I want everything portable.
It’s a kiddie camping chair but some kids are heavier than me so I guess it’s okay.
Costs P399 at Ace Hardware. Price doesn’t include Princess, though.
Showing posts with label mountain climbing gears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountain climbing gears. Show all posts
Missing
This is the only thing that’s left of my trekking pole.
I first left that trekking pole inside the Nasugbu-bound bus, forgetting to pick it up when I got off at Evercrest. It was leaning on the window, and good thing the tricycle driver, who was waiting for passengers to take to the jump-off of Mt. Batulao, spotted me on that window. When he saw me out of the bus, he looked at the window again and shouted that I left my pole.
He shouted so loud and repeatedly that I became the center of attention. The bus was already starting to take off but halted upon hearing the shouts, with the driver perhaps thinking that he hit someone or something. LoL!
So I got back inside the bus to get the trekking pole and to thank the tricycle driver for what he did, I hired him to take me to the jump-off and paid him extra.
But the trekking pole was really meant to be lost. On my way down the mountain, I stopped beside a fallen tree to get my poncho because it started drizzling. I leaned the pole beside the tree to put on the poncho, and perhaps because I was so in a hurry to get back to the jump-off before the rain poured hard, I forgot all about the trekking pole.
I only noticed something was missing when I was already near Evercrest and already so far down to go back. If I did go back, it would already be dark by the time I reached that fallen tree, and I didn’t have my headlamp with me. Besides, I passed by a lot of hikers on their way up that time and I was kinda sure the pole wouldn’t be there anymore when I get back.
Up until now, I haven’t told my climb buddy K (who didn’t climb with me that time) that I lost the trekking pole. Would he be mad? He gave it to me as a gift.
Sandugo's New Fly Lacing System
Sandugo has a new line of trail running shoes with Fly Lacing System that provides a dramatic improvement over shoelaces for almost any kind of performance footwear. It was tested with thousands of hours in field use.
Prices:
TRUN 26 – P3,325
TRUN 21 – P2,375
TRUN 32 – P3,395
WATER 13 – P2,495
WATER 08 – P2,125
I want the Water 13A but I just bought a camera and I already made a promise not to buy anything for mountaineering/hobby for the next six months. I hope these don't go out of style by then.
Keychain Poncho
Ponchos are one of my must-brings whenever I go mountain climbing (aside from that Kalisungan climb when I completely forgot to bring one).
I thought I have found the thinnest poncho in the Chinese branded yellow ones available at Ace Hardware for P29.75.
But I found something fancy when I went with my niece to Sportshouse in SM Bicutan last Wednesday.
It's a ball key chain! You can open the ball and there's a poncho inside. Watch my video below.
I didn't unfold the poncho cuz I was afraid I wouldn't be able to fold it back that small. But it's actually just as thin as the yellow poncho from Ace Hardware. You just have to fold it the right way so it can fit the ball.
Just Like a Real Bottle
This Vapur water "bottle" comes in other colors and I don't really know why I chose purple. But, anyway, this water container caught my fancy because I can easily flatten and roll it up once empty. That way, I won't be "displaying" an empty water bottle at the sides of my backpack when going home from a climb.
Despite the 2-liter bladder I recently bought, I still bring water bottles along because 2 liters ain't enough. LoL! A 3-liter bladder is on my to-buy list but I'm still waiting for Sandugo Market! Market! to have one available. I don't feel like buying cheap bladders because I read somewhere that some of them are made of materials that mixes with your water and makes it quite health hazard.
Sandugo's bladders are the cheapest branded bladders I could find, and until they have 3-liter ones available, I'd just use my current bladder and this Vapur foldable bottle.
By the way, Vapur stands like a real bottle when full.
Pocket Eating Utensils
I've always wanted to buy a pocket set of eating utensils. It's a great thing to bring when climbing cuz regular spoon and fork are too long to bring along.
