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| The signature pose of the mountaineers at the summit |
After
various encounters with different summits around the world, I feel a deeper
call - the feeling that the mountain is calling me. This is the reason why on
the fateful day of the 27th of November, I once again ventured to discover the
beauty of Mt. Ugo. The preparation was six (6) months and just like other
preparations, you don't prepare until the last month. So, here I am working my
heart out so I can endure the climb and the cold weather.
The
HMU has organized a 3D2N expedition to conquer the 2,150MASL Mt. Ugo in
Benguet. The mountain became famous after a Philippine Airlines crashed on its
slopes in the 80's.
Ugo
is associated with the headhunting activity of the tribes back then. After
calling officers from DENR and from the Barangay Hall of Tinongdan, I come up
with an initial itinerary. I planned to jumpstart at Kayapa Nueva Vizcaya and
back. Then another trail came, that of Itogon and back. Finally, I decided to
pursue what most climbers traversed - Kayapa-Itogon Trail.
I
sent invitations to fellow mountaineers and friends and I was overwhelmed by
the surge of positive responses.
UPS AND DOWNS
Come
September. The pledges to join suddenly come dwindling down. The thirty (30)
plus willing souls for the expedition was down to half. Then a month before the
scheduled climb, we lost another five (5) mountainers.
I
settled for ten climbers and thought it is not bad. I continued the
organization trying to fuse groups from 5 units down to a single group. Then
just two (2) weeks before the climb, I lost another three (3). We were only
seven (7).
Good
thing, a couple of days before the expedition, I was able to pull one to join
with us with a promise that she will never regret joining the climb.
THE GATHERING
The
excitement has increased when each climber met each other, some, for the first
time, while others reunited. At the Hypermarket in SM Sucat we started to fill
our shopping cart with food provisions that will sustain us through the
journey.
We
drove towards the airport to fetch another three (climbers), the Tres Marias.
We were graced to have with us Mondot, who voluntarily drove us to our
destination. We were hours late of our planned itinerary because of the delays
of the flights.
Cruising
along the NLEX, SCTEX and TPLEX, everyone tried to doze off for a final rest
before the ascent. Stopping from time to time at different stations helped us
replenish the hunger and thirst from a long journey. At the break of day, we
were already driving along the Aritao-Kayapa highway. All were already
awake...and confused why our van kept on going around. It was the fault of the
GPS as the ones in front claimed...or was it...
Each
climber became instant friends. Each assured their companions that the climb
will be memorable and fruitful. This is how our gathering took place.
THE ARRIVAL
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| After going round and round, we finally arrived |
We
were almost there. Then we were there. Then we are here. That was how we called
our arrival because we drove past our jump off point and we have to drive back
to that point. KAYAPA PUBLIC MARKET says the big sign in front of the police
station. We arrived at Kayapa past seven (7) in the morning. We were two (2)
hours late.
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| Keep us safe, O Lord, we pray |
We
thought that we were the only group who will ascend but there was another group
of around twenty (20) young climbers. After we discussed with our guide and
porters, we took our breakfast and a short rest. At the start of our journey we
begged the Lord of Creation to bring us safely to our destination and to
protect us in our way.
So
far, we started out well. Though we went around in circles looking for the jump
off area, all were excited to start the climb.
THE ASSAULT
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| Along a cemented path we commenced our trek |
At
8am, the group started the journey. We were welcomed with a steady climb up a
cemented path passing by houses of the locals and children greeting us with
their smiles and waves. One of the climbers being exposed immediately to a
sudden assault got sick and only at the first waiting shed that she recovered.
As soon as we ascended the hills, we were overtaken by the other group. They
were fast climbers and enthusiasts apparently. We were passing by villages with
gentle slopes by bushes, guava trees and green grass. The more we
ascended, the better we see the mountains rising in the background. There, we
saw the provincial road we traversed before arriving at the market. The eight
(8) climbers were divided into three groups. Three fast climbers were with the
guide. Another three were in the middle and two were at the end.
PICTURE PERFECT
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| The view after two hours of trek |
At
1020hrs, the group reached a plateau-like grassland where we rested and enjoyed
the view. A number of pictures and selfies were taken not counting the
jumpshots made. After two hours of long trek we savored the view and the cool
wind coming from the mountain. Some members of the other groups were left
behind and we overtook them on the way. We had some short chit-chats with them
as we move along the way. We have coordinated with the porters that we will
meet them at the shortcut. We decided to take the shorter way missing the
Domolpos village and straight to the water source since we are running out of
drinking water. We were catching our breath every ascent but as we moved
forward, we were able to sync our breathing with our steps that made our climb
much comfortable. The sun was up but the trees and the pines gave a much needed
shed. The weather changed drastically. There was a strong wind and fog quickly
covered our path. We could not see farther than 50meters. Still, it was picture
perfect.
