Amid the Rains and Darkness at Mount Marami

“There is a rhythm in life, a certain beauty which operates by a variation of lights and shadows, happiness alternating with sorrow, content with discontent, distilling in this process of contrast a sense of satisfaction, of richness that can be captured and pinned down only by those who possess the gift of awareness” Louis Bromfield.

Our climb to Mount Marami (08 May 2011) was the pathway for a clearer understanding of how true the quote above is. Amid the rains and darkness on our way up the summit and down to the giant’s foot, higher awareness on things is what I saw in each tussle. That’s when:

1) I was reminded of how beautiful my feet are each time I scrape the mud building up on its soles, which was like the “constant” of our ascent and descent;

2) I realized I am most aware that I have the gift of life for defeating the countless gravitational pull of the ravine should I allow myself to slip or fall to its unseen bottom;

3) Each time I quiver from the blades of the rain and chilling winds scratching my skin, I learned how strong I was that I managed not to completely fall until we’re past the wilderness/danger zone;

4) Having only less than 50 (the average) photographs mirrored my lack of resourcefulness;

This climb introduced me to this plant called "Barak".

5) Getting astray for three times despite specific instructions from the guide, taught me to follow my instinct and pray to the Aura up there for guidance (We eventually made our way out of the woods and to the high path because of the Bamboo Plant I photographed at the foot of the giant. The latter asseverated that the next message you need is always right where you are.); and

(6) Getting soaked in the rain for ten hours without catching cough and colds proved that I am making a good job at becoming fit and healthy .

I owe the evolution of my ideas of “pleasure” and “awareness” to this climb. The tears and howls of Mother Nature that enveloped the entirety of Mount Marami that day raised the value of the comforts I can get from living in the metropolis and each time I rely to the comforting melancholy of my solitude and to the struggles I have to face on the shoulders and heads of the giants.

Mount Marami is my thirteenth conquered mountain.

For more information (how to get to the place, climbing notes, special concerns, trivia, more stories, etc.), read this article from pinoymountaineer.com: Mount Marami (405+MASL).

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