Aside from muscle pains, what do you get from climbing a mountain?
 
This is a very simple but the most challenging question I've ever encountered as a mountaineer.

While walking to the jeepney terminal in Los Baños, I bumped into an old friend.  She laughed at my big back bag, which was loaded with my food and stuff.  I proudly told her that I was going to climb Mt. Balian with my friends from Buhawi Mountaineering Club.  As she said goodbye, she asked, "Aside from muscle pains, what do you get from climbing a mountain?"  I smiled and answered her with, "A lot. Why don't you join us and see for yourself? Before she turned to leave, she said with a wink, "Just bring them to me!"

She did not know how excited I was to climb again.  Maybe she did not understand.  Maybe because I did not explain it to her very well.  Maybe because I did not tell her what the group wanted to find out.  Yes, the hidden reward that we could get from Mt. Balian, and that was Buntot Palos.

Buntot Palos (or maybe, just maybe "Eel Tail" as I fondly call it.) is one of the lesser-known waterfalls except in the mountaineering community.  That is why it has also been called the Hidden Falls.  Before going further, let me share with you the trek to the hidden place.

It was Saturday afternoon of May 17, 2003.  The sun was blazing down from the brilliant azure sky of summer.  We, 20 Buhawi Mountaineers, started to walk up to the registration area of Mt. Balian, located in Pangil, Laguna.  Even though the registration fee was higher than usual, we could do nothing but pay because, whew! We had no other choice or else, we would just go back home! Okay, fine!  At least there was a spring of fresh water there where we could drink and wash our face.

After five minutes, we started to trudge across the expanse of the muddy road (because it rained the night before) and gradually began to climb.  It was very hot.  There were trees but those were not enough to block the sunlight.  Then a small trail headed into the dense greenery of the mountain.  We continued and the mountain became steeper.  From there, we could see almost the entirety of Laguna de Bay.

It was already dusk when we got to the campsite.  It took us only one and half hours to get there.  We immediately began to put up our tents around the open-air nipa hut, which served as our social function area.  There were only two groups of mountaineers at the place aside from us.

Sharing our dinner on a big fresh banana leaf was really appetizing.   We had almost every can good that you could see in a sari-sari store.  We also had ginisang upo, fried chicken, ensaladang pipino and salted eggs mixed with tomatoes and onion.  What a feast!

The social night came after the dinner feast.  As you may know, we allowed the mosquitoes socialize with us.  After all, the more the merrier! And after all, they were the hosts and we were only their guests.  With the help of off-lotion, we were glad because they did not touch our skin.  But then, we still love the feeling that they were just around.

During the social night, I met some personalities: The "Best Actress" who cried so loud as if she already wanted to go down the stream to see Butatot Palos - Buntot Palos Falls; the "Greatest Magician" who did some tricks (Maybe that's where he got his name! Hehehe!) to entertain us; and the "Magician's Most Avid Fan"' who always volunteered to blow the magician's stuff. (Oops, it was not what you think it was, huh!) 

It was already past midnight when everybody went to sleep.   Then, we woke up at exactly six o'clock in the morning.  After breakfast, we prepared the things and foods that we were going to bring to Buntot Palos.

Everybody was so excited to see the Hidden Falls.  Here I come, I said to myself.  I began to gasp for air as the decline became steeper.  Fortunately, there was a big blue rope leading down to the basin of the waterfalls.   While holding tight on the rope, I breathed the warm, humid air that smelled of a myriad scent from the jungle.  The rush of the waterfalls became louder as we approached the hidden place.  It was the most soothing sound I've ever heard.

When I got down, I looked up into the majestic height above us and turned to survey the encompassing circle surrounding us.  Then I took some pictures and smiled with a sudden pleasure at the admiration I was feeling while looking at the Hidden Falls. 

I trudged carefully to the cascading waterfalls.  It was so relaxing to actually feel the water plunging from the higher part of the mountain down to my body.  I was overwhelmed to watch my friends enjoying the swim in the big, deep and clear water basin while others playfully using the raft to cross it.  (Not to mention the one who imitated Richard Gomez in his Bench commercial.)  Above was the raucous sound of birds calling to one another.  I felt like I was wrapped in a world of peace, beauty and perfect harmony.  There was no sign of civilization and so it reminded me of the song A Place.  I even sang the song while resting on a flat rock near the water basin.

I know a place where no one ever goes.

There's peace and quite, beauty and repose.

It's hidden in the valley, beside the mountain stream.

And lying there beside the stream, I found that I could dream.

Oops! I almost lost track of time because I had unintentionally took a nap.  I just heard somebody calling my name and it forced my thoughts back to what was happening around.  Yes, lunch was ready!

Since everybody was hungry, it took us less than 15 minutes to finish our food.  Our lunch was also a big feast!  

Even though we were still enjoying the place, we had to go back to the campsite a few minutes after lunch to fix our things for home.  On our way to the campsite, we picked up some garbage left by some irresponsible hikers.  Good thing there was one so preoccupied turning some garbage into beautiful souvenirs. (He gave me one. Thanks!) Also, good thing we had a "garbage man" (Hehehe!), whom everyone asked where the garbage bag was and who carried it down to the registration area. (And he is a good cook, too!)

The trek going down the mountain was easier but I had noticed that the west was becoming stained with the gray color of nimbostratus clouds.  Suddenly, it started to rain and I slid because of the muddy trail.  I was a little worried that it might cause me severe muscle pains.  (Fortunately, it was not that painful.)  Then, I remembered my friend who asked, "Aside from muscle pains, what do you get from climbing a mountain?"  Yes, I got muscle pains, and even sunburns and abrasions!  But everything hard I went through was worth it.  I've seen the Hidden Falls, I've gained more friends, I've become fitter (Ows!), I've learned some lessons, I've experienced self-fulfillment and I've seen an example of good leadership (Hi, Sir!).  Moreover, this may sound mushy to you but the climb also taught me to be friendlier to men...I mean to the environment.  Hmmn...It was really a rewarding experience!

So I was still thinking what to give to my friend to prove her I was right.  She wanted me to bring her what I've found in the mountain.  But a mountaineer could take nothing from any mountain but pictures.  (And abandoned garbage, too!)  Yes, only pictures!  Right, I would show her the pictures!  So I showed her the pictures that I took from the mountain a week after I got home.  Even though the pictures were not enough to tell her how splendid the place was, I was glad to see the admiration in her eyes.

Of course that was not the end of the journey for Buhawi Mountaineering Club.  As they say, "a mountain once climbed is just another mountain." So we are all looking forward to discovering the hidden beauty of other mountains because every mountain has its own unique qualities and hidden rewards to offer. It's one of the elements that makes each trek for every Buhawi mountaineer more exciting. (pictures)