2022-011 | FINDING "FORRESTER"

OUTDOORS COMMON SENSE TIPS: When you have 50 sets of hiking shoes using the same trail, you need to isolate, at least one print of a certain shoe, so you could have an idea where the owner is going.

I just love this moment. Keeps your mind sharp.

 

First seen in Facebook

November 18, 2018

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

GENUINE OUTDOORSMANSHIP IS A collection of skills, crafts and common sense that may bring about a semblance of understanding nature better but it demands more than a thousand days and nights outdoors. A big chunk of that is learning for more knowledge which he or she initiate on their own lonesome self. 

The true gentleman or lady of the outdoors spends most of his/her time alone. He or she prefers no distractions so he/she could focus on all the skills and knowledge that was fed into him/her through the years and apply it where it is most applicable. One of the skills which gave him/her sheer satisfaction is tracking. It is a special skill that cannot be learned overnight or a decade of watching YouTube.

Tracking is neither good nor bad but it is as old as time. Tracking demands space, time and isolation. Tracking is very discriminating. The tracker disregards the rest when he/she finds what he/she is looking for and hugged that trace until the very end. On a well-trodden trail or on a well-paved path it is a nightmare but patience and common sense would win him/her over. 

Tracking both human and wildlife is easiest in the dead of winter or where there is still snow; on muddy places or on moist patches of dirt; on hardened crust of silt above a sandy floor like deserts and dry riverbeds; and on very tight places. Tracking the most deceptive wildlife is easier than trailing a human who thinks. 

One of the best cerebral exercise is to identify a footprint from a set of 25-50 footprints passing on a very well-used trail on a weekend. Isolate this imprint and familiarize the lugs and identify the make. Remember, one single print could have many owners. Measure the length with a stick as well as its width. Notice the depth of the print which would give you an idea as either a male or a female. Then the depth might also tell you of the load the owner carried.

Measure the stride if you can see another same print ahead which could tell you further if the owner is indeed male or female. The length of stride could also tell you more about the height of the owner and the pace he or she exacts. It would not be easy to spot a clean print with so many people using the same trail which could easily contaminate your specimen.  

When you do catch up with the hikers, make a comparison with each individual you see. Use the “theory of deduction” to save time until you believed your “quarry” is found. Looks could be deceiving. Be very sure since that specimen print you zeroed could have many owners. When you found correctly what you have been trailing for so long, relish on your success and reward yourself with an ice-cold bottle of beer!  

Anybody can be an outdoorsman and it is not a big thing but the there is an invisible line that defines a true gentleman or the lady of the outdoors from a somebody. The latter has their own set of culture, dress code and crowd while the former does not care, yet they would know those of his or her kind upon first impression and of those who could never be his/her own. 

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.

2022-006 | MOBILE PHONES & THE OUTDOORS

WISDOM TRAILS: The backcountry and your electronic gadgets do not mix. You cannot have both.

First seen in Facebook

November 19, 2018

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

MOBILE PHONES PER SE are not distasteful to have and carry with in an outdoor outing. In fact, it is your lifeline for help when your trip turns out bad, given you can catch a good signal. It is just unthinkable to spend time with it oblivious of the natural beauty of the landscape evolving around you which everyone are relishing.

While it is rude to see people tinkering on their phones when someone is talking to them as an audience, it is just as rude on yourself to shortchange your time in the outdoors by willful and compulsive use of your phone or like gadgets. Freedom of the hills simply forgot about the topic on mobile phones. 

I know MOST of us are beholden to our cellular phones in all of our waking hours. Phones, because of its numerous apps, evolved as our own personal assistant. Without it, some would feel listless and helpless in how they make their day enjoyable. It is beginning to be a very obnoxious habit which you have little control of. Sometimes. 

But it can be controlled unlike cigarettes, alcoholic drinks and prohibited drugs where substance is inhaled, induced or injected into our body system that influenced our thoughts and moods. Battery life makes a habitual phone user shrink from continuous use. Absence of cellular connections makes them surrender to that situation.

