Pulag, the Grass Lalaland

Pulag Mountain, Luzon, Philippines

                  Our team

Nothing much to put in my blog this year, a year of pandemic, basically. I could say, 90% of my mountain trip being cancelled namely Fuji, ABC, Kinabalu, Tiger Leaping Gorge and some local hikes. 

Back to Pulag, my original plan to hike Pulag with Ohana team was in November 2019. Unfortunately, 2 weeks before the hike, i met with an accident which caused tissue injuries in my left rib cage. As advised by the doctor, i postponed my trip to February 2020 (I claimed insurance for the cancelled flight and bought the new one). 

Day 0 

Lets see whats to bring for this hike:

Documents : 

1. Passport ( *Please check your passport validity date, make sure it's more than 6 months*) 
2. Medical Checkup ( you can get it at nearest hospital in Benguet 🇵🇭) which costs around RM15 

Others:

1) Headlamp / torch light 

2) Batery spare 

3) Wind breaker 

4) Toiletries 

5) Sun block/lotion 

6) Cap & Buff 

7) Clothing and layering 

8) gloves (wind proof should be great!) 

9) Own medical 1st Aid (spray/bulm) 

10) Beg 20-30Liter for day hike 

11) Own Camera / Camera stand / selfie stick 12) towel & Wet tissue 

13) water purifier (optional) 

14) Tracking Stick 

15) Sun glasses

16) Thermos Flask (optional) 

17) Stocking 

18) Gaiter (optional) 

19) Minimum drinking water 1.5l p/person 

20) 3 in 1 Milo / coffee / Tea (optional) 

21) Ready to eat meals (Brahim, My Chef, & Pack Kembara) 

I flew to Manila with few tripmates on 6th February 1.45am via Cebu Airlines from KLIA. It tooks around 4hrs and 15mins to reach Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila. 

Day 1 

We reached Manila at 6am as scheduled and searched for Surau in the airport for Subuh prayer. There was a small Surau at 2nd floor at the back of escalator. Not well maintained but, enough to perform your prayer rather than nothing. 

As alternative, you might ask permission to perform your prayer here

           

Surau, at the back of escalator, Level 2

We then gathered at the ground floor before started our journey at 7am via private van transfer. The journey to the highway took around 2 hours. We stopped by at the bundle of restaurants before entering highway for washroom and bought some snacks. The total journey to Kabayan from Manila took around 8 hours, OK?

The journey to Baguio through Tarlac - Pangasinan - La Union Expressway should be no problem, it was just a straight road, anyway. After 5hrs journey, we reached Baguio and stopped by at petrol station to have light meals and changed transfer van.

We then continued our journey to Benguet, Kabayan. The journey became harder with sharp hairpin turns, sudden curves, and steep roads for about 40km, enough to cause you head ache and vommited!  Please bring along your motion sickness medicine to outweight this issue. This road also to be said as one of the most hazardous road in Philiphines with a number of accidents common especially during the rainy season.

After the horrible road, we finally reached at Kabayan, a small town where the trailhead for Pulag located. Our van headed us to Baban Homestay, our home for the next 2 days. 

Carrot fields

Baby carrot

Such a quiet area surrounded with carrot terraces and beautiful sky lines. Such amazing and cool view!

In the clouds...

We reached Baban Homestay around 3.30pm, bathed, prayed and had lunch. The water damn cold and was like having ice bathing and the phone signal was very weak. We had some rest before swinging around the places in late evening, went to the carrot terraces, had some photos and not forget to wait for the dramathical and ethereal sunset that can be seen from the guest house.

Baban Homestay

The jeepney

The beautiful sunset at the guest house

The second group of Ohana reached the guest house around 8pm. We then had our dinner together at the dining, with meals cooked by the guest house (the rice, fishes and fresh vege). The tastes not bad basically. 

After the meals, we had ice breaking session and briefing by Ohana representative, Nora on the tentative for the next 2 days. 

Ice break session after the dinner

Went to bed and lights off at 10.30pm.

Day 2

Early morning, woke up and had our breakfast, we then brought to visit Daclan Sulphur Spring, Bokod. Not that far from our guest house actually. 

Picturesque view of Daclan Sulphur Spring. The grey colour is a hot muddy

It is a sulfuric bubbling muddy hot spring. The smoke and sulfuric scent emitted could be seen and smelled from a distance. The hot water from the spring is believed to have some therapeutic effects. The entrance is free.

