Another Himalayan Adventure!

After months of uncertainty, we finally booked our ticket to Kathmandu! 

Celine and I have been planning to return to Nepal since last year. Levi and Pen's Annapurna Circuit trek was too appealing not to experience for ourselves. An opportunity came when we heard some of the UPM "uncles" were also planning a climbing trip in the Annapurna area, up the Chulu Far East Peak (6000+m), and Dawa suggested we join that group so that everyone's expenses get lower. Unfortunately things didn't pan out for the others, and we were left scouting for other options. 

Along the AC trail (photo: Dream Himalaya Adventures)

[#AmaDablamTour Days 13 - 15] Climbing Lobuche East

Day 13-15 - Lobuche East [October 26-28, 2015]

It's been two years since our trip to Nepal. Time and distance brings introspection. I'm concluding my story with the benefit of hindsight, though it takes away from the "spirit of the moment" but helps me relate my experience to the larger scheme of things. In more ways than one, returning to my comfort zone made writing about my experience less urgent. If anyone felt robbed of a conclusion to my story, my sincerest apologies for this late post. For those reading this blog for the first time, you may want to read the start of this story here. Thanks for your support! 

Recapping where we left off in the story, we just returned to Lobuche from Gorak Shep after the team's forays to EBC and Kala Patthar. From here we parted ways with the ladies and Ang Kami as they continued to Pheriche. Someone proposed that maybe we can delay our bid for Lobuche East by a day to recuperate and better adjust to the altitude. We managed to discuss this with Dawa, who gave the sobering news that the weather might turn in the next two days, and that if we didn’t climb as scheduled, there’s a chance that the weather won’t be favorable. No choice but to move on as planned.

Getting Back

Re-starting something after being away for some time is always hard (except maybe riding a bike, which they say you never forget). Even the thought of re-launching this blog, for example, is taking an extreme amount of energy. What more to actually start writing content again?

So after a year since my last hike of significant elevation gain, I headed back up a mountain. This time, the Pantingan Peak of Mt. Mariveles in Bagac, Bataan. I hoped that muscle memory will make up for the utter lack of hiking in the past six months. Pantingan turned out to be a mountain you should not restart climbing on.

The approach to Pantingan Peak (right-of-center)

Remembering the 2006 Filipino Mt. Everest Season

In 2006, all our eyes were fixed on the TV screen, anxiously waiting for the drama to unfold on this pyramid of black rock. By May 19, three Filipinos have stood on top of the highest mountain in the world, providing the spark for the Pinoy outdoor community to dream big again. 

Mt. Everest, as seen from Kala Patthar

Ten years hence, Pinoy climbers have left their footprints in mountain summits all around the world

Romi, after reaching the summit (photo: Romi Garduce)

Members of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition (photo: FPMEE)

2015 Going To 2016

Happy new year, guys! More than a month has passed since I last wrote here. What can I say? A cluttered mind is not good for blogging.

To save us all the trouble of backtracking, here's a summary of all the things that happened since the last post.

[#AmaDablamTour Day 12] Kala Patthar and Mt. Everest

It was another early morning for us. The earliest, so far. At 430am, we're warmed up and ready to go up Kala Patthar (black rock, in Sherpa language). Only Marie decided to go to EBC (after weighing her options). 

The sky was clear, stars unhindered in their brightness. Venus and Jupiter just above Nuptse. The north star right on top of Pumori. I regret not bringing a good enough camera capable of long exposure. I have to content myself with the mental picture; hoping my memory can hold it forever.

The objective is to get up the black rock before sunrise. It's not the best sunrise in the world, but somehow, catching the first rays as the sun finally surpasses Nuptse's pinnacle can be spiritual. My reason was more practical: to get a time-lapse video for Henry's project.

The steady uphill can be taxing, unless you manage your pace and breathing. Getting to the top on your own sweet time, and not race the person ahead.

Several miscalculations on when the sun will finally breach almost drained my gopro's battery. Luckily there was still enough juice when it finally did.

Sun finally peeking out of Nuptse.

[#AmaDablamTour, Day 11] Gorak Shep

I was awoken by Miko early in the morning. Their hike was supposed to start by 7am. But it wasn't like I was sound asleep. In fact I slept terribly last night. This is the part of the trip that I feel I won't really get used to. I need some humidity in my lungs.

Frosty morning. Missing the girls.

The three of us (me, Henry and Romi) took our time to get ready. We were on our way by 9. It was still close to freezing temps even if the sun was out. So it seems to call for warmer trekking clothing. I regretted the decision 30 minutes into the hike. When the wind died down, the heat became unbearable.  While I managed to take off some top layers, my legs were uncomfortable with the thermal bottoms.

Nuptse from Lobuche

[#AmaDablamTour, Day 10] Lobuche

It's just a matter of time when your body gives in to the days of hiking, climbing, cold weather, lack of sleep and improper nutrition.  When we started our hike to Lobuche this morning, my thighs cramped up abruptly but slightly. After an hour, I could feel my leg muscles aching. I regret pushing myself within my limit yesterday on the climb and descent to Nankerzong. The order for the next few days is to take a step back and slow down, rest, and stretch more.