There are no withdrawal syndromes experienced. No uncontrollable shakes. Just a feeling of anxiety and disorientation for a few minutes before one diverts his attention to his surroundings, unresponsive at first, but not for long. It is just a manageable psychological thing and a temporary emotional hang-up. 

There are places where your mobile phone is enjoyable and there are places where it is not needed and, therefore, kept in silent mode, unless you are expecting a call or a message. By the time you are finished, hopefully, it would not dominate your attention. Chuck it back in a safe place and enjoy nature with much vigor. 

One thing about using electronic devices in mountain environments is you may increase the risk of being in the way of lightning. The elevated areas has a climate of its own which usually differs from the usual weather forecasts. When the first sign of lightning appear, turn off gadgets and go indoors if there are structures. If not, stay away from highest trees and long conductors. 

The first photo shows a plastic box full of mobile phones. It belonged to students in a Girl Scout camp organized by Ateneo de Cebu Girl Scout Council of the Philippines. It simply is good common sense to separate these from its owners when you are in an outdoors activity or otherwise. It is teaching the adolescents discipline and prudence.

It seems the new values triggered by the arrival of the new versions of mobile phones – smart phones as they are called – have subverted the accepted human values on social etiquettes and behavior. Too much dependence on gadgets is frowned upon by society and use has to be regulated and the first place to learn that is the home. 

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.

Photo Nr 2 grabbed from Bicycling.com.

2022-004 | RESTING ALONG A TRAIL

OUTDOORS COMMON SENSE TIPS: When you are somewhat tired, do not sit. Just lean over forward, grasping pants with both hands and let the weight of upper body and bag transfer to your arms and lower legs, thereby relieving the middle torso and upper legs of the load. 

First seen in Facebook

October 2, 2018 

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

This is a technique I learned 29 years ago from the late Dr. Abraham Manlawe when I was with the Cebu Mountaineering Society. In the early ‘90s, I tried to fit in to that sport, hefting 70-liter bags from trailheads to the campsites and to the trail’s end. We practically carried the whole house and it was heavy.

Jump-off areas to the camps were very far back then, unlike now, where you only have to walk a few hours. Back then, you have to walk from a day to three days to your campsite, depending. If the peak is three days away, first day would be easy since you are still fresh but, by afternoon, you would feel the toils of carrying the weight from behind you.

On the second day and third day, although food and fuel are taken from your bag’s weight, it is still heavy. It would be much heavy if it rained, drenching your old canvass-cloth bag. At this time where frequent rests are needed, I have to execute this rest position. It is so simple and there is economy of movement.   

You only need little strength to stand erect again as against sitting from the ground up even without a load or from a seat with a load on your back. Besides, you have control of the mind which signals your whole body to fits of drowsiness (laziness?) when it finds something comfortable like sitting down under a shade. 

I also discovered that with this position, your lungs could inhale more air than standing erect or an upper body in vertical position since there is no tension of muscles to hold your lungs. It is like you are lying down. Your ribs would not get in the way as you inhale extra amounts of oxygen which your circulation system direly need in stressful moments to supply your brains.

This rest technique is much relevant than ever when I guide paying hikers over each segment of the Cebu Highlands Trail, which has eight, or leading pilgrims over Cebu’s Camino de Santiago. These are long trails. The latter is 175+ kilometers long and walked in ten days. Some of these pilgrims are non-athletic and this technique applies perfectly on them. 

When I did the first thruhike of the former, I walked it 26 days with extra three days’ rest. It was 408+ kilometers and you could just imagine the length and breadth I walked. It was on this moment, as were the guided walks after that, which I used effectively for my own benefit, especially at its most unforgiving stretches. It is easy to teach people about this and it helped to my cause while leading people.

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.

Photo Nr 1 courtesy of Apol Antenor.

Photo Nr 4 courtesy of Boblyle Balverde.

Photo Nr 5 courtesy of Raymund Panganiban.

2021-048 | OUTDOORS SAFETY & CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

OUTDOORS COMMON SENSE TIPS: Respect our Local Communities.

