For
some moments toward the start of 2013 quarter 3, my taste for adventure
has gone stale. I dreamt of climbing more mountains but ended up watching
series and movies instead. I turned out to be that lame of a creature lamely exploring the
vastness of every corner of my lame bed occasionally surfing the virtual space
with my beloved pc.
Thanks to that November Mt. Batulao climb for snapping
me out of that lethargy, offering up a whole new perspective. Though I have had mixed
feelings about the whole idea at first ― on one hand I was excited to climb after a very long time, on the other, I was a little
skeptical after learning about a previous Batulao accident. Plus, I
haven't yet fully overcame my fear of heights in which reading articles about how a Mt. Batulao climb would go officially left me crept out. Nevertheless, worries
have done no harm to stop that wanting I have been stuck myself into. So on
that dawn of All Souls’ Day 2013, we drove our way further southward to
Nasugbu Batangas where the mountain calmly sits.
Hot ‘n Cold | Being an open and exposed mountain with a considerable high elevation, expect a blend of cold wind and sunlit
trail throughout the climb. While the scorching heat of the blazing sun
could leave your skin darkly burnt, wish for nothing less because the moment
the raindrops, an extremely muddy sail would result in that could lead to an
even difficult course. In our case, we were both lucky and unlucky to
experience both. We started out on the hot end but turned out chilly and muddy thereafter. We were cold and exhausted at the end of the day. Good
thing we just left off those parts of the trail where we have to walk on
ridge-like mountainsides, having those infinite drop-offs, before it rained, which
will surely make up for a nice one-slip-and-you’re-minced-meat situation.
Rolling Slopes | Mt. Batulao is
comprised of a series of uphill and downhill trails. While anticipating that sweet step at the peak, one might think of it as an endless up and down trek
before getting into that strenuously fulfilling assault towards the summit. The
alternating ascent and descent every now and then gives a tiring roller-coaster
feel physically letting its climbers re-learn a classic life lesson, I’m sure
we all already know about.
Romancing The Stones | The phrase, among others if there are any, is probably most famously associated with Mt.
Batulao. There are actual parts of the trail starting from camp 9 up until the
final stretches of the climb, where you have to literally have that inevitable romantic interaction with the stones perfectly
placed on those steep trails.
Dancing Greens | The scenery all
throughout the entire trail is characterized by nearly
tree-less ranges that succumb down to a lush of greens. The vastness of the foothills
is covered by those grasses in synchronized waveform against the strong winds
across the slope providing an effortlessly huge visual entertainment. And this is probably one of the many reasons Mt. Batulao earned
that distinction of being one of the most impressive mountains in Southern
Luzon.
Rocks & Rolls | The mountain range
landscape itself is its best asset. The picturesque rocky
peaks and the death-defying steep trails are exceptionally eye-candies. Mt.
Batulao climb, more than physical activity, is actually a test of character –
a test one has to fully accept to take. In fact, it’s deadly, which everyone
should be aware that a single wrong step could result in a grave effect as
rolling over those steep cliffs and rocky ravines. The danger is always there,
but with careful planning, unwavering focus, and an eager heart, everything
should turn out well.
People Along The Way | Being tagged as one
of the more popular mountain destinations near Metro Manila, a huge number
of climbers is expected to have their weekends spent there. At the expense of a
few minutes of conversation, warm hearts, and
sweet smiles, expect to meet new acquaintances. After all, it’s not too strange
to build friendships on mountain trails; especially with people, you have a
common denominator with.
Beyond Batulao | At certain
points of time, much more curious than those who actually ask, I came face to
face with the question of why I climb mountains. And more often than not, I
don’t get myself a proper answer either. More so, questions such as what the
hell I am doing there when in fact I could be at home, safe and sound, and so
on clouds up my mind. Or I could actually get myself indulged to safer
destinations other than mountains as there are lots of great beaches throughout the thousands of pristine islands across Ph.
But still, the wondrous attraction mountains have, never ceased to have a spell
on me. There is always that abstract feeling while conquering a mountain and
seeing the world from a totally insane perspective, that I still could not,
ever, explain. Maybe it’s the fact that as I climb, my thoughts
bring me to places. Maybe it’s not me that conquers the mountain, after all, it might be the mountain that conquers me, or me that conquers
myself, as I constantly learn and re-learn things.
Whatever
those reasons are, I wish to further not know. That feeling of falling in love
with nature all over again every after climb should surely suffice. Because that feeling could never be defined in any way that would leave me satisfied.
Photos Credit: Q. Ybanez
