by Gideon Lasco
A Filipino member of the British Mountaineering Council once emailed me to suggest that I change the terminology in PinoyMountaineer.com and Philippine mountaineering in general, saying that mountaineering is more closely related to alpinism and specifically refers to snow and rock climbing. Trekking, he adds, is the more appropriate term for the activity we know in the Philippines as 'mountaineering'. Which is which? And if ever our definition is different from other countries, do we have to abandon our understanding of the term to accommodate?
First, let us definite the terms, using Wikipedia as common denominator:
Mountaineering is the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, backpacking and climbing mountains.
Mountain climbing - the sport of recreation of scaling or hiking up mountains with the specific goal of reaching the summit
Hiking- is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often on hiking trails.
Trekking/Backpacking (in US; tramping, trekking, or bushwalking in other countries)- combines hiking and camping in a single trip. A backpacker hikes into the backcountry to spend one or more nights there, and carries supplies and equipment to satisfy sleeping and eating needs.
Using these definitions, we see no reason to change our terms. The method we do to climb mountains is hiking and camping (that is, backpacking or trekking) and since our objective is usually to reach the summit (mountain climbing) which sometimes involves technical skills such as in Guiting-Guiting (mountaineering), then the terms become a matter of choice. Of course, hiking seems to be the most common denominator -- whether you climb Maculot or Everest, it is universally accepted for you to say that you are going "hiking". This is the reason we style PinoyMountaineer as "Your Guide to Hiking in the Philippines".
We acknowledge, however, than our concept of mountaineering may be closer to the international definition of "trekking" or "hiking". Yet, there are really differences in terminology that are inevitable across cultures and countries. Even the term backpacking, depending on where you are, can mean urban budget travel or wilderness camping.
Moreover, Filipino hikers have begun to become "mountaineers" even in the strictest definition of the term. Our countrymen have scaled Everest and other major summits of the world. Personally, I have experienced mountain climbing in the Japanese Alps.
Amid the plethora of terms used to describe something that doesn't even have to be named, but that which we profoundly enjoy, for whatever reason, we should stick to what we have come to know as our brand of adventure. We are hikers, trekkers, backpackers, mountain climbers and yes, mountaineers in our own beautiful country.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Essay: Mountaineering vs. hiking vs. trekking
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Never heard of this hobby being called "hiking" until I came to U.S. in 1986. To me its always been "mountaineering" especially when I'm in the Phillipines.
wag nyo na baguhin..for SEO purposes..
the seven summits. they were called as such because they are the the highest among the 7 continents. lets say evry1 of the 6 is lower than Mt Apo, and that the 2nd highest is Everest. Porke wala snow sa Apo (owing to geology and location, we're on a tropical region for fukcs sakes!) hinde na ito "alpine", therefore ang umakyat dun hinde mountaineer kundi "hiker" lang... either he is a Filo gone racist or he's just plain stupid. no name callings Sir Gid..just a reaction.. dun na lang cia sa peyups.com magpost. dun madami cia makakasundo. sigurado.
For fat amateur/newbie me who does not have the time and budget to regularly climb mountains let alone hiking or camping, I call it "going outdoors" hehehe :D IMO, proper terminology on this activity/sport/hobby is just splitting hairs. Basta para sa akin, those who more-or-less regularly climb mountains for a hobby (regardless of trail difficulty etc) are mountaineers, and what they do is mountaineering. :)
Hehe parang laki nga galit sa mga taga peyups ah. I agree na we’d still be called MOUNTAINEERS if we scale mountains. BACKPACKERS if we go on a trip with no itinerary and just plain "whatever happens, happens" mantra yung tipong mga nakikihitch ng ride kung kani-kanino tapos nakikitulog sa mga locals hihihi (I belong here). HIKERS are for those who go on trekking, yung mga walk in the park na climbs with minimum difficulty na tipong kahit comfort creatures ay mageenjoy sa paglakad (I think this word is more applicable to non-mountaineers abroad na ala turista sa mababang bundok nila complete with BBQ, giant tents and all). Ergo the term ALPINIST for those who climb mountains with snow. Eto po ang pagkakaintindi ko sa mga terms. And parang ang hirap naman na magclassify pa tayo kung anong itatawag sa sarili natin. Dami na ngang isyu sa mga climbs itself, hehehe. Yaan nyo na lang yon, naturingan pa namang Pinoy parang dinadown kapwa Pinoy.
