P.E.

102
Mountain Climbing, Hiking and Camping
Gerryc P. Alfonso

P.E. 102
Mountain climbing, hiking and camping

Introduction
Need a break from the pressures of urban life? Have you been staring at photos of
outstanding sunsets, breathtaking landscapes, mountain views, and a person standing on a summit
and thinking, "That's gorgeous!" Why be contented with just looking at the pictures and viewing
mountains from afar when you can actually climb it and experience everything first hand.
Mountain climbing is a lifestyle sport involving hiking and trekking through rugged
terrain, camping, climbing over rocks, fallen trees and logs, passing by thick vegetation, crossing
rivers, and exploring the great outdoors while having fun in the process. This feat requires a great
deal of patience, physical endurance, motivation, and presence of mind. Climbing mountains is
truly rewarding: not only does it cultivate environmental awareness, it also develops a person's
character by facing and conquering one's fears and ultimately conquering oneself, leaving the
mountain climber with a great feeling of achievement.
In the Philippines, a person who climbs mountains as a hobby is generally called a
mountaineer. For anyone who wants to take up mountaineering as a hobby, there are several
mountaineering clubs in the Philippines that offer a Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC). Some
clubs offer a single day course, and others like the UP Mountaineers and Ayala Mountaineering
Club incorporate the training into their application process that usually takes about 3 to 4 months
to complete.
It is strongly encouraged for every aspiring climber to undergo the BMC. The BMC teaches
the proper physical training and essential outdoor skills needed by a mountain climber,
the proper climbing etiquette, and the "Leave No Trace" principles that are all very important
to help minimize the impact on the environment. Another advantage in learning BMC for the
novice climber is the opportunity to collaborate with seasoned/professional climbers and
receive priceless tips based on their years of climbing experience.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Destination
Gideon Lasco, the author of Pinoymountaineer.com, devised a "relative" difficulty rating
system that can be used to compare one mountain in the Philippines to another. The system is
divided into three parts:
1. Classification (Minor or Major)
2. Difficulty Scale (1/9 being very easy; 9/9 technical)
3. Trail Class (1 -5 which describes the type of trail to expect).
This can be quite overwhelming for newbie climbers, so for the purpose of this article, we can
just use the "Minor - Major" classification in choosing mountains to climb.
P.E. 102
Mountain Climbing, Hiking and Camping
Gerryc P. Alfonso

Generally, a Minor Climb is any climb that can be accomplished within a single day
without extraordinary physical effort, taking five hours or less from the jump-off point (location
at the foot of the mountain where the hike begins) before reaching the summit.
A Major Climb normally requires two or more days to accomplish, with the climber
exerting a great deal of physical effort, and normally takes six hours or more to reach the summit.
One of the factors when choosing what mountain to climb is the view that you are afforded.
Even on minor climbs, the views as you climb along the trail and from the summit can be
outstanding. With more experience, a mountaineer tends to climb more difficult mountains where
the challenges are greater and the views are even more breathtaking. One rule of thumb is the
harder it is to scale the mountain, the more serene and wonderful the views at the top are. Therefore
more physical preparation is needed to accomplish the major climbs.
Tips in Preparing for a Mountaineering Trip
Personal Health
As with any sport, before engaging in mountain climbing proper training and physical
preparation is needed. For beginners, an easy and inexpensive way to get in shape is to go jogging
3 to 4 times a week before your scheduled outdoor climb. Another way to prepare your leg muscles
is to do stair climbing, and as you stair climb you can wear a backpack and loaded with heavy
books or liters of plastic water bottles to also target your shoulder, back, leg muscles and knees.
This way you can get accustomed to carrying a heavy backpack as well.
The harder the climb, the more physical preparation is needed. This is important to
minimize hiking related injuries and if you are physically prepared, you would fully enjoy the
breath taking views and not the other way around...which is you running out of or gasping for
breath.
Clothing
While hiking, wear quick dry clothes and stay away from cotton fabrics and denim pants
since you will be sweating profusely during the climb. Wet clothes against your body can cause
hypothermia especially during the portions of the trail where there are strong winds. For your
headgear, wear a cap or a wide-brimmed bush hat for protection against the heat of the sun. For
cold nights at camp and for sleeping, you may use a jacket, bonnet, dry pair of socks, or anything
that would keep you warm through the night.
Every climber should also prepare for a rainy day even on summer months. It is good
practice to always have a waterproof jacket, rain poncho, or a raincoat. Use zip locked plastic bags
to waterproof your dry clothes and gadgets (camera, cell phone, etc).
Wearing a pair of hiking shoes is also advisable since you will be walking along a rocky
and rugged terrain that normal shoes like rubber shoes or sneakers weren't designed for. Hiking
shoes, with a pair of thick socks, also give you the advantage of overall protection for your precious
feet. For minor climbs, some mountaineers prefer wearing hiking sandals with straps. This is also
P.E. 102
Mountain Climbing, Hiking and Camping
Gerryc P. Alfonso

a cheaper alternative, but offers minimal protection and cushioning for your feet compared to a
hiking shoe or boot.

Gear
Tents are not needed for day hikes. For climbs spanning from overnight to several days,
bringing a tent is essential for a good night's rest. Decent tents can be bought from local outdoor
shops, and you don't have to buy a top of the line foreign brand tent unless you are really serious
about mountaineering. These kinds of tents are extremely lightweight but are a bit expensive. If
you don't have the budget, you can just share a tent with one of your climbing buddies for now.
Food
Food plays an important part of your planning. It is the source of your strength, fueling
your body to continue the demanding task of mountain climbing. For meals, it is important that
the meal is easy to cook and require little water. Adobo, fried foods, rice, canned goods and instant
noodles are a few good examples. Trail food like chocolate bars, salted peanuts, raisins, and other
sweets are also good to boost your energy levels when the need arise.
For day hikes, 1 to 2 liters of water per person would suffice, although you may need to
bring more if it is in your nature to consume a greater amount. Do take note however, that the more
water you bring, the heavier your backpack becomes. On some mountains there are also potable
water sources where you can hydrate and refill your water bottles, and when in doubt about the
cleanliness of the water source, it is important to boil your water before drinking.
Companions and Climbing Buddies
Always hire a guide or go with an experienced mountaineer every time you climb mountains.
Climbing alone increases the risks involved unless you are an experienced mountaineer with
survival skills. Never venture into the woods without properly informing other people.
Itinerary
Creating an itinerary for your climb is also beneficial for success. This serves as your guide on
what time you should be in a particular place and what time you are expected to be back at the
jump-off. Before leaving on a trip, don't forget to send a copy of your itinerary to someone in the
city, either your family or friends, and include contact numbers in case of emergency.

Reference:
Copied from
Handang, Philiph. 2011. A Mountaineering Guide for Beginners. https://www.travelbook.
Ph/blog/mountaineering-guide-for-beginners/.