“A lot of people are enthusiastic to climb, but the environmental aspect is lost. That’s what we promote in LM, in a sense that you climbed the mountain, but you have to bring down your trash with you,” said LM President Maria Monica Edralin (IV AB DS).
In January, LM gave non-members a chance to experience climbing mountains such as Mt. Makulot and Mt. Batulao in Batangas, and Mt. Pico de Loro in Cavite through “Guideship Open Climb 2009.”
The open climbs are LM’s efforts to promote environmentalism through mountain climbing, and encourage it as a sport for non-mountaineers.
Responsible climbing
During one of the open climbs, participant and non-member Joseph Adrian Capuno (BS Psy ’07) said that he was overwhelmed by the spectacular view of the mountain, and the amount of garbage scattered around the camp site.
“Doon mo makikita yung effect ng mountaineers [who] climb for the thrill of it, but not really for the environment (There you see the effect of mountaineers [who] climb for the thrill of it, but not really for the environment),” he said.
Edralin said that LM members also teach the mountaineers codes and etiquette, such as leaving an established trail in order to prevent damage to the trees.
Capuno also said that they were taught to “leave no trace.” “We’re not supposed to bring anything that we’ll leave there [in the area], and we’re not supposed to bring anything down with us.”
LM Public Relations Officer Desiree May Llanos Dee (III BS Psy) said that beginners tackle level 1 mountains, or those approximately 600 meters high. Experienced LM members guide first-time mountain climbers during the open climbs.
The view from up there
Aside from environmental awareness, the open climbs allow participants to “get a glimpse of what it feels like to climb a mountain,” said Llanos Dee.
“We want to promote mountaineering as a fun and safe sport…[that] it’s an overwhelming feeling,” she added.
Capuno also said that the climb was reflective of the Ateneo’s thrust towards environmentalism, and how LM tries to contribute to it. “I could see on their faces [the mountaineers] how bad they felt when they saw the mountain was like that sa taas (at the peak).”
“If no one attempts to bring down something when they go up, [the trash] will pile up,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Capuno enjoyed his climb to Mt. Makulot. “If you think about it, a climb is actually tiring…But if you go up there and see the view from the top, you realize why people keep coming back.”
LM’s next open climbs are scheduled January 24 to 25, and January 31. The org will be holding LM Week on February 16 to 21.
