It was a nice morning of February 20 when we gathered for a meet-up in front of Gaisano South Mall at Ilustre Street with our packs and bought some additional things to bring for our Mount Pulag climb slated February 21 and 22 of 2009. With me is Cris Palban and Alan Molina.
Our flight schedule bound for Manila was 12:45 in the afternoon boarding Cebu Pacific Airplane. We arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 3 at around 2:30 in the afternoon and we proceeded to Victory Liner terminal at Pasay for Baguio City. We met with Sir Ely Magno who was staying at Manila and joined us in our climb. He was 64 years old but still has the power and strength to join us. He already joined us on our Mount Dulang Dulang, Bukidnon Climb last year! I said to myself, Hope I will be like him when I get to that age. Heheh
The travel time from airport to the terminal took only 10 minutes and it metered 75 pesos on a taxi.
4 o’ clock in the afternoon when the bus going to Baguio City started to moved and the fare was 440 pesos. It took 1 hour and 45 minutes traffic before we turned right to North EDSA NLEX. By 6 o’ clock in the afternoon we’re at Pampanga area until we passed by Capas, Tarlac at around 7 in the evening. 7:15 in the evening we had our stop over for a 15 minutes dinner.
9:15 in the evening and we’re at Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. By 10 o’ clock in the evening we had another stop over at Asan Sur, Sison, Pangasinan. We arrived at Baguio City around 11:20 in the evening. Then we proceeded to King’s Court Pension lodge for some bath and rest but before we put the lights off for that night, we went to 7 Eleven store just outside the inn and purchased some foods and coffee for our early morning travel to Kabayan, Benguet.
We all had our share of a good night sleep and our first task for that day was to arranged our things and met up with our co- climbers from Manila who joined us for the climb, We took our breakfast at the Bagiuo Public Market food area and off we go bound for Kabayan for a four hour trip.
We hired a passenger jeep for 8 thousand pesos that will fetch our group from Bagiuo city to Ranger Station and back to Bagiuo City the next day.
Preparing our packs
All the bags are packed and bought some items like food for dinner, for breakfast and for lunch the following day. Our food itinerary includes spaghetti, sinigang na baboy, fried fish, adobong baboy, dried tuna fish, and some other canned foods brought by the guys from Manila and we planned for some fruit cocktail but we lacked time preparing for it.
On our way to Kabayan, Benguet
We departed Bagiuo City at around 8:45 in the morning on our way to Kabayan, Benguet. By 10:10 in the morning we arrived and stopped at the viewing deck of Ambuklao Dam. By 11 o’ clock in the morning.
Ambuklao Dam
We Arrived at the DENR Station where we are scheduled by Ma’am Emirita “Mering” Albas, protected area superintendent of Mount Pulag National Park for some briefing. It started 11:30 in the morning since there are other climbers who first arrived than us.
The brief orientation
A video was also played about Do’s and Don’ts when at the park. We left some our things that will not be used for the climb to lessen our packs and rented 2 blankets for 25 pesos each per day. Our group briefing and video show took 30 minutes. We ate our lunch meal at the store just outside the DENR station that offers the meals.
Taking our lunch meals
Off we go and proceeded to the Ranger station at 1 o’ clock in the afternoon and the road was getting rough and tough. Good thing the driver of the vehicle we hired was good in maneuvering the wheels to avoid stuck in the mud. The scenery was nice, pine trees surrounded the area with wild flowers soothing to the eyes and with the cool breeze of air that moisten our skin.
A glimpse of the scenery
After 1 hour, we arrived at the ranger station. We are all relieved that we got there safe with no bruises due to the unending pounding of our bodies to the metal body of the vehicle. What a great ride! – risky though.
We were approached by the deputy of the Babadak Ranger Station. From there, we logged our group, have our guide and porter. It was 2:30 in the afternoon when we started to trek on our way to the camp area of Mount Pulag. I liked the way this Mountain Park is being managed and operated because all are organized and all concerned personnel related to this ecotourism are hospitable from the DENR Superintendent to the guide and porter. – In short, they all knew what they were talking.
On our way to mossy forest
The first 30 minutes of the trek was already a sight to be hold scene were pine trees are all around the area and along distant rolling hills wrap the range of mountains with some landscapes that are cultivated with vegetables and crops in a terraces way. – imagine what it look like.
