"MOUNTAINEERING IS not just a sport, it's a lifestyle." Ask any mountaineer to talk about what he or she does, and you'll probably get that reply.

That is why mountaineers will willingly carry heavy packs on their backs, expose themselves to the elements, and trudge up steep ascents to reach a small patch of land hundreds of feet above level ground. There is a natural high that comes with the entire experience; and for many, the climb up is just one part of that high. Meeting different people, working as part of a team, and being one with nature are also part of the long list of simple pleasures that come with the sport, or the lifestyle rather.

A common misconception, however, is that mountaineering is only for the super fit. Any mountaineer will also tell you that this is not true. In fact, one well-known group of mountaineers hopes to dispel that misconception by inviting all those interested to experience that 'natural high'.

Thus, the University of the Philippines Mountaineers (UPM) will once again conduct its popular open-climb program known as Talikasan 2002. This program is open to absolutely anyone, including families with children!

UPM has planned several easy level 1 climbs for the weekend of March 9 to 10 up beautiful mountains such as Mt. Makiling, Los Baños and Mt. Manalmon, San Miguel (for the families with children) as well as Mt. Daguldul, San Juan, Mt. Biak-na-Bato, San Miguel, and Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Mabini, Batangas (for individuals and groups).

Every registered participant will need to undergo a pre-climb to learn some basic mountaineering skills taught by highly qualified UPM members and a post-climb to evaluate the experience and share stories.

For those interested, an orientation will be held on March 3, Sunday, 1 - 4pm at the National Engineering Center (NEC) room 109, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Pre-climb is scheduled for March 5, Tuesday at the NEC room 105, 6:30 pm. For more inquiries and reservations, please contact Jessie Go at 0917-81399305 or at 362-5206 (after 9pm) or Lark Tuaño at 0916-3858402 or at 240-2346 (from 10am to 6pm). You may also email the Talikasan team at ram_mon[at]edsamail[dot]com[dot]ph.

The UP Mountaineers is one of the premier mountaineering organizations in the Philippines today. Founded one day in the 70s by a bunch of UP students who decided to walk all the way up the Antipolo hills after thinking of nothing better to do. UPM was the first mountaineering group in the country to introduce the Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) in its application process aside from institutionalizing the Leave No Trace principle popular among all mountaineering groups today.

In being one with nature along with the opportunity to explore the great outdoors, the UP Mountaineers take pride in living the sport. Climbing, so they say, is not a chance to escape life; rather, they climb so as not to let life escape them.

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