First seen in Facebook

August 7, 2018 

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

I AM REPOSTING VERBATIM an article by ADRENALINE ROMANCE about cultural sensitivity, which the blog attribute to expedition and wilderness emergency services physician, Dr. Ted Esguerra, and adventure guru, Ramon “Jay Z” Jorge. Read and overcome your short attention span and learn from these experienced travelers.

THE DO’S 

1. Study the place, its culture, and political and economic setup where you will pass by or immerse.

2. Be courteous to anyone you meet along the trail.

3. Upon arrival, signify the intention of your visit to the chieftain, elder, tribal council, or barangay captain of the community.

4. Stay in one place where you can be seen by the majority of the community members or elders.

5. If you intend to hire porters/beasts of burden, deal only with the community coordinator.

6. Accept food offerings of the community with expressions of gratitude.

7. Ask permission to any community member when doing/asking something (e.g. ask to fetch water in a well).

8. Treat mountains, caves, rivers, etc. as sacred places. Most of the resident tribal communities consider these places as gods, havens of the gods, or holy grounds.

9. Join community gatherings, activities, and celebrations only if invited to do so.

10. If you are invited to teach, teach only what can be appreciated by the community.

11. Respond appropriately to friendly gestures.

12. Respect their beliefs and superstitions.

13. Observe silence. These folks enjoy the tranquility and peace of their environment.

THE DONT’S 

1. Don’t drink alcohol, take drugs, or make revelries in tribal areas. This is common sense, but you’ll be surprised as to how many visitors would do this.

2. Don’t expect luxuries. Accept and appreciate what they have.

3. Don’t ask for anything. The problem with social climbers/trekkers is that they ask for conveniences—their conveniences.

4. Don’t be boisterous, arrogant, vulgar, or rude. Be polite.

5. Don’t wear indecent or offensive clothes.

6. Don’t show off gadgets, cell phones, jewelry, or other items that are alien to the community.

7. Don’t do these things without asking permission first:

    ~ taking photos

    ~ approach women, children, and old people

    ~ visiting ritual sites and burial grounds

    ~ enter homes and properties

    ~ touch ornaments. They may be sacred items for the community.

8. Don’t correct or make fun of their beliefs. Each community has its own distinct and unique beliefs.

9. Don’t comment or show disapproval to some “grotesque” rituals such as breaking of chicken’s neck in a tribal dance.

10. Don’t kiss, hug, or do indecent acts in front of a community member.

11. Don’t laugh or giggle in front of the community. That’s because even if you didn’t mean anything, they might assume that you’re making fun of them.

12. Don’t leave trash behind, whether biodegradable or non-biodegradable.

13. Don’t pollute rivers, creeks, wells, and other water sources.

14. Don’t vandalize such as etching your name on artifacts or rock walls.

15. Don’t destroy traps set by community hunters. Don’t hunt!

PREVENTING CULTURAL CONTAMINATION

1. Pay the local only the amount that was agreed upon. Do not bribe or give tips. When you introduce the concept of bribing or tipping to a normally honest community, you change their idea about money. This later manifests to exorbitant rates and questionable fees, which we all complain about.

2. Don’t visit a remote community as a large group. Remember that these people are wary of single strangers, so you can imagine what they are thinking if they see a group of strangers.

3. When taking photos, be unobtrusive. Don’t ask people to pose for you. Keep a distance between you and the subject that you’re shooting.

4. Avoid teaching things or giving stuff that the community doesn’t need.

5. Avoid showing interest in buying items from the community. Never establish trade without the knowledge of the elders.

6. Don’t introduce another paradigm that is alien to the community such as playing loud disco music in a community that values their own music.

7. Never assure the community that your knowledge, medicine, food, equipment, tools, etc. are better than theirs.

8. Tribal communities are fond of communal eating. Don’t eat separately from a family or a group.

 

The most meaningful travel happens when you go down deep, listen to the stories, and immerse in the ways of life of these wonderful people. It’s incredibly inspiring to see how they value their environment and culture. 

However, you should remember that you are just a visitor. No matter how you think highly of yourself, you are the odd person out. As thus, you should leave as little trace as possible, whether it be on the environment or with the cultural practice of the people. 

