Everything I learned in coping to survive 21 days of CoVid-19 Community Quarantine I learned in mountaineering (except for one thing)

What has the popularity of mountaineering done? (Made relevant at this time we are facing a pandemic)

Subject: What has the popularity of mountaineering done?
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Date: 1999/11/26

What has the popularity of mountaineering done?

1. Raised the consciousness of the climbers for the environment, acting on it though is different from just knowing.
2. Gave pleasure to the climbers either through their appreciation of nature, the camaraderie, use of equipment, purchase of equipment, physical exertion, feeling of completion, seeing new places, meeting new people, eating, drinking or mere escaping; or a combination of all.
3. Sharpened special skills: photography, cooking, organizing, leading, relating, writing, website developing, handling socials, technical climbing etc.
4. Not to mention improved the economy: equipment trading and local commerce thrived from guides, food that you eat, transpo that you avail, places that you stay in.
5. Above all, it ignited the passion in individuals, to enjoy their lives to the edge.
6. Close to saying it has opened us to our spirituality, to our role in life, our relationships with others and our place in this universe.

So what are we complaining about?
We are concerned that our playing ground is not kept and in fact desecrated.
We see it and know we can do something about it. Does this animal we are looking for really exist? Perhaps the environmentalist is a state of perfection and the purist is just our projection.
The best that most can do is keep the campsite clean and stay alive. But it is good to be reminded at times that we can fill in to that obligation. Just like what Alfie and Celine did.
Until we push so hard, it will be difficult. Because that is our nature.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Originally posted Nov 1999

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5 April 2020

The value of mountaineering in the time of CoVid-19 when one is in isolation under community quarantine

It instilled the discipline of planning, managing, scheduling valuing food, water, safety, hygiene, shelter, clothing among others.

The primary skill sets in disciplined and organized climbing are the same ones needed with the same level of importance to survive CoVid-19.

Top of mind are:

1. Planning meals, their ingredients, preparation, cooksets and cooking. Budgeting based on number of days in isolation, primary nutrients needed, sourcing and rationing. CoVid-19 Applicability-High
2. Staying hydrated. Conserving water, its use in cleaning and hygiene. Identifying its source, checking its content and quantity, storage. Covid-19 Applicability-High
3. Disinfecting cookset, equipment and clothing. Prudent use of rubbing alcohol for cleaning and personal hygiene even toilet paper. (Skip part on use of bath soap). Covid-19 Applicability-High
4. Overall health condition-be fit and healthy. Prepare for the rigors of trekking. Know how to check for symptoms and apply first aid treatment. Identify source and resource persons and nearest emergency centers in case of emergency. CoVid-19 Applicability-High
5. Dress appropriately. Pack basic protective equipment. Leave shoes outside the tent. CoVid-19-High (Face Mask, Personal Protective Equipment)
6. Respect line formation where one leads and one sweeps with spacing in-between. The word social distancing was perhaps never coined before. Keeping distance, not too close to avoid domino nor too far to keep everyone within reach. CoVid-19 Applicability-High
7. Complete primary and basic equipment, tools, clothing, cookset, lighter, stove, alcohol to drink etc. Data connection still optional then. Because of weight and space limitations, alcohol (GSM with EOC/Tang) has to be judiciously allocated, CoVid-19 Applicability-High
8. Set up shelter with insulation for protection. Ensure you have a light, water, connection. Create a holding area for wet and dirty clothing, garments. If extremely dirty, clean an wipe at the vestibule or the holding area. CoVid-19 Applicability-High
9. Recognize your leader. Climb as a group. Do not leave anyone behind. CoVid-19 Applicability N.A.
10. Maintain a basic survival kit with contact numbers in case of emergency. Covid-19 Applicability-High
11. Establish good relationships. Declare your ambag during cooking and in the socials. Play your role in the socials either as banka, tanggero, patawa, padrama, taga kodak, toka sa chaser, sa pulutan, clean up. CoVid-19 Applicability Waived in favor of social media
12. Deepen your spirituality. Through nature, appreciate the wonder of life and people. Seeing the grandness of nature, we realize that we are just a speck in the magnitude of the universe. CoVid-19 No explanation needed

Behavioral change takes time. While we have the discipline, skill and survival kits to survive CoVid-19 we developed and honed through the years. it is certainly challenging and difficult for a mountaineer to do a critical step asked from the citizenry; to stay at home.

Stay alive. Ingat lang po

Inspired by my mountaineering friends. Dedicated to all