My most difficult climb took a couple of days including the travel time from Manila. The arduous, three-day trek just to reach the summit demanded so much physical and mental energy from me especially since the climb was a solo expedition. Also had a hard time heading back to the ranger station when a sudden pain attacked both my left and right knee, took me a couple of hours to get back to the station, but still this was one of my successful climb. - (My 2nd climb)
- January 1-5, 2008
- Akiki-Akiki
My 2nd climb to Mt. Pulag. Solo climb
- Oct 19-23, 2008
- Akiki-Akiki
My 4th climb to Mt. Pulag with ICIC Mountaineers. (1st batch)
5th climb to Mt. Pulag with the 2nd fellowship climb of ICIC.
- May 15-16, 2010
- Ambangeg-Ambangeg
This is a video of my 3rd climb to Pulag, only me and my guide at the summit.
Day 0
2300 - Take Victory Liner trip to Baguio (P450). Reserve tickets ahead to be sure.
Day 1
0500 - ETA Baguio City. Breakfast then proceed to jeepney terminal/chartered jeep.
0700 - Take chartered jeepney to Akiki, Kabayan. Early lunch at any stopover.
1200 - Arrival at Akiki jump-off; commence trek on steep trail.
1300 - ETA Ranger Station. Register. Secure guides.
1330 - Start 3-hour trek to Eddet River
1630 - ETA Eddet River; set up camp.
1800 - Dinner / socials
Day 2
0400 - Wake up call. Prepare breakfast.
0430 - Breakfast
0530 - Break camp
0700 - Start 3-4 hr trek to Marlboro Country
1100 - Have early lunch at Marlboro country (water source)
1200 - Commence 3-hour trek through montane forest.
1430 - End of forest line (2600 MASL); Reach Grassland.
1600 - ETA Saddle campsite; set up camp.
1730 - Assault to summit. Sunset.
1900 - Dinner / socials
Day 3
0530 - Early morning trek to summit
0545 - Arrival at summit just in time for sunrise
0630 - Back at campsite; breakfast
0730 - Break camp
0800 - Start descent via Ambangeg trail
0900 - From Camp 2, resume descent to Babadak Ranger Station
1130 - ETA Ranger Stn; Settle guide fees; jeepney descent
1230 - At DENR-PAO; tidy up and log out.
1400 - Head back to Baguio City
1700 - ETA Baguio City. Buy return tickets. Dinner.
1900 - Head back to Manila
- February 19-21, 2010
- Ambangeg-Ambangeg
5th climb to Mt. Pulag with the 2nd fellowship climb of ICIC.
- May 15-16, 2010
- Ambangeg-Ambangeg
This is a video of my 3rd climb to Pulag, only me and my guide at the summit.
ITINERARY
(Akiki-Ambangeg with rented jeepney)Note: If taking public transportation, instead of a jeepney one would have to take the A Liner (formerly Norton) Bus to Kabayan (P150) with regular trips at 0900, 1000, and 1400H (as well as a 0700H on peak season) Also, the 10-km. trail between the Ranger Station and the DENR-PAO at Ambangeg would have to be negotiated by foot, calling for a stricter 3-day schedule or an expanded, 4-day itinerary. Other possibilities include an Akiki-Akiki, or an Ambangeg-Akiki in which case the itinerary below can be reversed.
2300 - Take Victory Liner trip to Baguio (P450). Reserve tickets ahead to be sure.
Day 1
0500 - ETA Baguio City. Breakfast then proceed to jeepney terminal/chartered jeep.
0700 - Take chartered jeepney to Akiki, Kabayan. Early lunch at any stopover.
1200 - Arrival at Akiki jump-off; commence trek on steep trail.
1300 - ETA Ranger Station. Register. Secure guides.
1330 - Start 3-hour trek to Eddet River
1630 - ETA Eddet River; set up camp.
1800 - Dinner / socials
Day 2
0400 - Wake up call. Prepare breakfast.
0430 - Breakfast
0530 - Break camp
0700 - Start 3-4 hr trek to Marlboro Country
1100 - Have early lunch at Marlboro country (water source)
1200 - Commence 3-hour trek through montane forest.
1430 - End of forest line (2600 MASL); Reach Grassland.
1600 - ETA Saddle campsite; set up camp.
1730 - Assault to summit. Sunset.
1900 - Dinner / socials
Day 3
0530 - Early morning trek to summit
0545 - Arrival at summit just in time for sunrise
0630 - Back at campsite; breakfast
0730 - Break camp
0800 - Start descent via Ambangeg trail
0900 - From Camp 2, resume descent to Babadak Ranger Station
1130 - ETA Ranger Stn; Settle guide fees; jeepney descent
1230 - At DENR-PAO; tidy up and log out.
1400 - Head back to Baguio City
1700 - ETA Baguio City. Buy return tickets. Dinner.
1900 - Head back to Manila
Scheduling
Mt. Pulag is accessible throughout the year, but it is much more advisable to climb it during the early months of the year, for many reasons. Bad weather, for instance, may not allow the jeep to reach the Ranger Station. Also, clouds may very well obscure the fabled Pulag views, which may lead to disappointment. Moreover, rainy conditions would even it even colder. Thus the advisable time frame for Pulag is between December-early May. This is the dry season -- and although there's no assurance of really clear skies, there's greater chance of seeing it in this season.
Logistics
There are two important contacts to know when climbing Mt. Pulag. First is that of Mang Roger, who arranges jeepney transportation from Baguio City to the Akiki jump-off. He may be contacted at +639208068656. For the itinerary detailed above, the going rate for the jeepney transportation ranges from P9,500-10,000.
The other contact is the DENR Park Superintendent for the Mt. Pulag National Park, Ma'am Emerita Albas. She may be reached at +639196315402. Groups usually fax their plans to DENR (Mt. Pulag National Park) office in Baguio ahead of time, to (074) 444 7428. Or you can also text/call Ma'am Mering through her cellphone. You do not have to worry about guides or porters because the system in Pulag is orderly. As for guides, the rate is P1800/guide for 1-7 persons (for itinerary above), and P100 for each addition person thereafter. The maximum number of persons/guide is 10 (P2100) but with 11 persons, the cost is just (P2200). Most guides are self-contained. Porters may also be secured at P300/day.
Post a Comment