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Together, let's conquer the Grand Father of Philippine Mountains! |
Last January 17, 2013 had the 1st couple guest ( Ms.Romylen Berja Barcena & Jhon Peter Beloy Anduyon) from Manila to climb the summit this year.
Our climb was scheduled for three(3) days but we were able to go down in two(2) days, by pitching our tents at the 87 degrees campsite and experiencing the first sunrise of the year by taking a sort of prenup shoots of the two Lovebirds,,,,,
It was still rainy season on the first week of January, 2013 , but it was not enough to prevent Max and Julie Meerschman (the son and daughter of a Belgian Diplomat to the Philippines) to visit our Majestic Mt. Apo on the 6th and 7th day of that same month.
Here are some of our photos,,,,,,
On January 3, 2013 me and my Mountain Crew had our first guide ship climb to Mt. Apo to bring Nine(9) guests headed by Mark( Englishman) and Treresse (from Ilo-ilo City) Kerry who were based in Dubai together with their Cousin (Angie), nephews (Elian & Paul), and friends(Danny, Jennifer, Tina and Rocky).
During our pre-climb conversation my group was expecting that there were only Two(2) participant that were newbies in mountaineering/trekking experience and needs assistance as per instruction by the guest’s team leader and we made all the preparations starting from the Itinerary and job assignments to make this climb a worthwhile for them.
Unexpectedly,it was on the actual climb that I know that only Two(2) of my guests were experience climbers and the rest were all amateurs in the outdoors.
Successfully, seven(7) of them had reached the summit on the 2nd Day and returned the camp site safely in Tinikaran camp 1 for the rest of the group decided not to proceed to the summit instead they helped my porters maintain the Campsite prepare our dinner and hot drinks upon our arrival.
During this climb I have realized that with strong determination and cooperation, every thing is possible and even Mt. Apo can be conquered and Mark’s group proves it.
Here are some of the photos that I took during this memorable Climb,,,,,,enjoy,,,,
Every year, AMCI Mountaineers ( AMCI) conducts Induction Climb to accept their trainees as Full Pledge members.
This year, the group selected Mt. Apo via Tamayong- Sta. Cruz Trail to be the venue of this annual activity and it was done last October 31-November 4, 2012 under the Leadership of Niel Dagondon as their Club President and backed by his officers and their past President Arnel Gabilan .
This activity was attended by 85 participants of combined aspirants and members of the club and merge with some ten participants in the summit using Kidapawan Trail.
This climb was the biggest number of participants that we brought to the summit of Mt. Apo with some of my 19 guides since 2009 with the same group.
Here are some of the photos I took that shows some of Mt. Apo’s features,,,,,
Complement to the Local Guides from Sitio Sicao of Tamayong, Trimmoc Tribu Chapter (Bolter, Obet , Dan2x and Elvis) , Trimmoc Camoc Chapter ( Von2x, Paulo), Inchik of AMOSS and Roy of Kapatagan . Thank you Guys for making this climb a successful one.
On the 3rd day of October , 2012 had two guest Stephen Zeng and Zhi Zian Li (Wiki) which is my First time to guide Chines mountaineers since 2009 which was not successful. This time both my guests were very fit to do the two day hike and successfully submitted Philippines highest peak. Here are some of their photos,,,,,,
The month of August marks the rainy season in the Philippines, and here in Davao even though protected by the highest mountain in the Philippines(Mt. Apo) typhoon seldom enters the province it still experiences rain specially at night time and mountain climbing at this time has bigger chances that you would be wet.
Luckily, last week (3rd week of August 2012)when I climb with Magnus Olstad Hansen and his wife Queenie Hansen(A couple from Norway) who were my 1st Norwegian guest, we had a good weather enough to take some photos and here it is,,,,,,,
On July 14-15 , 2012, I have the honor to guide Czech Republics Ambassador to the Philippines , JOSEF RYCHTAR a 52 years old veteran mountaineer/alpinist , Geophysicist and Doctor in Natural Science to Mt. Apo the highest point of the country.
This climb was for the memory of a very good friend PAVEL SEDIVY who climbed with me and my crew last year at age 65 ( the oldest foreigner to conquer Apo) using Sta. Cruz Trail who passed away few months ago this year.
On this climb, we used the PNOC-EDC route in Ilomavis, Kidapawan City and it took 6 hours and 40 minutes going up and 6 hours 20 minutes going down giving us enough quality time to commune with nature for the two day hike.
Our experience on this climb proves the will power could defies everything in its path for we were battered by continuous rain form the jump-off site up to the summit on our 1st day but we were blessed by good weather on the 2nd day going down.
Here are some of our photos during this tribute climb ……
Me & Ambassador Josef Rychtar
Following the trail to the PNOC-EDC Nursery
@ the Jump-Off Site with PNOC-EDC’s Chief of Security
Sunrise @ the Peak
This Climb was for the Memory of our Friend
Last June 25-26, 2012, Me and two guests Jeff Tan (a Technical Director) and his sister Georgia( an Event Organizer) both from New York, USA climbed Mt. Apo with a record of Seven and a Half (71/2) Hours from the jump-off area in Baruring to the peak making them the fastest foreign climber that I brought to the summit.
All in all it took us nineteen and a half (19 1/2) to go up and down from jump-off and back for we started our trek at 8:00 AM and back on the same spot by 3:30PM the next day and thanks to my trusted porter Arthur and Moroy for helping the climb a success.
Here are some of the shots I took on that Climb…..
On March 7-9, 2011, I had the chance to guide the oldest foreign climber who summited Mt. Apo using Sta. Cruz Trail. Pavel Sedivy , a 65 year old guy from Czech Republic broke the record of David Walladge (60 years old) from Australia who climb with me February last year.
Pavel on the Way to the Summit
During the first day of our trek Pavel seem to be slow and having a hard time in his pacing but the guy from Czech Republic endure it and have enough strength for the 2nd day (March 8,2011) to conquer the Philippines Highest Summit arriving @ 2:30 PM at Davao Side’s summit which is earlier than I’ve expected.
Trekking the Boulders
Summit of Mt. Apo ( Davao Side) @ 65
On this climb , he was accompanied by his Son Filip Sedivy ( a handsome Guy who looks like Jesus Christ as the locals say )and his girlfriend Catalina Aconstatinesei a Romanian National with exquisite beauty.
During this climb we experienced both sunset and sunrise at its best and the weather was so nice that we enjoyed the majestic view at the summit and experienced the best features of the boulders which Mt. Apo could offer to its visitors. A good way to celebrate a guys 65th B-day which is one of the purpose of this Climb.
Accompanied by Filip & Catalina at the Summit in Kidapawan Side
After the climb the whole group had a good time dip at the hot spring in Lake Agco while remembering the good times we had during that climb and Pavel promised to break his own record after five years as the Oldest Foreigner who conquered Mt. Apo and I would be waiting for that time to come and be part of it.
@ the Highest Point of Mt Apo ( Center Peak)