DAVAO CITY — The Samar Mountaineering and Outdoor Club, Inc. (SAMOC) achieved on Thursday, February 22, a remarkable feat by conquering Mount Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines.
The adventure began on February 18, with some members traveling by public bus, while others flew in from Manila, all converging on February 19 in Davao City, then early lights off.
By 4AM, of February 20, the team, led by Victor Pol Llana, Rodney Cabrera, Stephany “Tep” Maliper, Jhun Ty, Eric Toleran, and Neil Raz, all from Samar and members of SAMOC, met with other members of the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI), as they rode to the jump off via Kapatagan Trail. Raprap Ortego, a member of Northern Samar Trailblazers, Inc. and an accredited Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) instructor, also joined from Eastern Samar.
Mount Apo, standing at 2,954 meters above sea level in Davao del Sur, is known for its stunning landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and challenging trails.
As they made their way up, surrounded by lush greenery, farm lands and the sounds of nature, the team encountered the trials of the trail, but were rewarded with breathtaking views. They occasionally met several farmers hauling down their farm products mostly vegetables, along the way.
Photos sent to SAMOC Monitoring Admin showed the team navigating diverse terrains, rainforests, and scaling steep slopes.
“The climb up Mount Apo demands stamina, determination, and meticulous planning. However, the gratification of conquering this peak is unparalleled,” remarked a team member during a rest stop at the Big Rock.
After spending a night at Camp 1, the team resumed their trek at 2 AM the next day, reaching the boulders and summit by around 8 AM to enjoy the breathtaking views and sunrise.
“The view was priceless. All our efforts paid off. There were wild berries along the trail going to the summit,” one member narrated.
After hours of rest, taking pictures, and videos, the group descended to Lake Venado for another overnight stay.
The group began their downhill trek, passing the Century Tree, and reached the poblacion by almost nightfall.
The hikers from Samar proceeded early to General Santos City to attend the MFPI 3rd Mindanao Summit scheduled from Feb. 23-25, 2024, which will gather diferrent mountaineering clubs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
This marks the sixth time that the SAMOC TEAM has participated in the National Gathering of MFPI events. “Hopefully soon, we, at Samoc, can also organize a national event and bring local tourists to our province, and promote our adventure tourism sites in Samar,” Eric Toleran, a member of SAMOC, said.
