Climbing Mt. Pulag and reaching it's peak, actually was just a secondary reason why I decided to join BF. The first reason is..I wanted to guard BF because he has some office mates that is too flirty (jealousy just strikes me! hahaha). I think BF knows my real reason. hahaha. Oh well, it was just days before the climb so I was really searching the net on what to do and what to bring and what to wear and blah blah blah. I read anything that would give me the idea how to climb and what to expect before and during the climb. We bought new jackets through Sulit.com. Since it was really cold in that mountain, we bought a jacket that has a fleece. It cost us 2000 pesos each. Brand is Columbia. BF borrowed a tent from our former office mate and I listed down things to bring on the climb. The list was based on what I have read online. These were the things we brought:
- Headlight
- Slippers
- Plastic
- Medicine (medicol, tempra, neozep, biogesic bonamin,diatabs etc)
- Spoon & fork
- Plate and plastic cup
- Sleeping bag
- Bonnet
- Jacket/windbreaker
- Gloves
- Extra socks
- Poncho
- Shirt
- Underwear
- Digicam (this can't be forgotten :D)
- Food (Gatorade, Chips, Candy, Bread, Palaman, Cup Noodles, Water, Coffee, Milo, Sugar, De lata)
- Others (Insect Repellent, Lip Balm, Baby wipes, Sunblock, Tai Chi, Soap)
Actually we almost brought everything in the list, except for food because our bag has limited capacity. But definitely we have water, gatorade and bread and jelly ace! (I just felt that I need jelly ace and it will help me survive LOL).
And the day we've been waiting for had come. After office, I went straightly to BF's office in U.N. Avenue. That will be the meeting place for all the joiners (since almost all of the joiners were his office mates). I arrived there around 6:30PM. We fixed our things then ate dinner. BF's boss negotiated a jeep to take us to Victory Liner bus terminal in Sampaloc. Our departure time is 11:00PM.
It was first time for me to travel at night and I find it kinda hard because I really wanted to sleep but I don't feel comfortable. I had tried sleeping on the bus before but not that long! It was really hard to adjust. I just enjoyed the view, eat and talk to BF about anything so I will not notice the time. But Oh My! The time doesn't seem to passed-by so fast! And since the bus driver turned off the lights already (but there were still dim lights), I just forced myself to sleep or maybe just take a nap. Thank God, I was successful but ofcourse it was not a goodnight sleep.
We arrived at Baguio around 4:00AM the next day. Travel time at night is short because there are less traffic. The jeep to Benguet was already waiting for us there when we arrived. And the driver warned us about the super bumpy ride. I had already read online about the way going to Benguet and some described it as a zigzag ride but I didn't know that It was not only that zigzag. It was super mega zigzag! I think the road going there is a mountain and there was a cliff on my right. I was not able to take a picture of the road because I felt like I was dizzy already. Dizzy and sleepy and hungry. What a very nice combination right? But yeah I did enjoy the view. It was like nature-tripping at it's finest.
At last we had our first stop-over. The eatery! Yahoo! We are going to eat breakfast! According to what I had read, this eatery was the most famous eatery for all the climbers of Pulag.
Sad to say, the food is almost gone! Since this eatery is famous and it has no competition, almost all of the climbers that day ate there and it's a weekend. So what do you expect. There were few dishes left. I just ordered 1 cup of rice and litson kawali. And added another cup of rice and viand for take-out. It will be my lunch later.
After breakfast, we continue traveling again. It was like a never ending travel. Stress is already getting into my nerves but I don't wanna ruin my mood so I just ate again and enjoy the view. We then passed-by a dam. It's called Ambuklao Dam. The driver stopped and asked us if we want to take pictures of the dam and ofcourse! I will not let this opportunity just passed, you know! hahaha.
After the pictorial, we started traveling again. My gosh it was really far! It felt like I was traveling my whole life! (hey that's too much hahahaha). BF rode at the top of the jeep together with his other office mates but I refuse because I was afraid (a bit only ok haha). But after a few hours, they decided to go back inside the jeep because the road was really rough and the dust is all over their face and body. hahaha.
Before going up, every climber is required to attend a seminar. It will be held at DENR office and it was our next stop-over. We register first then headed to the seminar room. The seminar lasted about 30 minutes and was conducted by Ms. Emerita Albas (she's really funny). Also, you need to register there so they can monitor all the climbers. It's for every climbers good because if something bad happens, they can help.
A lot of climbers left their ID's, group tarp, pictures, etc in DENR office to tell everyone that "hey I've been here before you".