Akyat lang ng akyat!
BPS
Thanks Gid. Great article! I think you answered the issue both objectively and delicately.
Though in my opinion, these alpinist guys are just being snobs. They wouldn't want us "hikers" polluting their definition of mountaineering, because doing so means lowering their standards - thus admitting more "unworthy" people into their exclusive hardcore club. This will mean less bragging rights for them.
Anyway, just because our mountains don't have ice on top doesn't make them less of a mountain (or that they don't qualify as mountains - as he seems to imply). And just because we never had to use an ice axe to summit does not make us less of a mountaineer. It's the same sport, passion, adventure and sense of accomplishment. And if us Filipinos just had ice mountains OR more money to travel, then we would have gone ahead and scaled those ice peaks as well.
why change the terminologies? they are all the same! will it benefit anybody if we change it? its a nonsense suggestion that doesn't do anything beneficial...
I think pinoy climbers are tougher than most international mountaineers. in fact, climbing Mt Kinabalu would be a breeze to you guys. LOL we don't have the man-made paths/trails made easy to climb nor the facilities for an overnight stay, food and shower.
kudos to pinoy mountaineers! mga tigasin!
try going to wikimapia and i think you'll have a laugh about the mountains and hills in britain and scotland, the so called playground of the British Mountaineering Council. Mahirap pa ata ang Maculot if you compare their highest peak Ben Nevis. words, like people, EVOLVE, so the meaning of mountaineering has also evolved to include the whole gamut of climbing experience, be it tropical or alpine. due to the attitude este, altitude, some climbers do need a little bit of oxygen in their brains. ta ta!
you are very correct about that, why be influence by foreign factors, they feel they know everything in this world. for me filipinos who likes to climb mountains are mountaineers! have you seen their so called english mountains, their just hills compared to ours. i sneer on them bloody bastards!! mabuhay ang filipino maountaineers!!!
I climbed once with a foreign executive of CamelBak Philippines based in Mariveles, Bataan. He is an alipinist from Germany I think, with really great physical attributes. He has the physique just like a marathoner.
We climbed/hiked/trekked Mt. Tarak with camping provisions for an overnight camping. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, sa unang ahon pa lang umiiyak na dahil sa init. I could see how he was really struggling and we had to take frequent breaks for him to cool down.
What I'm trying to say is that maraming factors ang nakakaapekto sa pag-akyat. Hindi porke alpinist ka, panis na sayo ang tropical setting and vice versa, na kung tropical climber ka naman e panis na sayo yung mayelong bundok.
Joel, MMS
Di ba madami na social "climber" sa bundok..
Eh meron bang social "mountaineer" din? Or whats the difference instead.^_^
From past experiences,you need to have a formality trainings to be called 'mountaineers'-sa ayaw mo't sa gusto kailangan talaga 'to!
What are these?
BMC
AMC
LNT Seminar
Rope Handling- pag hindi ka marunong nito mag hike ka nalang habang buhay!
First Aid Seminar
Kapag wala ka ni-isa dito at ikaw ay umaakyat ng bundok - hindi ka Mountaineer isa ka lang PASYALNEER / KALATNEER / MOUNTAINTRASH / FEELING MOUNTAINEER / AT IBA PA!
My opinion is all of this names (climbers/mountaineers/hikers/backpackers/etc..)
just names referring to an outdoor sport,they had all one in common;its an extreme sport..isnt it?
You can say its ur hobby but its a sport that you hobbied.Its an outdoor hobby as u say it.A sport binded with rules and policies.
So u'd feelin this hobby now! Oh my God,it has such policies pala..^_^
For me a Climber/s were those simply enjoy where they climbs by taking sneak of view and non-stop taking pics.
A Hiker/s might say they are the lightest one or low-impact climbers. For they walked just for a whole day only.Gathering some additional infos for the said place.
A Mountaineer/s for me,you add climber+hiker+activist=mountaineers
It doesn't matter if he/she climb Alps,Volcanoes or Mountains.I will call them one.
Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was. -Dag Hammarskjold
Alabok Mountaineers
Great post sir gids!
Lets just ENJOY hiking/climbing/bagpacking etc.. regardless of the terminologies...
besides its not the mountain that we conquer but ourselves.
keep on climbing!
nono
dpm
you call it by any other name...it still have the same face.
