THE ZEN OF MOUNTAINEERING
The Green Earth Mountaineers (GEM) is conducting its second annual river trek from Boljoon to Maribojoc on Nov. 27-29. Climbing enthusiasts who wish to join must be reasonably fit, able to swim or bring a life vest, and be adequately equipped with camping provisions good for two nights and two days.
Assembly time and place is Nov. 27, Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the ABC Bus Terminal, and registration will commence at the Boljoon Municipal Hall later in the evening. A registration fee of P150 per participant comes with a commemorative shirt and certificate of participation.
The first time GEM conducted a river trek over 140 mountaineers from various clubs traversed the Bonbon river right through its underwater cave.
GEM is one of the many mountaineering clubs in Cebu. Though it is comprised of working professionals, it had a female student, Lilibeth Jalapadan, for its first president. Our current president, Lito Paradela, is Visayas area manager for Fastpak, a forwarding company. He travels on business trips about every other week. Other members include a judge, nurse, account executive, teacher, bank executive, artist, businessmen, and lawyers. About half are married with children.
How do we find time to go trekking on top of work, family and social commitments? We make time. Let's rephrase that anecdote of a professor who filled a jar with rocks, sand, and water. He wanted to demonstrate time management, that we can fill our lives the same way if we put the rocks in first. Yes, mountaineering is one of the rocks in our lives we give priority to.
Of course, people have different reasons for pursuing mountaineering as a hobby. Same reason why there are different kinds of clubs. Some are into it mainly for the challenge of the sport, others mainly for the wonder of communing with nature, and still others mainly for the thrill of venturing into uncharted territories. Mainly. There is seldom a single reason to explain why we juggle our work schedule, risk life and limb in exposing ourselves to the wildlife and perhaps an unpleasant encounter with rebels, then come home covered with cuts, bruises, and insect bites.
To me it is the most rewarding highly individualized group activity. It is about self-mastery with a team.
In 1996 our company organized a teambuilding workshop for our department. It was conducted at the open grounds of our training center in Tagaytay. The exercises had us climbing 50-ft. high walls, jumping from the top of electric posts, and doing the high-wire act on Y-steel cables -- all safely done with us wearing harnesses attached to ropes held by bellayers, our teammates. Our training facilitators explained that the program was designed by mountaineers and psychologists on the premise that mountaineering best demonstrates teamwork in action. The values of mountaineering have many applications in real life.
For example, a team is only as fast as the slowest member of the group. Our wall-climbing exercise required three members attached to each other and one of them was blindfolded. At the start of their climb, Mely, who likes to work alone, went ahead leaving Raul to assist the blindfolded Emily. But Mely couldn't go any higher up unless Emily is also moving, and Raul was too far to do anything except give instructions to Emily. So Mely clambered down from her perch and guided Emily's hand or feet to the nearest handhold or foothold.
The other exercises had a lot to do with getting over our fear of falling by trusting our bellayers. Some participants just froze in their spots, unable to let go of the posts to make that leap of faith.
In mountaineering there are always the trailblazers. Many members of GEM are like that -- Judge P, Lito, Lilibeth, Vanessa, Edmund, Ely. They like to explore and establish new routes, not minding the times when they got lost, food and water provisions running out, and even having to do it at night. They are also the strongest, swiftest and most experienced members.
On regular treks they would split themselves at the front and end of the pack. The leaders are responsible for leading the group safely to the destination in the shortest possible time. The sweepers stay behind, always the last to leave a site, responsible for cleaning up the place to ensure that the fire was safely put out, all the trash picked, and no belongings were left behind. Sweepers are also responsible for looking after the slow-moving members of the pack, ensuring that nobody is lost or left behind. Ross, Jojo and I -- the newest members of the club -- are usually hemmed in by our more experienced companions.
Within the pack itself every person is like a leader for the one following him and a sweeper for the one ahead. The conscientious Ross would always caution me to watch out for a loose or slippery rock whenever he's in front of me. And on occasions I would give Jojo a helpful shove up. Others, like Edmund, would move from the front to the back throughout the trek to check on each member. At times he would offer his hand or leg for me to step on when my short legs can't negotiate a vertical climb. We all look out for each other.
But we're all responsible for our individual safety and actions above all. This is the part where self-mastery comes into play. Who would have thought that Lito is afraid of heights when he goes rappelling from a 130-ft. cliff tower, or that he can't swim when he ventures into underwater caves? Or that Ross has a fear of snakes but he enjoys hiking in the jungle.
I'm into it mainly for the physical and mental challenge. In mountaineering once you start on your journey there's no turning back from your goal. Walang atrasan. Whenever doubt, fear and fatigue set in I take courage and draw strength from the faith that my teammates won't give up on me. That they won't quit on me. Walang iwanan.
November 19, 1998