LUNCH
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| Picnic at km.12 |
At
1240hrs, we arrived at the Indupit lunch break place approximately 12kms from
the summit. After almost 5hours of ascending the mountain we were shocked to
find a van passing right in front of us. We were all screaming
inside..."How on earth that we were made to bear the pain and sweat in
conquering the slopes when we can just rent this van to reach this
height?" "This is unfair" "Oh, how I love to deflate the
tires so that all of us will walk!" But then, we might defeat our purpose
if we will just take the van. It was drizzling and our food was already cold.
We need not cook anything yet since we still have our provisions. We laid the
ground sheet and we had a picnic-like lunch. As we sat to take our lunch, dogs
and chicken alike surrounded us. They showed us their hospitality and they
patiently waited for our leftovers. Three dogs performed a synchronized dance
number much to our amazement. A much needed 30-minute rest was all we ever
need. After refilling and power-napping, we took off under heavy fog.
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| Dense fog highlights our trek after lunch |
ROAD
The
next nine (9) kilometers were just an idle walk, a hike. We were following a
road carved out of the mountain slope maybe for a future farm-to-market road.
It was totally rough and could be muddy when it rains. Loose stones and rock
were all over the place and the wind is slowly bearing down on us. From a
moment the sun shows up then a cloud covers it and a strong wind pushes it past
our slope. We gradually traversed the never ending road from one kilometer
marker to the other.
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| Wide road ahead |
We
then started to ask questions if these markers were really precise since a not
so distant 500meters seems like forever. We walked and walked and walked and
walked. Then from afar, we saw this huge mountain with its summit covered with
fog. There I knew that it was Mt. Ugo. But wait, the marker says that it's
seven (7) kilometers to the summit. Are you kidding me? That mountain seems
like twenty (20) kilometers or more. We started to doubt that these markers
were erected to boost the morale of the mountaineers. he he he.
BAD NEWS
After
reaching another waiting shed, we were astounded with the view. Clouds were
away and the sun at its afternoon rays gave so much impression that was
surreal.
We
posed and took pictures and selfies again and we were told to hurry up because
at our pacing, we will reach the summit at 1900hrs. What? It's the middle of
day and we only have 7kms more to go and you say we reach in the evening. We
really thought that it was a joke.
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| The view from above |
ROCK POINT
As
we continued our walk in the park, we could see from afar this large boulder
rock. On the way were cows grazing the grass on the slopes. This is one of the
features of this trail. There are lots of them and lots of cakes along the way.
You know what I mean. One of the climbers has Bovinophobia or the fear of
Cattles and Cows that is why we pick on her when there are cows lying around.
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| Not the rock point but there is a big rock anyway |
This
is our way of letting the one with phobia overcome it. As soon as we reached
the Rock Point, we were diverted to another road since the guide would not
advice lady climbers to risk falling down the ravine because of loose soil. I
wanted to take the risk because
it
is actually nearer than the suggested pathway. Prudence dictates. Take the
safest way. This was the only way and the way was going down the mountain.
Ironically, to reach the top now was to descend some hundred meters. huhuhuhu.
We stopped by to take our last refill of water since at the top, there's no
watersource.
The
porters were carrying extra weights now - our food and water.
3KMS TO FOREVER
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| "May forever talaga...ito yun." |
At
1732hrs, the three (3) kilometers to summit marker stood proudly as it
encourages the climbers that the end is near. This was the farthest three
kilometers in my whole life. If I can run three kilometers for 30 minutes, it
took me more than two (2) hours to attack the 45degree final assault to the
campsite.
It
was already getting darker and darker as we climbed gradually. We can already
see our fellow mountaineers up the top. The wind is picking up so fast and the
Devil's fork kinda scared us to our death. The path was grassy but the fall at
the other side was nauseating. We focused our attention only at the other side
of the trail since we don't want to fall down. The sun was out, the wind was so
strong, the fog covered the path and flashlights seemed like fireflies from
afar. Another group showed up from behind us. Like us, they were all separated
from their group. Speed climbers ahead, while slow climbers were way behind
them. I can see them from my standpoint. The Bovinophobic climber was exhausted and I have to take her back
pack. It was totally dark and I only got my flashlight to guide our way.
Walking up 45degrees in the dark with loose stones in your path is not as easy
as it seems. A single misstep will send you rolling down the hill like Jack and
Jill. All we can ever see were the stars and the lone tree standing at the top
of the mountain. It was a deceiver. When we reached the tree, it was not over
yet. There's another path towards another tree. This really is forever.
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| The notorious devil's fork |
THE CAMPSITE
When
we finally reached the campsite there was chaos. The wind was so strong that we
could barely erect our tents. Our companions were short of getting hypothermia
because of the cold and we don't have our provisions ready yet. At this moment,
I realized that in surviving, food does not matter anymore. What you need is a
shelter. We erected our tents against the wind. When we were inside our tents
we stabilized our belongings so that they will not be carried away by the wind,
then all fell silent. Nobody cared to boil water or to prepare dinner. All went
to sleep exhausted. We changed and we all went to sleep. All tents were not
even erected yet; we all just cramped inside the tents and vanished in our
dreams. But even in our dreams we were haunted by the long journey. Others
claimed that even in their dreams they were still climbing and falling down the
steep mountain.
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| Let's call it a day folks...no dinner, just complete rest. |
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