It was a Saturday in December 2015 when I joined a trilogy dayhike in Montalban.
It was only a week when I saw the event so I immediately tried my best to tune-up myself before the climb. Doing a trilogy is an endurance test and for first timers, we had to make sure we are physically and mentally ready. I also did some research online and asked my officemate who have already conquered some of the summits in Rizal on some advice and tips. This helps as you will be 'theoretically-equipped' with what you will be expecting on your adventure.
Our group of 13 met up in Cubao as early as 3:00AM and left for Montalban at 4:00AM. We arrived at the jump-off point which is also the DENR Office about 5:00AM, signed at the registration and hired two guides.
Mt. Binacayan
Our first target was Mt. Binacayan at 424 meters above sea level(MASL) and a 5/9 mountain difficulty. It was dark since it was just past 5:30 when we began the trek. The trail was a mix of rock and terrain ascents with bamboo trees along side. We took a short break at one edge of the trail to watch the sunrise as well take pictures on one of the rock formations. Sea of Clouds are also a sight to behold.
The ascent to the summit was quite rocky which you have to take long steps from one limestone formation to another. We reached the summit at 7:30AM.
We descended Mt. Binacayan at about past 8:00AM and went back to jump-off point by 10AM to take a rest and prepare for our second and third summits.
Mt Pamitinan and Haponang Banoi share a junction past a forested area where there is a trail on the left towards Pamitinan Cave (which was closed for the meantime) and a rock climbing area. Our guides also advised us to leave our bags at the junction so we can move faster and easier for our next two mountains.
Mt. Pamitinan
Mt Pamitinan is higher than Binacayan at 426 MASL with a difficulty level of 4/9. The limestones here are sharper and more jagged as compared to Mt Binacayan so we have to wear our gloves. The trail is more rocky but there are still bamboo trees that you can hold on to for balance. We stopped over at the they so-called 'Buwis-Buhay' rock (a rock formation narrowing to the edge, just meters below the summit, overlooking the green, rocky forest).
Reaching the summit required rope climbing as it is a 90° inclination. It was like the famous monolith of Pico de Loro. Atop the summit is a beautiful 360° view of the neighboring mountains and forest area.
Haponang Banoi
At 517 MASL and a 4/9 difficulty, Haponang Banoi was the last target in our trilogy hike. The trail began with terrainial to rocky ascents and the way to the summit is more of scrambling through sharper rock formations, longer steps - leaps rather in between rock gaps. The boulders are quite larger and more jagged as compared with the first two mountains. Also, the fact that it was already getting dark added challenge to the trek as we have to move cautiously faster to reach the summit and descend before the sun sets.
We reached the summit at 4:00PM. It was a breathtaking view as the summit itself are composed of sharp rock formations with little or minimal flat spaces that you could step on to. Our guides continues to amaze us as they could easily leap from one rock to another just to shoot our pictures. Shortly afterwhile, we decided to scramble back down the mountain and reached the junction at dawn.
We traversed to Wawa River and took a little sightseeing at the Wawa Dam before heading back to the jump-off point, culminating the trilogy with a refreshing shower.
Overall, it was a very interesting and challenging climb. The three mountains offer different kinds of difficulties and it is up to you on how you will strategize your way up and down. It was also an advantage that the weather was favorable and both our guides, Kuya Rey and Kuya Rommel, were very equipped, very accomodating, and entertaining.
I have always told myself, and even my friends, that if I am to go out on a trek, my first mountain would be Mt. Pulag; and if given a chance, I would do it on my 25th birthday -- even if I have to tag along with strangers because some of my friends don't really like the idea of mountain climbing.
I was already feeling hopeless finding a group to join (and the thought of being 'alone' for the first time) when one of my friends organized a Mt. Pulag event on November 2015 (a week before my 25th birthday). I was so thrilled and my heart jumped with so much joy and excitement that finally what was once a dream has now come true!!
GETTING THERE
Our schedule was lined up at the same time with the APEC Summit event in Manila so it was a two-day special holiday. We gathered at Victory Liner, Cubao for a 9 PM schedule on 17th of November 2015.
It was a long ride to Baguio and was an even longer ride to Babadac Ranger Station in Kabayan, Benguet - our major jump-off. We arrived there on the 18th before lunch, where we began pitching our tents and enjoyed the scenic views of the Mountain Province before the lights went out at 9 in the evening.
THE LONG WAY UP
Most in our group decided to sleep early since our trek will begin at 11 PM, targeting to reach the summit before sunrise.
As the sun goes down, the chilling cold begins to crawl up inside our tents. The wind began blowing so hard and I can't even get back to sleep. Come 10:30 PM, we began our preparations and the long hike up began.
We took the Ambangeg-Ambangeg trail, some call it the 'Artista' trail since it is the easiest among known trails in Mt. Pulag. Though easy as they call it, most of my friends had a hard time dealing with it. It was a long walk, with gradual ascents and descents, on wide to narrow trails. The winds was so strong and chilling, and it was so dark. One wrong step will be dangerous.
We reached Camp 1 at past 1 AM to take a 10-minute break then proceeded to another long ups and downs towards Camp 2, where 2 of my friends decided to stay (one is due to ankle sprain endured from the start of the trek and one is due to chilling). Sir Roli, our major guide advised us to wait for a while since the trail past the camp is still crowded due to large number of hikers that came (taking the opportunity of the special non-working holidays in Manila), which was about 500 pax, including us. While waiting, we decided to eat cup noodles and take a short nap. It was very cold at Camp 2 since there are no trees that can block the winds. We just sat closely at each other and waited for our 'go' signal.
THE SUMMIT
Due to huge number of hikers, we experienced 'traffic' on our way to Peak 2. Due to its steepiness, we had to scramble on our way up and touched down at past 4 am. We caught our breaths and waited for the sunrise and the famous sea of clouds. However, we didn't witness the latter though, only fog-like clouds. But it was still majestic to watch as the sun slowly unveils the majestic beauty of the Lord's creations.
Past 6 AM, nine (9) in the group, including me, decided to push through towards the summit, the highest peak among the three peaks of Mt. Pulag, elevated at 2922 meters above sea level (masl). It was quite a long steep climb but it was worth it -- after all, the 'trophy' was there, written on a plank of wood, that we are standing on the highest mountain in Luzon and the third in the Philippines.
I was never been more proud of myself and I have never felt so free and somehow 'strong'. I felt so blessed that I was able to be in this vastly beautiful place, standing so high, above the clouds and just so closely below the heavens.
This is my Mt. Pulag story and this is where I began hearing the call of the mountains..
PS:
I highly recommend our trusty and cool tourguide, Sir Roli. You may check him out on his personal facebook account or through their Mt. Pulag Escapade fanpage.
