Backtrack # 01: GINGOOG CLIMB (May 2006)

The climb was dubbed as Summer Fiesta Climb to Balatukan Range (also called as Yogad’s Peak in tribute to a mountaineer named Yogad). This climb was facilitated by KAPLAG, a local mountaineering group based in Gingoog City. The mountain is nestled within a forest area of Gingoog and has been considered the collest place in the city.

The trek going to the peak’s campsite lasted for 5 hours. Although a minor climb at that, Balatukan also offers steep slopes along the way. One thing I can’t forget about this climb was that while trekking we were all drunk, painstakingly enduring that trivial track before the summit with alcohol spirit still hanging tough in our respective bodies. Its really very hard climbing while drinking, or the other way around.

My companions during that climb were Papong and Chickay. We were warmly acomodated by our KAPLAG friends in Gingoog and some friends from Butuan Patrick, Sato and Joyjie.

Backtrack is a portion of this blog featuring unposted climbs of LOGSAC from way back.

Press Release 01-11 (The Nautilus): OUR PULAG CLIMB

LOGSAC participates MFSM Founding Anniversary 2011

Mangrove planting, advocacy forum on climate change, team-building, on-the-spot photo competition, mountaineers fellowship night, reggae party; these are the events underscoring the 7th Foundation Anniversary of the Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao, Inc. dubbed as “Mula sa Puso Alay sa Kalikasan,” held at the newly-established Seagrass Resort, Barangay San Agustin, Peñaplata, Island Garden City of Samal on February 19-20, 2011.

Joining the event are mountaineers all over region XI and some groups coming from region X and XII. The main objectives of the event were to instill into the hearts and minds of mountaineers the ethics and practice of responsible mountaineering and to fortify the camaraderie and friendship of the so-called “mountain people”.

Ms. Marigellanie Arguillas, Ecosystems Management Specialist of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XI was the resource speaker during the Advocacy Forum on Climate Change which was conducted on the first day. Updates regarding Mt. Apo mountaineering guidelines and policies was also presented by Mr. Leonilo Rivera, the Office Chief of DENR’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Division PAWD).

The event was also attended by Supervising Tourism Operations Officer of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Ms. Eden David who reiterated support to the federation. The crafting of MFSM was actually DOT’s brainchild.

Our club LOGSAC was part of the delegation being the committee in-charge of the Climate Change Forum. There were twenty (20) regular club members who joined the activity and eleven (11) neophyte members.It was actually our 4th Founding Anniversary and we spent it congruent to MFSM's foundation.

“MFSM would like to thank all participating clubs for all the support which eventually made this event successful,” said Engr. Albert Gabriel, MFSM’s present president.

First LOGSAC to climb Malaysia’s Mt. Kinabalu

Following a series of local climbs in the Philippines last year and early this year, LOGSAC pioneering member Papong (Danrev Broñola) successfully scaled Mt. Kinabalu – Malaysia’s highest mountain with an elevation of 4,095 masl last February 13-16, 2011. Once again, the climb is made possible through our very generous friend and extreme mountaineer herself MOTHER THERESA OF MOUNTAINEERING who was also part of that epic expedition.

Standing tall among all mountains in Southeast Asia, Mt. Kinabalu is also one of the most sought-after summits and premiere hiking destinations in Asia. According to Papong, their trekking lasted for 15 hours and their ascend to the summit started at a very early and chilly 2:00 AM dawn.

“The lowest temperature we recorded was 2.8 degrees celcius. Nonetheless, it was worth the price. We have witnessed Malaysia’s very alluring sceneries when we were on top of the mountain. The panoramic view is extremely beautiful,” Papong pointed out.

The attempt to climb this mountain has already been preferred even before we completed scaling the top three mountains in the Philippines (Apo, Dulang-Dulang and Pulag). It was only realized then when Lady Theresa started gapping a smile of her face to our young adventure club (hehehe).

“Congrats Papong, we are proud of you,” said LOGSAC Vice President Jonas. “Kahit hindi kami nakasama but we also felt we were up there with you, especially when you showed that LOGSAC t-shirt in the summit despite the very cold weather”.