A friend of mine asked me if I want to climb a mountain, which I never experienced before so I asked for the details and who's coming with us. Actually it was a random climb of Jam Shoutboxers, which is a travel inclined people who met through the shoutbox of Jam 88.3. We are more or less 15 in the group.
My friend researched the said mountain, which is called Mount Pulag. Never heard it before but it was indeed the 3rd highest mountain in the Philippines and the highest mountain in the island of Luzon. It was 2,922 m high, just 34 m below Mount Apo's 2,956 m elevation.
Without hesitation, I gave it a go since this would be a new adventure and experience for me. We left Manila Friday night and rode a Victory Liner bus headed to Baguio City. We reached Baguio around 5am and a jeep was already waiting for us that would get us to registration office.
Along the way, we passed by the Ambuklao Dam. Now I know why along the way going to Baguio City, there are some dry rivers or there are only few water flowing down the stream.
Above the Ambuklao Dam, the water is flourishing and had an spectacular view.
We had our breakfast at a local eatery along the road and the air here was getting cooler and cooler.
Around 9am, we reached the Mount Pulag Protected Area office, which is a mandatory requirement to register here and be oriented before proceeding to climb Mount Pulag.
Different banners from climbers and organizations, who already conquered Mount Pulag leave their mementos at the office wall.
Even IDs and pictures of the participants are left here for motivation for other future climbers.
The orientation and registration of climbers were done by the DENR officer-in-charge. The Do's and Don't's were discussed here and the importance of the mountain to the locals and its tourism. Upon registration be sure to inform the DENR ranger the length of your stay, either ovenight or 2 or more days, it's for your own security too.
After the orientation, we headed right away to the starting point which is more or less 1 hour and 30 minutes from the registration office. Different group of climbers gather and prepare their things for the climb. You may have an option to hire a 'porter' if you have so many things to be carried up there.
We had our quick lunch here since our group's leader arranged a home-cooked lunch from a local there.
We started the 2 to 4 hour walk from the starting point. The duration of the walk would depend on the person's phasing. We were welcomed by the white blooming shrubs along the way.
Vegetation fields were every where near the starting point, refreshing view.
When you reach the pathway leading to the side of the mountain, you should be careful when walking here since there are no handrails or some thing in kind to protect you from falling from the steep mountain side. You could see some interesting things along the way like this. Don't forget to rest once in a while along your journey!
We reached the camping grounds around 4pm and we are looking for a great spot for our tents to be mounted because of the limited spots versus an overwhelming climbers.
Campers were on the rush on preparing an early dinner since the only source of electricity here was the sunlight and at night the camper's flashlights and headlights.
There's a man-made comfort rooms here but be sure to be cautious enough to balance yourself because its located near the steep of the mountain. Only a hole was made from the ground.
We are asked to sleep early because we are expected to wake up at 4am to trek the Mount Pulag's top. This is one of the places where star gazing was at its best because they are the only thing you could see up here when its already dark unless the moon is on its brightest.
This was a freezing experience for me because the temperature woke us up at 12mn with a staggering -1 degree Celcius. We already wore our spare clothes for more protection but still the coldness still dominates the atmosphere.
The trek started at 4am sharp where everything that you would see was darkness. Lights from head gears and flashlights were the only source of guide to where to go and follow the path. Everyone should be balancing more on their right side when going up since a wrong step to the left would lead you know where down the slope.
Around 6am, we reached the top and just on time for the sunrise and to witness the sea of clouds. Another good thing with our group was upon reaching the top, we had our warm Milo to ease the coldness temporarily. It was such a relief and achievement for all of us!
When its dark everything was black but when the sun went up, you'll see the real beauty of Mount Pulag, so majestic!
Everyone was busy taking their pictures, taking advantage of the postcard like view!
This was the birds eye view of the camp from the Akiki Trail and Eddet Trail, which were two of the 5 trails leading to Mount Pulag. The other trails were Tawangan and Ambaguio Trail, these trails were more challenging and had more harsh environment and more dangerous.
The Ambangeg Trail was the easiest trail among the 5 trails surrounding Mount Pulag. It was also the most used trail since its the recommended trail for most of the beginners.
Beware of the soil you are going to step here because a wrong move would get you really down there.
Mount Pulag was so big to be strolled at. It was like a grass hill from afar.
The only plant that is endemic to the whole top of Mount Pulag was the dwarf bamboo but since people who climb here leave some seeds from the food they brought downhill, there are also some growth of other plants here which the locals prevent from happening.
After taking pictures and appreciating God's gift of nature, everyone was prepared to go down. See the trail? People are like ants from the top.
The bad thing on trekking Mount Pulag was its destruction because of the numerous trail made by the people climbing up and down, although the guide and the other people insist on using only one trail to preserve its surrounding since the locals here consider Mount Pulag a sacred place.
Here are photos from our trek going down:
It's better to lean onto your left side going down.
The mountain looks like a desert from afar but was filled with dwarf bamboos.
It was really a long trail.
Rocks were already placed at some early tracks of the trail.
Around 10am, we reached the camp again, took our breakfast and rest for a while. We need to pack up right away so that we could reach Baguio City before the sunsets and leave back to Manila before midnight since we all have our work the following day.
The trash you bring in at the camp site should be brought back or dispose it at the city proper instead.
Fire is one of the worries here at Mount Pulag since the whole top of the mountain was dominated by bamboo grass and the surrounding mountains are full of pine trees.
Overall, the damage per person in our climb was only Php 1,500 to Php 2,000, these includes the bus from Manila to Baguio and vice versa, our food and the jeepney rental from Baguio City to Kabayan, Benguet and vice versa. Even the rent to a transient house, where we took a bath and rest before going back to Manila.
The experience was really astonishing because I had never experienced the -1 degree Celsius temperature in the Philippines until I had an overnight stay at Mount Pulag. It was a very tiring experience but it was worth it after reaching the top, see the view and appreciate what nature could offer! I wish I could go back here again and be more prepared! c",)
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