It’s not goodbye but au revoir - Mt.Makiling Traverse

Completing Mount Makiling traverse was always going to happen.When I am determined, dedicated and driven the mountain is mine! It was on my bucket lists long before I even stepped foot to another mountain and it just so happened that my cousin Reynald is in town for vacation and ask for a climb.

I like to be fully prepared when I decided to do makiling traverse, unfortunately jackie cant make it so i have to reorganize and ask assistance from other mountaineers ( Thanks so much Madam Cheng).

And so I had my plan locked down within a couple of hours. Sir Ernie Fines and i agreed that we will be doing the Sipit Trail and he will meet us at Brgy. San Miguel by 6 am.


APRIL 27, 2014

8:00 Am. On our way to the jumpoff at San Miguel , we were greeted with a nice view of Mt. Makiling, we passed a variety of mountaineers going both ways.Looking at the mountain i couldn't help but think if i can finish the traverse due to fever and severe headache.

The path began easy enough.We walked along on flat grounds , introducing ourselves to one another since this is the first time that i will be doing a climb with Sir Ernie together with his twin brother Sir Rommel and Sir Melvin.Soon enough, the terrain began to change. It also rained on our way up and silly me didn't pack a rain coat.The first half of the trail is a private property, and after 30 minutes the real trail will come into way.The trees in this forest are tall and the trail paths are relatively muddy and open with some obstacles like fallen trees, branches in your way and the steps are quite high. I began panting after a fair bit as it has been quite a while since I have my last climb.

At first,station 1 to 6 is relatively easy. and, from station 7 we took our lunch before continuing our trek ( Ang Daming Limatik Dito sa station 7).From station 7 this is where the upward ascend starts, craggy rockscapes to virgin forest is visible.One step missed means a few hundred meters of rolling down the mountain.So i have to be very careful with my every step , but throughout the trek, there were occasions i can almost feel that i am going to drop off the edge.The climb is steep and strenuous in parts, and it’s only when you look down that you will understand how sharp an incline you are in.The thin tree trunks and branches are the only support we have to balance ourselves.and I also noticed that the ground is wet, and I started seeing moss on the trees and dew forming on them and on spiderwebs. They made really pretty patterns of droplets.I took short breaks when I reached every new mountain station, I factored in small stops to refuel my energy with snacks and gatorade, I walked at a steady pace and drank lots of water.

I proceeded the rest of the way alone.I climbed into a tree and perched on a branch for a while since the group left me behind already, and I enjoyed the remoteness of being miles up into the forest alone.But, Why was I so nervous? Because I was alone?,  Though I’d done plenty of crazy things in my life before, this one took the cake.

I Do note though, the summit is constantly blanketed by clouds of cool mist so i know from there might not be a clear view. This didn’t deter me, my mild asthma and fever never stopped me from climbing, and it did mean that I had to take care to know my limits.Then, I took my chance to finish the traverse and catch up with the group at the summit.

Over the difficult trail full of steep drops, rope-ascents and descents, and ankle-twisting narrow ledges of rock and slopes of loose dirt and mud I plunged ahead without nervousness but with readiness, thank god the group is supportive of me.

It wasnt a easy walk though.The descent was steep and slippery.When we started our descend i started feeling it.I would gasp for air and collapse to the ground trying to catch my breath during short breaks we had,but i still carried on. And from Agila base the trail going down is actually much different from the summit,though going downhill is always a little hard on the knees.Anyways, this is what happened to me, but i think i climbed better that i expected.

Simply said - Makiling traverse was awesome and amazing. Although I’m sad at the prospect that I may not return for a couple years.

It’s not goodbye but au revoir - Mt.Makiling Traverse. As the saying goes, let us not say goodbye, but as the French have it, "Au Revoir! ...Till we meet again.