At Zero Degrees and Beyond

Have you noticed I included some more items in my To Do List? Pano naman 1st quarter palang of the year, almost half of it are done already. Since I wanted to challenge myself more, I included some items that are never planned at all.

One of these is mountain climbing. Im really not a fan. I admit Im never interested to do this. Last year I started making trips which are way out of my comfort zone - like Anawangin, Nagsasa, Capones, Pinatubo Trek, Sagada, and DIY Calaguas. Surprisingly, these trips are the most memorable and awesome adventures I ever had. Then maybe I should also include mountain climbing in my list. Probably I will also have another awesome experience.

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To make it more exciting, I chose a place where the temperature becomes ZERO DEGREES. Oh yeah, freezing level coldness. Interesting, may ganyan kalamig na lugar sa Pinas! The mountain's name is Mt.Pulag. It's in Benguet.

Mt.Pulag is the third highest mountain in the Philippines. The highest peak in Luzon. Acdg to http://www.pinoymountaineer.com's entry about the Philippine's highest mountains, Mt.Pulag (2922m) is only 34m short of Mt.Apo (2956m)! Had I known these facts earlier, I would choose a not so high mountain for my first ever climb. Ü

This blog always promotes Do It Yourself trips, ayoko ng package. Those are only for people who dont have time to plan and research. Planning and researching are part of the travel, just so you know. But when I found out that it is way cheaper if you travel with a group, then it's time to join a group. Yes, I availed a tour package provided by Tripinas. They charge P3500 for an all in package but I think it's still expensive. But anyway since wala namang akong camping equipments, hmpf gola na!

Our group met in cubao and after we're introduced to each other we headed to the bus station. We arrived in Baguio at 5am. Kung dati "ngatog" ang mararamdaman mo, ngayon keri lang walang jacket. Mainit na talaga kahit saan. The rented jeep awaits us. This will take us to Benguet.

the ride to Pulag

Climbers must register and be briefed first at DENR station. We attended a short orientation here.

ready ka na ba?

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andami palang mountaineering groups

After that, roadtrip ulit. Zigzag roads are fine, what I dont like is the rocky and dusty road. Jeepney windows are closed too kaya ang init. It's diffucult to breath and at the same time I felt like Im eating all the dust (artsy mode).

Finally after many stopover, we reached the ranger station. This is the drop off point for the Ambangeg trail. This is the easiest trail. Ambisyosa naman ako if I take Akiki "the Killer" trail.

ranger station with many climbers

After eating lunch provided by Tripinas, I changed my outfit for trekking and put some SPF70 sunblock provided by Ms.Joy. Sosyalin mga kasama ko. They are classmates in Spanish class. Sir Cheeks had a watch with a built in temperature and altitude reader. Sowsyal (social) climbing it is! Ü

Btw, porters are available for only P250 per way. Yes I availed it kahit magaan yung bag ko. I dont want my back to suffer after this weekend.

meet the lady porters

Gulat ka no? Yes, babae ang mga na-assigned saming porters. Kakaawa na sila magbibitbit ng bags namin pero at least I helped them earn money that day.

trek to Mt.Pulag is 7.5kms

Sounds easy but bare in mind this is not a flat surface. This is uphill climb. Inferness, for the last 3 weekends, I did some biking and running for preparation. Tara let's trek!


The view is gloomy. Forest fires are everywhere. The mountains are brown not green. The rivers are dry. Effect talaga ng El Nino. Sadness.

gloomy weather and gloomy view

Along the way, the local guide picked some blackberries. Ang alam ko lang na blackberry ay yung high end na phone. Ü

ms.Pam and the blackberries

Tuloy lang ang lakad. There are times nahihingal ako so I stopped. I had a trekking pole but I dont find it useful. Seriously. So tinapon ko.

signages along the way

reminds me that HIS burdens are light

After an hour, we reached Camp 1. Pahinga + harutan time with Jacq, Rina, and Bj.

few more steps to camp 1

the missing C

ahem, what's the hand sign for Gordon?

Camp 2 and Summit - next entry na yan. Ü