigat lang ng pack?
While I was contemplating on my packing decisions I didn’t notice the others resting on the trail below, and they even have to shout “HOY! ANDITO KAMI!” for me to see them. Maybe I’m dead already. My only functioning body parts are my legs. Sabi ko hindi na tayo “ Adventure team” dahil “Punit team na!
A tiny thought reminded me that I brought a power bar I was saving as an emergency ration and took it out of the pack and divided it into 3 equal slices. It tasted like shit and it only made us thirstier (Baka expired na). That’s when I told them tactfully that I am only willing to trek until 9:00 pm at kung saan man ako abutin ay balikan nyo na lang ako kinabukasan ha?
Around 4:30 pm
Temperature was dropping. It now takes me around 4 seconds for every step (Ang bilis talaga ni Luzon wala naman tsiks sa taas). I was around 50 meters behind Jeff and we spoke only through hand signals usually to say that I’m still ok.
As we approached the summit, I felt I haven’t seen the sunlight in years. I’m having this thought that there were naked angels with shining trumpets welcoming us in the sky singing the hallelujah chorus! My tears of joy had started a mild rainfall when we reached the summit. We then gave the best U.P. Mountaineer handshakes ever. Luzon and Jeff were teary eyed too.
We did it approximately in 12 hours. We radioed the good news to Calapan, “Elvis to Baracuda, nandito na kami sa summit! Nowie wouldn’t believe us and wondered what we were doing there. Luzon answered, “Eh ang usapan ay kung saan kami gabihin ay dun kami matutulog eh hark hark hark!
We didn’t have a camera to save those moments. Luzon found Ninoy Leyran’s (UPM91) film canister that he and I hid beside a bonsai tree last February 1998. It contains a picture of a pretty girl he wants to forget. We added some white stones inside the canister so the next time Ninoy will check the canister there will be stones inside it... no, Its real purpose was for us to share in the memory and the stones happen to be the only items on site.
6:00 pm
Jeff noticed the wind and moonlight creates an interesting effect to our tent. What he didn’t know was that it was me inside shivering from the cold and shaking the whole tent. I told the guys, “wasted na ako, puede ba akong maging liability ngayon? Wala na kayong mapapakinabangan sa akin eh” and immediately fell asleep. I woke up around 9:30 pm because I sensed hot soup was being served courtesy of the TIP climbers and we returned the nice thought by giving them…you guessed right, banana chips. We listened to the soundtrack of Titanic as we fell asleep. “Every night in my dreams…I see you…I feel you.”
Then there was fear
The following day, we left the summit at exactly 6:00 am without having breakfast. Just some minutes later, Jeff tripped his left foot on a root and got sprained and again it didn’t bother him and continued the trek. Some guy.
We reached Dulangan River around 10:00 am, Luzon was nowhere to be found but I saw Jeff plunged into the rocks and found his face-down position, half-submerged, his left ankle locked and almost twisted between 2 big rocks. I immediately ran towards him but also slipped from the same spot where Jeff had loss balance. What a blunder and now we are both wet. I began pulling his ankle but Jeff shouted, “Aray! Hilahin mo yung boot hindi ang binti ko! ” I panicked because of his state. Jeff was upset after that scene so we had a little rest.
I also realized that reaching Mt.Halcon’s summit is just halfway the deed and going back is a different test. What if one of us got seriously injured that it will require a stretcher or a helicopter rescue? I’m sure that is more than enough shit for an organization to handle. Risks factor on a major climb increases too if you travel in fewer numbers. We then advised ourselves to be more careful and dose off some adrenaline and take it easy.
Around 12:30 pm, We rested at the fork going to Mayabig and Lantuyan. We shared a few chats and experimented how will a Limatik looked like if we fry it? And our finding is…it will pop.
After 2 hours, We have come nearer Lantuyan. We observed Luzon’s pace got really slow because Jeff and I are literally tracing his steps. But to no avail we were back at the foot of Mt. Halcon in almost 9 hours. Luzon was teary eyed again, It appears that after he removed his boots, we found he has blisters on both feet (as in buong balat ng talampakan niya). Jeff snided, “Luzon… tao ka din pala? Marunong ka din masaktan”. The thought made me happy - I survived!
We met some Habagat Climbers at Lantuyan setting up tents for the night and asked us if we came from the summit? We said yes. They asked again when we started climbing? May kasamang yabang, we said yesterday and to which Jeff had a follow-up statement “Eh kasi, dapat kung saan kami gabihin ay doon na kami matutulog, kaya lang hindi pa gabi ay nasa summit na kami!” The crowd suddenly vanished.
We reached Nowie’s house by hitching from one transport to another at around 8 pm and as soon as our beds were set…splack! and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
March 21, 1998 7:00 am
The other half of the mountain bike team postponed their trip for some reason. But because we are crazy, with full packs, we still pursued the mountain bike trip up to Puerto Galera and justified it “Eh kung 2 days nga ay naglalakad tayo paano pa kaya ngayong naka-upo sa bike?” The Halcon Mountaineers told us that it will take 4 hours to get there. We did it in almost 5 hours. We can’t find Januarie and the others at White Beach so Luzon and Jeff went to Talipanan to check but there were no sign of them. We left Puerto Galera on the morning of March 22 and Jeff had been vomiting greenish stuff maybe from eating too much pineapple chunks.
Back in Manila, Januarie told us they arrived at white beach the morning after we left. (Nagkasalisi lang!) Jeff was later diagnosed with a dislocated left shoulder (from his accident in Dulangan river). Some might call this story “Ka-dramahan na naman!” we call it (drum roll please…) “A sheer display of how powerful the human spirit is”. The 3 of us are mountaineering junkies and we climb for adventure and fun and seeing those landscapes serves our rewards. Doing outrageous stuffs sometimes gives us a natural high and a sense of achievement. Luzon now seems to have sworn off doing a major climb again as he is now busy in his outdoor gear business. Jeff and I still climb but I prefer going to the beach instead and get drunk.
In a climb to Mt Halcon last may 2001, Ninoy’s film canister of memories was accidentally unearthed and placed a new pink chocolate Nips container by the group of Norman Ramirez, Jesse Go, Sinag De Leon, Ramon Vizmanos and Erwin Navarro. A flat stone now covers it in the same spot where it was found. Leave nothing but memories. That’s what I learned from all of this. I hope everyone would understand. Usapang lasheng ulit!
| Category: | Clothes & Accessories | | Price: | TBA |
Run for the forest, run!!!
Get a piece of this historic event. Last few stocks (limited sizes) remaining.
Proceeds from the purchase of this bag will go to the reforestation of the Ipo Watershed, and other environmental projects of the UP Mountaineers Click a thumbnail to enlarge:
Save the forests! Buy our merchandise!
The UP Mountaineers Environment Committee, through its Green is Good campaign, is raising funds to continue the pursuit for a greener Philippines. By buying any of the items shown in the photo below (models excluded), not only are you getting a quality piece of merchandise, you are also helping plant new seedlings in the Sierra Madre mountain range, as well as educating local communities on the importance of environmental sustainability.
All items must go!!! So hurry! Visit our MARKET SECTION for more information on the items
 (models: Nan, Cece, Orenz. Photo by Ian Martinez)
| Category: | Clothes & Accessories | | Price: | TBA |
Geeking out with a touch of green. These bags are foam lined to protect your valuable notebook computer as you make your way to school or the office.
Proceeds from the purchase of this bag will go to the reforestation of the Ipo Watershed, and other environmental projects of the UP Mountaineers Click a thumbnail to enlarge:
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