After the seminar and some picture taking, we continued travelling for the jump-off. It was a really bumpy ride. The road is really rough and it's like we're eating all of the dust on the road. I was really amazed how the drivers managed going there with all the rough roads and dust. I was also amazed by the jeep because it really sturdy.
We arrived at the jump-off almost noontime. So we ate our lunch upon arrival then change clothes. We get a porter since I know that I can't carry my bags along the way. And I was also advised by my office mate who already climb there to get a porter. I conditioned myself and off we go trekking!
After almost 2 hours, we reached camp 1. My Gosh. I was really tired! And for your info I have cough during the climb! Imagine this. I feel so sick + I don't have enough sleep + I didn't eat well + it was getting colder and colder! Wwwaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!
After 15 minutes of resting, we continued hiking. I felt so pressured and tired and stress and I was asking myself, "What am I doing with my life?". Well I chose this. So I have to move on.
After one hour, we reached Camp 2. The stress I felt was relieved by the picturesque view. Very beautiful place. Anyone can arrange their tent here. But Ms. Emerita assigned our group at Camp 3 because there were professional mountaineers who will stay at Camp 2. So we just rested and took some pictures then walk walk walk again.
The trail that we were traversing was the easiest and the so-called senior citizen trail because it's more on walking only, less slopes. But it was really tiring! I think I should compromise myself to exercise.
Camp 3 was wwwaaaaaayyyy too far from Camp 2. We passed through a lot of small slopes, climb more and climb more more more! I noticed that I we were getting nearer the peak, the less trees we can see. Probably because no trees can survived the too much coldness of the place.
At around 5PM, we reached Camp 3. Thank God I was still alive when we arrived. But I feel so numb and helpless. I feel so hungry and my head is pounding. I can't help BF to fixed our tent anymore because I really felt so weak that time. All I did was sit down and look from afar thinking "What have I done?" hahaha.
It was really cold at night. I can't sleep and yes I have a severe headache. Good thing we brought some medicines. I took one biogesic and slept easily afterwards. So I wanted to take this opportunity to thank biogesic. It save me from misery! Well I now believe that the product is effective.
I'm also thankful that our tent is a Ridge tent. The moist and slight rain did not enter our tent that's why we slept soundly. But sadly, the other tents were entered by water. So they all woke up around 1AM. We also woke up that time because I felt hungry but good thing was my severe headache is gone!
Around 4AM, everybody woke up, fixed the tent and ate. We were ready to reach the summit! The highest peak in Luzon! What an achievement it will be!
But it's not that easy you know. You have to climb again. It was very steep. Some of us doesn't want to continue anymore. BF asked me if I still want to reached the peak. And without batting an eyelash, I said Yes. Why? Because it was once in a lifetime.
We didn't reached the peak on time before the sunrise but we were able to see the sun and the so-called sea of clouds!
Here's more pics:
After picture taking, it's time to go down. Wooaahhh! We will encounter again all the slopes and cliffs we passed-by yesterday. Oh my!!!!
Going down is much easier because it's going down. For me it's less effort. But BF was scared of the cliffs! When we were climbing, the cliff was not visible because of the fog. But that morning, fogs were missing and you can see in full view the cliff and it's end. You can also see the trail that was created by the first mountaineers who was able to reached Pulag's peak.
We stopped at Camp 2 again to eat breakfast. A lot of campers were eating their breakfast too.
When we reached the jump-off, it was already noontime again. I feel so exhausted and dirty. I just really wanted to change clothes and wash my face. Afterwards, we headed back to Baguio.
It was 4PM when we reached Baguio. Take note, we haven't eaten our lunch yet. While waiting for our bus ticket, we ate lunch at the very famous eatery in Baguio, it's the 50's diner.
The serving here was really big so the price is reasonable. hey it was not expensive anyways. And I believe the food was superb!
While going back to Manila, I was mesmerizing the time while we were trekking. Although it was really tiring, still it was an adventure to remember. It feels like I was really close to heaven.Given a chance, I would like to try climbing it again but this time through Akiki trail for more fun and excitement. hahaha. Definitely, it was a privilege to climb one of the highest mountain in Luzon, Mt. Pulag.
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| me and BF at their office |
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| during travel |
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| this is our jeep |
At last we had our first stop-over. The eatery! Yahoo! We are going to eat breakfast! According to what I had read, this eatery was the most famous eatery for all the climbers of Pulag.
Sad to say, the food is almost gone! Since this eatery is famous and it has no competition, almost all of the climbers that day ate there and it's a weekend. So what do you expect. There were few dishes left. I just ordered 1 cup of rice and litson kawali. And added another cup of rice and viand for take-out. It will be my lunch later.
