It was in 1990 when more curiosity and I guess some craving for more adventures pushed us to explore Mt. Cristobal. Together with some intrepid folks from nearby barangays, we trail-blazed a path leading to the summit of Mt. Cristobal (northern trail). After a grueling 8 hour trek, we found “dagatan” (crater). Each of them has interesting stories of their encounter with the place, while I just watched and listened to them and tried to rationalize the experience. I was then the youngest and the only “taga-bayan” from the group.
Years had passed, while those intrepid folks somehow retired from such adventurous interests…. I craved for more. My hunger continued to persuade me until I got acquainted with people engaged in extreme sports such as nature trekking and tropical mountaineering. Knowing that we have common interests, I subsequently joined them in their many adventures around the country.
After numerous treks in different mountains in the country, it was in the year 2000 when I was reminded once again of my backyard and my home, Mt. Cristobal. Luckily I was, able to convince one “intrepido” to join me on our “dagatan” climb. This time equipped with more knowledge, experience and some latest gears.
It took us some 8 hours to reach our destination. Our trek to the summit jolted me to once again remind myself to “never underestimate any mountain”. As I negotiated its slopes, I continuously said to myself: “patience, patience, my child”. The ascend was gruelsome and my 3 liter water supply in my dromedary bag was near emptied when we arrived at the campsite. But all along our journey to the campsite, never did I loose my excitement to once again experience Mt. Cristobal and tell her ( that’s what I feel is the gender of Mt. Cristobal, despite of the name):”it’s so good to be back and see me happy communing with you one more time”. It was a joyful affair. From that moment on it seemed a subconscious part of me is feeling befriended with the environ. And I felt I was welcomed gladly by Mt. Cristobal. After settling down and had dinner, rain poured hard that we did not had a chance to come out of our tents until the next day. It was a blessing, I knew. Our near emptied water containers were filled again more than enough of our requirement for our descend. I thank her for that!
As I plotted on the map the trail we previously taken, I figured I can blaze another trail on different jump off point to hopefully lessen the trekking time towards the summit. Knowing that I already have a friend in her (Mt. Cristobal), I was optimistic and seemed very sure of my plan. True enough….I succeeded.
My mysterious but friendly encounters:
I trail-blazed alone. My plan: to camp at “Piit saddle” size-up check the trail, feel the surroundings and familiarize the ascend. Arrived at the saddle and camped out. The next morning after I broke-camp, I was suppose to check my next ascend trail when a huge flock of honey bee from I don’t know where darkened the sky flying towards my position. It was only around 9 o’clock in the morning then but it seemed like it was already nightfall. The buzzing sound of the bee is a clear indication of danger. That time, I never thought of anything that could save me from bees attack. Helpless, I covered my face with my buff, closed my eyes and waited for the bees to assault me. But no, they did not and passed-by my position to my surprise! As I watched them in the sky, it was really a huge flock flying on top of me. I remained motionless. Seconds later, I hastily thought of a natural calamity that is about to happen in the mountain. An earthquake or a volcanic activity perhaps. Still held my position, and waited in deafening silence but nothing happened. I decided to go down instead to contemplate on what had happened.
Was it a warning? I remembered being always rational but unexplainably, there was no such feeling of caution that time. Was it a friendly gesture of assistance preparing to show me the path and taking away obstacles which I may encounter along? I think it was. I was confident. I wanted to make sure. I will know for myself the next time I visit her.
Several months after, already plotted my trail to the summit I ascended and finally got the target ridge towards the cogonal wall. Upon arriving at the area I was held by tall cogon grasses (7 feet + tall) that made me wonder how to properly negotiate passing without difficulty. Instead of sliding on top of them, I decided to crawl below and tried to find visible direction. It was a maze that I later realized to be difficult to arbitrate. After more than an hour of traversing the large cogonal area, I found out that my eye goggles that I was wearing was already missing. When I finally arrived at the campsite, I found out that I have a long but shallow cut on my face just beside my left eye. My initial impression was: had it not been to my goggles, It would have been a large cut that might severely damage my eye.
Another incident few months after, that was the lost of my lexan water bottle in an insulated case with strap that I rolled around the right portion of my backpack. I lost it in the same area where I lost my eye goggles before. Quite disappointed with what happened, I just let it went out of my senses and rather enjoy my climb. Since I lost my water bottle and the entire water supply, I don’t have a choice but to survive without water for the next 20 or so hours. But no, It did not happened that way. Upon arriving at the campsite I fortunately met some friends from the Metropolis that offered me enough liquid to survive for the night. When I got home from the climb. My wife told me that there was a package that arrived from my sibling in the US. And to my surprise, there were 2 lexan bottles and some more outdoor stuff to my safistaction.
