Why do you drink?
August 5, 1999
Maculot is a novice’s initiation to climbing in the South at an
altitude with a view.
Siniloan is a novice’s initiation to climbing in the East in the
waters.
Both sites are loaded with loud climbers every weekend all year round. To reach the site requires at least 2 hours of
trek with moments of short bursts of cardiac. Campsite atmosphere is festive. Campers are rowdy and noisy from late
afternoon to the morning.
Climbers celebrate their ascent with socials. To those who just escape from the city life,
they get the most peak by drinking. Most simply extend the drinking that they
do in the lowlands in the highlands.
This initiation into drinking and climbing is repeated in the next
climbs whether in the same peak or in some other peaks North and South of Metro
Manila.
Thus whether you are in 300 meters ASL or above 2,000 meters, there
will always be a bottle of alcohol alongside water. Drinking has become part of the rituals in
climbing, as basic as backpacking, cooking, breaking camp. Socially, it is a bond. Functionally, it
provides temporary warmth especially in cold and wet climbs. The only times the bottles don’t get opened
when everyone is exhausted and there is hardly any conversation.
Some say drinking is not necessary as it gets in the natural high. The euphoria one gets reaching the peak
doesn’t need inducing. The rest says drinking is part of climbing.
Why do
mountaineers drink?
Jon Linao says:
Kailangan bang uminom sa climb? In my opinion, yes. Panlaban din ito sa lamig and most of all
kwela ang socials pag-nakainom ka na. Tanggal ang hiya mo. We have been drinking in a climb ever since
and we still have yet to encounter one of our members nagwawala sa sobrang
kalasingan. That, I believe, would never
happen to us.
So what do we get from all of these? Lahat kami masaya.
In our group, we drink as long as we can hanggang kaya basta hindi
makakasagabal sa climb. Pag-alam naming
titirik kami sa trail the next day, titigil na kami sa pag-inom at matutulog
na. A lot of our members are already in
the category of “mandirigma” inuumaga na sa pag-iinom (isang oras na lang
sisikat na ang araw) tapos magbe-break-camp ng 8 in the morning, magte-trek
parang walang nangyaring inuman. Immune na sa headaches o hang-over.
-Jon Linao mesau1982@hotmail.com 19 March 1998
Oliver Katigbak sees bonding:
It also brings out the friendliness of ur mates . . .
Ferdi suggests cultural reasons:
. . . perhaps it is a cultural matter altogether, you know, the
time-honored tomaan-tagayan social ritual among Pinoy men that makes it common
in climbs. Drinking till the wee hours
and trekking after an hour of shuteye, maybe even less, is a usual show of
macho endurance, which, to me, is akin to a pointless pissing contest. Young climbers who revel in these mistaken
shows of alcohol-guzzling bravado may not feel the effects at this stage but
the abuse is remembered by the body and can show up later in life.
-Ferdi
Danny Escasa finds alcohol
unnecessary:
PMFJI, but I read an article somewhere, Inquirer Magazine ata, just
after that mountain climbing accident somewhere in the South (Mindanao?), where
one of the climbers seemed to have died more from the cold than any injuries. The article said that the warming effects of
alcohol are temporary, and can dehydrate you, leaving you with less energy. Combating the cold is best done with hot
water, according to the article. Now,
I’m not entirely disputing your post, and I’m willing to believe that the
article referred to *emergency* measures for warming a climber who’s on the
verge of hypothermia.
-Danny.Escasa@f302.n751.z6.rp 20 March 1998
Ferdie further elaborates:
Which is why I’ve never heard alcohol recommended for hypothermia. (Any doctors out there?) IMHO, alcoholic
beverages are strictly unnecessary in climbs . . .
Jun Martin nods:
I agree. I read somewhere sometime late last year that alcohol lowers
your body’s temperature. I also feel chilly after drinking beer…
-samboy@skywalker.cyber.org.ph (Jun Martin) 24 March 1998
Noel a.k.a. Mr. Rocky of PAL MC
says:
Mountain climbing and drinking is comparable to cooking . . . These are the ingredients you need to have a
pleasant outdoor experience … or making friends with new members of the group … Provided timing is proper and amount just
right . . . too much of % proof of gulping a
bottle of vodka leads to hallucination as big the mountain you’re climbing . . . Or worse creating new enemy because you pushed
your tentmate in swimming lesson … opps hindi lang pala water … but in a slimmy
liquid.
-Noel R. 29 August 1998
Raul Lejano issues a
professional advice:
Drinking is an activity which, in moderation, results to a lot of fun,
to put it very simply. More so if the
immediate environment is in an agreeable atmosphere. And it cannot be more
conducive than doing it way up or out there, don’t you think? OK, so some say, contrary to common belief it
actually lowers body temperature instead of raising it. But saying that drinking to make us feel
warmer is just a lame excuse to allow us to bring out that inner, loose self
inside of us waiting to break free! Perhaps this release and the bonding it
creates are actually what make us feel warmer, not the alcohol itself.
