A week ago, we showed you 3 customs officers and 5 other climbers as they prepared to head off on the second annual charity CLIMB-UP Victoria's Peak. The climb, which was led by the customs officers, is being held to raise funds for three charities. The 8 climbers left for the peak at 6:30 on Friday morning and by 11:40 am on Saturday, the next morning, they had finished the 17 mile climb to the top. Two of the climbers told us how it went.
Keith Swift Reporting, Email - [keithkswift@gmail.com]
If you've ever wondered how it would feel to stand on top of Belize, you can start by asking these now certified mountain men who have climbed to the top and brought back the pictures to prove it:
Francisco Matute, CLIMBED-UP
"When you are climbing up the rock face and you look back, its like I am just a grain of sand on this planet called earth; just a grain of sand and nothing more. When you see the vast expanse out there it makes you think if I can accomplish this anybody can do this, they just have to have the heart and the mind."
Efrain "Beep" Phillips, CLIMBED-UP
"Its an experience you can't really...its kind of hard to explain because up there you get that feeling. It's a joyous feeling, especially this trip because the 8 of us made it together so this experience was much more rewarding and much more fulfilling for us."
Francisco Matute,
"You get to do certain things and some things which you never thought you would do in life. You reached past your stress barrier and so when you think you can't handle something anymore, just think about that walk you did and then you will think different about life."
Efrain "Beep" Phillips and Francisco Matute are two of the 8 mountain men who made it to Victoria's summit last weekend. It was Matute's first CLIMB-UP to Belize's highest point and the third for Phillips. It was all for charity and they say the biggest obstacle in conquering Victoria's Peak wasn't the weather.
Efrain "Beep" Phillips,
"When we got back there they had some rain clouds but we spoke to our Mayan guide and he told us that he doesn't foresee any rain coming or any bad weather so we went ahead and beautiful weather. Not even a drop of rain came and we had moonlight back there."
Keith Swift,
This is your third climb, does it get easier?
Efrain "Beep" Phillips,
"Well (for) the mental part yes its easier but for the physical part we still got to climb the same ravines, the same hills, and so its more mental and more preparation; I've learnt from my previous experiences."
Francisco Matute,
"I am an adventurous kind of guy and these are the kind of things I like. It was just to get away from Belize like I said already and out there it is a whole different world from this environment in the city, a whole different world."
Keith Swift,
In what way?
Francisco Matute,
"Nature. There is a lot Belize has to offer and more people should just take the time and go do that."
Keith Swift,
Being that it was your first time, on your way up there did you ever think of turning back?
Francisco Matute,
"No I didn't think of turning back. For me to walk from one kilometer to 23 kilometer and to look up on the rock and not want to climb that, something would have to be wrong with me."
And now that they have done their part these climbers say its now your turn.
Francisco Matute,
"What we put ourselves through for this cause, it would be really sad if nobody comes out and support this cause."
Gilbert Gordon, P.R. Officer for Customs Department
"We're asking that the public call the department and to reach out to help these charities. The target for this year was $10,000 so we are appealing to the general public to please continue to donate towards this generous cause."
The Customs Department will be accepting pledges until for the next week. You can make those pledges by contacting Gilbert Gordon at the Customs Department on telephone number 227-7092.