Some might call these occasions as plain and ordinary executed episodes. But I translated them otherwise to be (1) for the missing goggles: somewhat a “lambing” by the elementals for my goggles to be offered so I can elude the forthcoming danger that my left eye has to suffer; (2) for the missing water bottle, another “lambing” courtesy of myself so the elementals can help others on different occasion using my lost water container. While they knew that there is somebody of good heart that will help me at the campsite.
Subsequently, some of my friends are clamoring to try the trail that I frequented. At first, I was hesitant for its disclosure because I worry on how I can explain to them such experiences that happened. After several self deliberations, I eventually decided to show them the trail prompting the idea: “Karma rules the place” good deeds gets good results. It was in 2005 when I showed them the trail I call the “northern trail”. And without telling them of my previous experiences were, I always made sure I offered something of small value as “lambing” or “pasalubong” for my presence as I pass by the particular area.
Some not so good experiences:
I, together with a friend were commissioned by an outdoor group to guide them towards the summit using the traditional Montelibano trail. It was a normal trek of 3 hours from the resthouse jump off. We arrived on the crater and camped-out without any problem. After a hearty dinner was a rather happy but slowly getting loud party as they became intoxicated of alcohol that was served to everyone for the night’s socials. Sensing it was too much for me, I finally retired and bid everyone goodnight.
The following morning, I was awaken early but did not go out of my tent for reasons that I cannot explain. I was too lazy to get up. I was about to guide them towards the summit for the sunrise but I felt so slack about getting up. Beside my tent was my friend who eventually told me that he felt the same way too. It was only when someone from the group approached my tent and requested me to guide them towards the summit. Since we were commissioned, I didn’t have a choice but to provide them their much needed help. There were only two members who decided to check the summit. I lead them to the ridge and upon reaching the cogonal part showed them the direction towards summit while I decided to wait for them on the cogonal entrance. Minutes later, I heard laughs and some jokes from the two guests. After a while, they were back and we descended to the crater campsite.
We broke camp after breakfast and head down to Montelibano Jump off. I lead the trek back to the jumpoff and while I waited for them to finally arrive, I noticed “Hilda”, the one I accompanied at the summit, was limping and her left ankle was swelling. They told me she missed a step and accidently sprained her left ankle. On that occasion I looked back and tried to recall the incident hours before. Was the feeling of not getting out of my tent a premonition to hold me from showing those guests the way to reach the cogonal summit? A freak incident maybe? I don’t know.
We were on our way down to Montelibano resthouse jumpoff and one of our guests, a beautiful young professional from Makati seemed so bored at the downsloping trail on our descent. She was thinking, it’s been 3 hours and she thought her speed was faster than her ascend a day ago. She kept shouting “what’s happening here? I’m soooo bul#@*** bored”. She did not stop until she finally reached the resthouse. Minutes after she arrived, she was bitten by the dog owned by the resthouse’s guardian. I knew this dog to be sweet and very friendly to everyone. But that particular time the dog somehow behaved differently. Immediately, we applied first aid and requested everyone to move out so we can get the lady proper medication that she needed. After the incident, the lady was silent the whole time until it was time to go back to Manila.
Another incident that happened was the helicopter rescue done by the Phil. Army to an employee of an advertising Firm in Makati, “Pencil First”. They were all novices of hiking and that was their very first time to scale Mt. Cristobal. Before they ascended from the jump off point, nobody was aware to somehow in silence say a little prayer of thanks and ask for some guidance they needed. Everyone seemed oblivious of the idea and immediately proceeded walking. On the trail, they were laughing loud and really enjoying the time of their lives. Upon reaching the crater, there was one guy who slipped badly and cannot manage to walk. He was a big guy that none of his companion can carry to help him going down. Not knowing what to do, they decided to call up a rescue team to bring the guy down from the mountain.
Final thoughts:
Things happened for a reason. In any occasion, anyone should know that doing good is having the courage to accept that anything can happen. For respect to be given back to you, I think it is but imperative to have respect to people, places and things around you. Being respectful creates good vibes. Good vibes creates good feelings.