It's all about what you want and what you do doesnt harm anyone or anything.
I tried so hard and got so far but in the end it doesn't even matter - Linkin Park
But I totally disagree about this one pardon me sir edge: "kapag wala ni-isa dito at ikaw ay umaakyat nang bundok hindi ka mountaineer."
LAW APPLIES TO ALL OR NON AT ALL but it isn't a law, it's also not a rule.
In every rule there is an exeption.
Sir edge,
Yes, formal training should not be ignored. But we don't have to resort to name calling or demeaning others who just want to have the blessing of scaling these places God has given us.
"Trash" they maybe... but you never know... these "trash" could be the one saving your ass in the future.
Instead of demeaning honest carefree treckers, why not help them be equipped with the tools you say.
Peace
i am glad that my small essay has elicited such comments from you guys. generally i think we are all in agreement that these labels are immaterial, and that we are fully entitled to stick with mountaineering as the commonly accepted term to refer to mountain climbing in the country.
we have to strike a balance between forging for ourselves a sense of pride as filipino mountaineers and allowing outdoor recreation to be an inclusive, not exclusive, activity. there should be no prejudice between experienced and novice, foreign or filipino, affiliated or freelancer, etc...after all mountain climbing is one activity where we can experience equality and camaraderie.
in the past two years we are seeing more and more people getting interested in climbing mountains. mountaineering in the philippines is growing and we hope that this will encourage more expeditions in the philippines and abroad; as well as greater awareness about environmental issues.
I wasn't de-grading anyone,for I was once become a "trash" to our environment.I didn't realize also that this place is not my place nor anyone's place except someone who takes care of it.
If u'd feelin me dude,u should know what i meant,for calling these people MountainTrash or same way..
Everyone has its own personality and attitudes.If this "trash" wud be the one saving my ass,then my deep gratitude to him.If it saying offering my life wud do.But the fact i called him trash doesnt change that,instead a friend.Its like saying to ur friend ur trash pare..
But welcome to the real world,its like swimming in a pool but not denoted as a 'swimmer' or climbing a mountain but not a mountaineer...
One can climb in a rubber shoes or slippers,in a belt bag or knapsacks,in a polo shirt or long sleeves,in a jersey or court shorts...have u ask them in what group/club they are..malamang ung iba sa inio dedma sa porma nila or katawa-tawa instead.
You tell me dude how wud u help or educate these "carefree trekkers" somehow.
No one in this world is a Mountaineer,UNLESS your part of it. You are part of Anonymous instead...
Mountaineering doesn't start 2 years ago or 10 years ago.It begins long before humanity learned...
Sir Gid,thanks for the topic also..
The site was very informative and equality in a way that all mountaineers out there are openly express their opinions also..
Keep Up!
In Peace!^_^
useless ang trainings and seminars kung d nmn nagagamit. respeto lng sa kalikasan.un lng un.
Please be reminded the trainings and/or seminars are not meant to be USELESS...It is US that we USE this LESS..^_^
Tama k Sir(tikoy),respeto ang kailangan,gabay lng ang karunungan...
hapi climb!
hmmm,
maybe sir edge has a point.. nakakabagabag kasi pag nakakakita ng "trashed" na bundok or any other place..
how about groups na nagsi-celebrate ng anniversaries sa mga bundok na me dalang katakot-takot na alak?
regards,
Joel, MMS
A Filipino member of the British Mountaineering Council:
Pls advise this Filipino - wag masyado stricto sa mga terminology. Afterall, di nga natin ma-ituwid ang ating kasaysayan. Bago nya itama ang term mountaineering, itama muna nya ang ating kasaysayan - na dapat di tayo nadescover ng mga spaniards - hindi si Magellan na namatay almost 2 months after reaching not even 1/4th of the Philippine territory. Kung may problema sya sa term na MOUNTAINEERING problemahin muna nya kung bakit sya tinawag na Filipino. Bobo sya!
A Filipino member of the British Mountaineering Council.
Natatawa ako d2 sa Filipino na 'to. Mountaineering? "refers to snow and rock climbing". Okay! granting that this is the right term. Ano pala ang tawag sa mga naka-summit ng Mt. Mayon, G2 & Halcon? Are they just hikers? Maybe volcano hikers, G2 hikers, Halcon hikers...si Garduce, Emata atbp. mga everest hikers din.
