Mount Pulag (2922 MASL) : The Realization of a Dream!!!
Major jump-off : Ambangeg Ranger Station, Bokod, BenguetLLA : 16°34'58"N 120°53'15"E, 2922 MASL
Days required/Hours to summit : 4-5 hours/1-2 days
Specs : Major Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail Class 1-2
Trail System : Grand Cordillera Trail, Section 3
Features : Sea of Clouds, dwarf bamboo slopes, pine forests
(Source : http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/09/mt-pulag-2922.html)
I am not yet a mountaineer but I've been dreaming of climbing Mount Pulag. I even organized a Mount Pulag climb for my officemates, but then each one of them backed-out. I became a mountaineer officially just last September 2013. And since we already have mountaineering must-haves, whether or not they will go with us, the four of us, my husband, me and my 2 kids will just mix with the other groups just to make this ultimate dream a reality.
After the Mount Pico de Loro, Mount Batulao and Mount Tarak Ridge warm ups, it's time for the dream climb. I've set the date, reached for the DENR reservations and monster jeep schedule... we're so ready for this climb.
We were picked-up by the monster jeepney at around 4am of Saturday at Baguio City. The jeepney can be rented at Php8,500 with route Baguio to DENR to Ranger Station on the first day and Ranger Station to DENR to Baguio on the next day. Maximum capacity of the jeepney is 16 persons. The contact person is Ma'am Gina and she can be reached at celphone number 0919-816-9234. Visit their official website at http://monsterjeepney.com/
 |
| a stopover at Ma'am Gina's eatery and souvenir items like shirts, key chains and bag tags |
 |
| there's a comfort room at Ma'am Gina's eatery |
 |
| top-loading... a more adventurous ride to Mount Pulag |
It is mandatory to stop at the DENR Station for all the hikers going to Mount Pulag for a 30-minute orientation and slideshow. And also discussing the do's and don'ts of mountaineering at the DENR Protected Area System Unit Field Office in Ambangeg, Bokod. DENR can be reached in 3 hours ride from Baguio City. T-shirts, bag tags, bonnets, and keychains can be bought here. It is also where you have to pay the Registration Fee of Php100 and Camping Fee of Php50/person. You also have to sign up if you want to avail of Certificate that can be claimed the next day for a minimal fee of Php40.
 |
| orientation at DENR |
 |
| mementos from mountaineers |
 |
| AMOC with Maam Mering of DENR |
After the DENR briefing, we proceeded to Ranger Station at Babadak, Kabayan, Benguet. It took us another 2 hours of rough, rocky and sloping ride. You will know the reason why they were called the "monster jeepney". Byahe pa lang masakit na sa katawan.
There are comfort rooms and source of water at the Ranger Station. You can also take a quick snack here. Pancit, salad, kakanin, bicho, juices are sold at a very cheap price of Php10.
At the Ranger Station, you have to show your Official Receipt issued at the DENR. In here you have to get guides at Php100/person and pay for green fee and cultural fee of Php80.
 |
| we're so ready!!! |
some of the photos are owned by our AMOC treasurer, Lala Malabanan =)
 |
| jump off pa lang super cloudy na... |
 |
| he's too sick for this climb, pinilit lang ng mommy =( |
 |
| grasslands trail from Ranger Station to Camp 1 |
It only took us an hour to reach Camp 1 from Ranger Station. Our co-mountaineer said they reached it before in two hours because of the super muddy trail.
The trail is super easy, a beginner can easily climb the Ambangeg Mount Pulag trail. It is my only climb that I didn't have any muscle pains afterwards. What is difficult here is the thinning air going up. There can be difficulty in breathing for those who are not used to trekking in very high altitudes.
 |
| the mossy forests that you will be encountering a lot of times going up |
 |
| a source of water along the way |
 |
| the super mossy forest |
 |
| I usually stop and took photos... The views were just so amazing |
 |
| so near the campsite kaya pa easy easy na lang =) |
 |
| dad already took my bag, 10 minutes daw, kakapagod din... |
 |
| Camp 2 |
We finally reached Camp 2 in 2 hours from Camp 1... my boys are enjoying the smoke coming from their mouth...
 |
| the already loaded campsite... we proceeded uphill for more campsite space |
 |
| the view while we're still looking for our camping area... simply breathtaking...but the cold wind and the drizzles are already getting into my skin... brrrrrrrrr!!! |
 |
| While we're pitching our tents, I kept asking to myself, kaya ba namin makasurvive dito hanggang bukas??? |
We wore a shirt, a flecee, another jacket and a thermal jacket. We all wore leggings inside and then covered it with a jogging pants. The secret here is to cover all the parts of your skin. We survived the night and we were soundly sleeping. Our co-mountaineer offered us this super magic secret to survive the freezing cold temperature...and here it is...
 |
| our secret...thank you to this heat wraps, I was actually going to the summit with sweat... We wore this at 3am and the heat lasts until we reached the Ranger Station going down =) |
Our co-mountaineers measured the temperature and they said that it went down to negative 2 degrees... Maybe some won't be convinced about the recorded temperature but here are the links that the temperature at Mount Pulag usuallly drops below zero degrees...
It will be a novel idea if PAG-ASA can install an instrument that can precisely measure the temperature at Mount Pulag to officially state how really cold the mountain is.
 | ||
| Joshua reached the summit though he has fever ... |
From Camp 2 to Summit is less than 2 kilometers, the muddy trail will slow you down. Be safe all the time, the muddy trails is an inch away to the cliffs.
Mount Pulag (or sometimes Mount Pulog) is the third highest mountain in the Philippines. It is Luzon's highest peak at 2,922 meters above sea level. The borders between the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya meet at the mountain's peak.
