So I made a reservation for another mountain climbing adventure. I tagged my best friend Aileen along and my son Jasper, who would be climbing for the first time, a historic climb for him.
Our destination was 2,926.047 meters above sea level — the second-highest mountain in the Philippines according to DENR-Benguet, Mt. Pulag.
The Long Road to Benguet
The meetup was at Shaw Boulevard. We boarded a van at 11:00 P.M. and traveled from Quezon City all the way through Baguio to a homestay in Benguet where we would be staying for two nights and three days.
There was no electricity in the house, no air conditioner. Nevertheless, it was chilling cold — the temperature was 17 degrees Celsius. Good thing there was a fireplace. We had a candlelit dinner. It sounds romantic, and it was.
2:00 A.M. the following day, we all got up and prepared for the climb. 3:00 A.M., we started trekking. The path was pitch dark. We only had flashlights and headlamps to light the way.
We took the Ambangeg Trail, said to be the easiest trail to the summit and perfect for beginners. It is a well-established, wide trail, but it is still a looong, steady uphill assault.
Despite the four-hour walk, I didn't feel as challenged as I did in Mt. Daraitan. In fact, I think it was the easiest climb for me so far. We went through four peaks before reaching the true summit — false summits that test your patience, but each one rewards you with a wider view of the Cordillera mountain ranges.
Before reaching the highest point, we waited for sunrise at the peak just before the summit.
The sea of clouds rolled endlessly below us, thick and white like cotton, glowing gold and pink as the sun rose. The peaks of Northern Luzon pierced through it like islands in the sky. We were literally above the clouds. I was speechless.
Going down was like a walk in the sky because of the fog and the sea of clouds still lingering around us. It was mesmerizing.
Then came the mossy rainforest. The ambience was so fresh and calming. I loved the air — it smelled of damp grass, moss, pine trees, and earth. It was so pure. Aileen and I laid down on the grass more than three times, just to rest and appreciate nature. No signal, no noise, just us and the mountain.
This climb is THE BEST.
MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM MT. PULAG — READ THIS IF YOU'RE A FIRST-TIMER:
1. MASTER THE ART OF LAYERING. It's freezing, then it's not.
Bring shirts, sweaters, and hoodies. You need layered clothes for the midnight assault because it is bitterly cold at 3 A.M. But you will be taking them off as you near the peak because you'll feel warm from the hike and the lack of oxygen as you approach 2,900 MASL. Wear a thermal base layer!
2. BRING YOUR OWN LIGHT. There are no lamp posts on the mountain.
Bring a flashlight or, better, a headlamp. The trail is completely dark from Ambangeg to the saddle camp. A headlamp keeps your hands free for balance.
3. BRING EXTRA CASH. Only dinner is free.
Only dinner is provided by the homestay. The rest of the meals are up to you. Plus, there are a lot of fresh, cheap highland vegetables being sold — cabbage, carrots, potatoes — you will want to buy them as pasalubong for your loved ones back home.
4. BE PREPARED FOR THE CALL OF NATURE.
Bring wet wipes, tissue, and a small plastic bag. There are no toilets on the trail from 3 A.M. to summit. If you need to go, you need to practice Leave No Trace — dig a cathole or pack it out.
5. BRING TRAIL FOOD AND HYDRATE SMART.
Bring chocolate, biscuits, and bottled water. Sip, don't chug, to avoid frequent peeing stops in the cold. Eat chocolate while walking for instant energy, and save your biscuits for the summit while waiting for the sunrise. Remember, going down takes another 4-5 hours depending on your leftover energy, so ration your food.