Sometimes this inner self is too rowdy or
perhaps even dangerous (in which case drinking is discouraged), but for most
people it is the more sensitive, carefree, loose-tongued, assertive side of us
that comes out. And to have the chance
to observe this oft-hidden side in all of us, for me, is always a worthwhile experience.
And we get to laugh at ourselves, too! The
only downside is a splitting headache the day after. As I said, moderation lang
dapat.
-Raul 31 August 1998
Lou Clerigo has this to say in
usapang lasing . . .
during climbs, the most popular drink is the gin … yung ginebra…mura
na!!! madaling makalasing!!! magaan pa!!! di ba!!! Chito!!!! mabuhay ka!! Malapit na nag bday nina carlo and joseph. saan kaya sila magtritreat … hmn … sumasayaw!!!
yaoza!!!! Baka sa jollibee!!! ngek!!
- 17 March 1998
So does Oliver . . .
Hmmm….Halatang sanay kayo . . . heheh … Ala bang sumusuka? (Wala pa naman … o walang
nagpapahuli, sagot ni Jon)
Jon summarizes it:
Why not consider it as an option during socials, you may or may not
drink with the others. Telling a
mountaineer that drinking alcohol is unnecessary in a climb is like slapping
them on their face. It’s what they do,
it’s what they want. Everybody is
welcome to join – that’s just one of the many forms of camaraderie a
mountaineer would love to share.
Also, drinking in socials is a better ice-breaker, especially if your
socials is composed of two or more groups.
Drinking to some organization who are already too long in this scene,
this is part of their ritual, in fact it has become a “tradition” to the new
members who replaced the old members.
It all leads to personal satisfaction. You had one hell of fun in
socials and you did not cause any problems to the group or the other drinking
friends you’ve met, it’s ok. And
besides, most organization have strict rules when in comes to training, so when
they climb another mountain they feel they can take the world by their hands
and face another round of fun and exciting socials.
Q: Anong pwedeng ibang gawin pag walang inuman sa socials?
A: Wala.
Non drinkers are open to
drinkers. But respect is what they want.
Like Ching . . .
As for me, I think that it is your personal choice whether or not you
want to drink. It is true that alcohol
makes people more relaxed and more open to any topic of conversation, it is
also true that it has become an essential part of any socializing activity of
today’s world. However, drinking does
not differentiate whether a person is part of a group or not
Drinkers must be considerate that some people simply cannot take the
smell and taste of alcohol for physical reasons and others because of religious
beliefs …
Let us leave it to individuals to decide to drink or not in climbs. And
I think the choice you made should be respected and understood by your
co-climbers.
-ching:> 31 Aug 1998
Why do you drink? What do you have to say?
* I respect the sacredness of the mountain
* I will not let alcohol interfere with the natural high of climbing
* It is OK for me to drink as long as it is done in moderation
* I may or may not. It is up to me. I am responsible anyway
* I drink to enjoy the friendship and the company
* I drink to celebrate the successful trek to the peak
* I will enjoy life to the extreme and drink ’til I drop
* I don’t care
Martin Chambers from New
Zealand writes:
Maybe a few words from me on what is so attractive about drinking and
climbing.
One thing is for sure – most accepted authorities on climbing will
advise strictly against drinking and climbing because of the safety aspects,
much the same as drinking and driving. I agree – combining the two is a risk
which none of us should take.
However, social drinking at the top of a mountain may be considered to
be totally different. The climb is (half) over – there is still the next day to
consider. BUT, to relax with good
friends and climbing companions at the end of a successful ascent is to me one
of the pleasures. It’s like getting
together with anyone who shares common interests – a shared experience is
richer for being shared.
Other thoughts – what about the weight aspect – carrying a litre of
spirit is a significant weight penalty?
When people have consumed alcohol, they are more vociferous – ready to
speak their minds – thus leading to more sharing of ideas and beliefs.
Hummm?
Kat (AMCI) says . . .
such a topic will always be controversial. but we drink anyway,right?
i don’t drink heavily during major climbs which are usually multi-day
di ba?
i am too tired to do so.
i just want to stretch out and dream in the mountains.
i also feel that you haven’t asked the women about this topic.
you know, i did go to a climb once where there was so much drinking
that two girls complained of sexual harrasment.
well, you tell me if that’s funny.
i climb with guys i trust and even then, i sometimes feel the
vulnerability of women climbers. buti na lang, there are more women climbers
today so they are sort of your buddies.
many of the guys are usually “maingay” lang naman.
otherwise, they can be uninhibited enough to cause a climb to turn
“ngek”!
there are incidents like these , believe me.
it’s different of course if both parties are mutually oks lang.
eh kung hindi?
o di ba? to lighhten up, i learned that drunken people tend to say what
is in their minds during these”loose” sessions. minsan, alam mo kung anong sama
ng loob ng isa. and it becomes so funny when you see quiet people get drunk and
start dancing to have a good time.
life is too serious sometimes. so we dance instead. the best drink for
me?
coffee in the early morning hours while the fog rises up to touch your
tent.
bye! and happy climbing this weekend
-kat 2 August 1999
Jaja Reyes, a female climber who
heads a climbing organization (Loyola) sends in her comments:
Q: Anong pwedeng ibang gawin pag walang inuman
sa socials? A: Wala.
