Why Am I Doing This Again?

“Bakit nga ba natin ginagawa ‘to?”(“Why are we doing this again?”)

That’s my usual statement whenever I encounter difficult terrains while hiking.

I started gaining interest in hiking the first quarter of 2015. My colleague Gab invited me and my friend Anj to hike Mt Batulao in Batangas one weekend. Gab is a seasoned hiker. He has climbed a number of mountains, and it’s not his first time to hike Mt Batulao. So on the 14th of February 2015, Valentine’s Day (since we are all single that time), we set off to Nasugbu, Batangas. And boy, was I in love!

These are just some of the many reasons why I hike:

1.I am a sucker for outdoor activities.

As much as I want curling up with a good book in the comfort of my bedroom, I also look forward to trips and getaways with friends who also love the outdoor. It’s refreshing for me, especially during that time when I am still spending five days a week confined in corporate office set up.

2. I cannot say no to adventure.

Since I am a sucker for outdoor activities, it’s not hard to assume that I like going on an adventure! There are a lot to discover and I usually surprise myself with the things I learn from these endeavors. Books and the web can supply us with the information we need, but it’s also nice to learn from experiences.

3. Nature-tripping is my kind of detoxification.

Spending most of my days in the metro, encountering heavy traffic, and facing one of my pet peeves — cruising (or rather body-slamming) through a very crowded place, it is such a reprieve for me to stand in the middle of lush green surroundings. I don’t have to worry about inflicting damage to my lungs when I take a deep breath. It’s like laundry day for my lungs. Thanking God for His beautiful creations. I am always in awe whenever I hike.

4. I enjoy meeting people.

Don’t get me wrong when I said previously that I don’t like being in a crowded place. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like interacting with people. In fact, I love meeting people.

I remember hiking Mt Batulao (July 2015) for the second time. While we were descending, my group encountered another group resting. They were playing music while eating their snacks, and I noticed one of the guys was holding a container of ube-flavored wafer stick. It was my first time seeing an ube-flavored “Stick-O”. (I used to think that it only comes in chocolate flavor.)

Me: “Woah! Ube!”

Hiker Guy (extending his hand holding the container): “Here! Go help yourselves.”

Me:“Pwede dalawa?”(Can I get two?”)

Hiker Guy: “Sure! Sure!”

We ate with them while dancing to the music they were playing. It was a brief encounter, but I can still remember how great I felt that moment. It’s the same feeling when we meet people along the way — during ascent and descent — and we greet each other “Good morning and take care.” It’s even better when we encounter other groups and they will invite our group to their next hike destination.

I always feel a sense of community. A genuine one.

5. Hiking makes me human.

Although I’ve climbed a number of mountains, there will always be a point in each and every climb where it seems like the forces of nature are ganging up on me, and I would feel so tired that I would be tempted to tell my hike mates to go on without me, so I can stay where soreness strikes and just wait for them.

Fortunately, I haven’t let myself succumb to that temptation, because just like a friend or a mentor patting my back, hiking reminds me that it’s okay to be still for a while and rest, and that it’s okay to admit that I need help from time to time. I am always grateful to the people I am hiking with (even hikers from other groups), because they are always so supportive. They will offer help like carrying my bag or giving me either water or sweets (sugar for energy).

It reveals how vulnerable and imperfect I am. Every hike is always a humbling experience.

6. Hiking reminds me that my worst enemy is myself.

Aside from the assaults, one of the challenges I encounter while hiking is nature itself. If someone would ask me the best time to hike, I would have a hard time answering that question.

It’s arguably easier to hike when it’s sunny, BUT spending hours under the scorching heat of the sun, not to mention the uphill climb, is never easy breezy. One can get really sweaty, dehydrated, light-headed and dizzy. If the soil is loose, hikers tend to slip and fall on their butt. If one tries to hold on to something for support, like nearby plants or trees, one is lucky if it doesn’t break or snap, or if there are no thorns or bugs.

While it’s difficult to hike when it’s rainy because it’s slippery, muddy, less visibility, and well…wet, it’s actually refreshing. In fact, I enjoy hiking more when it’s raining.

The point is that nature can either be my ally or my foe. It will all depend on how I view these situations presented by nature — opportunities or threats, springboards or roadblocks, adventure or spoiler, etc.

It’s easier to blame others (or things or situations) when everything is not working the way we wanted: it’s too hot; it’s too slippery; too many leeches; too windy; too steep; rocks are too sharp; air is too thin; etc. These are all excuses.

In hiking, I’ve learned that these outside forces are beyond my control, so to be able to get through them, I need to switch my focus from these outside forces to something that I can control — myself. My behavior and reaction towards these external forces will either get me to the summit or get me stuck.

7. Hiking teaches me to appreciate the beauty of trials and difficulties.

The thing about trials and difficulties is that people try to avoid them than face them. There’s a stigma attached to them. I myself am guilty of fantasizing about a problem-free life. That would have been perfect. BUT life is not like that.

Hiking, time and again, reminds me that life is not always about being on top, but rather more on how you get to the top. I mean it feels so great to reach the summit, the best feeling ever, after a very challenging climb. But that is exactly the point. I wouldn’t be feeling so alive and ecstatic if I haven’t gone through a lot of difficulties before reaching that point.

We are broken people living in a broken world. We are not perfect, and that is okay. Everyday we strive to live and fight our way through life. I choose to celebrate my battle scars rather than wasting my time avoiding getting hurt. I choose to confront my mistakes and fears rather than spending time dreaming of having a perfect life. That is not living at all.

So, why am I doing this again?

When I am caught up in my daily tasks and my load seems to get heavier than lighter, I usually ask myself the same question. At times, it looks like a simple question which I can spew a ready answer:“Kailangan eh.”(“I need to.”) or“Ginusto ko ‘to eh.”(“I’ve wanted this.”)

But there are times when the answer is really more than just a matter of need or want. There are times when the answer is a matter of being, of purpose.

“I like the mountains because they make me feel small,’ Jeff says.They help me sort out what’s important in life.” — Mark Obmascik

(Halfway to Heaven: My White-knuckled and Knuckleheaded Quest for the Rocky Mountain High)

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