Reaching the Summit

The particular reason why I hike for the first time

        Why do people hike? This is the usual question whenever we scroll through our social media feeds and witness our friends' latest upload of them striking a pose while at the peak of a mountain. We all wonder why do they have to go through the physical challenges of hiking for the sake of IG-worthy photos? Allow me to answer these questions by sharing my personal experiences on mountain climbing.

        It was on December 4, 2016, when I hiked for the first time. My mother mountain is located at Nasugbu, Batangas named Mount Batulao. The mere reason why I climbed that time is only for granting the invitation of my former colleagues, plus the fact that I also want to experience it at least once in my life.

  
      Frankly speaking, it was not fun at all initially. Trekking for the first time will really make you utter the phrase "#struggleisreal". Though Mount Batulao's difficulty is only 4 out of 9 and is highly recommended for beginners, its trail should never be underestimated. As compared to other minor climbs, at Mount Batulao, you have to rappel going up which is around 60° to 70° assault. At some point, along with the 2 to 4-hour trail, you may want to stop, rest, and go back to the jump-off site. However, this perspective changed when I arrived at the highest peak of the summit. The view is indeed breath-taking. What you can see at the top is definitely worth the effort, pain, and sweat and the city stress will fade away. It seems like you were taken into another dimension, a new reality for people who may want to escape the daily fuss of our world's dilemmas. And this is my personal goal why I engaged myself in hiking. 

        After Mount Batulao, I also climbed Mount Talamitan, Mount Apayang and Mount Mag-asawang Bato in Batangas, Mount Pamitinan, Mount Hapunang Banoi, Mount Batolusong and Mount Daraitan in Rizal, and Mount Manalmon and Mount Gola in Bulacan. 

        At the end of an adventuresome day, sharing your mountain climbing photos online is not about bragging your experience, but rather sharing the magnificent and majestic view at the crowning point of a mountain.

        On my next blog, I'll be featuring photos of the mentioned mountains that I already hiked. I hope you enjoyed the view from the snapshots I shared and looking forward to reach the summit with you soon. Until next reading!😊 🌄 👍