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.

Screened shot photo and quotes, in italics, attributed to Adrenaline Romance, with permission.

2021-044 | BLENDING

OUTDOORS COMMON SENSE TIPS: Stealth camping is not about blending with surroundings. It is also about leaving everything as it was when you break camp. Leave your camp without a trace, not the Western LNT ideology, but the ones that were and are still practiced by indigenous people.

First seen in Facebook

July 21, 2018

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

CAMOUFLAGING IS AN ART. One of the best principle of blending in a natural surrounding is to make yourself unobservable as possible. Never stand out if you want to do stealth camping. Mingle with the terrain or vegetation intimately and unobtrusively. Light, color, shapes, shadows, movements, smell and sounds are the things which attract observation. But, then again, why would you have to do that? 

Let us consider the three scenarios: 

You hunt wildlife. You set up your hidden shelter and wait for wild game that appear in your scope. The shelter is a combination of dead or green branches and grass or leaves that you source from somewhere abundant. You set this up presumably to fool game but not humans, especially hikers or, what you feared most, forest wardens.  

 

By the way, hunting in the Philippines is now discouraged. There is a national law – Republic Act 9147 – which prohibits people from poaching, or hunting wildlife, especially endangered and/or vulnerable species and it carries a heavy penalty of imprisonment or fines or both at the discretion of the courts. 

Additionally, what were once okay to hunt before would now be covered by local ordinances or department orders, such as wild animals and birds, which numbers are not vulnerable. Moreover, it is extremely dangerous if you try this in ancestral domains belonging to indigenous tribal people, with any kind of methods. So, do not try! 

You copied from the Internet. You set up your stealth camp as prescribed in YouTube. You cut there and you cut here and you even outdo the Special Forces by adding vegetation as a camouflaging agent that you sourced from somewhere near. You tried to blend and you succeeded yet you leave a lot of traces but, who wants to know? 

Your life is in danger. You seemed to have noticed that a group of suspicious people had been following your trail from as far a mile away. You were able to leave a few traces to keep them guessing yet you know if you camp the way you camped, you would ultimately be caught. You decide to camp smartly by making use of dusk as your cover.

 

The first two scenarios used a lot of forest resources while the last one did not. The first two left a lot of traces and telltale ones that would lead people to know exactly, or guessed at, where you are and understood how your mind works. The last scenario has nothing to show and kept the pursuers off-track.

So stealth camping has nothing to do with altering the surroundings to suit to your location, although it is a given that you should in case of daylight and you are in a military mission. But, for purposes of leisure, there is nothing to hide from someone unless your activity is criminal in nature. Altering a campsite is not ethical so you could have your 15 minutes of YouTube fame.    

Most people are fully convinced that stealth camping is okay. That would have been alright if you used the same hole over and over again. The problem with that is you cut and leave and start another one on another place. Then you label it “bushcraft”, which gave a bad taste.

The first photo is a good example of stealth camping. A low-hanging branch is used as ridgeline without the need of cutting smaller branches to accommodate a sheet. The ground is sloping but the occupant took advantage of an exposed root to prevent himself from rolling over. It is on a location where one would think that no one would camp. The occupant did not alter nor leave anything. 

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.

2021-038 | OUTDOORS SAFETY & CLIMATE CHANGE

OUTDOORS COMMON SENSE TIPS: During an interview, I was asked about what would be the next best thing in Philippine outdoors. 

I replied that there's not much change but it would be extreme due to global warming.

 

First seen in Facebook

May 8, 2018

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

THE PHILIPPINES ENJOY TROPICAL weather by virtue of it sitting above the equator from 5º to 20º latitude. It is warm and very humid during the wet season and very warm during the dry season. It takes a special individual to live with the tropical climate here and there are 110 million of them and they are called Filipinos plus 100,000 or so of expats living or working.

Climate change, caused by the unraveling of the ozone layer which permit strong concentrations of ultraviolet rays to penetrate the stratosphere, led to a greenhouse effect and unprecedented warming. And what used to be livable tropical condition now becomes a challenging battleground for survival of the fittest. 

