Mt. Pulag, The Second Time Around

Have you fallen in love with a mountain? Every mountain is beautiful in its own way and deserves to be loved by all of us, but there are some mountains that stand out, captivates us and makes us fall for them more than we do other mountains. Of course there can be more to one when it comes to that, and its okay you are not betraying the other mountain in that case, monogamy only applies to romantic love. The first mountain I have fallen in love with is Mt. Pulag.

I wasn't  a mountaineer back then, I am not sure if I am one now though, are there any qualifications? Let’s just say I haven’t climbed a mountain back then, but there was already the desire to go tramping into the green wild. Year 2011, a friend from Nueva Viscaya told me how there is a mountain she wants to climb close to her hometown  and so I searched for it and bam! I fell in love. How could such a beauty not be seen in one’s lifetime?

Last April of 2012 I have fulfilled that dream but my friend hasn't, the irony of life. After a year has passed I began to miss it and I knew I had to go back. This time I was going with total strangers (but not anymore), I figured I want to see different faces and meet new friends so last Dec. 27-29, 2013 I once again packed my gears (makes it sound like I have all of them) and decided to brave the cold and hit the killer trail (Akiki trail) once again.

The night of December 26 we boarded Victory liner in Pasay (every Filipino mountaineer knows this bus) at 20:00 and arrived in Baguio the next day at around 3:00, we waited for some of our group mates who were already in Baguio, had some coffee and  oh that strawberry flavored “Taho”. We had our breakfast at Ate Gina’s (she is one of those you need to contact if you want to climb this mountain) restaurant at around 4:30 and boarded the monster jeep again at 5:00 to take us first to the DENR HQ and then to the jump off. This was also my first experience of “topload”, this is what we call riding the jeep (sometimes bus) on the roof. Yes, it was exciting, fun and it kind of hurts your butt too.

Dec. 27 at around 9:00 we took the first step and we know there is no going back. We hiked 3 hours to Eddet river and had our lunch. At around 12:45 we our misery started because we will be literally defying gravity with the almost 90 degree slopes of the Akiki trail. At 16:00 we were all smiles, congratulating ourselves because we made it to the Marlboro camp and not everyone can do that I must say, specially with a heavy backpack. But of course, thanks be to God for giving us the strength to do so. We set up our camps, prepared our food, had our socials and just enjoyed the place before we called it a day, slept  and re-charged our bodies, specially our knees for the next day.

I've heard that laughter is the best medicine, I say sleeping is one of those medicines, but as soon as you get enough, you have to wake up and get moving if you want to get somewhere. So we woke up at 6:00 on our second day to get the meals done, took pictures, packed our things up once again because the mossy forest is waiting. We agreed to have a heavy breakfast because we were targeting to reach the saddle camp by 14:00 with no lunch break.

We left Marlboro Camp at 9:00 and thankfully we were able to reach the Saddle Camp on the time set. We can already feel the chill, but not freezing yet as the friendly sun was still with us so we were able to prepare the meals with smiling faces, roam around mini peaks near the camp (and took pictures as usual) before we decided to prepare food for dinner. As the sun bade us goodbye, we became ninjas, we covered everything except our eyes. Even though it was freezing cold we still managed to have our socials courtesy of Kuya Elvin’s party tent and some sort of foil-like thing that reflects heat placed on the top of the tent. This is where we officially introduced ourselves, our organizer, Christian really pushed us to do what you usually do before at school (say your name, what you do, first climb etc.) except you have to add your first impression with everyone at the team which was really tough because I don’t usually form an opinion about a person I just met and I am just not really good at this thing.

After the socials, I was the first to say goodnight again (I was always the first one)  but I woke up in the middle of the night because of the cold, I was trying to psych myself but it didn't work so I got out and found out that the youngest from our team, Kevin was having a fever of sorts due to the cold as well and his cousins attending to him. I requested for coffee since they were already heating some water and there’s no way I’m removing my gloves in that subzero temperature (good thing I have a team who can do that for me huh?). I stayed at Kuya Elvin’s tent for the rest of the night while he and the rest of the men in our team just stayed up till the dawn, I didn’t kick Kuya Elvin out of his tent, he decided for himself to stay awake, and besides they were eating their way till dawn (that should keep you awake right?).

They woke the rest of us at 5:00 on our third and last day at Pulag so we can reach the summit before sunrise to witness the famous Sea of Clouds. God granted us our heart’s desire and we were blessed with a stunning sunrise over the Sea of Clouds. We jumped, we smiled, we posed  and did all sort of things for the camera trying to capture the beautiful scenery in front of us. We didn't want to leave but we had to, specially that we have left Kevin due to his fever with his cousin Kuya Makki back at the camp.