Entering the mossy forest
By 3:15 in the afternoon, we entered the mossy area and the weather was starting to get cold and less sunshine but still the sky was still bright. The trail was still easy very and manageable. Since we already anticipated the trek time until we arrive at the camping area, we took the opportunity to relax. We just walk like we were in the park and savor the moment of being there. In the first place, we just came there from afar for that reason. 
Wild flowers and old trees
20 minutes had past and we arrived at Camp 1. It has a small resting area that a climber can sit and take a refuge in case there’s rain. There were other mountaineers heading to the camping area at the peak whom we knew are coming from Manila. We exchanged talks – yeah, talked about mountains in Mindanao after they knew we were from Davao. Ehehe – Do you know what the common question they asked? Heheh “Have you climb Mount Apo?” hehehe
We arrived at Camp 2 where we will spend our night at around 5:25 in the afternoon. Chilling wind and a picturesque landscape abound the area. Wheew! What a great feeling.
Camp 2 area
Pitched our tent and prepared for our dinner, we cooked spaghetti, sinigang na baboy, fried fish and some ready to cook meals brought by our Manila guys group. Dinner was great but the freezing coldness of the area with the chilling gust of wind prevented us from staying too much outside the tent. For sure the temperature, that time was less than 10 degrees Celsius.
Dawn and we woke up at around 4:45 in the morning for the attempt to ascent the peak with the presence of chilling gust of wind. The trail was narrow and all surrounded with grass all over. No trees.
The grasslands
In time for the sun to shine above the horizon from the top of Mount Pulag, we arrived at 6 in the morning! This what can I say “ breathtaking sea of clouds!” after 10 minutes the sun shone above the clouds and that give me shivers for having been seen the sunrise from the other top of the mountain. 360 view of Benguet province. Wheew!!!
There are other climbers at the peak brought with them their high end cameras and pricey lenses. We descended 7:10 in the morning back to the camp 2 after all the sunrise viewing, chatting, mingling with other climbers and the picture taking. Still, with the anticipation of the time we will arrive at camp area, we again relish the moment of being there with my climbing buddies both from Davao and Manila.
Way down to Camp 2 with other climbers
We then prepared for our breakfast and for our lunch pack meal after we arrived at the camp 2 area. We prepared and cooked hotdog, dried fish, adobong baboy, some canned foods and ham.
Starting trek back to ranger station
8:10 in the morning of Sunday, February 23 we started our descent back to the Ranger Station. We arrived at around 12:20 in the afternoon and we took our lunch meal and prepare ourselves back to the DENR.
The team - from Davao and from Manila guys
There was a house at the ranger station that sells souvenirs like t-shirts, bonnets, and others for climbers to bring back. I too bought some t-shirts for pasalubong. The driver of the vehicle was waiting at us at the are and we departed ranger station back to DENR at about 1:30 in the afternoon. After 1 hour, we arrived at the DENR station to return the blanket we rented and to pick up some of our belongings that we left. We also got the climb certificate we prepared for Ma’am Merings’ signing before our climb.
We did not stay long at the DENR office and we proceeded for another long travel back to Bagiuo City. The travel time going back to Baguio City was much shorter since it only took 2 hours instead of 3 hours. We stayed at AJ Pension house at Jungletown road, Salud Mitra for an overnight stay.
Clean and refreshed, we tour around the city at night buying for common food “pasalubong” as usual the Strawberry jam, bonnets, shirts, and other food items signature as Baguio’s delicacy.. hehe is there any nice pasalubong you know? Hehehe I also bought a bus ticket for my early travel back to Manila.
Victory liner Terminal at Baguio City
Since my plane flight schedule to Davao City was earlier than my climbing buddies, I travelled solo back to Manila. I woke up 4:20 in the morning and took a taxi to Victory Liner, from Jungletown Road, I was charged 20 pesos only. Not bad. Hehe
Bus starts moving at 5:30 in the morning bound for Pasay Terminal; I arrived at the Pasay Terminal at 12 in the afternoon.
The feeling was great for having been conquered the second highest mountain in the Philippines. It was my first climb outside Mindanao and more to come. . . char. Heeheh
I would like to thank Sarah and Tina for doing the works on registration and communications for this climb to be realized.
To all who joined the climb, to Edmund Arlos and his cool group. Thank you very much!
Photos courtesy of Sarah.