I was tagged on Facebook by a random online seller one time and I found the item so cute I didn't untag myself. I ended up messaging him for the price and was glad to know it was cheap. The seller lives in my area so we just did a meet-up and I saved some money from paying for shipping.
It's a spoon, fork, "knife" with bottle opener combination. So cute. But I'm always careful with the orange case. It's made of cheap plastic and I'm sure it would break in two when dropped.
I actually bought two pieces. My climb buddy K showed interest on the item when he saw it on my Facebook wall that he even asked for its price. I thought he wanted to buy and would pay for the extra piece I bought. I didn't know he found it expensive and didn't wanna buy. I had no choice but to give it to him as a gift.
And yea, orange is cool but I would have picked another color if I had the choice. But anyway, it matches well with my camping stove case.
Orange rules! :)
Product Review: Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove
I'm still a little pumped up from the run I had yesterday. Keeping an active lifestyle is indeed good. But there are some things you need to have to indulge in certain activities.
Like footwear.
I was surprised, though, that the good looks of Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove is just an icing on the cake. The real wonder of the pair is really the comfort one gets when using it. Something I didn't realize when I fitted it at Merrell Concept Store in Market! Market! You really have to take it outside to see how it works.
I first wore it for a test run at the gym. But in case you're wondering, no I don't lift weights. The only machine I use at the gym is the treadmill because I need to improve on my cardio. If others complain of their legs and thighs during climbs, I complain of always being out-of-breath.
Anyway, I wore my Barefoot the first time without socks because I forgot to bring one. And after an hour on the treadmill wearing the pair for the first time, I didn't get any blisters. I also think it's meant to be worn without socks. Barefoot is supposed to make you feel barefoot. And without socks, you can feel the air going through the shoes to your feet. The feeling that first time at the gym was really comfortable... and "breezy."
My Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove was put to extreme test during my Buntot Palos adventure with K last Sunday, July 24. The trail was so muddy due to the previous days' rains. There were also parts where I had no choice but to burry my feet in the mud.
Barefoot felt slippery at first, but I realized later on that it's really not. Because it's not designed like other shoes, you have to develop a specific stride that I found out later on was taught in the Barefoot videos.
When treading on rocks, you can actually bend your toes to help with your balance like you'd do when you have no shoes on. Now that's something you can't do with other pairs.
On river crossing, you don't have to worry about wet shoes because water drains out from the side mesh of the shoes and it dries easily when aired.
There's just a catch with hiking on Barefoot, though. It doesn't provide much foot protection from the top and sides because of the thin and soft materials used. You can't actually use it on climbs with class 9 trail or the likes. It's best used for trail running and day hikes to keep your feet comfortable.
I used my Barefoot again yesterday when I went for a run with K and EJ. And I guess it's the one I'd be using on a fun run we're joining on August 11.
*second photo courtesy of K
Barefoot
Went to Market! Market! with K last Saturday mainly to buy Princess' Solcoceryl. Her right eye got punctured two Saturdays ago when she played with our cat.
We roamed around the mall first, lingering for so long inside Sandugo planning on buying this and that, agreeing that there should be a shop that rents mountaineering stuff (like tents and bags) for people like us who can't afford these branded, high-priced items.
Wanting to experience how Merrells feel, we headed to the brand's concept store. I tried on Waterpro Maipo, Gauley, Ottawa, and the Barefoot Trail Glove.
The Barefoot Trail Glove provides a different feel. It's so comfortable and you can actually feel the air going through the shoes. Walking around in Barefoot doesn't really feel like being barefoot, but of all the shoes I tried, it's the pair that comes close to wearing no shoes at all.
Aside from running, the store rep said I could also use Barefoot to climb (he even pointed the campaign on their shop window that read "walk, run, hike") so I ended up going home with lesser money.
