Mt. Pulag: Notes of My Come Back Climb

Initially, I arranged this climb for my sisters and my cousin. After scaling few mountains, I want them to experience the beauty of Mt. Pulag. Later, however, Rose passed the accountancy board exams, immediately got employed and was given an important task. Wan, on the other hand received her regular employment contract and a seminar was set at a date close to the climb.  And so, my sisters were forced to back out.

The Team

Dex, Kinsy, Anne, Cabs, Joy, Rommel, Shiela, Vese, Marian
Rkie, Grace, Mark, Nikki

Dex and I pushed for the climb. We were joined by my cousin Kuya Buboy and his friend, Anne; my high school friend, Nikki, her boyfriend, Mark and their friend, Joy who happened to be my classmate during my elementary years at St. Agnes Academy; and, my dormmate, Grace and her friends. We were actually two teams. Team uragon and team ilocanos.

The climb was set on a holiday. At first, we planned to leave Manila for Baguio by midnight. However, with more travellers and climbers heading North, we booked for the 8:30pm trip of Victory Lines as the later trips were already fully booked.

We reached Baguio at around 3:00am. Ms. Gina Epi, our contact for the jeepney rental, was already there since midnight. She had a couple of climbers booked for Mt. Pulag on the same day.

Briefing and Orientation

The DENR hall was not enough to accommodate all of us during the orientation. Several groups climbing the Ambangeg and Akiki trails gathered to watch a documentary on Mt. Pulag. After receiving instructions from Ms. Emerita Albas of the DENR, we headed for the Ranger Station.

The Ranger Station was crowded with climbers preparing to climb and those going-down. Unlike in 2010 when I first came here, there were people from the DENR/ DOT (I think) who were facilitating the registration of each group of climbers. We were supposed to have two (2) guides but because of the so many groups climbing, we were provided only with one (1) – Sir Nograce.

The Climb

After a short prayer, we started trekking. We were lucky for the good weather. It was sunny yet cold. It didn’t rain and the trail was never left empty with climbers going up and down.

Dinner preps and photo-ops!
Photos by: Mark Stephen Flores

At 4:00pm, after an almost 4-hour trek, we settled ourselves at camp 2. As it gets darker, our clothes get thicker. Finally, we found ourselves almost covered - two (2) layers of socks, gloves (2 layers too) and bonnets.

mga uragon! Cabs, Joy, Anne, Mark, Nikki, Kinsy, Dex
Photo by: Mark Stephen Flores

The sunset was beautiful! Yellow turning orange turning red. That’s how the sky was before the stars twinkle above us.

As early as 6:00pm, we feasted on the scrumptious dinner we prepared. We had sinigang and sautéed vegetables with meat. The sinigang was perfect for the oh-so-cold night! It was 10 degrees. We eat fast after we noticed that the food cools fast! The rice on my plate was as good as refrigerated after a few minutes! Eating on that night was indeed a challenge!

Lights were off at 9:00pm. At around 1:00am, I woke up cold and chilling. Temperature was recorded at 5 degrees.

Summit Assault

Jumping to the magnificent sunrise!
Photo by: Rommel Gacutan Taqueban

Photo by: Mark Stephen Flores

At 3:00am, almost everyone was up sipping something hot. Minutes later, we set-off for sunrise. Although the group was assigned at the summit, we opted for peak 2 where the possibility of witnessing the sea of clouds is higher.

  

Dawn was beyond my expectation. I (and the rest, I suppose) was in deep admiration of the dramatic rising of the sun as its rays slowly tore the deep blue sky over the thin mass of clouds. The sight was breathtaking. It was more than beautiful!

Descent

at Ambuklao Dam

We arrived at the Ranger Station at around 12:30pm. After we settle our porter fees, we headed to M’Gina’s place for lunch. She offers lunch for those descending at P60/ pax.

Bonus

Our driver was kind enough to show us Ambuklao Dam. We snapped a couple of pictures then we headed to Baguio.

Itinerary

8:30pm ETD Manila for Baguio (Victory Liner) p450/pax

3:00am ETA Baguio City

6:00am ETD DENR Pulag

            Jeepney rental p9000

            Breakfast at stop over, Packed lunch

8:45am ETA DENR Pulag

            Orientation. Briefing. Settled fees. p200/pax

9:30am ETD DENR

10:45am ETA Ranger Station

             Lunch. Secure guide. Settled fees. p100/pax

12:30pm Start Trek

4:00pm ETA Camp 2

            Prepare dinner. Sunset. Photo ops.

6:00pm Dinner

7:30pm Socials

9:00pm Lights out

3:00am Wake-up call

3:30am Summit Assault

5:18am ETA Peak 2

            Sunrise

6:00am Head to Summit

6:15am Summit

8:00am Descent (campsite)

9:00am ETA Camp 2

            Breakfast. Break camp.

1:00pm ETA Ranger Station

            Settle porter fees. p500 round trip. p250 one way

2:00pm Lunch at Ma'am Gina Epi's place p60/pax

4:00pm DENR Pulag

            Bought Souvenirs. Logged-out.

4:30pm ETD DENR Pulag

            Dropped by at Ambuklao Dam

7:00pm ETA Baguio