RP Mt. Everest team passes test in New Zealand, India

The first Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition team, which is seeking to scale the highest mountain in the world two years from now, made good progress in a training trip in the rugged peaks of New Zealand recently.

Adhering to North Face mountaineering gear’s global campaign "Never Stop Exploring," the team, composed of mountaineers, athletes and adventurers, conducted a 10-day preparatory climb on Mt. Cook National Park.

There, the squad headed by former Transportation and Communications undersecretary Art Valdez, scaled the 8,550-foot Mt. Aylmer and the 27-kilometer long and 3-km. wide Tasman Glacier where they confronted harsh conditions like the rugged, snow-crested landscape and biting cold.

"The technical topography is just perfect for first-time alpine climbers like us because of its rough terrain similar to Mt. Everest, this is where most alpinists usually train," said team coordinator Regie Pablo, who also heads the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines.

"Even Sir Edmund Hillary trained here," he added, referring to the first man who made the ascent to the summit ridge that separates Nepal and China. With the help of Tenzing Norgay, Hillary scaled the 29,035-ft. elevation on May 19, 1953.

Aside from acquiring knowledge in effective anchoring system, rope techniques and creating snow caves, the team also learned to scale Mt. Cook with very minimal equipment, which augurs well for a squad that has no alpine experience.

What is impressive about the team is that it has three female members — Noel Wenceslao, Karina Dayumdon and Janet Belarmino.

Wenceslao, the youngest member at 25 years old, for one, is excited about the prospect of achieving every mountaineer’s dream — conquering Mt. Everest.

"Reaching the peak of Mt. Everest is one of my dreams and I’m really excited about it, kahit talagang napakahirap," said Wenceslao, who recently graduated from the University of the Philippines.

Aside from Valdez, Pablo and the three daring female members, the other team members are 54-year-old Fred Jamili, Butch Sebastian, Jong Narciso, Choi Aquino, Erwin Emata, Johnny Boy Anonuevo, Leo Oracion, Larry Honoridez, Levi Nayangahan, Ariel Ambayec and Dr. Ted Esquera of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Aside from its New Zealand trip, the team also made marathon climbing expeditions in the country and the dreaded 20,000-foot Kiyoning Peak of India where the squad experienced the hardships of high altitude climbing.

"Sa India, lahat ng hirap naranasan namin," said Wenceslao. "Imagine, masakit na ulo ko, di pa kami makahinga, bukod pa iyon sa pa kami masyado nakakain at kulang sa tulog.

"But it’s worth it because we learned a lot from there," she added.