And because we realized we don't always go to Market! Market! and because the shops near us don't have much mountaineering stuff, we went back to Sandugo to finally buy my bladder. I would've bought a 3-liter bladder but since the Sandugo brand only had 2-liter available (and the 3-liter ones were the very expensive Nalgene), I settled for 2 liters.
We went to R.O.X. at High Street to just look around, and almost forgot about Princess' Solcoceryl. LoL! So we had to go back to the mall to buy from Mercury Drug.
Mt. Pulag – Toploading to the Clouds
I love traveling alone, even climbing mountains with just a guide, but I know there are some places I cannot go to alone for two reasons – it's so remote it's not safe to go alone; and it would cost me a fortune if I don't go with a group.
Mt. Pulag in Benguet, Luzon's highest peak, is one of those places. That's why I felt so lucky when the MLQU Stallions Outdoor Club invited me to join them for their Mt. Pulag climb.
It was originally planned for December 2010, but because of the cold weather, it was moved numerous times until it became February 18-20, 2011.
I don't really have the gears, much more for a high-altitude climb. I have a tent, a backpack, some dri-fits, a pair of trekking pants... but nothing to keep me from the extreme cold.
Good thing my sister has a lot of jackets and cold weather stuff that fit me. I borrowed two pairs of pants and two windbreakers to add to my fleece jacket.
I also bought a Trekker sleeping bag (which was useless in the 12°C temperature) and a camping stove from Rebel Grafix Printshop at the Atrium Mall in Gil Puyat.
I thought the sleeping bag would do but I was wrong. It doesn't have synthetic fill the reason why it packs so small. And I always prefer smaller stuff when traveling, but then I should've known better. This sleeping bag just won't do on extreme weather. it's just like having kumot wrapped over you.
The team met at the MLQU grounds 10 PM of February 18, 2011. K and I were a little late cuz we failed to catch the last trip of the LRT. We took a cab but the traffic in Taft Avenue was so heavy that time. It was Friday night.
The Victory Liner ride to Baguio was pleasant. I was mindful to hand carry my jacket this time. I learned my lesson during my Anawangin trip last November (also with the MSOC) when I forgot to take my jacket from my rucksack which was put underneath the bus. It was so cold that I had a cold when we were dropped off.
We arrived at the Victory Liner terminal in Baguio around 4 AM. A jeepney that would take us all the way to the Ranger Station was already waiting. A short stop at the public market to buy supplements also allowed us to roam around the area in semi-darkness. We even saw some PMAers jogging around near Chowking.
It day went on slowly after that. It was an endless jeepney ride before we reached this bunch of karinderia along the road that caters to hikers wanting to dine, use the bathroom, or sing karaoke. A lot of the same big jeepneys were already parked when we arrived.
Me and the kids (read: MSOC's Oscar Batch) just had free coffee cuz we're still full from the pandesal and freshly-cooked peanut butter we had in the jeep.
After that stop, it's already safe to topload. Not safe because the road is smoother, but safe because we're already out of "civilization" and no police would mind a bunch of kids(?) riding on top of the jeep. It was so fun it was actually my idea because I read it somewhere that you should topload to better experience the sceneries of Benguet.
The orientation at the DENR Mt. Pulag Park Office with the park superintendent was so much fun. She was so intellectually funny everyone couldn't stop laughing. She was brisk, straight to the point, and speaks with such a manly firmness in her voice. I was just shy to camcord the whole thing because I didn't wanna get noticed and give her the chance to draw everyone's attention to me. Haha! But here's a shorty from the orientation (just so you'd see how she looks).
After the orientation, we toploaded the jeep again to go to the Ranger Station. The road was so rough and dust were all over the place. I was glad I was on the roof. Dust is more manageable in open air than inside a vehicle.
We reached the Ranger Station by noon and stayed there until about 3:30 PM. Others were able to sleep, while I could only fall asleep in my own house. I should really learn the art of sleeping on public vehicles while traveling, and while sitting on chairs and the likes. I honestly envy those who could.