At 7:30 we were back at the saddle camp to prepare our last brunch at Mt. Pulag and surprise! We were greeted by the snow all over our tents! Okay, they're not really snow, they call it frosting, but isn't Frosty the snowman? We left feeling so blessed at around 9:30 still seeing the sea of clouds, they seem to linger a little longer that day. We arrived at Ambangeg's jump off at around 1:30 and bought something to eat before we headed to Ate Gina's restaurant again to have our early dinner and went straight to Baguio. We arrived there at around 17:30 at the Victory terminal because three of our teammates had to buy tickets while the rest of us stayed in Baguio at Christian's friend's house to have a taste of Baguio the next day before going home.

They say you never climb the same mountain twice, because the weather is different, the company maybe different and you are a totally different person and yes they are right. Maybe we haven't changed big time but we, whether we know it or not has embraced new ideology and formed a different world view while letting go of some. It was my perfect Pulag climb because everything was just perfect, the company, the pace and the weather. There wasn't even a drop of rain, yet we had the sea of clouds and those little frostings!

On that climb we weren't fast, but we were consistent so we got on the target place at the set time, which formed this thought in my head that I'll leave with you "What you can't beat with strength, you can beat with time" (I hope I was the first one to say that :D). Till next time?

Oh and below are our photos and  here is my facebook page  you can like it if you want. :)
https://www.facebook.com/timelessterry

Yes, the sea of clouds.

And here's the snow!

The team on Top. L-R, Kuya Jojo, Carmela, Michael,  Paula, Kuya Myk, Felix, Wilson, Mira, Me, Pau, Christian and Kuya Elvin.

"The Jeep", Inside and out - my first topload experience.

I know, looks like a still from a scary movie but it actually is a beauty when you see it with your own eyes. Akiki Trail. 

Stop over along the Akiki Trail nearing the Marlboro Camp

the Ladies and Gentlemen at Saddle Camp. At the back is the summit of Mt. Pulag.

At Baguio, Kuya Alex' House, he's the one at the topmost left part.

Tinuy-an Falls and Hinatuan River

Who are you with?  Why are you alone? Don’t you have friends or a boyfriend? The questions I have to answer time and time again during my solo trip to Surigao last October 11-14. It even got me thinking if I really do have friends. Do I? Alright, I think I have a few good friends but they can’t be travelling with me all the time, or at least I thought. J On my first day I explored the so called “Niagara of the Philippines”, Tinuy-an falls,  the widest most beautiful falls I have seen so far and the bluest river (but it’s not sad) of Hinatuan, the Enchanted River.

I arrived in Butuan in Thursday (last Oct. 14) at around 15:00, ask around and was directed to ride a multicab bound to Butuan terminal  (fare is 20PHP). Multicab ride is around 40 minutes including multiple stops. At the multicab there was a lady and his guy friend who were quite amused at hearing me speak in Bisaya, asked where I was headed and the lady offered to accompany me to the bus terminal as she is headed to Mangagoy as well, however, knowing that I can also ride a van I inquired about it and did not ride the bus leaving at 16:00. At the entrance of the terminal there are dispatchers and they told me to wait and assured me that a van will pass by, after waiting for almost an hour however I asked them in a serious and pleading tone (the lady in distress kind of way J) if the van will ever arrive, and they said it will but they don’t know when, it was at that notion that I opted to take the bus, I am guessing the van going to Mangagoy leaves in the evening, just a calculated guess so don’t expect it. J

To make the long story short, I rode the bus leaving at 17:00, it was a sweaty, long and bumpy ride but I managed with all that is within me to take a nap when evening came because I haven't slept since the night of the previous day and I am certain I looked so wasted as one passenger kind of looked at me with so much concern and he was like, “Where are you staying? I can help you find a good place”. I wouldn't want to judge him of course but because he was a guy, I just smiled and I guess he knew what that meant.

I arrived at Mangagoy at 22:00, I agreed to the first man who approached me for a ride because I don’t really have time to ask around and told him to bring me to a cheap and safe hostel just so I can have some place to sleep. He took me to “Sleep In”, which is by the way just a walking distance from the highway, you can just walk and ask around if its daytime, they have different types of rooms they even have air-conditioned ones but I opted for the fan room for  150PHP.

