In 2013, after climbing two mountains - Pico de Loro and Tarak Ridge - J organized for us to climb Mt. Pulag with some friends from our office. We didn't expect that there would be a huge crowd going to Baguio on the first weekend of December so that pushed us back a good two hours but all was well when we reached Baguio and boarded the monster jeep that took us to Benguet.
Half-way through our trip, some of us decided to ride the top of the monster jeep. It was part of the experience, they said. So I went and it was thrilling - at first - what with the cold wind hitting your face and the faint smell of pine all around. It was so refreshing... until I started getting dizzy from the winding road and the speed we were cruising at. I was only too grateful when the jeepney made a stop and we went down.
We had a quick stop at the DENR office where we underwent the standard orientation. I listened intently to the orientation and I found it very interesting. I particularly liked the cultural aspect they included in the orientation. It was then that climbing Mt. Pulag became more than just climbing a mountain. Until now I can still remember the words "Respect Mt. Pulag" very clearly.
After our orientation at the DENR Office, we headed to the Babadak Ranger Station, the jump-off for the Ambangeg Trail. We had lunch before beginning our hike. I had so much hope for the hike, with the photos of a beautiful sunrise and a sea of clouds from the summit of Mt. Pulag I've seen in the internet etched in my mind.
However, the clouds decided to hide the sun as we progressed. Still, I remained positive.
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| Mt. Pulag December 7, 2013 |
When we entered the mossy forest, it grew dark and it started drizzling. I could only see a few good feet ahead of me. The mist was upon us. If it weren't for the people we climbed with, I don't think I would have enjoyed the hike as much. It was a bit wet and I felt cold. And I didn't like being wet and cold at the same time. It was gloomy all around us, the weather and the temperature made me want to curl up under a warm blanket. But still, we were hopeful. We laughed, we shared smiles. When we reached the campsite, we were thrilled.
But the mist made it difficult for us to appreciate the beauty of Luzon's highest mountain, until the clouds parted and gave us a peek of the beauty surrounding us.
It was like a scene from Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince, one of my favorite books. Gazing across the landscape made me think of the Little Prince's fox and his wisdom about taming. Looking back, it was my first sight of this landscape that tamed me. This was what endeared me to Mt. Pulag. It's no longer just another mountain to me. It is Mt. Pulag.
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| Mt. Pulag December 7, 2013 |
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| Sunset at Mt. Pulag |
Night came so quickly. The cold was biting and there was nothing I wanted more than to retreat to our tent. We quickly had dinner and planned to go to another tent to socialize with some of our friends but it grew colder and the mist made it hard to see. That night, it drizzled again and it felt cold and uncomfortable. At 3 am the following morning, we woke up and had a quick breakfast before hiking to the summit.
The trail was wet, making it a slippery hike. I slipped one too many times. It was a challenge to hike in such a condition. J had briefed me about being aware of my temperature and to be on guard about hypothermia so I was constantly taking turns in bundling myself up so I won't get cold and in taking off my cold weather clothes to cool down when I'm beginning to sweat.
I wasn't aware that we reached the summit until our guide said so.
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| At Mt. Pulag's summit |
There was no sea of clouds that morning, only mist. We waited until 7 am but nothing. The cold was biting and I was wet. I felt miserable because I was cold and wet and the temperature was well below what I consider tolerable and comfortable and there was nothing but a sea of people waiting for a sea of clouds that was nowhere in sight. I was irritable and I just wanted to change into dry clothes and to get warm inside a tent.
But on the way down, my irritation slowly dissipated - not because the sea of clouds magically appeared. It was because I realized it was still a wonderful climb sans the sea of clouds. I was reminded of the laughter and the smiles we shared, of our spirit even when it wasn't an easy climb, of our high hopes even though it drizzled - the shared experience that fostered friendship and bonding. It was still slippery and cold was still biting on the way down but I found myself happy. Somewhere along the trails, I found an appreciation for my perseverance and my resilience. I was teary-eyed when I reached Babadak Ranger Station not because I was frustrated but because I was proud of what I had been through. It had been a very spiritually enriching climb, one that made me stronger and more appreciative of myself and perhaps that was just what I needed at the time.
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| Descending from the summit of Mt. Pulag December 8, 2013 |
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