[#AmaDablamTour, Day 9] Pheriche

Internet connection has been nada since we left Namche Bazaar three days ago. So I am only able to post again now. Ncell's mobile data service is said to resume in Gorak Shep, which is two days away. Another problem is battery power of all our gadgets. Charging and wifi rates are ever increasing as we get closer to the base camp. Technology really brings both convenience and hassle to a connected expedition.

Here's what has happened so far:

Day 7 - We headed out for Tengboche (3875masl), but not before saying goodbye to Krista and Adrian, whose tour ends here. They are headed to Lukla, then the Philippines.  It was a long hike day with significant elevation loss and gain, as Tengboche is separated from Namnche by a river. It was a slog up the final slope and by the time everyone got there, it was already overcast and cold. The visit inside the monastery was the highlight of the hike. We stayed in Daboche, which was about 20 minutes further down.

[#AmaDablamTour, Day 6] Hike to Khumjung

Namche Bazaar - We're back from our acclimatization hike up to Khumjung through the Everest View Hotel. Luck did not bring us snow,  but it was still a beautiful morning, with only a spattering of clouds around the peaks. 

[#AmaDablamTour, Day 5] Chumoa to Namche Bazaar

Sunday - From Chumoa to Namche is a lighter trek day compared to if we stayed in Phakding. Ang Kami Sherpa, our head guide, said we'll be up at Namche in time for lunch.

Our porter preparing for the long walk up

[#AmaDablamTour, Day 3] Lukla to Chumoa

We were off to an early start. Dawa made sure we had the best chance of flying out to Lukla, so we were on the first flight out of Kathmandu.

Gearing up for the big climb

Climbing mountains can be costly, especially if it involves snow and very high elevations. Not only would you need the usual equipment and clothes, you also need specialized gear to protect you from the elements.

I've been slowly accumulating the things we need for our Ama Dablam climb. I'm really happy to have friends who are willing to lend their gear, sponsors who are supporting our trip, and for a fiancee who understands my need to be away for a month for the irrational need to climb a mountain.

MakLakFul Part 2

Romi suggested that we go on a training hike with the members of the Nepal team. The objective, at least for the Ama Dablam group, was to carry a heavy pack to simulate the conditions we would encounter in the Himalayas. He wanted to go to Mt. Daguldol, but I suggested thru-hiking Mt. Makiling instead. Little did I know I would regret that suggestion.

We agreed to bring between 20 to 25 kilograms in our pack. On a normal overnight hike I would be carrying a little over 15 kilos of gear, food and water, so this promised to be a strenuous activity. 

Rockstar-ing in Balagbag

I was planning a "solo" dayhike in Tarak Ridge last Saturday, but instead I found myself lugging a heavy pack up to the helipad of Mt. Balagbag, while the mountain rockstars ran/hiked ahead of me.

with the uncles

[New Book] Charity book drive finds

I chanced upon the book drive organized in our office, and of course I couldn't resist digging around for interesting titles. It was a bit tough, though. The setup was chaotic, and I could feel my inner OCD struggling to get free in order to organize the books. Obviously I had to restrain myself lest earn the wrath of the staff spouses (a.k.a. the organizers). 

Tough as it was to dig through the pile, I still managed to score these two coffeetable books: Doug Scott, Himalayan Climber, and Mike Harding's Footloose in the Himalaya.

Thoughts on Gunung Kinabalu

It's turning out to be a devastating year for mountaineering. After the deadly quake in Nepal that killed thousands of people and scores of mountain climbers, Sabah was shaken by a magnitude 6 tremor, which caused massive rockfalls and landslides in Mt. Kinabalu, killing at least 19 hikers, including several children from Singapore. Hundreds of people were trapped near the summit as the trail down got swept away.

Stranded climbers, awaiting rescue (photo from Zuma Press)

Outdoor Talk

The first thing I think of when someone mentions speaking in public is "Nope!". For most of my life I feared talking in front of people. Just the prospect of seeing them looking back at you makes fills me with embarrassment and dread.

Over time I've learned to cope with this fear and somehow accept that I will find myself in front of people, talking about whatever is assigned to me. Partly because I've had more exposure to it in the past ten years teaching applicants of UPM; and also partly because with age, you care less and less of what people say about you, and more for the need to say what you need to say. So when I was asked to give not just one, but two talks over the weekend, I was not as reluctant as I would have been a decade ago.

Hiking 101 at Lagalag Store, SM City (photo: Lagalag)

Climate Change Climb in Pinagheneralan

One of the supposed "perks" of having the UPM application in the summer is the warm but dry weather conditions. Supposedly none of the wet and miserable times usually experienced during the monsoon. Imagine our surprise when they announced a typhoon was expected to enter around the same time as our climb (just my luck). Betty rolled in and threatened to rain on our weekend.

There was a large group of applicants eager to get to the next stage of their training, so we had to divide the group into three teams (Pinagheneralan, Banahaw de Liliw, and Makiling) to lessen our impact on the mountain. I chose to join the Pinagheneralan team since nobody else knew the trail and how to get the permits.

Team Banayad at Camp 1

Valentines in Bungkol-Baka

San Jose, Tarlac has been very close to the heart of the UP Mountaineers ever since the club help develop the trekking destinations there. Spearheaded by Boboy Francisco, several mountains were opened in the early 2000's, and UPM has since become a regular visitor to this part of Central Luzon.

Happy camper. #UPmountaineers #Tarlac

A photo posted by Dennis Lopez (@dencius) on Feb 14, 2015 at 1:33am PST