To This Filipino: Patawad brod, I just can't understand your point. isa akong Indio - in simple term isang katutubong taga archepelagong pilit maangkin ng mga dayuhan.
Sa dakilang Filipino na 'to - umuwi ka muna kaibigan at alamin mo muna ang kasaysayan ng iyong bayan bago ka magpakadalubhasa sa mga mountaineering terminology.
gumagalang,
-Indio-
Amid the plethora of terms used to describe something that doesn't even have to be named, but that which we profoundly enjoy, for whatever reason, we should stick to what we have come to know as our brand of adventure. We are hikers, trekkers, backpackers, mountain climbers and yes, mountaineers in our own beautiful country.
--- very well said, sir gid. i hear that you're leaving the phils soon (??) but i hope u dont abandon pinoymountaineer.
Congrats Sir Gid, as i read the comment on this short essay it means na marami talagang pumapasok sa PM site , Salamat po sa mga educational and helpful comment ng bawat isa as we go along any verse we read and write and mountain we climb let always put in mind ginagawa natin ang bagay na gusto natin at sana sabayan narin natin ng pag protekta sa kalikasan at alagaan ang kalikasan , kahit ano pa ang tawag highker / mountaineers / beacheneering / . let always put in our mind na hindi na po pabalik ang panahon ni adan at eve . rehabilitasyun na ang kailangan ng AMANG KALIKASAN . Move as one , Climb as One , help mother nature as One .
..from a good friend, outdoor addict and mentor NUR - " a pagiging mountaineer ay hindi nasusukat sa dami, taas at technicality ng mga bundok na naakyat mo; eto ay nasusukat sa dami ng mga bagay na natututunan natin everytime umaakyat tayo ng bundok"...peace and blessings to everyone...
--- sakto lang
filipinobritish and edge the mountaineers mabuti pa kay hatton na lang kayo maki-pagusap, malamang gising na yon. email nyo ko sa moderndaymakapili@yeahright.mo/syin na mga yan.
tnx gilbert i luv u pacman!
to edge
yes bmc amc etc is very important but it doesnt mean that those people who didnt have those formal trainings should be labeled as PASYALNEER / KALATNEER / MOUNTAINTRASHkck who are you to create such label anyway? BMC amc etc can be found anywhere in the internet posted by some groups. although this training are important . u can acquire dn nmn all of this handson wid the help of those people na batikan na or hardcore. Edge ur not so different from that member of the british montaineering council, ur as a snob as he is. and i like wat sir neil said i think for u nkakabawas lng sa bragging ryts mo. what important is take it seriously know what u r getting into. and always remember never under estimate any mountain. - belle
@edge: im sorry i accidentally deleted your latest comment.
without name calling and personal attacks, i think we are agreed that it is important to practice responsible mountaineering. whether or not you believe in the need for BMCs is a matter of personal preference and we ought to be non-judgmental about the way people want to climb AS LONG AS THEY PRACTICE THE FUNDAMENTALS such as not polluting the trails and not comprising the team or other climbers by irresponsible acts.
my essay was meant to foster unity in the sense that we are all mountaineers here, regardless of the terminology that is used. in fact, my essay was meant to negate the value of terminology.
going back to edge, i dont think he meant any harm in his comment -- he has been one of the most frequent commenters in the site and he has been very helpful in providing useful comments in some of my posts. as the last words in this issue, i'd like to encourage everyone to phrase your comments in a way that won't be misunderstood by other readers. take note that we receive around 1000 visits daily and some of them may have an opinion that contradicts yours. this is all healthy but misunderstandings can be avoided if we choose our words carefully D:
@johnmiranda: im not leaving the phils soon :D
no problem sir Gid,and thank you for understanding also.I'd rather accept correcting me than to be judged by any behaviour of such topic.After all I'm just a simple samaritan here.
A saying say's
"The best remedy for those who are afraid,lonely or unhappy is to go outside,somewhere where they can be quiet,alone w/ the heavens,nature & God.
Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be & that God wishes to see people happy,amidst the simple beauty of nature.I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles." AF
more power PM!
-end
maiba lang po ako ng question. kung isasalin po sa tagalog ang mga salitang ito, ano ang pinaka angkop na tawag sa mga sumusunod:
Mountaineering-
Hiking-
Trekking-
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