Mt. Guiting-Guiting... Answers The Urge Yet Again!

Mt. Guiting-Guiting was

Note: This photo of the ridge is from
my previous climb. All others on this
post are current but were taken using
an old edtion GOPRO as a camera, as
I was without one having temporarily
lost my cellphone which camera I
now primarily use.. Also on this climb,
this photo of the ridge would not have
been possible as it was cloud-covered.

outright my first Philippine climb roughly three years ago. It was a result of an informal exchange in crossing paths... and being invited to join them... by then couple now married Lee Ann and Joseph Edward, while I was waiting inside a Manila area shopping center...for a party I was to meet with.

Indeed, starting out from Sibuyan's Magdiwang town, a traverse we did finish. Regardless of no peak clearing then, the experience has since stayed with me serving as own barometer for my other Philippine climbs which have since followed.

When I turned septuagenarian last November, I decided that... a return to the famed peak was the fitting challenge of a self-gift for my seventieth birthday. Only I'd wait till late February, in the hope of an improved chance for a peak clearing. It turned out, not only was there no clearing, it became simply too precariously prohibitive for an attempt to cross the ridge from Mayo Peak. Despite the aborted attempt at a traverse, it definitely was an experience no less worth each a step. 

This time, Linda and an acquaintance in Albert joined me. Both share deep interests in lepidoptera and other underbush life, allowing the climb to take added color and perspective. Sibuyan Island is home to many indigenous plant life and thereby thriving insects and other small creatures. Quite interesting... their discoveries. I wish I had their keen ability to spot these crawlers, hoppers and the like. 🦋🐛🐝🕷🐞🦂🦎

Starting a little past five in the afternoon from the jump-off point at Brgy. Tampayan, no sooner we were at a river crossing and it was all assault from then on. Six to eight hours of night trekking up to Camp 3 where we spent our first overnight. Through jungle roots, rock and mud, then steady rain after we gained considerable elevation, all these for me... merely added character to the experience. Along each step... that quiet smile to embolden self even more. This is why I climb.

Rain under the forest, I was thinking the pesky "limatiks".  Mind you, in all my underforest treks... I actually have not had any previous issues. Out of habit though, under such conditions, I would wipe my face off every so often... and sure enough I found one. My anxiety is that, should they get into the eyes, it could turn problematic. (And guys... they literally prefer an "organic" feast... meaning, they'll find their way if they can to one's rather private parts... I've been told.) 😁

Spent and wet... Camp 3 was a welcome reach a little past midnight. After some light bites, dozed-off I was. Strong and consistently howling winds woke me up a couple of times. It sounded like rain was continuing but it actually wasn't... as through my tent's see-through opening, it was vividly a rather starry night.
  

Morning came... and coffee was all I needed to continue up to Mayo Peak.

At the peak's observation deck, the ridge as suspected, was all clouded up and winds remained swirling and punishing. Crossing the ridge again was going to have to wait. By around noon, we headed back down to Camp 1 to spend the night. It was a needed catch-up long rest night. 

Whereas our ascent was in the dark of night under
inclement conditions, our descent was visuaĺly immersive. Weather did delightfully turn for the better, word came that back at the peak, the awaited clearing did come. I could only smile 😊... a definite return... to already look forward to. 👣

Special note:
(Many thanks to Bermar (Toto) Tansiongco for once again being the super facilitator... and to Noel Tansiongco who ensured the found Samsung S10+ laying on the highway... was returned to the rightful owner that was me 😁... as well to the Magdiwang area neighborhood, which helped spread around my reported loss)

The Tease That Mt. Danglay Is

Easily seen across Cancabato Bay from Tacloban City, is Mt. Danglay...a prominent rise that has been left rather a mere lure by me, for some unfair stretch of time now. Perhaps, ironically... the proximity was part of why. But as a return to Mt. Guiting-Guiting looms, all of sudden... a day hike up the Basey, Samar elevation sounded just right as a climb conditioning activity. Thus, up early late part of last week... off I was. 

