We
arrived at Baguio City in time for a dawn nap.
"At
three o'clock there's not much energy left to do anything, but get some
sleep and a good one at that".
When
we get back to our offices, there'll be that same awful feeling again of
having to get back to reality.
Same
old work, same old work place, same old stuff that's been imprisoning the
caveman inside of us. Everybody needs some emancipation from all of this
once in a while.
Uncomparably
a superb trip with nature that will prove to be another different experience
remaining long even after the reality has faded away, in our memories it
would stay for a lifetime.
We
promised to be back again...
the
next time will be more fierce, as we will take the Kabayan Trail; prepared
and stronger than the first in body and spirit. |
Trip Organizer Jun Ampil was busy getting info about Mt. Pulag while
Trailhead Art Suarez was planning the itinerary for the said trip.
Other members that came along for the Mt. Pulag experience were old-timers
Mitch Picardal, Josel Joaquin, Jean Tarriella, Vanessa Noda, Zoe Ezequiel
and newbie Hazel Dy.
We arrived at Baguio City in time for a dawn nap. "At three o'clock
there's not much energy left to do anything but get some sleep and a good
one at that". We needed every ounce of energy that we could keep in
order for us to enjoy the ardous trek ahead of the day.
We had our wake-up call at six; a nice bath and a hearty meal of Taho,
a local drink made of soy bean, then headed straight for a jeepney ride.
We were a little lucky that morning to find an old, ruggedly used jeep
that kept making creepy noises that equalled that of an old bridge I heard
moments before it collapsed upon itself. Quite a scary thought but we were
able to get to the jeepney station whose jeeps were bound for Ambangeg.
As we disembark, nobody seemed to notice much of the fuss that our first
jeepney ride made. None of my scary thoughts were imparted to their minds.
Most were probably excited to reach Mt. Pulag's peak, unmindful of the
ardous trek of the days ahead.
Anyway, we had a hard time finding our ride to Ambangeg, which is about
5 to 6 hours ride from Baguio City. Earlier before our arrival, the locals
kept telling us that the rains poured in early this year despite the time
being summer season. The roads have been muddied to an extent that our
rides can't bring us up to Ranger Station. They could get us as far as
the Protected Areas Office but we'll have to trek it all the way up for
four steady hours until we reach Ranger Station, the supposedly drop-off
point for Mt. Pulag.
We had to agree with the jeepney driver for an expensive one-way ride of
P2,500.oo up until PAW office only. We didn't have the decisions on our
side and the rough, mudied roads gave more than quite a bump to our tush
and a big headache as well.
Our jeepney driver Juan was a nice man, didn't speak much but was a lively
companion once you get to talk with him. We arrived noontime and
headed up the stairs of PAO office. We introduced ourselves, had a nice
chat with the people there,and left after signing our Mt. Pulag Visitor's
Permit.
We departed without eating our lunch to save time. Leaving behind the group
of Camp O (with Omar Pichache - their trailmaster). At one o'clock, with
the sun over our heads, we walked the trail up to Ranger Station for non-the-less
four hours with nothing but the muddied road and a brewing storm which
accompanied us that afternoon.
Ranger Station was still the same. I have been there a year before and
it was New Year's Day when I first got my sight of the the place. Nothing
much has changed and I was glad about it. Glad that it hasn't been devastated
"yet" by pollution, violating hikers and unforseen occurrences that might
bring destructon to such beauty of a far away land. We had to set up camp
for the day. The exhausting trek was enough for most of us and tomorrow
will be another day to tackle the summit. For now, all there is in my mind
is a hearty meal and a hot drink to savor the sunlit horizon. Evening was
slowly creeping in and it felt good that I was there again, with the others
in our group trying to enjoy the moment as well.
Four Guys at Pulag Sundown
Headlamps
out and campstoves a-firing! Three stoves from Mountain Man Mitch Picardal,
Payloader Josel Joaquin and DaJun Ampil cooked all the way
that night. There was a lot of food to enjoy and a good night's sleep to
pursue. Morning was a breeze as the sun rose high very early for us to
keep up with. Our tired, aching bodies were longing for more sleep but
the sight of a new day at Mt. Pulag was more tempting than a cozy bed. |
We agreed to tackle the summit and get back down to PAO office the next
day. It would be a violation of our agreement with Juan but the opportunity
of reaching the summit was better than keeping the cash in our pockets.
We knew we had to pay Juan the extra money for not being there on our pickup
time. We were glad that Outdoor Purser Jean Tarriella was with us
with some handy cash. Then all there is to do is to radio Juan down at
the PAW office that we'd be meeting him on another time of rendezvous.
Three hours assault to the peak. All I've kept longing for a year. I was
glad to be back again at the summit. We encountered a number of mountaineers
there enjoying the noontime sun, nevertheless scorching despite of the
wind that kicks in at that altitude and the clouds that from time to time
would shield away the sun. I prayed for clear skies, for even just a moment
of splendor... and God was gracious at that. We enjoyed about an hour of
picturesque views and time for reflection in life. So little time we spent
but we enjoyed it at the most. We were lucky to have been given the opportunity
of a nice day. Afterwards we headed back to basecamp.
Along the mossy forest and the plantation, the clouds shifted fast as if
hinting us of a rainfall. An hour before we reached our destination, the
skies shook so hard we were drenching wet along the trail. Thunder was
at out heels and all that sunny day we spent at the peak was nothing but
a dream as the horizon darkened and high above us loomed a storm. And as
I will put it "...a really very wet noontime descent".
As
we stepped up the Ranger Station, the skies cleared and the storm came
into a halt. Nature's ironic way of telling us its power of changing our
plans for better or worse. With the bad weather we just encountered, there
was no chance of getting down in time for our ride and our driver, Juan,
will just have to wait it out until the next day.
Evening
meal was more exciting as the first. We had our bathes and slept to a 10
degree celsius night.
Tomorrow
we will be leaving this experience for another one, but nothing like what
we have experienced for the past three days in the cradle of Mt. Pulag.
Mt.
Pulag's Feet4Earth Group
When we get back to our offices, there'll be that same awful feeling again
of having to get back to reality. Same old work, same old work place, same
old stuff that's been imprisoning the caveman inside of us. Everybody needs
some emancipation from all of this once in a while.That instinct of being
able to live outside and enjoying the natural environment needs to be given
some of its own time, in its own way. And when that time comes for emancipation,
you'll never regret you did it. For once in your maybe "crazy life" that's
full of so many things you dislike, you might say, you enjoyed being smart
upon doing that for awhile.
With problems that we encountered for the said trip, time came for us to
rise to the occassion to be as one not only with ourselves but with others
as well. For we all know how tempting it is for attitudes to flare and
anger to heat up an argument. But thinking about the situation, days after
it has happened, I quite think of it as nothing more but a bondage between
friends who show you your true color however wrong you were or however
right you maybe. Whether or not you learn to accept it wholeheartedly or
hesitantly, people whom you share such moments with are always the ones
you'll be thankful for in the end. Without them, there won't be any mirrors
of your soul, same as for each one of us to learn about ourselves through
the eyes of those around us. I tell you, "there'll always be a time
for reckoning".
Uncomparably a superb trip with nature that will prove to be another different
experience remaining long even after the reality has faded away, in our
memories it would stay for a lifetime.
The following
script taken from the writings of fellow mountaineer Art Suarez as reflections
of the trip, while at basecamp - Ranger Station.
All photos
appearing on this page courtesy of
Jun Ampil.
|
