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| (left to right) Erwin, Leonard, Sprite, Gerry, Jogin, Yulia, Dean, Retz, Tin, Nabeel (front left to right) Sanang, Joyce, Mike (not in the picture) |
“You can always climb Mount Pulag and see the sunrise or the sea of clouds but it is not every climb that you experience a storm on top of the second highest mountain in the Philippines”
This came to our mind after an exciting, break-legging and daring adventure at Mount Pulag last September 13-14, 2014. “Ikaw
ba naman ang umakyat na signal no. 2 ang bagyong LUIS…”
This was MikOyce second climb at Mount Pulag but let us share this story because as we said, it was by far the most challenging climb. Our first climb to Pulag was also fun as we met different people but as they say, it is always another adventure:)
At 4 in the morning the group assembled at Caltex, Victory Station in Baguio City. We started our trip with a prayer that God will guide us to be safe considering that we were about to be battling heads on with the storm in the mountain.
The mighty sun still graced us with a good view of the sunrise, the forests and mountains as we had our first stop at Gina's place along Ambuklao road for breakfast. We even had good shots on the dam and spillway as we dropped by at Ambuklao Dam viewing deck. It is along the way if your taking the Ambangeg trail (the easiest trail).
After another hour on the road we arrived at the DENR office. It is mandatory for all the climbers to register here before the climb and attend the orientation which took us around 30 mins.
They don't allow alcohol but aside from it is a good way for socialization it would be literally your best buddy to beat the cold temperature at the summit that can can drop to as low as 3 degrees Celsius.(palusot...hehe)
We continued our journey on the bumpy road going to the ranger station but halfway, we were cut by a road construction. We had no choice but to alight from our jeep and hike further up to transfer to another jeep that will take us to the ranger station.
It is nearly lunch time when we arrived, so we had our rest, ate our packed lunch. Kuya Dean, being the leader of the group coordinated with the Association of Park Guides and Porters for our registration. We hired porters, they were kuya Ador at ate Edine, from the local community and almost at the age of 50. Porters were of big help especially that Kuya Dean literally brought with him his "Kusina" hehe...
We just noticed that the ranger station, mainly their office that we admired during our first trip to Pulag because of its authentic old fashioned Nipa Hut looked different. It was converted into a concrete building. Sayang the nipa hut/mountaineer feeling look! It's supposed to be a reminder that the mountains are holy grounds! Our ancestors protected and honored it so it must stay the same.
At 12:30, we started hiking to the base camp. Occasionally, we stop to rest because others in our group were first timers and were not used to cold weather. It was another challenge for us to support them along the way because we ourselves were also exhausted. Leonard showing his PNP training, was sturdy enough to carry all the bags handed to him :).
It was when we reached the first camp that it started to drizzle. Good thing there was a waiting shed that we shared with the other climbers. Here we changed our hiking outfits to battle armors...:) not literally except for Erwin who brought his combat shoes and heavy duty raincoat he acquired in PNP where he works. It's a good thing we were also prepared with rain coats and garbage bags to secure our belongings.
The rain poured hard once in a while we were hiking in the narrow trail. Water was dripping on our faces! very cinematic look! It was like we were movie stars fighting for survival to reach the summit (at least for me, its what I felt..hehe). There was also spring waters along the trail where we fetched the water we needed.
We managed to reach the base camp at around 3:30pm. We were welcomed by a hailstorm! ice drops as big as peas! brrrrrrrr! It didn't last long. We settled at camp 2, just a little further up the main camping grounds. There were campers settled in ahead of us. We said our hellos and right away we put up our tents before the rain started to pour again.
When the rain poured again some of us stayed inside the tent to cover from the rain while some still worked to put up the make shift kitchen. Our plan was to cook food before dark and eat as a group but due to the hard wind blow, we didn't manage to put up our kitchen. We just decided to heat water for coffee from the portable stove and serve it in each's tent, the same way also for the food.
While kuya Dean and the others were facing the troublesome situation of cooking food, I had my set of problems. The tents of our companions started to get wet inside. I asked them to transfer to the other tent but eventually it didn't cover up the hard rain. Then, I remembered that there was a shed for the guide and porters just beside the main camping area.
I decided to break camp with kuya Deans permission and transfer to the shed. I told them to pack their things and wear their rain suits. Partly, I felt responsible for my companions welfare because Joyce and I were the ones who called them up to the climb.
I rushed to the shed to put up one tent expecting that others might also transfer there. After putting it up, I returned to the camp to help the others. Kuya Dean and the rest of the group stayed at camp two despite the strong wind and rain. But despite it all, what I can see in their faces were smiles.
After settling in the shed, we shared the canned goods, and other viands. The left over rice was just enough for us for dinner.
They were all wet, cold and dead-tired, but before they sleep, I sneaked in a question if they still want to push through to the summit early morning as what I and kuya Dean planned. but after the 'trauma' of the rain and cold weather, they refused to clim the summit...I and Joyce's cousin stayed up for a while and had a couple of drinks of 4x4 I bought in a store near the DENR office before we slept.
I woke up at 4 in the morning, met with kuya Dean and the others. The winds still whistling hard but it was only drizzling so we still pushed to the summit. Our ever reliable guide was still there to help us.
The trail was damp, the fog was so thick we can only see a meter beyond our point of view. It was just minutes walk before we were supposed to reach the summit when it rained hard. Kuya Dean thought it might be a sign that we should get back so that none of us would get hurt. but Of course, we still took selfies and groufies before heading back.
The rest of the group break camp and joined us at the shed where we cooked our breakfast. It was Kuya Jogin's birthday, we celebrated it like a feast but served with noodles, bread, biscuits, coffee and canned goods.
Stories from yesterday and the kulitan during the night started to pour in, laughter filled the small shed, we had conversations as if we were long time companions, friendships were build!
For minutes the weather cooperated and let us took some pictures...
Side trip to the "Badekbek", the sulfuric muddy hot spring, two kilometers away from Bokod-Kabayan National road.
More pictures from kuya Dean and Joyce
It was indeed a CLIMB TO REMEMBER... and yes, MikOyce will definitely go back to Mt. Pulag... who knows, the sea of clouds and sunrise might show up on our THIRD CLIMB. Yes, will keep my fingers crossed.
-mikyong
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