Soaring temperatures of 45°C-50°C heat index could cause hyperthermia, shock and death. Staying long under the sun in that condition also causes heart attacks, strokes and complicates conditions of those who have prior medical problems. It would take its effect on the aged, the very young and the sickly. 

Going outdoors on a hike in high temperatures is a risk. Be very choosy then with what time you hike. Start very early and end very early if you do a dayhike or an overnight. The time of start at 04:30 to 05:00 is best. Stop often where there are shades. For every hour of walking, take 15-minute rests and rehydrate regularly.

 

Choose routes which has lots of shade and where breeze is abundant but, just the same, stay away from coconuts and trees with dead branches for their risks are much greater than the heat. Find the best shady places but do not crowd out a farm animal nor make yourself a threat to a hive of hornets. 

Wear something to cover your head. If you can help it or be comfortable about it, douse your head coverings with water. A wet hat or shawl helps in insulating you from extreme warmth. One of the best protection against direct sunlight is the umbrella. While it may not be manly to look at but it keeps you shaded all the way.

Do not engage in a hike if you are intoxicated with liquor or beer the night before. You should be "clean" at least 24 hours. This is one of the most common mistakes among hikers and this causes so much complications to your circulation system because you are severely dehydrated.

The most important of all is: Rehydrate. Rehydrate. Rehydrate! 

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.

2021-031 | LIAISON IS ALWAYS A GOOD PRACTICE, PART 2

OUTDOORS COMMON SENSE TIPS: When I have events among the back country of Cebu, these are the offices that I liaison with. It helps to inform government authorities for a seamless outdoors activity, a peace of mind and a confident gait.

 

First seen in Facebook

March 21, 2018

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

CEBU IS AN ISLAND PROVINCE which has many beautiful beaches. True. Most of tourism here are concentrated on the lowlands due to its very mountainous composition leaving small and narrow plains where the big cities and towns, the best roads and, yes, the beaches are found. All of its big religious and cultural events are concentrated on these narrow plains.

But it has also tourist attractions found on the mountains and these are well identified like the very popular Osmeña Peak, Mount Manunggal, Mount Babag and Sibugay Peak, because these are very accessible to hikers, campers and local tourists. Then, lately, as the popularity of camping caught on the other areas, it gained a toehold on Mount Lantoy, Mount Lanaya, Mount Mago and Mount Kapayas. 

All these peaks and some unknown ones that would soon be climbed are just a walk of a few hours from their trailheads. There are checkpoints and registration areas and there are motorcycles and local guides who would lead you to these peaks. In short, these are controlled environments. It would only be off-limits when there are land-ownership disputes, severe landslides and peace and order problems.

Cebu has the best peace and order in Central Visayas, second only to Siquijor. Despite that, the effects of an insurgency problem which have tormented the countryside some twenty years ago, remained. Strangers are viewed with distrust and suspicion. Memories, bad ones, do not just disappear. It is on these places where my Cebu Highlands Trail, and to a lesser extent, the Camino de Santiago, traverse. 

When asked what part of the CHT I viewed as the most difficult, I would always answer weather and people. People, more than anything else, is the most difficult obstacle when ranging the paths less travelled and where your presence is least expected. It is, for this reason, that I would liaison with certain government offices weeks before I would go to these remote areas so they would be informed days ahead. 

My visits to the Cebu Provincial Capitol, the Cebu Police Provincial Office and the Cebu City Police Office have afforded me great advantage in my own and my paying clients’ safety and security and made my activities seamless and successful. An added offshoot to these visits is the VIP treatment when you are on their places, complete with police escorts.

Well, I could not ask for more but pray that these places become “tamed” and the locals’ trust and acceptance on strangers restored. I am also praying that their indifference on adventure tourism would thaw, such as the CHT and the Camino de Santiago, which pass so many mountain communities. When these trails would be established and become popular, these local communities would benefit from a landfall of economic opportunities which their lowland cousins benefit on their beaches. 

=> => => o0o <= <= <=

 

WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions. 

Through tutorship, experience, folk knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions; in his social-media account; and in this blog.