I opted to take a pump boat ride from the port area. It took a mere fifteen minutes to cross the bay. I then decided to make Basey's Sitio Calbang as my jump off point, which took another fifteen minutes via a "habal-habal" ride. Upon my reaching the tucked-away community, I announced my intent to climb up Mt. Danglay and that I needed a guide. I was advised to go to the plaza and perhaps among a group of idle youths I'd find one. No one seemed as eager but one did present himself... only that he would want us to bring along a third party. So, it was Jhunjie and Kokoy.

The trail from the village is not as established as the one

from Basey proper. Although from the sitio the route is shorter, the ascent is significantly more steep, and became even more challenging as we decided to veer off the seemingly disappearing trail anyway. So instead, outright we headed towards the wall instead of the trek further around... and made our last portion of the climb a 90-degree assault, creating our trail as we went. Thankfully, Jhunjie the lead guide had a jungle bolo to help us pave our way through. 

So it was "four-wheel-drive" time...meaning

pretty much the use of both hands and feet to hoist ourselves most of the vertical way up the 35-40 meter cliff-side. There were plenty of wild rattan vines to help us only they were to be first pulled till they were felt secure enough to prevent additional give... specially that footing was a bit treacherous.  Rocks for feet to rest on often were not anchored deep enough that at times...they would simply peel off. Bushy growths were the other options. But yes, definitely ensured that at least one hand was a solidly secure hold to support body weight in case of foot-slippage... which did happen to me a couple of times, and yes... feelings of those adrenaline driven simultaneous gasps and smiles.

Jhunjie, Kokoy and I turned to be quite a trio of a

team. Definitely  an overnight at the summit would now be the next inviting option... thinking sunset, stars, sunrise. 

Life is good!

Eat Right🍴... Drive Life 🌿

Just recently, over a couple of days... I've posted on Facebook photos sharing my sort of personal food regimen and meal preferences. The aim is... to primarily impress upon readers, really... the utter significance of the nutritional and culinary choices made toward a healthy lifestyle.

In about a week, I'll officially be a septuagenarian. Yes folks, I'll be turning 70... no aches and pains, no dietary restrictions, no supplements nor prescribed maintenance, remains no less physically active.... simply, staying life-driven. Of course, what works with one may not necessarily work with another. What I then wish to mainly share are guidelines and suggestions, which may be tweaked some to fit into one's conscientious efforts toward healthy living.

Thus, in not necessarily sequential an order...

Know, understand and accept a decided dietary guide.
With today's readily available digital information... continue to have a better grasp of nutritional values. 
Nutritional rebalancing need not be abrupt. Perhaps the "less‐of/more-of-instead" approach would be gradually more effective and the change sustainable.
When practical, buy local and support small-time farmers and fisherfolks.
When preparing and cooking food... let it be fun and innovative. 
Let each meal be a celebration.

Bon appetit... Cheers!

The Soul Nourishing Akiki Trail Climb Up Mt. Pulag...

A message from a friend last month only had to contain "Akiki" for me to jump in on a climb 

The determined bunch...

invitation that was accomplished this past weekend. I have climbed Mt.Pulag before via the Ambangeg Trail... only to be told to turn back at Camp 2 due to winds too strong for an open assault across the highland grasslands. There was a lingering storm. This time was no different. A storm was again a threat but, yet again... enough window for the climb to happen. The plan was an Akiki-Ambangeg traverse... Akiki, the more challenging trail of the two, being a DENR start-of-climb day decision. The gods were with us. 

