Ten Things You'll Learn as a Climber

So you've climbed numerous mountains now. Or maybe just your first. But regardless of the number of peaks you had conquered, we all learned a thing or two on our adventures.

This is the list of top ten things you'll learn as you start climbing mountains.

1. How to Save Money

Do you remember the time before your climbing days, that you always end up short in funds by the end of the month? Or if you make a comparison of your salary or wage then and now, you find that there is no substantial increase in your income yet you can now afford to go to different places without actually getting as broke as before. 

The answer to that lies in your climbs. While others may argue that climbing will cost you more money, in reality, it will channel your funds into something more meaningful. You'll learn to scrimp on coffees, fast food, and gadgets now that you have something more important to spend on.

So save up for that cool vacation that you well deserve.

2. SMALL THINGS Make Big Differences

How important are minor details to your climb? It is more important than you think. I learned as a climber that small things can cause you a lot of inconvenience when you are up there. 

I can still remember when we climbed Mt. Pulag the very first time. We were confident on how prepared we were, only to find out that the lightning cord for our powerbank was defective. We were not able to document our climb to the summit since our phones ran out of juice. 

In my campsite experience, there are lots of times that I saw and heard campers with awesome tents, butane stove, hammocks, drones, and so many other cool stuff, only to find out that they forgot to bring spoons and forks, or a garbage bag. 

Remember, small things matter.

3. Being Prepared

It goes without saying that a climber must always BE prepared: physically, financially, and mentally. 

I hate to say this but there are still too many people going to the mountains, so ill-prepared that they may hurt themselves and the people around them. I once saw a girl who went to an extended day climb without any food and too little water with her. According to her, she was told that  the mountain is for beginners and the rest was history. Or this team that we met in Mt. Talamitam that spent the night at the summit without food and tent. Most of them were weaken by hunger and exposure to cold. Fortunately, other climbers and guides came to their aid.

As a climber, the sense of preparedness must be ingrained in your personality, be it outdoors or not. 

4. Being Health Conscious

This one is very important. The mountains require you to be in decent shape if you want to enjoy the climb. You don't have to be a gym rat or a hardcore cross fitter, but you must be able to take care of yourself and your belongings. We once shared a trail with a girl who bragged about how easy this particular hike would be but ended up as another baggage since the guides had to carry her alternately on their backs.

If you always need someone to carry you down the mountain, then probably you are not in the right place yet. Fret not, because you'll get there eventually, if you prepare yourself properly.

RUN. SWIM. RIDE A BIKE.

5. Spend on Quality

On my first climb, I bought this YIXI outdoor sandals at the nearby wet and dry market for only P150. And this gave me countless moments of discomfort and fear. First, it didn't really hold onto the ground. It gave me micro heart attacks every time my foot slipped a bit on the steep slopes of Mt. Batulao. Second, it didn't have a decent strap to keep my feet in place. 

In climbing, like in any other sports, you really have to shell out hundreds or even thousands to buy equipment. And since you're already spending, we suggest that you buy something of good quality. Buying quality equipment will eventually save you lots of money in the long run, instead of buying cheap but easy-to-break items. You can consider each purchase as an investment. I still have my sandals that I bought years before and it continues to serve its purpose. 

Do you have to buy all the most expensive brand to ensure the highest quality? I cannot answer that question since I am yet to own all the products, both cheap and expensive, to test and compare them myself. But one thing is for sure, if you do your research correctly, then you can find durable but economical products in the market. They are out there. You just have to do your assignment. 

P.S. BUY LOCAL PRODUCTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

6. Being Decisive and Intuitive

There is a heavy downpour and you are just from the jump-off point. Are you going to continue climbing or stay put until it passes? The sun has already set, should you continue going to the campsite or pitch an emergency camp right now? 

One of the life skills that you will learn as you go on climbing is the ability to think on your feet. As covered in the previous number, being self-sufficient also means being able to decide for yourself or your team. There will be times that you will be faced with a situation where you have to step up and call the big shot. 

Most of the time, you will not have the privilege of having all the information and advice that you may base your decisions. Sometimes, all you have is your intuition or gut feel to assess the situation despite the scarcity of facts at hand.

However, can you really trust your gut feel? Well, intuition is a skill so in order to be useful, you have to practice it. How can you practice it? By exposing yourselves in many experiences in which you can practice fast decision-making. 

7. Resourcefulness

A climber can live off the land. He or she can and will make do of what is available at hand. The outdoors will give you too many unexpected things that you have to draw out from your reserve of creativity to answer them all. 

No poncho or raincoat? How 'bout a garbage bag? A can of plain century tuna can help you if you forgot to bring a cooking oil . Put your shampoo, facial wash and other liquids inside a drinking straw then seal it with fire to make them lighter. No butane stove? All you need is a tin can and an alcohol. 

Always remember that solutions to all our problems are just there in the fringes of our creativity. 

8. It is All about the Journey

If you're given a chance to ride a helicopter to all the summits of the Philippines, are you going to take it? 

One thing I've learned is that the summit is not everything when it comes to climbing. It's all about the process. Why do we feel accomplished whenever we reached the summit? It is because of the hardship attributed to the process of going up there. Without the experience of climbing up, how can we appreciate being on top? 

Your experience as a climber will never be completed without the hardship of the ascent and the pain of descent. Climbing is like a movie and the summit is the climax. You will never understand and appreciate the movie by just jumping to the climax.

9. Experience is Everything

As a climber, you will learn that the most precious things in life are not the things that we own but what we experience. This is not really a news but it has to be reiterated all the time. We tend to be distracted while we are in the rat race. That's why it is important for us to disconnect from our unappreciative world from time to time. 

Sometimes we can only appreciate the majesty of the sunrise, the elegance of the stars, the awesomeness of the sea of clouds, the warmth of companionship by going out there in the mountains. To sum it up, it is the experience of being alive. 

If you want to be really alive, then you have to go out there. 

10. You Lose Some, You Win Some

As you go on this lifestyle, there will be things that you will be leaving behind and also things you will bring with you on your journey. You could lose old habits, hobbies that you used to like, priorities that are no longer aligned with your goals, or even friends that can no longer catch up with your lifestyle. We all have the problem of scarcity. The scarcity of time, of resources, of attention,- and even love. We just cannot spread our selves in all direction. 

I used to spend a considerable amount of cash for in-game purchases. But since I've started climbing, I have to scrimp on that to save for my expeditions despite the fact that I really love playing video games. Like me, you could also be put into that kind of situation that you have to give up something to pursue the other. 

Now the biggest question here is, are you willing to give up something for the joy of climbing? 

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comment. We would really appreciate it.