My passion for the outdoors led me to Mt. Pulag, Philippines' 3rd and Luzon's highest mountain that borders the provinces of Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao. My first adventure with Mt. Pulag was my very first experience mountain trekking and I can't really say that I was prepared at that time. Armed only with a 30L school bag(?!), a company-issued cotton sweater, 2 pairs of shorts, shirts and undies, a blanket, a throw pillow(?!) and a prayer, I set out to conquer the much dreaded trail.
Mt. Pulag Trek (Day 0, 8:30PM) - Victory Liner Bus Terminal, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
Arriving 30 minutes earlier than the agreed assembly time, I had the time to rummage through my sack and reconsider my rations. Being a compulsive mountain biker, I am fully-aware of the importance of liquid and sugar on the trail. To be dehydrated and drained of energy in the middle of an adrenaline-hungry activity are experiences I don't want that to happen while treading a cliff edge at 2,900~ feet. Needless to say, I bought myself a bottle of 1.5L Gatorade, 5 pieces of medium size apples and some chocolate bars. Gatorade gets absorbed by the body faster than water and it doesn't give you the feeling like you've been punched in the gut after a gulp while hyperventilating due to exertion. I'll be needing the bottle later anyway. An empty bottle to a hiker inside a trail is an invaluable article of survival and a water source isn't always there when you need one.
"Filipino Time" sucks.
Everyone finally arrived at around 9:30PM and the bus left at 10:15PM. Coming straight from the office, tired and sleepy, I was totally dead to the world the whole trip.
Mt. Pulag Trek (Day 1, 4:00AM~) - Baguio City
It's so cold!
There is no single more accurate word that can best describe Baguio City that morning but plain, old "cold". As we disembarked the bus, I acquainted my lungs with the wet icy coldness of the surrounding early morning air. The air feels light and clean and the coldness stings the nostrils. I felt good already. About 40 meters away, a local driver awaits behind the steering wheel of a battered-looking but extremely capable Isuzu-Ford hybrid 4x4 custom made for the steep curls and curves ahead.
After parting ourselves with our belongings (which were systematically arranged and secured on top of the 4WD vehicle), we started our 38-kilometer trip to Ambuklao, site of the celebrated Jang-Jang hanging bridge, which would be our first pitstop of the day. As we ascend higher into Benguet, the rows of commercial buildings and summer houses lining both sides of the Baguio City road was slowly replaced by green vegetation to the left and fragile rocky mountain sides on the right.
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Mt. Pulag Trek (Day 2, 4:00AM~) - Onwards to the Summit
