What’s in a Backpacker’s Bag?

Mountain climbing may be one of the most interesting sports that we have today. We all have seen pictures of climbers with their big bags on their way to the top of a mountain. You might have seen their enormous bag and wondered what kind of things are inside it. Most of the time, the content of a mountain climber’s bag may vary depending on where they are going and for how long they plan to stay there. Of course, if the plan is to stay just one night – and if the peak is possible to reach for a short period of time only – then it is practical to bring less for the journey.

If you are planning of climbing a mountain, say overnight, then here is a peek on what you should carry inside your very own backpack:

Sleeping bag/blanket and Tent – It is very important that you don’t forget to bring one, as it is where you will lay your tired body during the night.

Water – This is the number one thing that you should prepare. It’s true that you might come across a river or a body of water, but you always have to be sure to have a clean and safe drinking water. Here is a formula that you can follow: Number of days X 2 liters.

Food – Of course, if you have water, you have to have food to last the day. It is advisable to bring cooked food for convenience, or any pre-cooked ones like that of canned goods.

Utensils/Swiss Knife/Can Opener/Flashlight/Etc. – It is essential that you bring utensils for eating, as well as other indispensable items like a can opener and a Swiss knife.  These small things are usually forgotten, but they prove to be very helpful and they can be used to perform various functions during the hike.

First Aid Kit – Every climber has a first aid kit in his or her bag. A first aid kit is complete with medicine, antiseptics and other similar items. It is a kit that is used to cure small wounds and cuts, and sometimes it also serves as a first aid remedy to more serious injuries that a climber gets from the hike.

Clothes and Toiletries – No matter how adventurous you are, you still need a change of clothes and toiletries to clean yourself up at the end of the day. Extra clean clothes and soap are a must, especially if you want to look clean and fresh at the end of the hike.

These are just some of what a mountain climber would call ‘essentials’. The items and the quantity that you need to bring would still vary depending on the hike that you are planning.

Why is the Philippines Ideal for Mountain Climbing?

One of the many activities that anyone can enjoy, especially in the Philippines, is mountain climbing. A lot of people find it very interesting and fun to explore various mountains, regardless of how simple or difficult it could be. There are many local mountains that are greatly popular with many climbers because of varied reasons. Nevertheless, both local and tourists alike find the country to be an ideal location for such activity because of the following reasons:

The Philippines is home to many different types of mountains. In the Philippines, there are a lot of mountains that you can explore wherever you go. From Luzon to Mindanao, you will definitely find a mountain that you’d be interested to climb. Some examples of these include Mt. Pulag in Luzon, Mt. Kanla-on in Visayas and Mt. Apo in Mindanao.

From easy to the most difficult ranges, there are plenty of mountains to choose from depending on your skills and experience.

It is relatively safe if you take all the necessary precautions. The most popular mountains in the Philippines have been explored over and over again by many hikers and climbers. Newer and much safer trails have been discovered or made and used through the years, making it easier for newbies to follow tracks better.  Because mountain hiking is popular in the country, a lot of safety reminders and precautions have been added to safeguard the well-being of every mountain climber.

In addition to this, mountain climbing is considered safe if you would follow all the safety precautions. For example, if you decide to climb a pretty difficult mountain, it is never safe to go alone. You must also make sure that you have all you need and that your mind and body are prepared.

There are a lot of active mountain climbing groups that you can join. With the activity gaining more popularity these days, there are numerous groups out there that aim to help anyone interested in having a wonderful experience by climbing in groups. Most often than not, the organizers of these groups are experienced climbers who can definitely assist in your climbing.

Mountain climbing is one of the best sports or activities that you can try in the Philippines. With the abundance of mountains that you can explore, all you have to do is call your friends, pack your things and just go.

Mountain Climbing Has Tied the Knot with Safety

Mountain climbing is a sport that doesn’t only train your body to be physically fit – it also equips your brain to be mentally robust. In a hazardous environment like mountains, knowing how to tie a knot is very important. Ample knowledge about it coupled with the correct equipment will surely make you safer than knowing nothing at all. Any individual who would like to go hiking should have a basic knowledge of knots and knots system to ensure his or her safety and increase the ability to undertake the adventures that comes along with mountain climbing.

See also: Why do people hike even if it’s dangerous?

It is very tempting to learn as many knots as possible, given the number of knots that can be learned and used in our everyday lives. However, it is very important to take not that it is better to learn and master just a handful of knots which are essential to help us survive in specific situation. 