Spent almost 1 hour here, chit chat and snap some photos before we left to the hospital for medical check up.

We arrived at Dennis Molintas District Hospital, Benguet almost 11am. Everyone of us took turns with a small fee of approximately 170PP. Not a serious check up, but a basic just to ensure you are fit enough to climb.

The cute ambulance which they called 'Patient Transport Vehicle'

Small and cute hospital. Not much worker therein

After the checkup, we then went to the Mount Pulag National Park Office for orientation, registration and submission of our medical certificates. 

Mount Pulag had four trails namely 

Daclan, Bokod, Benguet and Ambangeg. The easiest among others is Ambangeg, and we will use this way to summit.

Ambangeg Trail. The easiest but not really easy hehe

We have been aired with informative video about Mount Pulag including its beautiful sea of clouds, mossy forests, terrains and grass lalaland. Make us so excited to start our climb the next morning.. 😇

Entrance to National Park Office

National Park Office 

Everybody focus on the video. I just amazed how how the video being edited.

Spent about 1 hour here before we back to the guest house for lunch and packing our daypack stuffs for the hike. Forgot to mention, it is compulsary to have a guide from the Park itself in every trip to Pulag.

The mini hiking mall outside National Park Office for those intent for last minute shopping. Me, just a grab a pair of wind proof glove

Had some rests while waiting our dinner at 6pm. Need to load carbo as much as for the 16km return hike and not forget, the weather will be super cold hence you need more carbo to heat your body.

We slept early after Isya prayer since our hike started at 1am. 

Day 3

Mount Pulag being the 3rd highest mountain in Philippines, stands at 2,928 meters above sea level and it is a dormant volcano. The nearest Mountain is Mount Apo and Mount Dulang-dulang.

We woke up at 12am, get our gears ready and collect our breakfast before rode the van to the ranger' s house i.e trailhead. 

We are ready!

Rangers' House at the trailhead

We started our hike at 1am after self stretching done to avoid any injuries. Make sure your layering is correct. For Pulag, enough to wear 1 piece of long sleeve shirt or heat teck as inner layer and proof wind jacket as outer layer. No need to be so thick since you will suffer very hot once you move since your body became warm enough. The trail started with light accent and easy flat trail, but enough to make me short of breath since the wind was strong and temperature getting colder. 

We reached 1st Camp around 2.10am. Its began to rain, oh my. I dont know how the summit looks like if its rainy and what about sunrise? Any? We took a rest for a while at Camp 1, wore our rain coat, and continue our journey to Camp 2.

Have a rest at Camp 1

There are 3 types of forest the you may passed along Ambangeg Trail. The first one, is Alpine Forest, after Camp 1 then you will meet with Mossy Forest and the last one is grass lalaland, until the peak.

Since it was very dark, hence, we just enjoyed the wind, the rain and the lights of our headlamp. Nothing can be seen both sides and even the sky. 

We reached Camp 2 at 4am, it was raining, still. We took around 15mins to rest before summit attack. Every Camp had toilet but not really proper. Basic to fulfill your nature call only. 😬

Camp 2...

After the Camp 2, we reached grass lalaland with open air space. The summit was around 2km away. The journey was very challenging with the super strong wind and slippery trail. 

6am - we reached summit. After taking some photos, we performed our Subuh Prayer. No sunrise this time, but the hazy, gloomy and white skies. A bit upset, maybe not our luck this time. We waited for half hour but still, unchanged.

Blurred picture since the lense is wet and the hand also cold enough to fix it. Part of my team

Summit!

The green and brown grass colour at the summit. I called it grass lalaland. Very beautiful and look amazing even no sunrise

Lord of The Ring mission?? 

7.30am - we decided to make a move to descend. We stopped by along the trail to take photos and reached the trailhead around 11am.

The beautiful mossy forest

Way back home

Just after the trailhead, before Camp 1

Got our certificates. Yezza!

Back to the guesthouse, with muddy hiking pants and shoes. We got no time to rests since we need to depart to Manila after lunch. Very tiring day, sigh...

The van picked up us around 3pm to Manila. Reached Manila around 10am and what i needed that time after 8 hours journey was a proper bath and a pillow....

Thanks to Ohana team for the nice hospitality during the trip!

Will be continued - Part 2 (Manila)