Manifesto formulation, which I learned from attending sessions at the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems in the early 2000s led by Dr. Edwino Fernando, a forest botanist of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), and Roberto Cereno, deputy director of MCME. Creating this as an academic exercise.
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Climbing Manifesto 2025: A Call to Conscious Mountaineering
Twenty-five years ago, we gathered as a community of climbers to articulate our shared values. We spoke of
adventure tempered by safety, of summits reached with respect for the mountains that humbled us, and of a commitment to preserve what we loved.
Today, the landscape—both literal and cultural—has transformed. Mountains that once required weeks of preparation now draw weekend warriors. Social media has turned peaks into backdrops and trails into throughways. Climate change threatens the very ecosystems we cherish, while commercialization commodifies what was once sacred. Yet within these challenges lies opportunity: a new generation seeks meaning in the outdoors, technology enables safer climbs, and a growing movement of mountaineers stands ready to defend our environment.
We gather again, not to abandon our founding principles, but to renew them for this moment—to articulate a vision of mountaineering that honors tradition while embracing necessary evolution.
We envision a Philippine mountaineering community that:
Climbs with Purpose Beyond the Summit
Where every ascent is measured not only in elevation gained but in impact minimized, knowledge deepened, and connections strengthened—with nature, with communities, and with ourselves.
Bridges Generations Through Shared Stewardship
Where millennials and Gen Z bring fresh perspectives and digital fluency, while seasoned mountaineers share wisdom earned through decades on the trail—creating a culture of mutual learning rather than division.
Transforms Access into Responsibility
Where easier routes, better equipment, and abundant information become catalysts for deeper preparation, not shortcuts—where accessibility democratizes mountaineering without diluting its demands.
Turns Visibility into Advocacy
Where social media becomes a tool for education and environmental action, not just personal branding—where every post carries the weight of responsibility to those who follow in our footsteps.
Stands as Guardians in a Time of Crisis
Where mountaineers recognize their role as frontline witnesses to climate change and defenders of fragile ecosystems—acting not merely as visitors to the mountains, but as their voice in the valleys and cities below.
To cultivate a culture of conscious mountaineering through:
1. Environmental Stewardship in the Responsible Management of Earth’s Resources (Anthropocene)
- Zero-impact climbing practices that go beyond "leave no trace" to active restoration and rehabilitation
- Radical accountability for waste: In an age of convenience packaging and single-use gear, we commit to carrying out every piece of trash, including organic waste, and actively removing debris left by others. The proliferation of trash on our trails and campsites is a crisis that demands immediate personal action from every climber.
- Climate action leadership, using our unique perspective as witnesses to environmental degradation to drive policy change and community awareness
- Sustainable trail management that balances accessibility with conservation, recognizing that some places must remain wild and protected
- Partnership with indigenous and local communities as co-stewards, respecting ancestral lands and traditional ecological knowledge
2. Education for the Age of Information Overload
- Critical preparation standards that counter the illusion that information equals experience—emphasizing physical conditioning, technical skills, and mental resilience
- Mentorship programs connecting experienced climbers with newcomers, ensuring that wisdom passes between generations
- Digital literacy and ethics that teach responsible sharing: accurate information, realistic expectations, and respect for the undisclosed and sacred
- Comprehensive training in wilderness first aid, navigation, risk assessment, and emergency response
3. Safety in an Era of Shortened Timelines
- Discipline over convenience, establishing minimum preparation periods, fitness requirements, and skill assessments regardless of destination accessibility
- Honest self-assessment of climbing capacity—rejecting the dangerous trend of attempting climbs beyond one's physical, technical, or mental preparedness, regardless of peer pressure or FOMO (fear of missing out)
- Risk management frameworks that account for commercial pressures, social media incentives, and the false confidence born of advanced gear
- Accountability systems for guides, organizers, and individual climbers—recognizing that ease of access has not diminished the mountains' dangers
- Weather awareness and climate adaptation, acknowledging changing patterns and increased unpredictability
4. Community and Cultural Respect
- Ethical engagement with local communities that ensures economic benefit, cultural sensitivity, and genuine partnership rather than exploitation
- Fellow climber courtesy on increasingly crowded trails—yielding right of way, managing noise, sharing resources, and fostering inclusive spaces
- Reverence for mountain silence—the mountains have become loud with portable speakers, amplified voices, and disregard for the acoustic sanctuary that nature provides. We commit to preserving the soundscape: minimal noise at campsites, respectful voice levels, no amplified music, and recognition that others seek solitude and connection with nature, not a party atmosphere.
- Anti-commercialization of culture, resisting the reduction of mountains and communities to commodified experiences and content
- Intergenerational dialogue that honors different motivations for climbing while upholding shared core values
5. Values-Driven Participation
- Authentic experience over performative content—climbing for personal growth, connection, and challenge rather than external validation
- Humility and continuous learning, recognizing that no amount of technology replaces judgment, and no summit grants mastery
- Long-term commitment to the mountaineering community and environment, not transactional engagement
- Self-regulation and peer accountability, building a culture where standards are upheld through collective responsibility
As members of the Philippine mountaineering community, we commit to:
Before the Climb
- Prepare our bodies, minds, and skills appropriately, regardless of a route's accessibility or popularity
- Research thoroughly—not just logistics, but ecology, culture, current conditions, and our own limitations
- Obtain proper permits, support local economies fairly, and understand our impact
During the Climb
- Practice true Leave No Trace principles and, when possible, leave the mountain better than we found it—carrying out all waste, including organic materials, and removing trash left by others.
- Prioritize safety over summits, authenticity over content, and respect over personal achievement
- Honor the mountain's silence: keep voices low, leave speakers at home, and preserve the acoustic sanctuary for all.
- Turn back when conditions or personal capacity dictate, recognizing that summit fever has ended lives and that retreat is often the stronger choice
- Support fellow climbers and defer to local guides and community members
- Make decisions based on conditions and capability, not social pressure or investment
After the Climb
- Share knowledge responsibly, balancing inspiration with realism
- Advocate for mountain protection and climate action in our communities and cities
- Support organizations working for environmental conservation and indigenous rights
- Reflect on our experiences to deepen our practice and refine our approach
In Our Broader Lives
- Recognize that being a responsible mountaineer extends beyond the trail—to daily choices about consumption, advocacy, and environmental impact
- Mentor newcomers with patience and genuine care for their development
- Stand against exploitation of mountains, communities, and the sport itself
- Continuously examine how our actions align with our stated values
The mountains remain as they have always been—indifferent to our hashtags, humbling in their scale, unforgiving of our mistakes, and generous in their lessons. But the context in which we approach them has changed irrevocably.
We cannot return to an imagined golden age of mountaineering, nor should we wish to. Instead, we must forge a new path: one that harnesses technology and accessibility for good, that welcomes new voices while maintaining standards, and that recognizes our collective power to protect what we love.
The question before us is not whether mountaineering will change—it already has. The question is whether we will shape that change according to our values or allow it to be shaped by forces indifferent to the mountains' future.
We choose to climb consciously—with preparation, with humility, and with purpose beyond ourselves.
We choose to be not just mountaineers, but stewards. Not just climbers, but guardians.
This is our manifesto for the mountains we love and the future we must protect.
