In Memoriam: Registry of climb-related deaths

Starting 2009 and retrospectively, PinoyMountaineer.com will keep track of mountaineering-related deaths as a means of commemorating the lives of our fellow mountaineers and guiding future climbers, drawing from the lessons and circumstances of these accidents.

This page is dedicated to these mountaineers.

1. Anawangin Cove (June 23, 2008) - Jhoana Pimentel and Thaddeus Reantaso, belonging to the AMCI, together with guest climber Joseph Felarca were swept away while crossing a swollen river in Mt. Pundaquit at the height of Typhoon Frank. They were part of a team of 12 that made a recon at Anawangin Cove and were already on the way back when the mishap took place.

2. Mt. Apo (April 5, 2007) - Davao-based mountaineer Ian Caasi of MALMOC, 23, drowned in Lake Venado. There are many different versions of the circumstances surrounding this incident, but the death was probably secondary to hypothermia.

3. Mt. Makiling (February 5, 2005) - Dr. Rimando Pimentel, 49, a dentist belonging to the Philippine Heart Center Mountaineering Club (PHCMC) fell into a 15-meter ravine headfirst, while crossing the Sto. Tomas trail. Prior to his demise, the four-man group had lost track of the trail. Other members of the team claimed that they heard children's voices, which they followed, waylaying them and ultimately leading to Pimentel's demise. They had intended the Makiling climb to be a training for G2.

4. Mt. Halcon (October 30 or 31, 2004) - Prana Escalante, 21, of the UST Mountaineers, did a solo climb in an attempt to follow his groupmates in Mt. Halcon. She was reported as missing and her body was found a week later by native Mangyans.

5. Mt. Romelo (November 5, 2002) - It was a Sunday and there were over 200 campers in Buruwisan Falls but then came Typhoon Seniang, trapping the campers and drowning Harold Reyes of Las Piñas, Edward Lee of Singalong; and Ferdie Eusebio, Ryan Versola, and Rolando Jacob of Pateros, and Jose dela Cruz of Bulacan in Romelo River, in all claiming six lives in what can be called the worst mountaineering accident in Philippine history.

6. Mt. Kanlaon (August 10, 1996) - Without warning, Mt. Kanlaon erupted, killing Noel Trajeco and Neil Perez of Negros Mountaineering Club, Inc. (NMCI) and British medical student Julian Green, 21. They were fatally injured by head wounds from rocks that spewed from the crater. There were 17 other foreigners and several Filipinos who survived the eruption. According to my Kanlaon guide Rey Estelloso, all of them scurried down the mountain amid the 20-minute eruption "I stopped climbing for an entire year. I was in a state of shock," he said.

7. Mt. Halcon (October 25, 1994) - At the height of Typhoon Katring, hypothermia claimed the life of Neptali Lazaro, 25, of San Beda. The exposed and hazardous conditions in Halcon was aggravated by the wind chill brought about by the supertyphoon. Other members of the climb were survivors of hypothermia.

8. Mt. Kanlaon (December 1985) - Local mountaineer Jojo de Oca died in Margaja Valley. Details are not known to us at the moment.

9. Mt. Guiting-Guiting (May 17 or 18, 1985) - Rene Reyes, 22; Abel Beltran, 31; Kit Rivera, 25; and Lorna Partosa, 20 of the UP Mountaineers were found dead beneath a gorge from the ridges between Mayo's Peak and Peak of Deception. They had reached the summit two days prior to the fateful day. Contributory factors include the heavy rains and bad weather brought about by Typhoon Gay.

10. Mt. Mayon (c. early 1970s) - Pioneer hiker Roly Fabro was killed in an accident while climbing the volcano. This can be considered the first recorded mountaineering death in the Philippines. Details are not known to us at the moment.

ANALYSIS
Of these ten incidents, at least four had typhoons as contributory or causative factor. We thus advise mountaineers to avoid climbing during bad weather. Add the incident in Apo of drowning and there could be at least five of these cases that were related to hypothermia (hence the need to understand this condition). Two other cases had trail confusion as a contributory factor. Still, there are unpredictable variables. Many of these mountaineers were experienced. Even at your most prepared moments - a volcano can erupt in front of you. And take note - the worst accident took place in a Difficulty 2/9 mountain. A mountaineer must never underestimate a mountain, have respect for the elements, and most importantly have faith in God.

REFERENCES
If there is dispute in the facts mentioned above, kindly email the blogger at info@pinoymountaineer.com. References for this registry includes newspaper clippings from Philippine Daily Inquirer, SunStar Davao, blog entries of fellow mountaineers, websites of mountaineering clubs, and personal correspondences of the blogger.