Remembering Gulugod-Baboy Mountain - My First Fun Climb
This story was written to remember my first fun climb since I joined the mountaineering group. Like what I said from previous blog a year ago, after my first and major climb, the next thing is fun climb...(well most of you will think, that is weird, you climb the major climb first then fun climb next?). Well, I am just telling the truth and nothing but the truth.
My first fun climb held in Mabini, Batangas last Oct 25 to 26 2008. And the lucky mountain we climbed was Gulugod-Baboy Mountain. As far as I remembered, the group met at 7/11 in Pasay,Rotonda where the bus to Batangas is stationed. We traveled by bus from Pasay, Rotonda until we reached Batangas City, then we rode jeep until we reached the jump-off area in Mabini, Batangas near Anilao.
The great thing about the jump-off area are the wonderful view that it offers. I saw some beach from the ground and the beautiful sea that seems no end.
Here are some seaside snapshots I had while staying at jump-off area.
While waiting for other member in the group that will join the fun climb, we took our lunch near the jump-off area. While having lunch, rain fell. And since rain fell, this means, the trail will be muddy or slippery. But rain will not be the reason to stop mountaineers to go for the climb.
For this climb I met other members of the group and honestly to tell you, I have so much fun meeting them and its really great to know them.
As much as I remember, on this first fun climb, I experienced new things about climbing. Comparing my first and major climb to this climb, I realized that its not good to compare it, because each mountain have their own uniqueness, have their own features and challenges. My experiences when I climbed Mount Kinabalu were far way different when I climb Gulugod-Baboy Mountain.
For the photo above, I capture some part of the area where the rain already falling...
See the heavy clouds?
Here are the views that can be found while climbing Gulugod-Baboy Mountain.
These are also the photos that the sky seems to be unfriendly for the mountaineers
because it means one thing...its going to rain (we are lucky, the rain is in far from us)
Gulugod Baboy Mountain is just small mountain (has 500+ masl altitude) compared to Mount Kinabalu (with more than 4000+ masl). I cannot forget my experience while trekking this mountain. First we took the semi-steep small road which partially cemented that time, then we rested few minutes before taking the rough trail. For this climb, I will remember when the only thing I can hold on to were just grass leaves that I don't know if these leaves can handle my weight. There were many times that I slipped away because the track were muddy. Its just a good thing that my trekking pole was there to helped me. We passed grasses even taller than me.
When I reached the top, the feelings were wonderful and the amazing view from top was worth to see after such exhausted climb in few hours.
Here are the afternoon before sunset views I caught after reaching the camp
near the summit of the mountain
After reaching the top of the mountain near the summit, we also had a chance to witness the sunset view. With this kind of seeing sun is slowly hiding itself to people, the feeling so ecstatic. Sometimes you will think, how world is so fascinating with just having that moment.
Sunset Views
This first fun climb was also the first night having a great time with the group. I got a chance to get to know them for real. The group called it "Socials" where some secrets revealed, some information gave away either by just telling it through jokes or even in a serious way. There were lots of funs and laughters that made me feel that night will not be over. In that social activities with the group, I also had a chance to introduce myself to the group and my reasons why I like to climb.
This is the famous lonely tree branch - a significant mark used as a proof commonly
by mountaineers as evidence that they reached Gulugod-Baboy Mountain.
Here is the summit of the mountain - where my group made their important jump shots
Its getting dark ..
Even the group had so much fun over the night for social activities, everyone still able to wake up to witness the sunrise from the summit. And I am one of them who trek the trail to summit immediately to glimpse the sunrise for a moment.
The moment - Sunrise
I truly treasure my experience in this climb, as second mountain to climb I knew for myself, that I still have a lots to learn in mountaineering.