After breakfast, we continue traveling again. It was like a never ending travel. Stress is already getting into my nerves but I don't wanna ruin my mood so I just ate again and enjoy the view. We then passed-by a dam. It's called Ambuklao Dam. The driver stopped and asked us if we want to take pictures of the dam and ofcourse! I will not let this opportunity just passed, you know! hahaha.
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| I love this shot. Very pre-nup. haha |
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| Ambuklao Dam |
After the pictorial, we started traveling again. My gosh it was really far! It felt like I was traveling my whole life! (hey that's too much hahahaha). BF rode at the top of the jeep together with his other office mates but I refuse because I was afraid (a bit only ok haha). But after a few hours, they decided to go back inside the jeep because the road was really rough and the dust is all over their face and body. hahaha.
Before going up, every climber is required to attend a seminar. It will be held at DENR office and it was our next stop-over. We register first then headed to the seminar room. The seminar lasted about 30 minutes and was conducted by Ms. Emerita Albas (she's really funny). Also, you need to register there so they can monitor all the climbers. It's for every climbers good because if something bad happens, they can help.
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| you can buy souvenir shirts here |
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| hey bf what are you looking up there? |
A lot of climbers left their ID's, group tarp, pictures, etc in DENR office to tell everyone that "hey I've been here before you".
After the seminar and some picture taking, we continued travelling for the jump-off. It was a really bumpy ride. The road is really rough and it's like we're eating all of the dust on the road. I was really amazed how the drivers managed going there with all the rough roads and dust. I was also amazed by the jeep because it really sturdy.
We arrived at the jump-off almost noontime. So we ate our lunch upon arrival then change clothes. We get a porter since I know that I can't carry my bags along the way. And I was also advised by my office mate who already climb there to get a porter. I conditioned myself and off we go trekking!
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| i don't know what is this. but it's cute. hehe |
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| jump-off |
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| the trekking begins |
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| breathtaking view along the way |
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| foggy already at noontime |
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| new zealand? |
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| BF can still laugh. good sign. |
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| Camp 1 |
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| yeah i'm not tired |
After one hour, we reached Camp 2. The stress I felt was relieved by the picturesque view. Very beautiful place. Anyone can arrange their tent here. But Ms. Emerita assigned our group at Camp 3 because there were professional mountaineers who will stay at Camp 2. So we just rested and took some pictures then walk walk walk again.
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| our shoes which we bought together |
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| love the nature |
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| Restroom at Camp 2 |
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| i love it! |
The trail that we were traversing was the easiest and the so-called senior citizen trail because it's more on walking only, less slopes. But it was really tiring! I think I should compromise myself to exercise.
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| me & bf while resting |
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| help me! |
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| the restroom |
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| cliff |
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| i can't even see Camp 3 |
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| our tent |
I'm also thankful that our tent is a Ridge tent. The moist and slight rain did not enter our tent that's why we slept soundly. But sadly, the other tents were entered by water. So they all woke up around 1AM. We also woke up that time because I felt hungry but good thing was my severe headache is gone!
Around 4AM, everybody woke up, fixed the tent and ate. We were ready to reach the summit! The highest peak in Luzon! What an achievement it will be!
But it's not that easy you know. You have to climb again. It was very steep. Some of us doesn't want to continue anymore. BF asked me if I still want to reached the peak. And without batting an eyelash, I said Yes. Why? Because it was once in a lifetime.
We didn't reached the peak on time before the sunrise but we were able to see the sun and the so-called sea of clouds!
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| Very wonderful |
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| I survived it! |
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| me and Ms. Len |
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| group pic |
Going down is much easier because it's going down. For me it's less effort. But BF was scared of the cliffs! When we were climbing, the cliff was not visible because of the fog. But that morning, fogs were missing and you can see in full view the cliff and it's end. You can also see the trail that was created by the first mountaineers who was able to reached Pulag's peak.
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| can you see the trail? |
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| can you see the peak? |
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| BF and the cliff. hehe |
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| Camp 2 |
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| BF is looking forward going home |
The serving here was really big so the price is reasonable. hey it was not expensive anyways. And I believe the food was superb!
While going back to Manila, I was mesmerizing the time while we were trekking. Although it was really tiring, still it was an adventure to remember. It feels like I was really close to heaven.Given a chance, I would like to try climbing it again but this time through Akiki trail for more fun and excitement. hahaha. Definitely, it was a privilege to climb one of the highest mountain in Luzon, Mt. Pulag.
