All at Once (Absinthe Series 6)

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

All at Once

The weather was a bit gloomy today. Kapag titingala ay walang bubungad na araw at puro ulap lang. The clouds weren't that dark and the usual color that I see is a mix of gray and white.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad kasama ang isang guide. Actually, I think I am just the only one who's inexperienced. Pansin ko kasing ang iba ay mukhang sanay na sanay na as if this is just an easy task for them.

We walked further towards the main jump off point. Hindi pa naman masukal ang daan. I have my backpack with me and it's not heavy. Mas magaan ang dala, mas madaling makakaakyat kapag pataas na ang daan. What I have in my bag is just water and some food. Nagdala ako ng towel para sa pawis.

We arrived at the first hut for a stopover. Mga ilang minuto lang naman ang layo nito mula sa pinanggalingan namin. We also rested for a good ten minutes. Then, we proceeded walking until we stopped on the next hut and rested again. On the third hut, the guide told us that ut was the main jump off point. May naghihintay doon sa amin na dalawa pang guide na sa tingin ko ay kaibigan lang ng kasama namin.

"Hello everyone! I am Miguel but you can call me Migz. Sino po iyong first time climber?"

May isang nagtaas ng kamay. Migz acknowledged it and smiled.

"Iyong mga bago lang sa Batulao, sino?"

I think most of us raised our hands. Lima lang naman kami. Kung kasama ang guide kanina ay anim at ngayon kasama na ang dalawa pa kaya walo na kami lahat-lahat.

Migz then told us the trail that we are about to take. Dahil may first timer sa amin, ang sabi ay sa mas madaling trail kami dadaan.

So we took the old trail and I followed behind. Ako ang nahuhuli kasi wala naman akong kasama dahil ang apat na nauna ay sa tingin ko'y magkakaibigan. Kung hindi man, I think they've known each other while waiting for our guide.

Medyo mabilis ang lakad namin. The trail had a climb up, climb down pattern. Parang rollercoaster lang at agad kong naramdaman ang pagod nang makarating kami sa Camp 1. We had to pay for the registration. Hindi na kami nagpahinga at agad rin namang umalis. Those in the registration camp wishes as good luck as we go further.

We arrived at Camp 2 and paid for another registration. Nararamdaman ko na ang pagod sa aking mga binti. My foot was doing good as though it seems like a good decision to wear another set of shoes. Ang nauna ko kasing hiking ay mukhang palpak ang naisuot na sapatos kaya nagkaroon ako ng sugat sa paa. The hiking boots I am wearing right now is a good fit. Nakakaginhawa rin ang aking paa.

"I barely recognized we're at the next camp. Nakakapagod pala!" I heard the first timer talking. Nagtawanan iyong mga katabi niya. The other one glanced at me.

"Hi!" bati nito at kumaway pa. Kumaway din ako pabalik at bumati.

"First time mo sa Batulao, diba? Where's your first climb?"

"Sa Tarlac. ANZAP Twin Falls."

His smile grew wider. "Uy, maganda roon. We actually camp out on our first time. Last year lang."

"Ako din. The twinfalls was a good sight. Maganda rin ang trek."

At iyon nga, nag-usap kaming dalawa habang naglalakad. Binati naman ako ng iilan naming kasama but mostly, the guy, who's name is Lev was the one who entertained me until we reached Camp 3. Mula sa Camp 3 ay tanaw na tanaw na ang peak ng aming hike pero mukhang malayo pa rin. Ilang oras pa siguro bago kami makarating doon. We slowed down our pace when we reached Camp 3. I think the guide was also adapting to ours. Mukha ngang lalagpas pa kami sa oras ng schedule na nakarating na kami dapat sa peak.