From the outset, Akiki was outright steep. It initially started with steps and trail sections randomly in concrete... in a way, a needed notice perhaps to prepare one indeed... for even more rigorous hurdles to further arrive at! Roughly

Steel hanging bridge across
the Eddet River

two hours into the ascent... and crossing a steel hanging bridge spanning the Eddet River... there was this daunting rise of a mountain that was to lead us to Marlboro Camp for the night... before resuming the assault at 1:00 am to be at peak by sunrise. The trail "ESS"-ing up the way tamed the steepness some... but no kidding... the reason why Akiki is often referred to as a "killer" trail. Ten to fourteen hours of continues assault till up the peak... a definite not for the "weak-at-knees" as it was what the climb was all about... come prominent physical conditioning need. Often I get asked how I get through the climbs' series of demands to which I can only offer... respect nature, dance with the terrain to the beat of own tunes... may the rhythms be physically or spiritually paced.

Along the trail... from pine to mossy forests to high elevation grassland... what a generous visual fare from nature... and along, the immersive sense of.

A couple of one-eyebrow-raising anecdotes... 

... a friendly couple from the bovine kind, followed a threesome of us for a while... and a white moth which took fancy to my forefinger while on a rest, and stayed even as I continued up the trail for roughly twenty minutes... I had to force it to fly off so I could regain use of my finger. Of course, some "hmmmm" thoughts... dawned on me. 

And aaah... close to the heavens, what only mountain peaks have ways of delivering... the utmost spectacle of nature's beauty... so out-of-body and spiritually humbling moments. Life is rich... CHEERS!

Special thanks to Jim Mordeno for the invitation...  organizer Sai Cruz and the rest of the fun bunch whose youthful drive... I as much am inspired by.

More Of A Personal Treasure Even Is... That Sense of Fulfillment...

Easily we so say how reaching "happiness" is the gist on why we do what we do. We at

Mesquite Flats
Death Valley, California

 times in our efforts, however... lose "us" within ourselves. What I have always maintained is that, beyond happiness even is... one's own sense of fulfillment. 

Fulfillment is wealth not materially measured. It only requires an assessment of honest and real personal values... as long as the sharing or giving of which does not hinder one's own sense of self. But, yes... let own deeds be the building blocks toward the very notion.

Ah, yes... the many ways... giving anonymously, mentoring, sharing, unconditional trust and emotions, connecting with nature, healthy living, reasonable tolerance to others' misgivings, forgiving, faith and spirituality, a pause for appreciation that we even "woke-up", recycling, support of local products, owning a pet, giving way in traffic, earnest joy in others' successes, quiet celebrations... and the list ever continues.

Indeed, cultivating such conscientious practices can only enrich each our own unadvertised sense of well-being and worth. Simply wishing to share... CHEERS! 

The roads and rivers we follow, the heights we reach, the forests and
deserts we cross... yet, none ever is as vast and high as when we 
step deep into our own inner selves. 

On Physical Fitness...

Atop a Tacloban mountain overlook.

Yesterday, I was up at 4am. It was a dry and cool morning. Fit for a short trek. By 5am, I was up this nearby peak that doesn't seem to have a designated name.(In fact, a search has Google Maps identifies it only as "Mountain"... my Samsung Health application indicates a 156-meter elevation.) Later in the morning, with a major mountain climb nearing... I went for an activity medical clearance. At my age... closing in on becoming a septuagenarian, my doctor needed a reassurance by having me take a stress test which required an ECG done while on a treadmill with a cardiologist present. Having finished and passing the 7-stage test, I was asked by the attending technician, what my "secret" is.

The truth is... there actually is no secret. What I wish to cover on this post thus is how what

ECG Stress Test

works with me when it comes to physical regimen... doesn't necessarily mean will similarly apply to others. In my early 40's, I did try a gym routine. Too confining for me. I travel more than the average person so... that easily became deemed impractical. Plus, the time management freak that I am, eventually found it too time consuming. I prefer workouts being simply incorporated into my usual activities. I walk rather than ride or drive when I can, I use stairs rather than escalators and elevators when practical, do toe lifts or use grocery baskets as weights when waiting on line, use own body weight in a self created series of home workouts for body toning... to share a few options. I find running as my most complete workout... and trekking, reconnects me with nature and spiritual self while providing me the physical exercise.

