KINDS OF MOUNTAINEERS YOU MIGHT HAVE MET

Not all hikers view mountaineering the same way. While some are campaigning for nature preservation, some are just counting mountains they conquered. Some go to the mountains to ease their burden while some want to face the challenges ahead. Some want to socialize while some want quiet time. Mountaineers are ordinary people too. They have lots of differences. They do the same thing, but not the same way.  

What kind of mountaineers have you met along the trails? 

Here are kinds of mountaineers I've encountered from my personal mountaineering experiences:

1. SOCIABLE is everyone's friend. Whether he's the climb organizer or a mere guest, he has everyone's attention and sympathy. He loves to hike in battalion. He does climbing for socialization.

2. HERMIT is a loner type of trekker who seldom speaks, has his own world but no one hates him. He seems non-existent and insignificant. He prefers to climb alone or with a well-acquainted small group.

3. BRANDED loves wearing branded apparels. If he does it whether for durability issue or simply to show off, that's none of anybody's business.

4. NARCISSIST loves to pose and pose and pose. He wastes much trekking time. Most of his photos are all about his face, which ruins the supposedly nice view.

5. PHOTOGRAPHER loves posing with his camera on. He takes photos most of the time. And most of the time, he has the least profile photos. He loves editing photos with watermark of his name followed by word "photography". Funny...

6. STAR is bright like the sun and loud like a cicada. His jokes eases the weariness of other hikers. He speaks noisily and tipsily as if he is in his own room but not everyone is sold out to his orations.

Credits: https://www.outsideonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/img_850x480/public/2017/03/16/reciting-climbers-creed-opening_h.jpg?itok=WyzjnV3y

7. ENTREPRENEUR loves making money from his fellow climbers. He sells out trekking gears and stuffs. He sometimes organizes climbs and events for profit. He even sells "stone" and "five fingers".

Photo Credits: http://i55.tinypic.com/29fcqkk.jpg

 
8. RASTA/TRIBAL loves being weird looking. Artificial Afro hair, tattoos, bangles and other tribal stuffs are his fashion statement. His tattoo may express his toughness. Sometimes, because of his artificial "taong grasa" hair, others wonder if he ever takes a bath. 

 

9. PREACHER loves sharing gospel everywhere he climbs. He is devout to his belief that everywhere he goes, he must spread the good news. While many ridicule him, I personally admire this kind of climber.

10. BLOGGER loves taking choreographed candid photos of himself. He always does a blogger's pose. He also keeps journals and records everything for his write up.

11. DRUNKARD is always a drunkard. He is already drunk even before the trek starts. He feels great and rested when drunk, bad, he sometimes causes trouble among his team. He simply dives down even on a plain surface. He also loves Rock in Roll--- rolling among the rocks.

Credits: https://memegenerator.net/img/images/600x600/15061790/drunk-camper.jpg

12. ADDICT takes weed or stone to make him more energetic or feel ecstatic. He is aggressive, shameless, skinny, has glazed eyes, dilated pupils and sometimes behavioral problems. But let's not mistake all skinny climbers to be addict.

Photo Credits: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d9/54/5d/d9545d146c39e901a1fad1a58e499281--grunge-style-better-life.jpg

13. DAREDEVIL loves to pose on the cliff, edge of hanging rock, top of water falls etc. He is not afraid of heights. Some just say this kind of mountaineer has suicidal instinct.

14. LOVERS are couple having their own world. They tend to resist other climbers as if they are the only ones around. Others are so PDA and almost couldn't wait to get a room.

Photo Credits: http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Pair-Human-Starry-Sky-Star-Night-Sky-Lovers-1215160

15. MINIMALIST is the one who packs very lightly. He barely carries a backpack. He settles on a hammock and trail food. But sometimes, he loves hitching on others' foods and gears.

Photo Credits: https://www.exploreserac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/LNT4-min.jpg

16. NUDIST loves to be photographed in his full glory. He loves being naked for nature art's sake, or for being pervert and exhibitionist.

17. STORY TELLER has always something to say. He loves bragging about his climbing experiences, all the places he's been to and even invents his supernatural encounters.

Photo Credits: httpsi3.wp.comlenk-simmental.chwp-contentuploads201603daip-268_790x444_acf_cropped-1.jpg

18. SELF CONTAINED is truly an admirable climber. He has everything he needs. He carries his house on his back. He can live alone.

Photo Credits: http://www.adventurealan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/gearlist-spread.jpg

19. DEPENDENT is someone who relies on his team. He has no camping gears and stuffs. He survives through hitching on others. Worse, he doesn't help in cooking, he doesn't even help pitching and keeping tent.

 
20. PHILANTROPIST is a good Samaritan who is always there in times of need. He could be an instant porter or almsgiver, first aid responder and a sleeping bag supplier. He is someone who carries baggages of injured teammates or overloaded hikers. A boyfriend pampering his girl or a guy courting lady hiker could be a temporary philantropist.

21. SNAIL is that very slow hiker who causes delay among his team. Sometimes, he kills time taking photos of himself. At rest station, he loves to lie down and nap. A hike is not a contest though. I have nothing against turtles who knows how to give way to overtakers.

22. OVERTAKER is that swift hiker who overtakes slow ones. There's nothing wrong with overtaking as long as it's done courteously.

23. BOSS loves to give orders. He feels great having dominated other hikers. He loves to sit down while others are busy preparing for the camp. He has a strong command. A boss could be a trek organizer, sponsor or a mere hiker who is just bossy.

24. IRRESPONSIBLE MOUNTAINEER thinks that hiking fast and far is the real essence of mountaineering. He doesn't care of the environment as well as his teammates. He destroys natural formations and vegetation for collection. Trash, vandals, fire and damage are among the fruits of his ignorance.

Broken stalactites in San Antonio Cave, Don Carlos, Bukidnon

Vandals at Musuan Peak by proud FORESTRY STUDENTS

25. ADVOCATE is the one who loves to commune with nature and has a burden for conserving it. He might not be the star of the climb but shows a good example to other hikers. He is a serious practitioner of Leave No Trace Principle.