I have been climbing for almost a year now and I must say climbing natural rocks or boulders is different from synthetic ones- no harness and ropes just crash pads. Is it scary? Well yes definitely! But once you conquer your fears and finish the given problem you’ll feel a sense of fulfilment, a boost that will push you to climb more.
Last Sunday, March 11,2018, my friends and I went to Lamtang, Baguio City to play. Meet up was supposed to be 6am but since we were all tired the night before (it's Saturday night!), we were all late, except for Klicks who was very punctual.
Klicks and Vince carrying the crash pads on our way to the jeepney station, Lamtang- its just a ride away from the city proper (we paid 15 pesos each). Of course we bought supplies like drinks and food before going because we were all lazy to cook for our lunch.
At last! After a long jeepney ride- it took us like 25 minutes because of traffic and road constructions.
Before we start our trek, we checked our things, rearranged it and divided supplies in our bags so that it wouldn’t be that heavy. I was holding our lunch so they were reminding me to be extra careful when trekking down the river because it was slippery and the path going to the river was quite steep. They were laughing at me becuase it took me a long time to go down and because I was holding onto a thin stalk with my thumb and index finger. But what can I do? There was nothing stable I can hold onto but the grass! I don’t wanna slide down and get hurt!
kahit konting makakapitan okay lang, kahit konti lang para di gaanong masaktan!
(I wish we have something to hold on to, even just a little so that when we have to let go, it wouldn't hurt as much)
Klicks admiring the view of the mountains and maybe having a moment with nature.
This boulder is named “chicken”- warm up boulder as they describe it and an initiation boulder for first timers in Lamtang- obviously its me and Klicks.
Boulders are named by the first person who first saw and finished the boulder, first ascend as they call it. This boulder is maybe 10 feet high and I finished it after trying 3 or 4 times.
yung tipong try ka pa din ng try kasi gusto mo, kahit sabi nila madali lang pero sa tutuusin mahirap pala
(They said it was so easy, but after failing and trying many times, you realize it's really hard)
“No plate? No problem!”
-Klicks
After eating and playing with 3 boulders, we went down the river to the other boulders. Of course, it took me a long time trekking down because I was scared that I might injure my knee again.
nasaktan ka na nga dati, uulitin mo pa ba para mas masakit?
(You got hurt once before, and everytime you try again, it hurts a little bit more)
The “Three Kings” boulder! Ugh! This problem is for advanced climbers but since we were there might as well try it.
The start was the hardest- sit start position plus a dynamic move! (Dynamic means jumping to get the next hold). I actually skipped the start because I’m short and weak but still didn’t finish it, it was too much for me, my core isn’t that strong yet and I was afraid to commit because falling is scarier.
Yung minsan nagcommit ka na. Akala mo yun na yun, tapos bigla mong mabibitawan. Pagkatapos mahuhulog ka, syempre masasaktan ka nanaman. Kaya nga mahirap ma-fall! Masakit!
(You made a commitment. You think, this is it. Then suddenly, everything is not the same anymore. You were already there. But then you realize, you were left along the way. That’s why falling is hard, it will always be painful)
I will always climb happy with these amazingly strong people!
And that’s my hands after climbing- it’s painful but in the end it’s worth it! I enjoyed every boulder problem given to me, though I wasn’t able to finish it all, at least I saw improvements! I will definitely come back and finish it- this time stronger and braver!
kahit na masakit na, tuloy parin! Pero kung di talaga para sayo, move on nalang!
(Keep going even though it hurts. If it's not meant for you, let it go)
*Photos were taken using my iPhoneSE