It was almost dark when we arrived at camp site 2. And once I stopped walking, I immediately felt the cold seeping inside my jacket. K and Ramel, who's using a four-person tent, invited me to just join them instead of pitching my own four-person just for me. But my own tent was still put to good use for there were some who didn't have a tent to use (hello Sir Julius and Sir Aldwyn).
Anyway, it was a tiring day. We couldn't wait for dinner to get ready so we just cooked noodles using my stove. The rest of the kids followed.
As night got deeper, the cold became more unbearable. I had on with me five items of clothing – a Nike dri-fit, a long-sleeved Tommy Hilfiger cotton shirt, a Bench fleece jacket, plus the Lionsdale and Fila jackets I borrowed from my sister. Well, to add to that, I also had on a pair of leggings, the Lionsdale and Fila terno pants, and my Lagalag trekking pants. Syempre there's also the pair of socks, two scarves, and a bonnet. Whew!
But despite those layers of clothing, and curling inside the Trekker sleeping bag, the cold of Mt. Pulag was still making itself felt. It was hard to breathe as you really feel the freezing air going down to your lungs. And since I really couldn't sleep outside the confines of my own home, I just closed my eyes and counted sheep. No really, I just listened to the quiet of the Mt. Pulag night, and the ramblings of one drunk camper not far from our tent. But no, the drunk man wasn't part of our team. Hey, we didn't even bring a single bottle of wine. It could have kept us a little warmer, no?
They woke the Oscar batch up around midnight. It was their graduation climb. And the members did some more deliberation before the kids could finally be a member.
What the kids went through was beyond my knowledge, by the way. They didn't allow me to watch the deliberation in Anawangin last November, and I didn't try my luck that night in Mt. Pulag. I just knew I wouldn't be allowed to watch even if I begged on my knees.
K and Ramel returned to our tent an hour or so after, hungry. We again cooked noodles and Milo and Ramel got the left-over food from the kusina. LoL!
Everyone was called for assembly around 4 AM. It was time for the assault to the summit. Mt. Pulag first timers, myself included, were all excited to witness the famous sea of clouds – a sight described as the most breathtaking in Philippine mountaineering.
It was a little more than an hour of walking before reaching the summit. But once there, one is rewarded with the most beautiful sunrise. It was just hard to take sunrise pictures using a point-and-shoot camera. And it was one of those times I wish I had even the cheapest DSLR.
We were back at the campsite around 8 AM, and it was getting hot. It was time to pack-up after having breakfast. I could imagine how hot it could be at the grassland in the middle of the day.
We were back at the Ranger station by lunch time and back on the road to Baguio City by mid-afternoon. It was already dark when we reached the Victory Liner bus station. Too bad we weren't able to roam around the landmarks of the city. K and I were able to have a Jollibee dinner at SM Baguio, though. We were lucky that the locals we asked directions from said the mall was just near the Victory Liner station. The other kids weren't able to see SM Baguio because they were told it's too far. They ended up having dinner at a karinderia near the station. But I was told the food was cheap, which could have been a good thing sana.
Headlamp
Too excited for tomorrow that after my last dog bite vaccine at RITM this morning, I searched Festival Mall and Star Mall Alabang for a bladder and a headlamp.
Bladder because I thought it's more convenient to put inside the rucksack with the hose on my shoulder for easy access, than to carry water bottles on the mesh pockets.
Headlamp because it's a night trek.
Sadly, I wasn't able to find any of the two, in either malls.
When I got back home, Nanay told me to call Ace Hardware and ask for those.
Luckily, Ace Hardware in SM Bicutan had an Energizer mini-headlamp. It runs on 2 x CR2032 batteries so I bought a pair, not knowing that there was an included battery in the package.
Okay lang, I'll save it for future use, or bring it along for back-up just in case.
I don't have a bladder yet. A friend said I should go to Conquer at Robinson's Pioneer. It's so far.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
