Mt. Pulag Adventure : This is the Way to the Playground of the Gods

Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
Towering at a height of 2922 meters (9587 feet) above sea level, Mt. Pulag is the highest peak in Luzon (and the third highest in the Philippines). No wonder it is dubbed as the "playground of the gods".

When you reach the summit of the mountain,  you just can't help but get mesmerized of the amazing view. Watching a very heavenly view of a sea of clouds was just too incredible. You won't believe you're practically higher than the clouds on top of a mountain that you painstakingly had to trek and climb for several hours.

I took no time to waste and just quickly grabbed my camera to take photos of the scenery. I can still feel the pain of my body because of the long hours of hiking but every bit of pain was not a very big deal compared to the magnificence of what was in front of me.

I then waited  for the rise of the sun as I watched it rise above the sea of clouds and slowly rolled into the horizon to make way for the glorious sunrise. It was a glorious sight to behold.

 

 

We rode on the Baguio trip from Cubao, Quezon City via Victory Liner bus station (southbound). I was part of the 26 participants during the Travel factor and Victory Liner Biyaheng Victory Mt. Pulag trip. The program offers several tour/travel packages at budget prices. I really believe the prices are very reasonable, but don't expect a VIP treatment here. You won't stay at very luxurious hotels or eat fine dining meals.  Its more appropriate for backpackers and travelers that are not picky of their accommodations and food.

Travel Factor gave us a black shirt with a "This Way to the Clouds" blue and white print. We are supposed to wear the shirt anytime during our after the Mt. Pulag climb so it will look good in the pictures. I decided to wear it on the last day after getting back from the long trek.

Whichever trail you choose - the easy Ambangeg, the challenging Akiki, the arduous Vizcaya trail, or the various traverse climbs - Pulag is a great adventure.

The Ambangeg/Babadac trail is considered the easiest trail available for newbies or beginners. It is considered the main trail going to Mt. Pulag. We opted to use habal-habals (those jeepney-like vehicles that must have a ery powerful motor to be able to climb the steep roads) on the way to the Ranger Station. You can however choose to hike the entire trail from the DENR office where you are required to attend an orientation/briefing first.

From the DENR office, the Mt. Pulag base camp is a 4-km hike along the well-paved trails with a convenient rest stop waiting shed. From the base camp, the summit is just a 45-90 minute hike away. The  time will totally depend on your trekking endurance.

Sometimes, youth is not the only factor that will determine how long before you can reach the base camp or even the summit. There was a more than 50 year old participant who was able to best other hikers who were younger than him.

The journey, however, is more than rewarding.

Take time out to experience the rich flora. It's like entering an entirely new realm as the sight of wide open slopes give in to that of closely-huddled trees, ferns of different shapes, and other rich vegetation.
- See more at: http://www.philstar.com/lifestyle-features/2013/01/21/899516/mt.-pulag-journey-clouds#sthash.Br4kG2jG.dpuf

Take time out to  fully appreciate the amazing views and rich flora. Trees, ferns and vegetation offers and adventure in sight. But bring a sturdy pair of shoes appropriate for hiking as the travel time along dirt roads takes hours depending on your physical capability. I heard later that three members of our group reached the base camp several hours after everyone else was in....and on the way back, two of them finally had to be taken back to the Ranger station via motorcycle.

There were many steep roads going to the base camp. The steep parts are always the hardest parts of the trek. I would often lose my breath and my heart pumping so fast as if it was going to just explode if I push it any further. I would often rest and go with a slower group so that I won't be that too discouraged for being such a slow-poke in reaching the camp, and then finally the summit.

I thought we were already at the base camp when we got into a place where there was a sign and a roofed resting place, but alas I was informed that it was just about half of the journey towards the base camp.

The first resting camp, with a convenient roofed shade was already an accomplishment for me though. The only high enough place I took effort in reaching are the MRT Trarain stations back in Manila. I was surprised I even managed to reach this point. I was even somewhere in the middle of the long queue of backpackers.

But like what the lady back at the DENR office said, the trail of people will soon break apart as others begin to grow weary and tired.