I wish to only imply thus... that one really has to first assess own physical capabilities and difficulties and work from there. Religiously practice an own doable set, then slowly add targeted exercises to address functions incurred with some difficulty. Listen to music, enjoy the outdoors... and other complementary fun activities practical when doing chosen physical exercises. Eventually, surprise yourself. Cheers!

Peak views and random nature trail scenes.

How My Latest 5-Day Escape Went...

A tentative Kaparkan Falls exploration idea was hatched during a spelunking excursion last March with travel buddy Gil... who then introduced me to a new friend in Linda.

Both have already made pioneering visits more than once to Tineg, Abra's not-so-easily reached natural wonder. Around the later part of August became the chosen period on the assumption that the monsoon season on the northern part of the country would already be waning down by then. So came Saturday of last week, off I was.

(Gil already gave prior notice on his unfortunate inability to join-in because of unexpected last minute visitors. Meanwhile, Linda was still not certain because of still continuing heavy rains in Baguio, her home.)

The Flight to Manila was on schedule and upon reaching the city... the choice was either to go by land straight to Bangued, or stop by Baguio if Linda was going to be able to still join me.

Baguio it became, as a follow-up notice from Linda indicated her likelihood of now being able to as well go. In looking back, her familiarity with the destination allowed me to experience the excursion in ways I most likely would not have been able to on a first visit.

Ah, the way over was on a military grade truck. And once we arrived at the yet unpaved rest of the way... it then became the onset of a four-hour bump-roll-grind-slide... hardly a moment without a scream, demands in jest that the destination better be "all worth it" a few times repeated, the ride in fact was "hellish" as advertised. 

KAPARKAN FALLS

How could I not, as I did... just turn into utter silence and gasp upon first glimpse. A series of cascades and waterfalls carved by nature from up a limestone mountain down to Abra's Tineg River. My attempts in trying to describe the awe inspiring scene would likely be a series of understatements... so, instead... I'll simply let these images better convey the captured essence of being witness to the wonder of Kaparkan.

The decided hike back, as rigorous as it was... I would have not have traded for the easier option of being back on the truck ride. This side note was an experience altogether separate. Red clayish mud would at times try to pull my shoes off my feet as my steps would be treacherously suctioned in. A 10kg backpack added weight, the occasional direct sun along cleared sections, a seeming adrenaline drain from the simultaneous excitement in the essence of the excursion altogether... I let caution prevail. Linda went ahead as she was pressed on time trying to get to a separate destination next. I decided to take my time... and ah, butterflies, dragonflies, wild flowers, rolling hills, the fresh air... and the hike itself made the experience not an ordeal at all... instead, another series of humbling and soul cleansing moments. 

AFTER KAPARKAN FALLS

Often I get asked how I get to places and manage the time to do so. For me... it simply is a lifestyle discipline in synchronizing personal activities, travels included. Looking at my return route... I needed a place for a night's rest up. So, Vigan... the one historical city that just doesn't get "old"... was easily a definite. 

The following day, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Sta. Maria I finally did get to. This UNESCO Heritage Site, one of only four Philippine Baroque Churches designated as such... and the only one I had to yet reach.  Quite a landmark it, indeed... is!

Bauang, La Union was a mere hour away. The area's noted vineyards then became the next stop of interest... driven by my curiosity considering the quite tropical climate the region has. But, yes, harvest of the red cardinal grape hybrid variety is actually three times a year I was told. 

An overnight in Manila, an hour flight to Cebu the next morning, a two hour ferry to Leyte...

and finally, a two hour van ride to current home Tacloban City... concluded yet another "full-of -personal-highlights" getaway.  

(By way of Cebu is often a preferred route when time permits because of flight frequency and better fare options. I also enjoy the fastcraft ferry crossing to Leyte, fair weather considered.)

CHEERS!