We Don’t Grow Old Hiking—We Grow Old by Stopping
Fourteen years ago, 2011, I stood at the summit of Alto Peak, staring at a wild, rugged trail that barely existed. No ropes, no concrete roads—just the raw, unfiltered wilderness. We carved our way through the dense foliage, relying on our guide's instinct as we packed ourselves with endurance, and a deep love for adventure. That night, we camped at the summit, wrapped in the cold embrace of the mountains, feeling like we had touched something primal and untouched.
Fast forward to today, in the year of our Lord 2025, the scenery has changed. The concrete road now reaches almost to the base of the mountain, cutting the journey in half. Ropes are in place for safety. Trails are well-trodden and clear. Along the way, adventure sites have flourished—Lake Janagdan, Mt. Malingatong, Sulfatara—drawing more explorers than ever before.
Some might say this takes away the challenge, that the spirit of adventure fades when the struggle is lessened. But for me, standing at the summit of Alto Peak once again, I felt no less alive. The heart for the outdoors, the longing to be with nature, that never changed. The mountains may adapt, but the call to climb remains the same.
As I retraced the path, I searched for the agoho native trees that once lined the road, their graceful bows swaying in the wind. They were gone. But nature, ever resilient, had written a new story—wild agoho now sprouted freely across the landscape, reclaiming the space in their own untamed way. Though the setting had changed, the spirit of the wild endured.
My companions has changed, but the camaraderie did not. New faces joined the journey, yet the shared laughter, the encouragement during steep climbs, and the quiet appreciation of nature’s beauty remained the same. This time, I had my wife with me, making the journey even more special. Sharing this adventure with her added a deeper sense of meaning—our steps in sync, conquering one's self together.
Hiking doesn’t make us old. Stopping does. The moment we give up on adventure, when we let go of that spark to explore, that’s when we truly age. So whether the path is wild or paved, whether we use ropes or our bare hands, the important thing is that we keep moving.
Because as long as we keep climbing, we stay young.
#SakaHangtudKayaPa
Alto Peak/Mt. Aminduen
Jaro, Leyte via Cabintan Trail
February 15-16, 2025
ADVENTURER: Kumbati Supertiks
#LifeIsNotARace #SakaHangtudKayaPa #BurgerAndBones #ProofOfLife
