…doesn’t always win the race, but it usually gets you there alive. That’s how it turned out for me yesterday, at least. I made my long-anticipated return to Kalaklan Ridge, and it was every bit as difficult as I remember. I took my time as I struggled to defy gravity, and in the end, I prevailed. More or less.

The Hash begins at 2 p.m. The trailhead was three kilometers out of town, so I left the house a little after one intending to catch a Jeepney to the start. The first two Jeeps to pass by were full, and as I waited for the next, an empty taxi pulled up. That almost never happens in Barretto (two times in six years for me). I gladly took the comfortable airconditioned option, and the driver charged me 100 pesos (the Jeepney would have been 20), and I threw in a 50 peso New Year’s tip. So, I found myself standing at the beginning of the Hash trail alone at 1:30.

Rather than waiting around for thirty minutes, I decided to get a head start. This was a tad risky for me since I don’t like hiking in the hills alone, especially when I don’t have a clue about what I might encounter. But the Hare is known for a consistently well-marked trail, and as slow as I am, I knew the group would catch up with me before long, so I cautiously but confidently headed out.

I’ve never gone up this way before. It was certainly better than other paths I’ve taken to the top. But there is no easy way, and I was huffing and puffing big time all the way to the ridgeline. It was also a very hot day, which added to the suffering.

I hate checkpoints and this was the second one I’d encountered on yesterday’s trail. When the Hare places the circled X at an intersection it is up to the Hasher to find the true trail. This requires checking out every possible direction until you find a trail marker indicating you are On-On. These marks are usually placed within 50 meters or so. I got lucky and guessed right both times, so I didn’t have to backtrack and look in a different direction.

And then the Hare’s trail took a turn, and I didn’t. I was familiar enough with the area to know that the right turn off the ridge towards Olongapo meant going down and then back up again. Nope, not for me. I still hadn’t recovered from the first climb.

Anyway, I’ll be back for more one day. I do want to do a longer ridgeline trek, but want some company with me.

I just had to go check. Jerry Mathers was born in 1948 and he’s still alive. Way to go, Beaver!

Time for one more?

Here’s a song my nephew sang at my mother’s wake. She passed thirteen years ago this month.