The Mountain Climbing Process of SBMS
The process of mountain climbing for SBMS is composed of three (3) stages. These three stages are vital for every climb to ensure that every climber will be able to prepare, enjoy and benefit to the climb. The three stages are:
Pre-Climb Activities
The pre-climb activities are preparations made by a climber. The pre-climb activities provide an opportunity for the mountaineers to do the necessary planning to ensure the safety, physical fitness and teamwork needed for every climb.
The pre-climb activity is the planning stage of every climb. Several matters need to be discussed during the said activity like, the itinerary, meal plan and groupings for the tent accommodation. It is very vital for a climber to have an idea (especially those climbing for the first time) of the mountain trail as well as the climbing conditions. The itinerary will also give an idea for the climber on how many days will be the climb. This will enable the climbers to prepare the quantity of food, clothes and other things needed by the group. This will enable the climbers to determine the quantity of water for drinking will be needed. Since the climbers will be divided into groups, the meal plan will serve as a guide for each member of the group.
Aside from the planning activities, a
diagnostic run is conducted to ensure the physical fitness of
those who will participate in the climb. The policy of no
pre-climb, no climb is implemented. This will ensure that all the
participants of the climb will be in proper physical fitness.
Actual Climb
The
actual climb start at the so-called jump-off. Usually, it is
located at the foot of the mountain or mountain range. A
prayer is a must for SBMS before the start of any climb. The
team leader will identify who will be the head and the tail. The
head must be someone who knows the trail, proficient in reading
trail signs and eventually dictate the pace of climbing. The tail
will be responsible in ensuring that all of those who are part of
the group will not be left behind.
The actual climb is the challenge for every mountain climber. It requires a lot of stamina and focus. Since mountain climbing is not only a physical sport, but also a mental one. As the saying goes, "Mind over matter" applies while the group is into the trail.
Never underestimate any mountain. First, there is this optical illusion when we view a mountain. There are mountains, when we look at them, seems easy to climb but when we start to pass through the trail, we discover it is very difficult. Second, the adequacy of preparation becomes a critical element of the actual climb. When SBMS had to postpone the Mt. High Peak climb due to bad weather. The preparation for Mt. High Peak was supposedly very strenuous because of the length of days of the climb, not to mention the height of the peak. As an alternative, the group decided to climb Mt. Malipunyo instead. The result was an over confidence on the height of the mountain resulting to a more difficult climb though Mt. Malipunyo was definitely much lower than Mt. High Peak.
The actual climb also provides an opportunity among members to interact with each other. The social is an important part of the itinerary of climb that enabled the group to share experiences and knowledge about climbing. This will provide ample opportunity for the applicants to gain additional information in the sport of mountain climbing through the more seasoned and experienced members.
The post climb is usually scheduled within the week after the actual climb. This is an opportunity for those who joined the climb to evaluate the incidents that transpired during the climb. The post climb evaluation is an important aspect of the whole process since it will eventually help those who joined the climb to identify their strengths and weaknesses as a mountain climber.
