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.
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