Mt. Pulag – via ambangeg trail
Kabayan, Benguet
May 11-13 2013
Note: Hundreds of visitors
climb mt. Pulag every weekend. To avoid hassle and inconvenient in DENR visitor
center and Babadac ranger station is to arrive as early as possible during
weekend. DENR visitor center opens at 0700H and can accommodate limited numbers
of visitors in the briefing room area.
Day 1 | May 11, 2013
 |
| Flora in Mt. Pulag |
We arrived in the
Babadac ranger station at around 0900H. Before proceeding to climb everything
was settled and secured –guide, porter and other fees. We started our trek at exactly 1010H. Sir
Eugene and the guide took the lead for the team comprised of 9 guests, Francis
as sweeper while I took advanced trek to secure our camping area. It was a fine
and perfect day for us. The flower blooms and shine along the wide and easy
trail of ambangeg. At 1130H, I arrived in Camp 2. I made it first to arrive in
the area and there were no other campers. The whole team came 1 hour behind.
Many visitors also came as expected and made the camp 2 and camp 2 extensions
get crowded. Light rain partially started to pour late in the afternoon until
midnight. We slept early after we savored the hot pork sinigang.
Day 2 | May 12, 2013
The temperature was 10
degree Celsius inside my tent when I woke up at around 2 in the morning for an
early summit assault. The weather improved and the clear sky reveals the
shining stars despite the thunder storm forecast. We started our trek at 0300H
and made it first to the summit at 0400H. For the sixth time I hike mount Pulag
and it was my second time to reach the summit. The sun finally broke its rays
and showed the grand view of the mountainous region of cordillera. The nearby towering
Mts. Timbak, Tambayoc and the distant Mt. Amuyao stand high among the others
mountains.
 |
| At Mt. Pulag Summit - sea of clouds |
My perfect experience
view of sea of clouds was on 2006 (first time) were only few visitor hike mount
Pulag. A full 360 degree sea of cloud was rewarded to us way back then.
 |
| Mt. Pulag summit during weekend |
We descended at 0615H
and got traffic on the trail because of many visitors going back at the
campsite. The group guest, Eugene and I started our descent after we took our
breakfast. Francis stays behind to look out for our tent and other things. I
will meet the second group in badadac ranger station to guide them. It was
another remarkable experience with the first batch. Congrats everyone!
 |
| 1st Batch |
2nd Batch of guest - Hike
again
 |
| Mushroom found in Mt. Pulag |
The second batch was
already waiting at the ranger station. We didn’t waste any single time thus,
we started our hike. Five of them were first timer from Nueva Vizcaya while the
4 other hikers were my mountaineering org-mate and friends. We smoothly trek
the charming trail of ambangeg although we got traffic on some part of the
trail because we encountered lot of hiker descending. We took our lunch at Camp
1 then we resumed our trek by 1230H.
Upon arriving at Camp
2, the weather was good but the rain started to pour late in the afternoon. We
were all hoping that the weather will improved the next day.
Day 3 | May 13, 2013
At 0100H, the rain stopped
but there was no view at the campsite. By 0330H, our guide came but the rain
was still pouring. We opted to ascend the summit at 0530H. Our guide returns
but the weather remain awful and we were hopeless to reach the summit. I
decline to hike the summit due to rain and thick clouds. I finally woke up at
0700H. Light rain was partially pouring that time. So, we decided to descend on
1000H but while we were preparing for our breakfast, the rain suddenly gone and
the gentle peaks of mt. Pulag showed up. I decided to pursue with our main
plan. It was already past 9 in the morning when we assault the summit.
I have
given another chance to witness the scenic view at the summit and our group
guests were happy and amazed. On our way down to camspite, the rain started
again to pour. We ate delicious sopas cooked
and served by Sir Jeff. The group guests, Joan, Jay-R, Mam Mutya and Sir Jeff
descent ahead of us. I and Francis started to break our camp and descent by
1320H. I reached the ranger station by
1411H.
Although I hike the mountain
twice however, the story and experience was different.
