FOR new participants in the 3-category Puting Bato “Climbmathon” it will be new mountain trails to be discovered and some sights to behold atop the highest peak of the Island Garden City Of Samal (Igacos) of the Davao Region.

Mount Puting Bato is actually visible from the nearest neighboring city of Davao, just five minutes motorized banca drive from the nearest points from both sides of the dividing channel of the Davao Gulf.

The latest climb will be a three-category event for experts and new climbers and thrill-seeking adventure sports enthusiasts,Rey Sumagaysay, one of Davao’s most experienced climbers and event organizer, announced during the regular Tuesday forum of the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (Scoop-Davao) at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, this city.

Sumagaysay said that open expert category climbers, both male and female, are now getting ready for the latest marathon climb that will have Punta del Sol as its venue for the fellowship night prior to their transport to Barangay Guilon for the start of the 5-kilometer speed trekking, uphill climb to the shining white Puting Bato on Saturday, August 16, 2008.

The climbers will negotiate a total of 18-kilometers including the 13-kilometer descending, even challenging and more speedy downward trek to the finish line at the City Hall of Igacos.

Categories one and two open experts have trained hard for this marathon climb and the latest high altitude sports is expected to attract a maximum total of 180 climbers most of whom are environmental advocates from General Santos City, North Cotabato and host participants from Davao, Sumagaysay said. They are also expecting climbers from Mt. Kinabalu, one of the most prominent mountains in Sabah, he added.

These open expert categories will do a loaded climb of backpacks and other carrying gears with a load of 15 kilos for men and seven for women.

The third category is for those who are just out to discover new trails and have to undergo basic mountaneering courses as first-time climbers or those who are not yet familiar with the established trails of Mount Puting Bato. The team building and basic mountain climbing courses will be conducted by outdoor sports shop EDGE Davao in coordination with Motorola and the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines, Incorporated.

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