DECIDE WHICH KNOT TO USE

Tying is a knot should not be done just for the sake of tying or joining ropes together. A good knot should be:

1. Strong – This is probably the first quality that comes to mind when deciding which not to use in certain situations. However, this is not the sole criteria for selecting a knot.
2. Secured – A strong knot doesn’t necessarily mean that a knot is secured. Defining the security of a knot is a critical task. You can be sure that a knot is secured if it has the ability to stay tied even in the toughest situations.
3. Easy to tie, hard to forget – A good knot has an ease for visual inspection. This means that your knot should be quickly recognized by your team if it is tied correctly or not. Furthermore, why should we choose a complicated knot over a simple knot if their purposes are also the same?

IMPORTANT KNOTS THAT MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS SHOULD KNOW

Here, we have listed 5 of the many important knots that mountain climbers should know:

1. Water Knot (Stopper Knot)

·         Used for tying flat webbing to itself or to another piece of webbing.

·         Also used for joining ropes together.

·         A secured knot.

Watch this tutorial on how to tie a Water Knot:

2. Figure Eight Knot (Single Loop Knot)

·         Used as a climber’s harness to the end of a rope.

·         Used for stopping ropes from running out of retaining devices.

·         Generally stronger than a basic Bowline Knot.

Watch this tutorial on how to tie a Figure Eight Knot:

3. Bowline Knot (Single Loop Knot)

·         Also called as the “King of Knots”

·         Used for securing the end of a line around something.

·         Used for making a secured loop at the end of a rope.

Watch this tutorial on how to tie a Bowline Knot:

4. Prusik Knot (Hitches)

·         A life-saver knot in the mountains.

·         Used to get a better grip on another rope.

·         Enables you to ascend a rope or haul up a load.

Watch this tutorial on how to tie a Prusik Knot:

5. Clove Hitch (Hitches)

·         Great to use when it’s under a constant tension.

·         Doesn’t take a lot of rope and can be easily adjusted.

·         Used for connecting rope to anchors.

Watch this tutorial on how to tie Clove Hitch:

For you to be able to survive mountain climbing, it is essential to know these knots. However, tying knots under pressure is a different story. Read this article about a climber who wasn’t able to secure his knots and suffered an unfortunate event.

You don’t expect yourself to be an expert in this skill in just a snap of a finger. Learning to tie a knot will take time – it will surely be difficult in the beginning. All you have to do is practice. Over time, you would know which knots to use for specific situations.

Why do people hike even if it's dangerous?

The ultimate goal in climbing is to reach the summit. One should not climb if reaching the summit is not in his mind. However, before reaching the goal, several adversities will block the trail to the summit. Mountaineering is surely physically exhausting and it’s not a wonder why people question us on why do we still keep doing it. Engaging with the dangers of it doesn’t mean that we want to get rid of ourselves; mountaineering was never a punishment and it will never be. On the contrary, mountain climbing is an achievement. But just like any other victories, successful mountain climbing can only be done after surpassing a number of trials.

Now, going back to the question of why people still climb even if it’s dangerous? Questions like this will only be answered if you, yourself have tried climbing. As to us, we have several reasons why we still climb despite the challenges. To enumerate a few, we still climb because:

1. It’s our stress-reliever. It’s kind of funny that mountain climbing is considered as a stress reliever despite the physical aches that we get during the hike. Howbeit, reaching the summit is a different story. Being close to nature and realizing how small you are will make you realize a lot of things. Being united with nature brings a one of a kind feeling of liberation and serenity.
2. It pushes us to our limits. We think that we know ourselves already. But in mountain climbing, we were able to know ourselves even more. We have discovered that we have a lot more to offer when it comes to bolstering our skills and potentials. There are no two mountains alike. Every hiking is a lesson and every climb is a challenge of working under pressure while being positive and realistic at the same time.
3. It gives a feeling of achievement. The feeling when you have already reached the summit is exceptional. Mountaineering is our way of proving ourselves that we are strong enough to reach a goal. Naturally, people take pride on what they can do that others cannot. The feeling of success is like a state of grace that we would always want to feel.
4. It creates strong friendships. It was said that stressful situations create strong friendships. In mountaineering, you will learn to build trust with your hiking buddies. You have to grasp on the reality that you are independent but you should also be in charge of each other.
5. It makes us feel stronger. There are several preparations that we need to undergo before going into hikes. Our strength and endurance are being tested as well as our way of thinking. Mountaineering makes us feel that we are strong persons and that are one step closer to speaking our goals into existence.

“If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options.
You can climb it and cross to the other side.
You can go around it.
You can dig under it.
You can fly over it.
You can blow it up.
You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there.
You can turn around and go back the way you came.
Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.” 
― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Every hike is like a trail to oblivion. Trail knows that hiking in the Philippines is treacherous. But our mountains, as well as our volcanoes are such beauties that we just could not withstand to not stroke with our own hands. It’s no secret to us that mountain climbing is a dangerous sport. Still and all, we mountain climb simply because it makes us happy.