The Preparation

We beg for your indulgence with this detailed preparation. It took almost six months to prepare for this climb, taking to account the mid-year semestral break. Mostly, constant search in the internet aided us in our preparation.

Our original plan was to scale Mt. Apo. Unfortunately, government closed the mountain indefinitely because of forest fires. Second choice, Mt. Matutum, but the same result as Mt. Apo.

A contact with http://www.mtapoadventures.com/ through Eng. Albert C. Gabriel, an alternative he suggested would either be Mt. Kitanglad and Mt.Dulang-dulang Traverse Trekking or Mt. Talomo. After mentioning that this was our first climb, Albert recommended Mt. Talomo.

We really had no idea what to expect with the Mt. Talomo climb, so we had to rely on internet searches and inquiries with Albert.

Preparation started by procuring footwear, apparel, and gears. Hence, we bought:

MUST-BUY items:

1) Gore-Tex Hiking Shoes (Merrell) which we bought on-line to avail of discount-vouchers. These shoes kept our feet dry through out the hike despite heavy rains and mud trails;

2) Jacket- water-proof with fleece (The North Face). The rain did not penetrate our jackets, while the fleece kept us warm from the 4-degree centigrade temperature in the summit;

3) Bonnet /head gear - As mentioned, you have to have this item because of the cold climate;
4) Thermal Underwear (Bench) - to keep you warm during the night;
5) Construction gloves with rubber coating - sure grip for branches and roots;
6) Raincoat/poncho, because of potential heavy rain, which did happen;
7) Waterproof Back Pack, to be doubly sure, we lined it with garbage disposal bags;
8) Trek Pants (Conquer) - to protect you from scratches from branches and thorny plants;
9) Dry Fit Shirts - you will sweat a lot, and cotton wear will make you heavier; and
10) Flashlight - there are no lights up there, I bought from Lazada one with a big battery that lasted for hours.

FIRST AID:

You will have to stock these items, just like what we brought:

MEDICINES: Make sure that you label each kind and placed individually in ziplocks:

1. Analgesic (Mefenamic Acid) – for pain and headache;
2. Antidiarrheal (Loperamide) – for diarrhea; not advisable when you’re at home but is useful during hiking trips when you do not have the time to relieve your bowel;
3. Antihistamine (Dipphenhydramine/Loratadine) – for itchness, allergic reactions such as hives “pantal-pantal”. Careful though, drowsiness is a common side effect of this drug class;
4. Decongestant (Phenyephrine / Phenypropanolamine) – may be of some benefit with colds that can be caused by high altitude and cold temperatures;
5. Antihistamine (Dipphenhydramine/Loratadine) – for itchness, allergic reactions such as hives “pantal-pantal”. Careful though, drowsiness is a common side effect of this drug class.

TOPICAL:

1. Sunscreen – Sun creams with SPF15 or higher aren’t just for people who don’t want to get dark; they are medically advisable because they protect the skin from UV rays, not only preventing acute conditions such as sunburns but also long-term complications such as, possibly, skin cancer with prolonged exposure.
2. Insect repellant – This is very useful. Lower elevations would usually have common mosquitoes which can be more than a nuisance when they’re in great number. Some hikers also report that repellants like Off lotion can also protect against limatik. 
3. Calamine lotion – This is useful for itchiness and insect bites, as well as exposure to poison ivy (lipa).
4. Betadine – disinfectant, in case of wounds; otherwise plain soap and water will do.

OTHERS:

1. Adhesive tape (Leukoplast)
2. Adhesive strips (Band-Aid)
3. Bandage – may be used to support sprains and fractures