I love climbing...

Hiking is one of my passions. There seems to be a point on every hike i make where fatigue sets in. Much like life, i can either turn around easily or push through the difficulty. Choosing the latter, i receive the payoff by reaching the peak and basking with our god's creation.

Why do you climb? A frequently ask question on my every climb.

Climbing draws allure and mystery of life to me. When i was growing up in North view , filinvest i went to school passing through some hills. That is where i grow up and made it. Now, those are not “mountains” when you compare them to the mountains on Sierra Madre or Benguet, but I remember hiking and passing through this hills in Filinvest for the first time in grade school and how it made a huge impact in my life. I think that is where my love for hiking and mountain has started.The sense of awe and wonder I get from being at the top of the hills has never gone away since that time.

Mountain top experiences are called just that for a reason,and  i want to prove myself that i can do anything i set myself to do.First there is the peacefulness of being at the peak of a mountain.Then there is the camaraderie of friends working up a mountain not as individuals but as a team.It also has some spiritual quality to it. I feel very blessed and close to God when I am in the mountains.And lastly, the challenge of making each step on a steep ascend knowing that a mistake could be deadly and the next step will be rewarding.

Although hiking comes with danger I think it's invigorating to do something dangerous and make it through. Also, thrill seeking may be a way to let go of one's fears, to face them and overcome them. Holding on to fear is letting something control your life. Doing dangerous stuff is letting go of that fear and I feel it lets me put things into perspective. I also enjoy confronting my fears and dealing with them rather than let them control me.

I have challenged myself to complete each climb eventhough sometimes it pushes my boundaries. What a huge difference it makes in my enjoyment of life. And, there is nothing like the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing a climb. Now that I’m married with a family, i hope one day i can take my boys on a hiking adventures. I hope one day they’ll appreciate the beauty that is all around them and the satisfaction that come from experiencing God’s works.