The quest for the summit of Mt. Pulag
It started to drizzle again, and we still have not reached our first camp site for our push towards the peak of Mt. Pulag. It was getting dark, the sun is fading slowly down the forrest canopy. My shirt is all sweaty, the temperature is starting to drop, feeling cold, hungry and exhausted, we have to sit down for another breather. As I prepare my head lamp and catch my breath, I pinched my cramping leg and assesed my exhaustion. I asked myself, how far do we still need to go?
"RELENTLESS"
It was 3:45 am... 8 excited individuals reached Baguio on an expedition that will test the spirit in pursuit to reach the highest mountain in Luzon, Mt. Pulag.
Mt. Pulag’s peak is at 2,926 meters (9,600 ft) above mean sea level. It is bounded by the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya. It is one of the most sought after mountain for trekking and has levels of trail for different types of difficulties. The team decided to take the more challenging route, the AKIKI – AMBANGEG TRAIL (7/9 difficulty). Also known as the “Killer Trail” by mountaineers because of its challenging steep slopes.
From Baguio we rented a jeepney heading to the ranger station. It was still pitched dark as we drove through the winding roads of the mountain. The jeepney ride was nauseating for me. I forgot the last time i threw up during my travel. The zigzag road was uncomfortable. I slid the jeepney's window and stuck my head out.... there goes the early morning breakfast.
We reached the ranger station at Kabayan before 8am. Inside where pictures and banners of the people who have been to Mt. Pulag. After the registration, an orientation of the dos and don’ts of the National Park was conducted. They showed a short video clip of Mt. Pulag that propelled our enthusiasm even more.
After all the formalities at the Ambangeg Ranger Station, we headed to our next stop which is the jump off to the trail that we are heading. The stairs going up the Akiki Ranger Station was already a feat to behold. This made me think of the things to come during this 3 days and 2 nights Akiki-Ambangeg traverse trek.
We hired 2 porters to carry some of our stuffs along the journey. Porters are at the same time our guides going though the trail. This is also one the livelihood of the community of the barangay. Our porters were Mr. Catumpang Lopez and another strong man, Mr. Baybay Dapnit which I called Hercules. He did not wear the backpack as he should, instead he put everything in a huge sack and carried it with his head.
We took some group pictures before we headed out. After a short prayer we started our ascend. It was passed 12 noon. We were all excited and cheerful as we walked through the trail. After a few kilometers, a few stops and rest, I realized that this is it and there is no turning back now.
The first sets of trails were manageble. I feel so manute among the tall line of trees of the pine forrest. Along the way we passed by century old trees, skeletal remains, and the never ending beauty of the landscape. As the trail changed to a downward hike. We can hear the sound of water flowing, and it gets louder as we descend. We were nearing the Edet River. It was 2:25PM when we reached the camp site of the river. It started to rain. This was my worry during this adventure, the hike will be unpleasant if it will rain hard on us. Our leader Dale asked the team if we should head up to the next camp site or camp at the Edet River because of the impeding rain. The team finally decided to head up to the next camp so that we will not be rushing our assend to our last camp site near the peak. We moved on with our raincoats and crossed the river on a cable bridge. After the river, it was the most difficult part of the trail. An assult of arduous slopes heading to our first camp site.
Baby steps... these were the words that we always here during our ascend. Small steps just to make progress with this gruelling trail. All you can see when you look up is a never ending line of pine trees and when you look down, you will see a very steep trail behind you and realize a very slow progress of ascension. After a while, I felt my leg is starting to cramp. It started with my ankle and moved up to my thigh. The pain was bearable but we were only halfway to our first camp. Well, I thought I was the only one, some of my companions were also feeling the stress of the never ending uphill climb.
It started to drizzle again, and we still have not reached our first camp site for our push towards the peak of Mt. Pulag. It was getting dark, the sun is fading slowly down the forrest canopy. My shirt is all sweaty, the temperature is starting to drop, feeling cold, hungry and exhausted, we have to sit down for another breather. As I prepare my head lamp and catch my breath, I pinched my cramping leg and assesed my exhaustion. I asked myself, how far do we still need to go?
“We are here!!!” It was a relief when one of our companions shouted we reached camp. It was 6:20pm. After a short while, it started raining. After changing our wet clothes, the team started preparing our dinner, adobo. Everyone was cheerful, thankful and high in spirit as we ended our first day of ordeal in this challenging journey.
I woke up and was greeted by the bright sun and the magnificent landscape of the mountain. I sitted in one corner and just enjoyed the view. Breakfast was prepared (bacon) and after a few group pictures, we headed up again towards our second and final camp site. It was 10:25AM.
