Physics

The Long Climb Up Mt. Banahaw's Elevation

Last September 28, 2012, we went hiking up Mt. Banahaw. It was an exhausting, but great experience! We learned a lot from it and had fun.

As we tread the mountain's elevation, the group notices that  we are less balanced than we usually are and we feel a little dizzy. Our breathing also seems to become heavier than normal. This made it a bit harder to climb up. These bodily changes are normal when at higher altitudes since the air pressure is greater and the air has less oxygen.

To account for these bodily changes you can hold on to the objects around as you climb, breathe more slowly and deeply, and lower your center of gravity by crouching. All of these techniques help the body to better adjust to the higher altitude.

When going on trips like this, we should properly prepare ahead of time. To prepare, we recommend that you bring 2-4 liters of water, packed lunch and a jacket. You should also get a good night's sleep of at least 8 hours the night before and eat a breakfast that will last you several hours of hiking. Wear old but sturdy rubber shoes which may be destroyed by the trip but protect your feet or trekking sandals which won't be destroyed but leave your feet exposed. Also, wear a t-shirt and shorts/ jogging pants. It can also benefit you if you sleep on the way there, as long as you're not the driver, to conserve your energy. When you get to Mt. Banahaw, warm up by stretching before you start to climb the mountain.

View from the top of Kalbaryo (lower part of Mt. Banahaw)