always wandering.....: Wandering in the Playground of the Gods "Mount Pulag"

photo credits to Raymund Arenio Ilagan

I been wanting to see Mount Pulag ever since. The urge grow deeper as I often browse the internet for places with lush forests and amazing view. Whenever I search for hiking the images of Mount Pulag came to life because of a lot of pictures posted on the net. Me with curious and adventurous mindset dreams of reaching Mount Pulag one day, even though they say its hard to climb in high altitude places, I'm still enthusiastic and looking forward reaching the summit of that mountain one day. And that day came, one of my friend asked me if I'm interested in joining them. I instantly said yes to the invitation.

Since the day I've got that invitation I avoided browsing the net to evade some information that would discourage me from the upcoming hiking trip. I've set my mind that I will go there and conquer whatever challenges it has in reaching the peak of that mountain. The group I'm joining chose to take the Akiki trail for a much challenging ascent to Mount Pulag. The trail was dubbed as "Killer trail" because of its rough and unending vertical trail.

Map of the trail

So, after a month of conditioning my mind, the day of the hike came. Before we leave Manila I secure a medical certificate stating that I'm fit to hike. We leave Manila at 9PM of May 17, 2016, hop on a victory bus in Cubao going to Baguio for the much awaited hiking adventure of my life. We reach Baguio bus terminal at 3AM and ride a van at 5AM going to Kabayan, Benguet where the jump-off is located.

Before going to the DENR office we've gone to Daclan Sulfur spring. It's a small spring with a boiling mud with a foul smell.

We reached the DENR office in Barangay Ambangeg before 8AM. the office was not opened yet. We waited for it to opened and register, attended a short video orientation, then proceeded to Kabayan ranger station where we met our guide. He was a young man probably at his early 20's, slim and very knowledgeable of the mountain.

The moment I stepped out of the van and landed my foot at the first plight of the stairs I know I cannot hike with my backpack. It weighs 7 kilos and taking the stairs to the ranger station, my back is aching terribly. I know there's no way I can finish this journey If I will carry my bag. Hiking the stairs to the ranger station give me short breath and an erratic heartbeat that feels like a drum beating so fast. I feel dizzy at that moment.

photo credits to Raymund Arenio Ilagan

photo credits to Ryan Tolentino

We are looking at the Manechen Cave. Photo credits to Ryan Tolentino

Photo credits to Ryan Tolentino

I asked our guide Snieder if I can get someone to carry my bag because I felt the urge to backout from the activity if I will carry my bag with me. He said he'll ask someone and I have to pay 1500 pesos. He got me a porter, a middle aged man who was so tough in hiking.

At 12:30 PM we began to ascent and as we go on the landscape awed me with its unique beauty, a combination of tall pine trees and green grasses covered the ridges. The smell of grassy fresh air engulfed our journey. As we go along, we passed a carabaos and some locals who are dwelling in the area. We've passed by a school, waiting shed, vegetable farms, burnt trees, burial caves and river. Then we crossed the river via a suspended hanging bridge and started to ascent at the nonstop heights for four hours. We've been soaked in rainwater while we are walking along the forest. I was so exhausted, I felt sleepy and hungry and dehydrated because I have no water to drink anymore. Finally, before 6PM I reach the camp site where we will have our precious sleep for four hours and we will start hiking again.

photo credits to Ryan Tolentino

photo credits to Raymund Arenio Ilagan

They say "If you're experiencing too much stress in your life you need to go out of your comfort zone and hike a mountain to connect with nature," but hiking is one difficult task that needs too much effort to succeed in reaching the peak or the summit. Yes, it's true, hiking is one difficult task but the reward is awesome when your up there seeing the beautiful landscape, the trees that engulfs or shelters other thriving lives, its amazes the hiker and his/her exhaustion leaves once he/she starts to appreciate the view that come across the journey. This particular journey was one of the most challenging for me. The uphill hike was endless, I thought I could die of exhaustion but seeing the amazing view through a long hours of walking in the heat of the sun was not an excuse to stop and halt the hike. While we are walking farther in the uphill forest we've been drizzled by rain in the middle of our hike. It's so cold that I feel sleepy and thirsty, too bad I don't have water anymore. It's a blessing in disguise that the rain keep pouring while we are walking because it keeps me awake. My legs were aching and my hand started to numb but I still go because if I can't go back given that the uphill hike is difficult but it's even difficult to go downhill. The danger of going downhill is so evident that I don't wanna think of going back in that route.

photo credits to Raymund Arenio Ilagan

Finally, after walking uphill for almost six hour, we reach the camp where we will have the much anticipated rest for the day. The first thing I did when we reach the camp was to go to the restroom and unload, then I drank a lot of water and eat a few pieces of bread to have my energy back again.
Then I changed my clothes and sleep. Four hours later, I'm awake because I need to pee but the problem was I'm the only one awake among the group. I need not want to wake them up. I waited for almost half an hour and finally, one by one awakens.

deep in the heart of the mossy forest in Benguet at 2 AM in the morning

In the wee hour of the evening we started to walk again and entered the mossy forest. We are accompanied by the our guide. The moonlight and our head lamps are the only light that we have in the dark shades of the forest. The sound of insects and other nocturnal animals was an evident that the forest is healthy and less disturbed. It's chilly wind blows make my face froze and numb. I'm sweating too much but cold. My face was soaked in cold sweat as we walk deep in the heart of the mossy forest. After two hours of navigating the forest we were at the grassland. The uphill stretch of the mountain was blanketed by dwarf bamboos. I looked so beautiful even in the dark. The view of the night sky was so grand that one could imagine of reaching the twinkling stars and pale moonlight at 3:00 AM in the morning.

We are attempting to reach the summit before sunrise. As we walk along the trail, we could sense that the sun is starting to break the darkness atop the mountain. The view was breathtaking and I could not find words to describe the feeling while walking at the vast grassland of Mount Pulag. No wonder it's been called the "playground of the Gods" because its mesmerizing beauty could easily catch one's attention when visiting the place.