Everyone's First Time in Mount Pulag: The Playground of the Gods

Last March of 2011, we scheduled a climb after our Mount Apo trip. Many of us joined and excited to hike the Philippines' "third highest" and one of the most magnificent sunrise. From Cebu, took a plane to Manila where we were met by our Guide, Migs of Yabag Mountaineers. Since he said we have not enough time, we went directly to the Victory Liner bus station and booked some tickets to Baguio City.

After the long bus ride, we took another transportation called the "monster jeep". It looks like a jeepney but the engine is more powerful (take that superman!). Awww we didn't have a chance to see Baguio City.

It took us more than two hours to get to the Ranger Station for the registration and watch a documentary on Mount Pulag including the rules and regulations on the national park. I thought that was it but then, we still have to ride another 2 hours of monster jeep madness towards the jump off in Akiki. You cant even sleep inside the jeep because it's too bumpy outside. lol..

Then we got there very late. An elementary school. We set up our sleeping bags and tried our best to sleep amidst the very cold weather.

The next day, when we woke up, kids/pupils were already there. We helped them sing the Lupang Hinirang song. We cooked our breakfast and our packed lunch and off we go.

Since we started quite late, it almost took us a whole day climbing Akiki trail towards the Marlboro country campsite. From the distance, we saw cows moving fast and thought if we could let those carry our backpacks.. lol..

We arrived at the Campsite with enough daylight left. Set up or tents and begin cooking for dinner. Opened a few bottles of liquor and then lights off.

The next day, cooked our breakfast and packed lunch, some inescapable photoshoot with the group and things in between until we start trekking towards the Mount Pulag Campsite. During our lunch on the trail, the guide advised us to cook our dinner since it was the last water source. We just took our time there.

The mossy forest was ahead of us. And after an hour inside the forest, grassland! The time we arrived there it was near sunset maybe around 3PM so the grasses had a golden color. it was beautiful. Now I know why the locals call it the playground of the gods!

We immediately setup or camps and put on the cold gears because the temperature in Mount Pulag drops dramatically. The girls had their winter collection on and some are preparing their emergency blankets. lol

Had our dinner at around 6:30 PM and it was already very cold. After eating, there were few talks and bottles of liquors were opened. It was fun until the effect of the liquor wore out. It's kind of hard to sleep if the cold easily gets inside the tent, the sleeping bag, jacket, shirt, skin and into your bones. lol... I was alone in the tent by the way so no body heat.. lol But yeah, I slept well.

Woke up early for the hike to the peak and see the sea of clouds. There was a campfire from the distance that the local guides made and I cannot wait to get there for the warmth.. I am not really a morning person but yeah, the sunrise was really beautiful. You just sit there watch it rise above the sea of clouds.

We were up there until we got bored and hungry so we went down and cook our breakfast. We still have to head back to Ambangeg Trail which would take 3-4 hours.

Another hike down and then, the Ranger Station at last! Had a wonderful pinikpikan for lunch made by a local. It is a delicacy there. The Monster Jeep was already there so we took our bags there and another long ride towards Baguio City.

Found a place to spend the night. The famous "Teachers Camp". No ghosts there... just noisy drunken bisdaks. Had a very cold shower there.

The next day, we took a bus back to Manila traffic then to the airpot and back to Cebu. We did not know that there was a tsunami in Japan during the weekend.

We head a fun trek at the playground of the gods. Hoping to go back there in the future.