I woke up really early the next morning with the help of my phone alarm at 5:00, I did not allow myself to indulge in morning laziness because I knew I need to be back to Butuan that same day for me to travel to  Siargao the following day, and I must say I am very proud to keep up with my itinerary. :D I left for for Tinuy-an at 6:00 and arrived at 7:00 riding their famous habal-habal installed with a roof.

It was a long ride, yes, but the road is no longer bumpy just a lot of difficult hilly ascents and descents which is scary at times but I had to trust the driver.  Along the road the driver – Kuya Julie (he is a man and married with kids but I don’t know why the Julie), asked me where I’m headed next so I said Hinatuan, he said he could take me there directly after tinuy-an to save me the hassle of transferring rides. I didn't agree  at first because the deal for him to take me to and from Tinuy-an is only 300PHP and going straight to Hinatuan will cost me 1000PHP, so I said I will think about it.  After exploring Tinuy-an and seeing how he was really a trustworthy man (left him all my things) I decided to hire him for the entire day at 900PHP, I was able to negotiate 100php. If I took the alternative transpo I could ride a bus to Hinatuan which is at 30PHP and ride another Habal2 for 300PHP as per the locals but I was already having a friend and If there is anything I can buy, why not buy time right?

The falls was truly breathtaking, I guess I could say it was a moment that took my breath away but I had to fight and get it back because I had to live. Kidding aside, I really am thankful to God for giving me the courage and assuring my safety for that trip because I was able to see how beautiful it really was that pictures you see can’t justify it. You may not appreciate the  first level of the falls being the closest to the entrance but the second one, which is mostly what is depicted in the pictures is the highest and the widest, you can’t really get under it because the current is so strong. The third and the fourth levels however, are not that wide and long but there you can immerse yourself under the falls and see the seemingly carved rock walls and the lush green trees that makes the place more heavenly. Going up to the third and fourth level requires that you get a guide and I strongly suggest that you get one because the way is very slippery and this place does not hold a record of zero fatality rate, at least one dies every year as per the guide so saying be careful can’t be stressed enough.

After an hour of dipping and jumping on its cold waters, I figured I had to leave for Hinatuan as I had to see the fish feeding at 12:00. Leaving from Tinuy-an at 8:00, we arrived at Hintu-an at 10:00 so I had spent more of my time at the river, which is good because there were more people there and a lifeguard, they also hold a record of zero fatality rate so I felt it was really safe to go swimming there alone.

I was amazed at seeing that it really was colored so blue, but I was more amazed when I tasted that it was salty. I didn’t drink form it of course, but you can’t be dipping in waters and not tasting it somehow, so why is the water salty? I have no idea, my guess is maybe it was close to the sea?

I had someone take pictures of me at Tinuy-an, but I thought who would take pictures of me here? Being the resourceful that I am, I saw a cottage and talked to the man who was sitting there, discovering that he was the life guard I left him my camera and he became my instant photographer. I also had my early lunch before diving in the blue waters and I must say they have the cheapest seafood on earth. J

While dipping, the thing I enjoyed the most was balancing myself in between two big balls in what seems to be a life line they have installed near the cottage not very far from the bluest part on the right side of the river, that is until I saw the fish getting ready for feeding. Boy, the fishes were too big and too many and they really come out at around 12:00 noon expectant of their portion, this I could say is truly magical and enchanting.

I left at around 12:40 and was able to ride a van heading back to Butuan at 13:15. I was blessed with a very good weather and had meet really good people including Kuya Julie that day, it was trip I’d do all over again.

I am sharing with you my itinerary and expenses. My dinner for day zero by the way was the lanzones I bought on the bus station which I ate on the bus and my breakfast the next day was cup noodles and bread I have bought with me from MLA. J This is Kuya Julie’s contact number if you are interested : 09168719168.

Day 0

15:05 arrive airport.. Ride multicab to butuan terminal (20 PHP)

15:40 arrive at terminal

17:00 bus to Mangagoy (240 PHP)

21:45 arrived at mangagoy, ride tricycle to hostel (50 PHP)

22:00 arrived at hostel (150 PHP)

Day 1 - 6:00 to tinuy-an8:00- left tinuy-an (tricycle 900 PHP for whole day)

10:00 arrive enchanted,.

10:30 early lunch

12:40 head back to main road for  butuan..

13:15  van back to butuan..

Below are some photos but you may visit my fb page and like for more photos. J

https://www.facebook.com/timelessterry

ain't there a rainbow always after the rain? the second level of Tinuy-an but is the main attraction

on the way up

3rd level

4th level

yes, that is Kuya Julie and me in a roofed habal-habal on the way to Hinatuan - Enchanted river, pictures below.