The next trail was the mossy forrest. It was like an enchanted place, something that you won’t see everyday. The trees and the forrest floor were covered with moss. Birds chirping, snails crawling, flowers and many different vegetation is all over this thick forrest. After the mossy forrest was a clearing, we reached a different landscape of miniature bamboos, we were at the grassland.
It was around 12:30PM. From here the view was even spectacular and we can see the peak of Mt. Pulag. The rolling bamboo trail was a lovely site. The passing clouds enveloped the mountains as we headed to our final camp site. 2:15PM, we reached camp early. Tents were prepared and also our early dinner of corned beef, rice and baby potatoes. The weather was so unpredictable, one minute it is raining, the next minute the sun peaks through the sky. We were the first campers on the site on that day. The team went crazy dancing, singing, documenting and recording videos. Every one was merry untill the night sets in. 2:15AM, I was woke up by my alarm. I stepped out of my tent hoping to see a sea of stars in the sky. And there it was, the Milky Way, right above our tents. It was the first time I saw it with my own naked eye. I was hoping to capture a photograph of it but the cold temperature of the mountain seemingly drained the battery of my camera. I just have to settle and feast with my eyes as the Milky Way hovered over Mt. Pulag.
We woke up again at around 4AM and had our hot noodle breakfast. We have to break camp early, we wanted to catch the sun as it rises over the mountains’ horizon. 4:40AM, we started our ascend to the peak. Moving along the short but steep trail was also challenging because you have to catch your breath due to the altitude. One of our companion was having a hard time walking and breathing. She murmured “parang di ko na kaya” (can’t make it anymore). I told her, think of the goal and not the pain.. think of the beautiful things you will see when we reach the peak. 5:20AM, there we all were... staring at the glorious sunrise. All smiles on our faces knowing what we have to accomplished along the way before we reached the top and conquered Mt. Pulag.
The 360degree view was immeasurable.
After spending some time taking photographs and enjoying the scenery we headed down to our final destination along the Ambangeg Trail. It was mostly downhill from there but the landscape was a never ending pleasurable site to behold. We were at the ranger station at around 10:30AM. After eating a bountiful late lunch at Baguio City, we headed back to Pampanga.
As I rested my sore body on my bed, I looked back at the 3 days I was in the wilderness. The unpredictable weather, the pain and the struggle, the invigorating sight of the lansdcape, it was rocky, mossy, slippery, it was full of life. As a novice to mountain climbing, to experience something so gratifying was a blessing because I was with a group of people whose spirit of comradery is relentless.
I have seen a lot beautiful sun rise in my life, the one I saw atop Mount Pulag was something extra ordinary.
The anticipation, the physical preparation, the enthusiam, the team work, the known and the unknown, the journey... It was one of the best experience of my life...
It was a personal triumph...
"RELENTLESS"
It was 3:45 am... 8 excited individuals reached Baguio on an expedition that will test the spirit in pursuit to reach the highest mountain in Luzon, Mt. Pulag.
Mt. Pulag’s peak is at 2,926 meters (9,600 ft) above mean sea level. It is bounded by the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya. It is one of the most sought after mountain for trekking and has levels of trail for different types of difficulties. The team decided to take the more challenging route, the AKIKI – AMBANGEG TRAIL (7/9 difficulty). Also known as the “Killer Trail” by mountaineers because of its challenging steep slopes.
From Baguio we rented a jeepney heading to the ranger station. It was still pitched dark as we drove through the winding roads of the mountain. The jeepney ride was nauseating for me. I forgot the last time i threw up during my travel. The zigzag road was uncomfortable. I slid the jeepney's window and stuck my head out.... there goes the early morning breakfast.
We reached the ranger station at Kabayan before 8am. Inside where pictures and banners of the people who have been to Mt. Pulag. After the registration, an orientation of the dos and don’ts of the National Park was conducted. They showed a short video clip of Mt. Pulag that propelled our enthusiasm even more.
After all the formalities at the Ambangeg Ranger Station, we headed to our next stop which is the jump off to the trail that we are heading. The stairs going up the Akiki Ranger Station was already a feat to behold. This made me think of the things to come during this 3 days and 2 nights Akiki-Ambangeg traverse trek.
We hired 2 porters to carry some of our stuffs along the journey. Porters are at the same time our guides going though the trail. This is also one the livelihood of the community of the barangay. Our porters were Mr. Catumpang Lopez and another strong man, Mr. Baybay Dapnit which I called Hercules. He did not wear the backpack as he should, instead he put everything in a huge sack and carried it with his head.
We took some group pictures before we headed out. After a short prayer we started our ascend. It was passed 12 noon. We were all excited and cheerful as we walked through the trail. After a few kilometers, a few stops and rest, I realized that this is it and there is no turning back now.
