TWO Japanese senior citizens successfully climbed Mt. Apo, making them the oldest foreign climbers to climb the country's highest peak.
In a Facebook post from the Sta. Cruz Municipal Tourism, the two were identified as Chishiho Okada, and Hiromi Matsumuto. Both are 79-years old.
Okadan is the oldest, who was born on February 2, 1943, followed by Matsumuto, born on March 17, 1943.
The two are part of the 13 trekkers, all are senior citizens, who climbed the Sta. Cruz Trail on January 21 to 23, 2023.
However, Dabawenyo climber Pascacio Carcedo, 83, is still the oldest person to climb Mt. Apo in September 2022.
Sta. Cruz tourism officer Julius Paner told SunStar Davao in a phone interview Friday, January 27 that they were impressed with the senior citizens who climbed the tallest mountain in the country.
"Somehow, maayo siya na indicator. It's something beyond our expectation. With this coming out of seniors nga nagasaka, we are opening our adventure sites for senior citizens," Paner said.
With the growing number of senior citizens hiking Mt. Apo, the official said this would motivate not only fellow seniors, but others to also engage in such recreational activity.
Paner said the municipality had an existing partnership with a Japanese tour adventure operator, who manifested to have a tie-up last year.
"Of all the trails, kita ang napili nila nga agian. Kita ang nahimong official trail sa ilang guest,"
Meanwhile, he said that they are strictly monitoring the condition of the hikers before they would be allowed to trek Mt. Apo to ensure their health condition.
Meanwhile, Mt. Apo has been implementing a three-month annual off-season since 2022,
The annual off-season, which happens every June to August, gives way to the rehabilitation of the MANP and allows fauna species in the natural park to breed without disturbance.
The closure is pursuant to Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP)-Protected Area Management Board (Pamb) En Banc Resolution No. 08 series of 2021, which prohibits all trekking and camping activities on trails within the Davao Region for the off-season period.
Paner said only 35 to 50 hikers are allowed to climb the mountain per day. RGL