I have nothing
against alcohol … hey I enjoy drinking but here’s something to ponder on:
Do we really have
to depend on alcohol to make a climb fun? I think people result to drinking for lack of
something creative to do. We prohibit drinking during our training climbs and
most of the time, the socials turn out to be more fun than socials w/ inuman. Probably because people really prepare for
their presentations and you hear the sincerest kuwento. Telling a mountaineer that drinking alcohol is
unnecessary in a climb is like slapping them on their face. It’s what they do,
it’s what they want.
Being a drinker is
not a fundamental trait of mountaineers … But being able to adapt to any kind of
situation is – may it be a peaceful night or a rowdy party.
It is true that alcohol makes people more
relaxed and more open to any topic of conversation, it is also true that it has
become an essential part of any socializing activity of today’s world. However,
drinking does not differentiate whether a person is part of a group or not.
I agree! It really
doesn’t matter what socializing tool u use as long as you are able to mingle or
blend in with the other people . . . that’s fine.
4.
….was so much drinking that two girls complained
of sexual harrasment. well, you tell me
if that’s funny. i climb with guys i trust and even then, i sometimes feel the
vulnerability of women climbers. buti na lang, there are more women climbers
today so they are sort of your buddies. many of the guys are usually “maingay”
lang naman. otherwise, they can be uninhibited enough to cause a climb to turn
“ngek”! there are incidents like these, believe me. it’s different of course if
both parties are mutually oks lang. eh kung hindi?
The only problem
with drinking is that the word MODERATION is often times forgotten or perhaps
purposely ignored. How would u expect a climb full of drunk men to turn out?
And the sad thing is, they blame alcohol for their bad behavior … “lasing lang
kasi, kaya ganyan”
Indeed, alcohol
makes the atmosphere more comfortable. But what is comfortable to one person
may not be to another. We have to know where to draw the line. If one can be as
macho as to finish a couple of bottles of gin, I hope s/he can be sensitive
enough to the people around him/her.
5.
such a topic will always be controversial
Tarush! Whether we
are against drinking during climbs or find it impossible to climb without it,
the only thing we should remember is that alcohol should not be the center of
that climbing experience.
-Jaja 3 August 1999
Spotty and Minnie from Davao
City approve:
Well said, we love to have a good time either it’s with alcohol or not. But
sometimes others forget the welfare of their comrades for the sake of
“fun & ease”.
-alpha1
Another female climber, Wing (of
PAL MC) shares her thoughts:
I found some of the comments on Pinoy machismo/drinking as sexist. In any case, I rarely drink at the peak, yet I
enjoy the company of my friends, whether they’re drinking or not. And we never
run out of things to say (or songs to sing for that matter).
And you have to admit, some mountaineers tend to be extremely boorish
and jerks (to say it nicely) when they’re drunk. They only think everyone’s having a grand time
with their antics because they’re already drunk! Or perhaps they were acutely insensitive to
start with.
Have a nice day!
-Wing 3 August 1999
Jenny says so long as it doesn’t
become an excuse:
I don’t believe in what was stated here that: “Telling a mountaineer
that drinking alcohol is unnecessary in a climb is like slapping them on their
face” … Saying it is unnecessary doesn’t prohibit anyone from doing such
activity. It just says that drinking is not a requirement and that it’s not
prohibited either. Therefore, no one
should be forced to drink or no one should be told not to take alcohol. There’s really nothing wrong with drinking I guess,
as long as the person will not be a liability to the climb the morning after.
Yes, it breaks the ice among members and other people belonging to other
outdoor clubs, I just hope that drinking will not become an excuse to
intolerable, offensive, and insulting behavior. Coz sometimes nagiging masyado
nang malakas ang loob ng tao.
-Jenny 3 August 1999
Sabi naman ni Bot:
Sa akin, ok lang talaga uminom sa bundok basta responsible ka sa lahat
ng mangyari sa iyo o sa iba.
Pero, its also a fact that alcohol may lead you to hypothermia dahil
nagkakaroon ka false sense of warmth. Ang totoo, kaya ka namumula kung
umiinom ng alak ay dahil ang blood vessels mo ay pumupunta sa skin at
ang
resulta: body heat mo ay nag-eeskapo.
l-lim@mitsubishi-motors.com.ph
Art’s (of PALMC) last words for
now:
alcohol in moderation, zero to minimum disturbance, dont force
non-drinkers and dont be a casualty next day ……….. penalties ??? in peso ……
sanctions ???? suspension, expulsion or outcasting from the club … he/she might
join other clubs but with info travelling faster….. could be a hindrance ...
this is just like prostitution you can totally eliminate it but can be
regulated …
Arthur_Guanlao@cargill.com on 08/05/99 09:56:42 AM
For feedback, write to Chito at tochs@excite.com
CBRazon 28 August 1998 and 5 August 1999
