Countryside Notebook: Benguet Mountain

The last time I climbed Mt. Pulag with UGAT 3 years ago through the Akiki-Ambangeg Trail, the deities seem to be in blue. We had dazzling weather for the entire 3-days climb; the cool mountain's breeze was suppressing our exhaustion as we slowly marching-up the steep mossy-pine forest, and most, if not all of the views were truly eye-captivating. It was one of the most memorable and euphoric climbing experience I had in the group.
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There's a maxim stating that things will be sweeter and easier the second time around. I affirmed in this proposition if and only if all other things held constant; otherwise, if there's a deviation in the variables, I'm certain that results may vary. Before the month of May end, I joined a group comprised of interesting individuals in revisiting the playground of the Gods, this time through a more challenging route: The Akiki-Ambaguio Trail. Certainly, the experience was not sweet, but it was more thrilling and fun!

The entire team before moving up to the Akiki Ranger Station: the young ones, the once young, the young at their hearts, the experienced hikers, the amateurs, the storytellers, the hypertensives, the trail runners, the critics, the make-up artists, the rich kid, the photographers, the cooks, the observers, and above all, the adventure-seekers.

Rainy weather was already anticipated based on the forecast of AccuWeather; all of us were fully prepared to be on mud and cold. At first, it seems that the forecast is inaccurate as the sun is in high-performance giving us a warm greeting. We started to climb...

Moving to the Eddet River

At the campsite of Eddet River

We had our lunch when we reached the Eddet River. Shortly after our arrival, a goddess beat the drums of war beckoning an impending battle between the spirits of rain and sun. Nimbus clouds started to form and subsequently overcast the sky. This is it! Rains will surely pour down...

Assaulting once again the pine forest of Akiki Trail. For a moment, I was consumed by a surge of nostalgia...

We had a regrouping at Marlboro Camp before continuing the hike to the Camp 2 of Ambangeg Trail.

Up to the garden of moss, thick fogs engulfed our surroundings.

The last photo I was able to capture during our first day. Krezen, entering the mossy forest.

Our group got split into 3 sub-groups: the lead, the mid, and the rear team. I was part of the mid team with Sir Naldy. As we entered the mossy forest, the rain started again to poured down. It was getting colder and resting for a while will only make someone shiver, we need to be constantly in motion to retain our body's temperature. The rain stopped for a while when we reached the grassland, Sir Naldy and I have seen an overview of the summit and the saddle, there was a clearing. It was the same peak I climbed before - still standing enchanted and glorious. I wasn't able to capture that moment, but I'll surely remember it for as long as time allows me to retain... my sanity? :P

At the saddle, we found JM wrapped himself in an emergency blanket. He said that he saw the pacer's team as they climbed the summit going to Camp 2, but he decided to rest. It was getting darker when the three of us resumed the hike but after a while, we need to pause in figuring out the right trail to the Camp. We can already see the rear team through their headlights descending to the saddle and planned to wait for them. Sir Naldy decided that he will go back for them, leaving JM and me. After a while, JM started moving because he can no longer resist the coldness. When I looked around, it was complete darkness and I got scared to be left behind, so I followed him. I told him that in case we get lost, we'll set a camp along the way, an idea which I found naive the following day. Most of the trails were already flooded and muddy, there's no other good place to set a camp!

When we reached the campsite, everyone was already exhausted. I just ate a fraction of the banana loaf I bought in Good Taste before closing my eyes. Time to sleep!

A group picture at Camp 2 before we push through the Ambaguio Trail

The following day, I think it was only Sir Naldy who went back to tower 3 to witness a scenic landscape. Most of us decided to just stay at the campsite to have more rest before resuming the climb.

Some of my outdoor friends who already experienced the Ambaguio trail said that it will just be a long walk, but most of the parts are already rolling (walk-in-a-park experience). Well, they have "sweet-tongues" that need to be cut! The trail is not totally rolling and some parts can be dangerous to cross when it rains. It comprised of a long forest which is mostly covered with mosses and ferns; rocky grounds; thorny plants; landslides crossings; stunning sceneries of nearby ranges; and there are also some parts where we need to pass on edges of a precipice.

JM's right was injured when he slid down in a portion of the trail.

The trail to Ambaguio starts here

Mossy forest and views of nearby ranges. There are some parts of the trail where regrouping is necessary since there's a possibility, that someone may get lost and say hello to another mountain.

Crossing a Landslide prone area. This is one of the most challenging parts I experienced during this hike.

Moving down to Lower Napo. The entire trail is a fly sanctuary, attributed to the hummus that the farmers are using in vegetable farming

It was still early when we reached the Lower Napo, so we decided to proceed to the Upper Napo in order to save time the next morning. We camped at the stage of Napo Brgy. Hall together with hundreds of flies!

