Mt. Hibok-hibok climb

The feeling of being out there alone in an unknown territory gives me the chance to see and experience nature to its almost untouched state. The music of the feathered friends, accompanied by the swaying leaves, seems ike an orchestra playing in front of me. What it’s gonna be like for a lowlander like me?

I have been a fan of outdoors ever since. The feeling of being out there simply gives me a kind of freedom where I am one of the surroundings. Well, it’s just that I don’t want errands when I was a kid so I rather skipped from home and get lost within the trees. When I was in college, I always thought of joining a group of mountaineers. Sad thing was, my P50 everyday allowance is just enough for my 2-hour online gaming, foods, and fare. Not enough budget. Discouraged. It’s not for me anyways. It’s a career. A commitment. It’s their job, I guess. I am not qualified. I was just a student then.

What I thought was wrong.

The klub I have right now is not just for bikers. It’s for those who love the outdoors. It’s for the all-terrain trekkers. Even before I joined them, they’ve already set foot on known peaks in the county like Mt. Apo in Davao, Mt. Dulang-Dulang in Bukidnon, and Mt. Lumot in Misamis Oriental. Now, I’ll be able to join them on my first mountaineering experience – the climb to Mt. Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin Island.

I’ve been into climbing mountains and I don’t feel worried. I’m good at it. But that was when I was just a teen. Looking back at those what seems to be mountains, I realized, those were just hills. But they were so high before! What happened to them?

Mountaineering requires endurance, discipline, strength to carry on heavy packs, patience, and strong heart and lungs. I once talked to a buddy, a Mindanao terrain extreme explorer from Iligan, he says, “You guys have big lungs and heart. It’s already an advantage being a cross-country mountain biker.”

That gives me confidence. Still, taking advices from my experience klub buddies can be very helpful. Jogging may be a good way to warm up your body a bit. Going up and down the stairs is a good climb simulation, too!

Physically and mentally, I am ready. I am confident. The peak of this volcano, Mt. Hibok-Hibok, is probably waiting for me. It’s the excitement that reddens up my guts!