11/09/2013
Support your local mountain trail guides. Local trail guides are essential for a successful trip, they are knowledgeable and efficient in your planed trip. They are also way cheaper than commercializes travel and tour packages.
This is a shout out so we can be aware of something we have known all along.
Our Local trail guides make-do of what they have, but they usually do not have much in terms of equipment. Borrowed bags and sometimes shoes, they sleep in borrowed tents and cook on borrowed pans. Each time they guide strangers they usually carry the heaviest load for they also come as a porter, it is given. Every step they make is as exhausting as yours, just remember your food or water is with them.
I usually do not haggle the price they ask because I know its all worth it, every thing they earn is important to them just as important as experience was to you. They do this for a living and you do this for fun.
At the end of the day I ask my self "was it worth it?!" of course it was. The Trail Guides deserve it. Respect them and surely you'll get their respect.
http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2011/03/essay-guide-to-guides.html
In short: "Do unto others as you want others do unto you!". Respect and be kind to all trail guide because in return you will get their respect and they will be proud of all your claims and achievements. Thanks for sharing this boss Gideon! It's been a long time since my last Climb in the Philippine...