Climbing Mount Robinson

Since 2009, the Tabubil Cats select-side rugby team have hosted an annual climb-a-thon up the highest mountain in the Star Mountains to raise funds for their Australian tours. 

To date, there have been four climbs to the top of Mount Robinson which has contributed approximately K8000 each year towards the tours. The climb-a-thon is usually held on the second week of January yearly and is used as a bonding session for players and management. 

Tabubil township - photo taken from Mt. Robinson by Darusila Ingirin 

A typical climb-a-thon starts on a Saturday at 5am where players and supporters assemble at the Tabubil Police Station or Tabubil Hospital and are transported by bus to the Helsinki Check Point. After a de-briefing, the walk begins around 7am on the two-hour climb uphill (three hours if it rains). By 11am, everyone will have reached the top of Mount Robinson. There is photo session, tour of the repeater station, BYO lunch, and of course the breath-taking view of the Tabubil township. Going downhill begins at 12pm and most trekkers complete by 2pm. Once at the base of the mountain, a head-count is taken to account for everyone and the organizers call it a day.

Along with the players are friends of the rugby team and other interested supporters who walk the track just for the sake of the experience. Those who have climbed have spoken of how arduous and strenuous the trek is. Many have had to nurse sore thigh and leg muscles for at least two weeks after the climb. Therefore it is especially important to those not-so-sporty supporters to train weeks in advance so as to get fit and hopefully minimize soreness afterwards. Fortunately, the rugby team are usually in training mode prior to and during the climb-a-thon and therefore experience little or no discomfort post-climb. Being fit players, most end up assisting those supporters who face difficulties during the trek.

Most players agree that they do really bond after the climb-a-thon and make life-long friendships with each other and with supporters whom they have assisted on the trek.

This is truly one satisfying trek one should experience whilst in Tabubil and it will surely bring out the best in the human spirit.