Then I will say to myself "Must consider my health and fitness to do extreme activities. Must exercise regularly and eat a proper diet." but as always - that would only be a wish because when I finally reached home, once again back to the busy work schedules, the lack of discipline and motivation would always kick in.,,,and its back to the same sit all day in front of the computer and the only exercise I get is the rapid typing on the keyboard.

Reaching the base camp was a huge success. The sight of several tents all prepared for us by the advance team was also a remarkable feat. I never realized there are people who have the resistance to carry all that weight and reach the camp several minutes ahead with very little effort. 



We didn't have an exclusive stay at the base camp. The place was occupied by many other groups aside from Travel Factor. The tents were all over the place, and many were already wearing layered clothing as night time was nearing.

The rest of the day was spent passing the night under a very cold temperature. Heck, I was wearing layered clothing but still I was like freezing. I couldn't really tell if I was able to sleep during the night. While other stayed on awake drinking some liquor to get some heat, I was wrapped in a body blanket and shaking as if I have a flu. Night time was a true test of grit when you experience temperatures reaching almost freezing levels.

a true test of grit with the cold reaching near-freezing levels - See more at: http://www.philstar.com/lifestyle-features/2013/01/21/899516/mt.-pulag-journey-clouds#sthash.Br4kG2jG.dpuf

a true test of grit with the cold reaching near-freezing levels - See more at: http://www.philstar.com/lifestyle-features/2013/01/21/899516/mt.-pulag-journey-clouds#sthash.Br4kG2jG.dpuf

Too bad I didn't took pictures of our hike which started at around 4:30 in the morning as we went our way towards the summit. We had to wake up that early so can reach the summit before sunrise. It was still so damn cold I could feel my fingers go numb each time I dare take off my two sets of gloves. I couldn't even make an effort to reach the toilet area located at a distance from the base camp site. Too pee or not to pee. But I really had to go and urinate so I borrowed a flashlight and went to the made-up dilapidated toilet shacks on my own.

It was a total relief upon finally being able to get out that urine out of my system, and I think I felt warmer.

The very smelly toilet (obviously because there's no water around and nobody to clean or maintain them) had to do. I swear I didn't tried to breathe to avoid the awful smell.

Then I went back to where the group was only realizing most of the group already started their trek leaving only a few of us at the last of the line.

The path towards the summit was treacherous for me because I had no flashlight on my own, and the path was not wide enough for a comfortable trek. You couldn't really stop conveniently for you will block the others using the same path. It was only in some wider areas where I made stops just to be able to catch my breathe and bring back the normal beat of my heart to a steady and slow pace.

I was surprised I did made it to the summit before the sunrise appeared a few minutes after. I am so glad I didn't collapsed, slipped, or even fell from the cliffs. It was pure adrenaline trying to reach the summit, and feels like a multiple success after stepping on the peak....and seeing the majestic sunrise.

 

 

As if we are gods that are high above the clouds, and only if we have the capability to look through the clouds and see the rest of the people below.

The Travel Factor group with our head Travel Factor coordinator, Ron Rabadon, poses for a group picture.

    

An awesome sunrise high above the clouds. The photo actually did not do any justice to the real life beauty of the event. It was truly mesmerizing, and extremely inspiring to witness a magnificent beauty.

Finally went back to the base camp, rested awhile, and then packed our stuff to go back to the Ranger station....and at the last part of the Mt. Pulag Journey was another group photo.

Even though many said the trip was going to be rough and extreme for a first-time mountain climber like me, I went on joining this adventure. Many told me to do some jogging and pre-climb exercises, but eventhough I had no time to follow their advise, I still pushed through with the Mt. Pulag adventure. With no personal gear of my own but only borrowed stuffs likes gloves, bonnets, water jugs, and even raincoats (great it didn't rained), I still pursued the trip because I felt I needed something to break my usual routine.

I have to admit it was really hard on my part to accomplish the tasks, but I had no regrets and was never disappointed. I have proven to myself that I have the motivation enough to get what I want and hopefully got what I deserve.

"Mount Pulag is first-rate in giving the novice, the uninitiated, the newbie in mountaineering, hiking or trekking as much adventure and as much awe and wonder as the seasoned mountaineer."

Thank you Travel Factor and Victory Liner for the adventure!!!

To know more about Travel Factor, please check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/travelfactorhq

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