Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Conquered Mt. Pulag

Natupad din ang matagal kong pinapangarap, ang maakyat ang Mt. Pulag. Highest peek of Luzon rising 2,922 meters above sea level. Wah! Here also registered ang coldest part of the Philippines. It records as low at negative degree celcius.

Together with my schoolmate and friends, we climb Mt. Pulag namely: Apol, Ian, Rhanz, Babes, Binx, Jessie, Edwin, Ross, Chippy, Ethan and Sam with OA's Mike and Marky, MFPI's Chris and Ren




Mt. Pulag is considered the 2nd highest mountain in the Philippines, next to Mt. Apo of Mindanao with only a few meters difference. It is considered as one of the most beautiful National Parks in the Cordillera Area. Mt. Pulag is typically different from the rainforest mountains in the Philippines because of its open area (no trees mountain). It also has its distinct characteristics of changing color on different occasions and season. During the dry season, Mt. Pulag is brown similar to the chocolate Hills of Bohol. During the Rainy Monsoon season, it will vary from light green to rich dark green rolling plains, almost similar to a well maintained golf course. Local People believed that is was, and is a play ground of the gods.

Nahahati ng 3 probinsya ang Mt. Pulag namely Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet.

We scheduled the climb last Septeber 1, 2007. Following the itinerary, we arrive 5:30AM at Baguio via Victory Liner. In the city, we took our breakfast and prepared all our things for the trek. We've ride a jeep going to Bocod, Benguet. We've seen the fascinating Ambuklao Dam. Grabe!



Before tumuloy ng akyat, nag seminar muna kami sa DENR, Ambangeg. Dun palang ulan at lamig na ang naghahalo. We've transfered to another jeep. This time, 4x4 na to endure rough terrain going to Ranger Station.



Finally, after roller coster ride, murmuring of prayers and instense nervousness, we finally arrived at Ranger station. Mike briefed us of what we expect on the Camp and the summit, the trail and the weather. We've started trekking at 2PM after our lunch.

Mahabang lakad at akyat. Ofcourse, nakakalibang kasi malamig at maganda ang tanawin. We've passed Camp 1 then pitch our tents at Camp 2.

Dito na. Kasabay ng lamig at ulan while putting up our tents, inabot na ko ng mala-hypothermiang feeling. Sobra, chill-out talaga, to the extent na namanhid na mga daliri ko sa paa at kamay. By night, we decided na sa Kubo nalang kami magpalipas ng gabi. Gin and Matador helped us fight the antagonizing freeze. Below 10 degrees celcius na raw yun. Wah! Grabe. Sa huli, kami nalang nina Arian and Rhanz ang naiwang gising, sa balitaktakang computer warranty ang dahilan...hay, hanggang sa taas, trabaho parin...Hehehehe.

After a chilling night, we woke up at 6Am, we continued the trek to the summit. Ang sabi, if you've taken pictures without the endemic dwarf bamboos (Yushania niitakayamensis) and Benguet Pines (Pinus insularis), di maniniwalang nag Mt. Pulag ka so we made sure, may souvenier pics kami with that. Sayang, wala nga lang kaming na-encounter na Cloud Rat.



The summit. Thrilling and breath taking talaga. Kahit madalang magpakita araw, overwhelmed parin kami. Finally, we've landed sa highest poing of Luzon. After several picture shots, we descent back to Camp 2. There, we took up our breakfast. By 10am, we've started to descent back to Ranger station. This time, pabilisan na ang balik.




May mga mabilis nakarating, may mga relax lang lumakad, at may mga pinahaba ang lakad...hahahahah!


We've took our lunch sa Ranger station. By the way, all the foods served were prapared by Mikes group, with Marky (Chippy's apple of the eyes) as the chief cook. Swabe ang food. Teriaky, Nilagang Baboy, sushi rolls, bacon and egg with soup (Don't know the number...hahahahah), asado and the best....Buttered Veggies.

Sabi nga, babalik ka parin sa pinanggalingan mo. So we headed back to Baguio, enduring same rough agonizing terrain to Ambangeg.

We've also sited the MFPI and ASMSI project, "Bring books to the Boondocks" were the group in cooperation with the Asian Foundation distributed books for the indigenous brothers and sisters of the Cordilleras.

After arriving at Baguio City, some of us decided to head back then to Manila, some took time to experience night life at Baguio were we enjoy the BEST BAR at Nevada Square... hahahah, thanks Ethan. and some, enjoyed the city till next day.



For link to the pictures, click http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/andrew.minglana/Pulag

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

i was gonna say am not gonna mention his name anymore, not until you make me...so wish me luck!

nyahahaha!!!!!

 

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