The first sets of trails were manageble. I feel so manute among the tall line of trees of the pine forrest. Along the way we passed by century old trees, skeletal remains, and the never ending beauty of the landscape. As the trail changed to a downward hike. We can hear the sound of water flowing, and it gets louder as we descend. We were nearing the Edet River. It was 2:25PM when we reached the camp site of the river. It started to rain. This was my worry during this adventure, the hike will be unpleasant if it will rain hard on us. Our leader Dale asked the team if we should head up to the next camp site or camp at the Edet River because of the impeding rain. The team finally decided to head up to the next camp so that we will not be rushing our assend to our last camp site near the peak. We moved on with our raincoats and crossed the river on a cable bridge. After the river, it was the most difficult part of the trail. An assult of arduous slopes heading to our first camp site.
Baby steps... these were the words that we always here during our ascend. Small steps just to make progress with this gruelling trail. All you can see when you look up is a never ending line of pine trees and when you look down, you will see a very steep trail behind you and realize a very slow progress of ascension. After a while, I felt my leg is starting to cramp. It started with my ankle and moved up to my thigh. The pain was bearable but we were only halfway to our first camp. Well, I thought I was the only one, some of my companions were also feeling the stress of the never ending uphill climb.
It started to drizzle again, and we still have not reached our first camp site for our push towards the peak of Mt. Pulag. It was getting dark, the sun is fading slowly down the forrest canopy. My shirt is all sweaty, the temperature is starting to drop, feeling cold, hungry and exhausted, we have to sit down for another breather. As I prepare my head lamp and catch my breath, I pinched my cramping leg and assesed my exhaustion. I asked myself, how far do we still need to go?
“We are here!!!” It was a relief when one of our companions shouted we reached camp. It was 6:20pm. After a short while, it started raining. After changing our wet clothes, the team started preparing our dinner, adobo. Everyone was cheerful, thankful and high in spirit as we ended our first day of ordeal in this challenging journey.
I woke up and was greeted by the bright sun and the magnificent landscape of the mountain. I sitted in one corner and just enjoyed the view. Breakfast was prepared (bacon) and after a few group pictures, we headed up again towards our second and final camp site. It was 10:25AM.
The next trail was the mossy forrest. It was like an enchanted place, something that you won’t see everyday. The trees and the forrest floor were covered with moss. Birds chirping, snails crawling, flowers and many different vegetation is all over this thick forrest. After the mossy forrest was a clearing, we reached a different landscape of miniature bamboos, we were at the grassland.
It was around 12:30PM. From here the view was even spectacular and we can see the peak of Mt. Pulag. The rolling bamboo trail was a lovely site. The passing clouds enveloped the mountains as we headed to our final camp site. 2:15PM, we reached camp early. Tents were prepared and also our early dinner of corned beef, rice and baby potatoes. The weather was so unpredictable, one minute it is raining, the next minute the sun peaks through the sky. We were the first campers on the site on that day. The team went crazy dancing, singing, documenting and recording videos. Every one was merry untill the night sets in. 2:15AM, I was woke up by my alarm. I stepped out of my tent hoping to see a sea of stars in the sky. And there it was, the Milky Way, right above our tents. It was the first time I saw it with my own naked eye. I was hoping to capture a photograph of it but the cold temperature of the mountain seemingly drained the battery of my camera. I just have to settle and feast with my eyes as the Milky Way hovered over Mt. Pulag.
We woke up again at around 4AM and had our hot noodle breakfast. We have to break camp early, we wanted to catch the sun as it rises over the mountains’ horizon. 4:40AM, we started our ascend to the peak. Moving along the short but steep trail was also challenging because you have to catch your breath due to the altitude. One of our companion was having a hard time walking and breathing. She murmured “parang di ko na kaya” (can’t make it anymore). I told her, think of the goal and not the pain.. think of the beautiful things you will see when we reach the peak. 5:20AM, there we all were... staring at the glorious sunrise. All smiles on our faces knowing what we have to accomplished along the way before we reached the top and conquered Mt. Pulag.
The 360degree view was immeasurable.
After spending some time taking photographs and enjoying the scenery we headed down to our final destination along the Ambangeg Trail. It was mostly downhill from there but the landscape was a never ending pleasurable site to behold. We were at the ranger station at around 10:30AM. After eating a bountiful late lunch at Baguio City, we headed back to Pampanga.
As I rested my sore body on my bed, I looked back at the 3 days I was in the wilderness. The unpredictable weather, the pain and the struggle, the invigorating sight of the lansdcape, it was rocky, mossy, slippery, it was full of life. As a novice to mountain climbing, to experience something so gratifying was a blessing because I was with a group of people whose spirit of comradery is relentless.
I have seen a lot beautiful sun rise in my life, the one I saw atop Mount Pulag was something extra ordinary.
The anticipation, the physical preparation, the enthusiam, the team work, the known and the unknown, the journey... It was one of the best experience of my life...
It was a personal triumph...