At 0300H, since the biting cold made it even harder for us to doze off, we decided to prepare for the early morning assault to the summit. It was really freezing cold at that time. Consider this, I purposely left bottles of water and energy drinks outside our tent, and these really turned cold as if these were just taken off a freezer.
Also, with the increase in activity, the camp site came back to life. There were already those who opted to start the assault early as the lights from their headlamps can be seen slowly inching up in the mountains.
It was already 0415H when we started to hike. The cold weather and the thin air made the hike harder. Nevertheless, the twinkling stars in the clear and vast sky served as an incentive for us to to go on.
When we arrived at an intersection, we chose to scale the harder/shorter route (most hikers would proceed via the longer/winding trail). And at 0530H, we finally reached the highest point in Luzon. There were already quite a number of hikers entrenched in their spots, so we chose to settle on the southeastern portion of the summit.
At 0545H, as more and more hikers converged in the summit, the rays of the sun started to dawn on the horizon. And of course, comes with it is the magnificent sea of clouds for which Mt. Pulag is revered for.
We were really so happy and have been awestrucked by such feast in the eyes. Although we tried very hard to immortalize everything through photos and videos, nothing beats the feeling when you personally sea the rolling and waving clouds that envelope Mt. Pulag's summit.
 |
| Brrr...brrr...brrr |
 |
| Here comes the sun |
 |
| Sunrise...Sunrise |
 |
| cloudy :) |
 |
| wave and wave of clouds |
 |
| Happy Hikers |
 |
| Sea of clouds |
 |
| choose your own spot |
At 0630H, a number of hikers/mountaineers at the summit slowly scaled down back to Camp 2. And this I'd say is a spectacle since they really look like busy ants slowly walking in single file. As for us, we decided to spend additional time at the summit and enjoy the other highlights that Mt. Pulag has to offer.
If the sea of clouds is the main feature, the surrounding views of mountains (and of a faint Ambuklao Dam) and the pygmy bamboos can be considered as icing on the cake. Of course, the summit marker is one of the favorite spots of hikers, so fall in line early as it can take a while for a group finish their own photo ops.
 |
| free for all |
 |
| The saddle campsite |
 |
| One of our group shots...we are Skookum |
 |
| The pygmy bamboo at the summit |
 | |||
| impressive... |
Since we were the last group to leave the summit that day, we had all the time to goof around and enjoy the sights. Looking back at the summit, we can only make the promise that we will surely be back to the so-called playground of the gods and enjoy nature's bounty.
With the rolling and winding trail, it took us about 45 minutes (and that includes the series of photo ops) to arrive back at camp. We then prepared breakfast as most of us started to break camp and fix our things.
It was already 0930H when we left Camp 2 Extension for the Ranger Station. Truly, for mountaineers or just weekend warriors, climbing Mt. Pulag is one unforgettable and superb experience.
 |
| Mt. Pulag |
 |
| Trekking on the edge |
 |
| such as beauty... |
 |
| The trail is getting wider |
 |
| Really impressive |
 |
| just like the yellow brick road |
 |
| Tawangan... |
 |
| That's not a UFO but a radar on top of the peak "mini-Pulag" on the east side of Camp 2 Extension |
 |
| The camp is clear...leave no trace |
 |
| The latrines in Camp 2 Extension |
 |
| One last group picture... |
Traipsing Chronicles 012
002.015.014
Mt. Pulag - via Ambangeg Trail
Kabayan, Benguet - 2922 MASL
Jump off point: Ranger Station, Bokod Benguet
Major Climb: 3/9 (not so much of the hike but because of the extreme weather conditions)
Highlights: Luzon's highest peak; the venerable
sea of clouds; 360°view at the summit; Pine forest and mossy forest;
dwarf bamboos; cold weather
Actual Itinerary
Camp 2 Extension - Summit - Camp 2 Extension - Ranger Station
0300H - Wake up Call
0415H - Start Trek to Summit
0530H - Arrival at the Summit - Wait for the Sunset / Sea of Clouds
0740H - Descend back to Camp 2 Extension
0840H - Arrival at Camp 2 Extension
Breakfast - Break Camp
1030H - Leave Camp 2 Extension for the Ranger Station
0115H - Arrival the Ranger Station
Wash down / Clean up
0150H - Leave Ranger Station for Baguio City
0550H - Arrival in Baguio City
Dinner
0900H - Leave Baguio City for Metro Manila
Buses. Considering that it has the biggest bus station and practically the biggest fleet, most people troop to the Victory Liner Station. But in the event that you find it hard to secure a ride there back to Manila, you may try other options like Genesis, Dagupan Bus, and Partas.
Better yet, reserve your tickets in advance. Nevertheless during holidays or high season, the bus companies are usually fully-booked and you will ultimately become a chance passenger.
Tour Operators. There are a lot of Tour Operators who organize climbs to Mt. Pulag every weekend. They usually have a Facebook page or internet sites so you just have to Google it.
Peak Season. Peak Season / High Season is usually during November to March. So if you plan to organize a climb with your own group, plan at least three months in advance since the Tour Operators or Climb Organizers tend to hoard among themselves the quota allotted for weekend climbs.
You might likewise find the 1st part of this post interesting, just click on the link below:
www.skookummountaineers.blogspot.com/2014/10/mt-pulag-where-sea-of-clouds-welcomed.html
No comments:
Post a Comment