Because of its high elevation, the climate on Mount Pulag is temperate with rains predominating the whole year. Rainfall on the mountain averages 4,489 mm yearly with August being the wettest month with an average rainfall of 1,135 mm. Snow has not fallen on its top in at least the past 100 years.
The mountain hosts 528 documented plant species. It is the natural habitat of the endemic Dwarf Bamboo, (Yushania niitakayamensis) and the Benguet Pine (Pinus insularis) which dominates the areas of Luzon tropical pine forests found on the mountain side. Among its native wildlife are 33 bird species and several threatened mammals such as the Philippine Deer, Giant Bushy-Tailed Cloud Rat ("bowet") and the Long-Haired Fruit Bat. Mount Pulag is the only place that hosts the 4 Cloud Rat species. It has one of the most diverse biodiversity of the Philippines, with the newly found (since 1896) 185 grams Dwarf cloud rat, Carpomys melanurus, a rare breed (endemic to the Cordillera) and the Koch pitta bird among its endangered denizens.
On February 20, 1987, a large part of the mountain was designated as a National Park with Proclamation No. 75. This act aims to preserve the environment around the mountain due to threats from increased development such as conversion to agricultural lands, timber production, hunting, and increased tourism. The Ibaloi people of Benguet mummify their dead and house in caverns in the mountain. The Kabayan mummy burial caves, one of the main attraction of the site, is considered as Philippine National cultural treasures under Presidential Decree No. 374.
(Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pulag)
 |
| I've never seen a summit with a lot of mountaineers...dito pa lang =) |
 |
| Survived! |
 |
| kisses from my boys <3 |
 |
| feel closer to heaven at the summit of Mount Pulag =) |
 |
| you will feel proud if you reached it... |
 |
| no public kissing daw sa Mount Pulag <3 |
 |
| jayshelle at the summit |
 |
| so thankful for the experience |
 |
| Mount Pulag, survived and conquered!!! |
 |
| AMOC with Kuya Nobe, our guide... |
 |
| ang cute =) |
 |
| blessed with good-looking kids =) |
 |
| at the bushes |
 |
| the boys!!! |
 |
| kitang kita agad kung sino ang dehado =( |
 |
| more photos...sinusulit lang... ang hirap kaya pumunta dito... |
 |
| O sya sa kanya ka na daddy... |
 |
| one final shot! |
 |
| after an hour and a half at the summit, the group finally decided to go down... |
 |
| almost zero visibility |
|
| break camp! |
 |
| sino ang nakaiwan ng tarpaulin sa tent??? dito na lang nagpapicture sa Camp 2 with tarp |
 |
| photo op so near the Ranger Station |
 |
| the majestic views along the trail |
 |
| Finally back at the Ranger Station where the monster jeepney is waiting... |
 |
| super hungry, it's 12 noon and our stomachs are already crumbling... |
 |
| the kids at Mount Pulag, rosy cheeks eh! |
 |
| hehehe =) so cute!!! |
 |
| certificates can be claimed after a day of your climb at the DENR |
 |
| We bought the "I survived..." shirts at Php180/pc |
 |
| Bantog Backpackers survived!!! |
 |
| Congratulations Amadeo Mountaineering Club (AMOC) for the successful climb! |
 |
| at the DENR |
Ambangeg Trail Itinerary :
Day 0 :
6pm to 12 midnight - Cubao to Baguio City
Day 1
5am to 8:30am - Baguio City to DENR Bokod, Benguet
(with stop-over at Ma'am Gina's eatery near Ambuklao Dam)
8:30am to 10am - at DENR (Registration and Orientation)
pay Registration and Camping Fee
10am to 12 nn - DENR to Ranger Station
12 nn to 1pm - at the Ranger Station for lunch, comfort room and toothbrush
(Get a guide at Php100 and pay green and cultural fee)
1pm - Start of trek
1pm to 2pm - Ranger Station to Camp 1 (have a light snack)
2pm to 4pm - Camp 1 to Camp 2
4pm - pitch tent at Camp 2
there is a close water source at Camp 2 and a comfort room
5pm to 6pm - prepare for dinner
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Socials
9pm - Lights off! (maaga pa papuntang summit)
Day 2
4 am to 5:15 am - Camp 2 to Summit
5:15 am to 6:30 am - at the Summit
6:30 am to 7:30 am - Summit to Camp 2
7:30 am to 8:30 am - breakfast
8:30 am - break camp
8:30 am to 10:30 am - Camp 2 to Camp 1
10:30 am to 12 nn - Camp 1 to Ranger Station
12 nn to 1 pm - simple lunch bought at the Ranger Station
1pm to 3pm - Ranger Station to DENR
3pm to 3:30pm - at the DENR (claim certificate and some photo ops)
3:30 pm to 6:30pm - DENR to Baguio City
6:30 pm to 7:30pm - Bathing time and Dinner at Baguio City
7:30 pm to 8pm - Baguio City to Bus terminal
8pm to 2am - Baguio City to Cubao (AMOC)
1am to 7am - Baguio City to Balanga (Bantog Backpackers)
(we were booked at a later time, punuan ang mga bus!)
Note : It is very important to book your travel the day right after arriving at Baguio City, so the next day you won't have a hard time booking tickets going back to Manila. We actually slept and waited at the bus terminal for 5 hours.
For more information about the other trails, here are the links...
For the killer Akiki trail
For the killer Akiki trail
Tawangan Trail
Ambaguio Trail
Ugo-Pulag Traverse
0 comments:
Post a Comment