Photos shots at Lower Napo; the trail in moving to Upper Napo, and the place where we had a good and dry night

There was a scheduled "Brigada Eskwela" at Napo Elementary School the following day so we need to leave early. The trail from Napo to Amueg is a true walk-in-the-park experience, it is more of a long walk, but a strong rain last night causes several landslides which made some parts muddy.

Photo shots at Upper Napo

Last walk to Brgy. Amueg

Landslides after the previous rain. There were parts where I need to step on thick muds to move on

This was my first time to encounter hikers bringing a complete set of makeup with them during a climb. One of them said: "makeup is life". Oh, by the way, this was already our third day without having a good bath...

Stopover at a water source where some of us played with water

Wooden houses along the trail

Crossing rice fields and hanging bridges

This bridge marks the end of the trail. We had a successful climb!

Our last struggle. We must ride a monster jeepney in going to Bayombong, but we were given an ordinary one. As a result, there were times when we need to go out to push that heavy metal. Anyway, all of us arrived safely in Manila.

I would like to thanks the whole team for making this climb possible. It's my pleasure to climb with you all. We had a great fight!

Conceptual Itinerary
(Drafted by Noah)
May 24, 2019 8:30 PM - Assembly time Shaw 9:00 PM - ETD Manila to Pulag DENR May 25, 2019 5:00 AM - ETA Clinic for Med Cert/Breakfast 8:00 AM - DENR Orientation 1st Batch 9:00 AM - Proceed to Akiki Jump-op 10:00 AM - ETA Akiki Jump-op (Reg/guide assembly/arrange things) 11:00 AM - Start Hike 12:00 NN - ETA Edet River/Campsite (Lunch) 1:00 PM - Proceed Hike 5:00 PM - ETA Malboro Campsite (Set camp/prepare dinner) 7:00 PM - Dinner/Socials 9:00 PM - Lights off May 26, 2019 1:00 AM - Wake up call (Break camp/breakfast) 2:00 AM - proceed hike to the summit 3:00 AM - Mossy Forest 4:15 AM - Grassland Assault 5:30 AM - Arrival @Summit (Sunrise viewing) 7:00 AM - Proceed to Ambaguio Trail 8:00 AM - ETA Camp 2 (rest/breakfast) 9:00 AM - ETA Lusod Trail 1:00 PM - ETA Hoyukto. Lunch 2:00 PM - ETD Lower Napo 2:45 PM - ETA Lower Napo (rest) 3:00 PM - ETD Upper Napo 3:45 PM - ETA Upper Napo (Set camp/prepare dinner) 9:00 PM - Lights off May 27, 2019
6:00 AM - Wake up call (Break camp/breakfast) 8:00 AM - Start Hike 8:30 AM - First Hut 9:15 AM - Second Hut 9:45 AM - Third Hut 10:30 AM - First House 11:30 AM - Second House (lunch) 1:00 PM - Continue hike 3:30 PM - ETA Brgy Ammueg, ride a jeep going to Bayombong 5:30 PM - ETA Bayombong 5:45 PM - ETD Manila 10:00 PM - ETA Manila

Note:

1. I wasn't able to record our actual itinerary due to inclement weather. We camped at Camp 2 during the first day, and we finished the entire climb at 12 noon during the last day.

2. Noah and Reggie became the group guides when we started to tramped the Ambaguio trail.

3. The clinic opens at 6:00 am in the morning.

Summary of Expenses

Registration Fee: 175.00 Php / Pax
Cultural Fee: 150.00 Php / Pax
Camping Fee: 50.00 Php / Pax
Guide Fee: 2,200 Php (For the whole team, Akiki trail only)
Van: 20,000.00 Php (12 pax)
Jeepney (Ammueg - Ambaguio Highway): 5,000.00 Php (12 pax)
Medical Certificate: 120.00 Php / Pax

Other Photo

During the pre-climb meeting at SM Megamall

Something to Look Back
- 300 Php cash shortages (Reggie)
- The Lost Trekking Pole (Noah)
- Polka Dots
- Salt and Pepper
- Pampasaherong De Tulak na jeepney sa putikan
- Shitori
- 170/90
- 130/90
- "Backdoor" stories (I'm just listening)
- P****************** - Reggie (while waiting for the jeepney)
- Ang sarap ng banana cake - Juancho (gutom ka lang!)
- Pag pumayat yan iiwan ka nyan - Krezen
- Inidoro of white peak
- Turtle
- Reggie's Aquarium
- Pero 100% ako xxxxxxxx yun - Krezen
- Gown with hiking shoes
- Pre one of the worst - Sir Noel
- Ragang
- Rotten onion
- Sa susunod kapag bibili ka ng bagong tent itetest mo na sa bahay - Sir Naldy
- Aray - Sir Naldy (natamaan ng tent pole :P)
- Ikaw yung nakasako? - Krezen
- Rumble orders at Good Taste
- The hyper acidic Reggie
- May landmine rin ang Kemalugon - Noah
- Sinigang sa gabi
- Multiple slips in going to Camp 2
- Dried rice and fruits
- Due to the high density of flies, we decided to pitch our tent at the stage of Napo Brgy. Hall

