UP Mountaineers mark 35th year with 35-hour run

The U.P. Mountaineers celebrate 35 memorable years of climbs to some of the country’s most challenging peaks with a run around where it all started – at the UP Diliman campus. Bearing the Mountaineers flag, its members will run around the UP academic oval non-stop for 35 hours from June 28 to 29. The run will be held to reiterate the organization’s commitment to responsible outdoor practices, environmental awareness, and competitive excellence. The tradition, referred to as the Anniversary Run, also marks the start of the training and application period. The UP Mountaineers Applicant’s Orientation is open to both new and experienced mountaineers, and will be held on Friday, July 6, 2012, 6 p.m. at the UP Bahay ng Alumni, Diliman, Q.C. and at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at R.O.X, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig. Founded in 1977, the UP Mountaineers is a leading mountaineering organization in the Philippines whose contributions to the sport and other related activities, and environmental conservation has been notable throughout the years. Prominent members include Romi Garduce, the only Filipino who has completed the Seven Summits expedition (reaching the highest summits of all seven continents); First women to traverse Mt. Everest: Noelle Wenceslao and Janet Belarmino; Illac Diaz, the founder of the Liter of Light (Isang Litrong Liwanag) Project; and botanist Leonard Co.

The diversified demographics of the organization has been one of its strong points in keeping the group dynamic, with members as young as high school students and as old as senior citizens. For more information, you can reach the UP Mountaineers at upmountaineers.35years@gmail.com, 09277990889 , or visit their Facebook page. Press release and photos from UP Mountaineers