Why do you climb ?
by Long Henson

My mother keeps nagging me with the question “Why do you climb ?”and “Anong mapapala mo diyan ? It is safe to assume that mountaineering has already found it’s niche here in the Philippines by the numerous followers it has gained especially this last 5 years. Now that it had gained popularity, it’s nice to stop for a while and ask ourselves why we do it (although we always jokingly ask this same question with amazement at the height of our pain and misery during climbs!) and what we gain in doing it so. I bet most of us still cannot articulate the reason why we climb in the level we feel confident. The more books you read, more people you ask, the more answers you will get-its kind-a personal. Most of us were attracted to the sport because it had neither courts nor ring nor referees. It seems to have no rules, save for ethics. It has no winners nor loser. It was unbounded, exciting and uncertain, bringing out what was natural within us and reuniting us with the environment from which we have been estranged.

There are some who do it just for fun, as an outlet for their barkada’s cheap getaway. Its like a fad, that one time will just last. They can easily identify mountaineering with other sports, hobies or pastime. Worst, there are some who abuse this activity-for other extra curricular activities in the old tradition of fun, wine and women. I remember an article which shows the darkside of mountaineering- a venue for lovers to “put their legs in between one another” or drunkards and drug addicts to experience their form of “paradise” nor vandals to excersise their urges freely. It is like going wild in--.where else but the wilderness. There are some who just treat it as a sport, a grandiose one with the whole mountain as his gym. More often than not they are those who value speed on trail-the faster the better or weight of the pack- the heavier the stronger, or the quality of the equipment-the more hi-tech, the cute-er. Others are a bit self-centred. Who keeps tab of their latest conquest the same way he keeps tab of his other achievements. His favourite words - “In conquering the mountain, I have conquered myself”. There are those who just plain and simple, lovers of nature, an environmentalist. And there are those who just like adventure. There are those who find mountaineering a highly spiritual activity. And some finds it a respite in this highly exhausting world of commerce- a source of power to rejuvenate from this weary world. I write here not to label us nor to say what’s right and what’s wrong- because just like any other mountaineer, I hate classifications that leads to restrictions. Besides, I already know that you know were do you belong. What I would like to share is the feeling of balancing yourself from the qualities mentioned above (of course- except from the dark side I have mentioned). Try to experience putting soul into the body- of seeking the spiritual during climbs. It may sounds boring but it doesn’t mean spending your entire climb meditating. You can still have your laughs and your drinks, just find one of your free time and experience it- the totality of nature. Then there you would no longer have to ask why do you climb, you will just promise you’ll never stop climbing as long as health permits. From then you may already have found what true mountaineers have long found- the spirits of the mountains.

I remember that just at the beginning of my third year as a mountaineer, I was already asking myself when will I stop. I think I have enough. Then one climb, I tried experiencing what it was to be “one with nature”. It was in Mt. Banahaw, pre-holy week of 1996. The spirits and the atmosphere may have helped me. Right then and there I have answered the big question of why do I climb. Now I know that I am already a full- blooded mountaineer. And you know what ?, the answer to my question of why do I climb is --- I still don’t know why…..I can just feel why. How about you, when will you truthfully answer your own question.