Playground of the Gods

My first time in Pulag was in 2003 with Mark, Al, Glenn, Uro, Ellen, Crisel, Dee, Sheila, May, and our mountaineer friend Tantan. My only practice hike then was in Mt. Makiling, so this is my first ever major hike and it's already on what they consider then as Luzon's highest peak and the second highest peak in the country. I don't have a camera and photos of my own and it's still on paper, no digital copy yet, I wasn't able to blog about it then. So, now that I got a scanned copy, let me share our first Pulag experience with you. 

That's a public bus that took us to Bokod, Benguet where the registration office for Pulag hikers is located. I think we went down because there's a problem with the bus, good thing they were able to fix it otherwise we would be stranded on the road.

these are the sights that would greet you on your way to Bokod

Ambuklao Dam can also be seen our your way here

Mt. Pulag is part of the National Integrated Protected Areas Program (NIPAP) so registration and orientation are required. We met the Park Superintendent, Ms. Emerita Tamiray. Then after the orientation, they assigned us a guide and a jeep that took us on a grueling ride in Badabak Ranger's Station. Here in the ranger's station, this is our last preparation area, after this, it will be all walk to reach the campsite, and this is also our last chance to take a bath but the water is so cold, so you have to brave the cold for the last chance of bath. And since we rode public transport, I took the challenge and took a bath (so brave =P).

our jeepney ride to the ranger's station

We took the AMBANGEG trail since this is the easiest trail, beginner's trail as they call it. But even if it's the easiest trail, 7-8 hours of the hike is not easy, but because it's our first hike and we were younger then and we were adventurous, we survived the long hours of hiking. The weather on our way up is so beautiful, we are expecting a good view of the sea of clouds, which was Mt. Pulag's enchantment. 

I remember Mark wanted to spend his birthday on top of the mountain, that's why he arranged this hike but we keep on moving the date because of typhoons. I already forgot when we were finally able to do this but what's funny is that we still encounter the typhoon when we are already in the camp area of Pulag. We were pitching our tent then when it was already raining, the boys prepared dinner while the girls are resting in our tents. It's already cold in Pulag but because of the typhoon, it was even more colder, the rain and the wind add to the cold on top of this beautiful mountain. 

It was a long windy night, we can hear from the radio from our guide, and communication from the base, they were monitoring our situation and giving updates also on how the storm was. We couldn't sleep because we are already wet and it was so cold, me and my tentmate May used the candles as a campfire to warm our hands. It was a long night, but as in everything will not last, morning came. Since the rain is still pouring, and sea clouds will not be possible in this weather, we decided to just visit the summit to complete our Pulag expedition. 

you cannot see this marker now in Mt. Pulag, it was taken out because it violated the "Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time." 

We were not able to witness the sea of clouds but we were able to run free in the dwarf bamboo fields of Mt. Pulag. That is why we came back, click here: Pulag Take 2 to see my second Mt. Pulag experience.

our group photo in Lake Tabeyo

Photos from Al, Sheila, and Uro (I think)