Photo Credits to the owners

End

-JSC

A week before Typhoon Ompong wreaked havoc in Northern Luzon, I've joined a team in visiting the Cordillera. Our goal was to twin-climb Mt. Timbak and Mt. Tabayoc, but someone in absolute greatness has only granted us a single path. It was not a warm welcome. To begin with, as we reached the land of berries, heaven has started to shed tears, some roads were blocked, and debris from previous landslides was still around. In the end, it turns out that nature was only testing us. At the peaceful village of Ballay, after setting up our camp, gray changed to blue, and eventually, a huge floating fireball has revealed itself and smiled down at us.

The campsite beside the mystical Lake Tabeo

At the Campsite

Some closed their eyes and fall asleep

The hands of the Gourmands have filled the craves

Some moved around and made some clicks

Others just watched the passing of clouds

Reaping the fruits of their hard works. Farming is the fundamental source of living of native inhabitants. Crop production is highly focused on carrots, potatoes, and cabbages. They are applying organic fertilizers in boosting. I don't like the smell of that hummus!

Freshly picked carrot. What's up, doc?

Playing outside, doing several things under the blue sky, and returning home with mud-stained clothes. It's so nice to encounter children who are still having an ideal childhood; disconnected from the realm of virtual reality.

It was around the afternoon when we have started to move and visited the other lake...

I've already seen a lot of terraces in the other places of Cordillera. Still, the one located in Ballay is another man-made masterpiece to see.

The marker of Lake Bulalakaw - a wooden lion's head

It is said to be the second cleanest inland lake in the Philippines. The first on the rank can be found somewhere in Mindanao. Just out of curiosity, I asked our guide if I can drink from it, then he answered, no! Hmmm, so how it becomes a clean lake?

Capturing the moment at Lake Bulalakaw

It was getting colder when we came back. In a short while, a veil of cold-fine mist have wrapped the campsite, it moved slowly, as it touched the surface of the lake and rolled over on the surroundings' hills...

At the golden hour, streaks of red, blue, and orange lights have started to show up across the wide sky, they illuminated Lake Tabeo

The Night

Then here came darkness and swallowed the golden sky

Stars from above have boasted their twinkling lights

A loop was formed beside the mystical pool
And the hush was broken by the Hoho of all

Deep in the night, where most are at peace
Melodies of chains have started to play around
Nature was calling, Oh! nature was calling!
But someone was lurking, I got afraid to heed

Day 2
The following day, the spell of the morning dews have made the soil damp and the surroundings bone-chilling. Before we started to march, in silence, we have sought the guidance of the stars.
Mike wasn't able to join us and he just stayed at the campsite. For what reason, I'm not so sure... :o

The Pacers

Three transformed into jaguars and boosted their speeds

Two into kangaroos, they have springs on their feet

Three remained at the tail with the light of the trail

But one is also a beast just hiding its teeth

The mossy forest of Mt. Tabayoc

Within the woodland

A newfound hiking buddy. Someone who is at par with my speed. Mt. Tabayoc is her first peak. Since we both ended at the rear, during this climb, we established the Slow Pacers Mountaineer. Will it last?

Jezer, our trail light

After 3 to 4 hours of "chill-climb" (Pine), finally, we have reached the summit of the 7th highest peak. The place is shaded by the branches and leaves of mossy trees. There's a man-made view deck at the summit, where one can see an overview of the nearby ranges, but previous storms have damaged it. Although some of them were able to step on near the edges, I didn't dare to move further.

The summit

Landscape from the view deck. The Cordillera that I greatly love!

Most hikers are considering their first peak as their mother mountain. But, I affirmed with the self-concept of Cheryl Owen, stating that a mother mountain must be the peak which is closest to a hiker's heart. It must be the mountain where one can seek inner peace and feel a surge of nostalgia, every time he/she will climb on it. I'm glad that I already found them; they are the mysterious and sublime mountains of Cordillera. I will climb them all!

I would like thanks Mike for organizing this climb.

Worth Remembering (Moments and Thoughts to look back)
- Rekindling Abra's myth of 7 inches
- Stories in green while descending back to the campsite
- ayyyy, ayyyy, ata eh,,,,,
- The speed maniac-reckless driver. I'm hoping that we will never cross-paths once again!!!
- "Ruf-Ruf" stew. I was quite disgusted
- Chill lang yung hike noh? - Carloiskie

Other Photos Taken