The Great Outdoors. It's the perfect destination for
people seeking the ultimate adventure. The appeal
of activities like climbing a mountain, camping by a
lake, exploring a cave lies in the element of danger
that accompanies the thrills.
Out there, away from the comfort and safety of home,
one learns to make the most of the little that one has
packed. Besides food and water, among the essential
items camping experts recommend are a sleeping bag,
raincoat, multi-purpose knife, matches, rope, flashlight or
lantern, batteries, compass, map, first aid kit.
If you ask regular mountain climbers, they would
probably add to the list a means of communication, like
a cellular phone. "Communication is essential, a priority
like other basic necessities climbers or campers should
bring along, whether traveling alone or in groups," says
climber David Sanares.
He adds: "Don't forget the phone. In an emergency, your
phone could save your life."
In July, he and Louie Rebullar ventured up Mount Apo.
On the ninth day, heavy rains aborted their ascent.
Louie, severely weakend by hypothermia, fell 70 feet
down a ravine along the Santa Cruz route, the most
difficult path up the country's highest peak. He fractured
his spine and became paralyzed from the waist down.
David knew his friend's fate lay in his hands. Leaving
Louie some food and water, he went looking for help.
After several hours, he found himself on a high spot
where he could see the whole of Davao City. Suddenly
he realized, as clearly as the vista below, what he should
do.
He remembered that he had tucked into his survival kit
his Smart cellular phone which had a clear signal and
just enough battery power left to transmit a call to his
sister, who was miles away in Cavite.
His sister then alerted the Davao authorities, and the
next day, the High Angel Rescue Team of the Davao City
Red Cross came to the mountain climbers' rescue.
Another group of climbers was on a clean-up drive on
Mount Kanlaon on Negros Island, unaware of impending
danger. "I was enjoying the beautiful view when all of a
sudden clouds wiped it all out," recalled team leader
Allan Villarante, a Smart subscriber.
Villarante and his companions decided to call their
families in Manila and were told that a storm was headed
toward the Visayas. They quickly wrapped up their work
and managed to reach safer ground before they could be
trapped by the storm.
Many more stories like these are relayed to Smart
Communications, Inc., by subscribers, especially
mountain climbers, giving basis to the marketing line
"Ain't no mountain high enough." As these stories show,
a cell phone has definitely become an essential item in
any survival kit.
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