"Graduation Hill"
“Graduation Hill” is a place. But it is not a specific place. It varies from person to person. In my case, my “graduation hill” is a 1- to 2-kilometer stretch of extreme downhill and uphill trails somewhere in the mountains of San Mateo, Rizal, more commonly referred to by veteran trail riders as the Roller Coaster Trail.
On June 19, 2010 I “graduated” from my beginner’s crash course in Extreme Trail Riding. Conferring to me the honors was no other than my boss and outdoors guru, Ed Delgado. He is also the ringleader of our small band of TX125 extreme trail riders. My instructor whom we all fondly refer to as “BigShot” must have been very proud.
We celebrated my graduation by feasting on sauteed Ligo sardines, 555 tuna, and Purefood corned beef, and countless bottles of water and some ice-cold San Mig light in a place called “Gatorade.”
Narrow trail by a deep ravine
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"Graduation Rites" at a place called "Gatorade"
I completed Graduation Hill with flying colors. In my opinion, at least. I negotiated the “technical” downhill and uphill trails with passing marks. Nothing spectacular. I just made sure I could manage to reach point B from point A without calling too much attention to myself — like falling down a deep ravine, or ramming a tree, or tumbling backward in the middle of an uphill climb.
I fell, alright. Twice. Nothing spectacular though. I was stationary when it happened on both occasions. It’s what you call a “timber” fall. You fall to your left or to your right without any apparent reason. In my case it was simply due to extreme exhaustion. And I thought that I was as fit as a bull after completing a 21Km run a few weeks back.
I also got myself a nasty burn on my right leg during one of my falls. It kinda completes my graduation as it serves as a “badge of honor” or a “battle scar.”
Now that Beginner’s Course is behind me I can look forward to learn so much more in the “higher education” of Extreme Trail Riding.
