“The best view comes after the hardest climb.”
Who would have thought that my life will be like this:
watching sunrise above the clouds, sliding through muddy trails, sharing
stories with good people, and drinking the cold night away. Who would have
thought that an AVP of a booth in Recruitment 101 of UST will change the
course of my life.
Well, with other applicants and re-trainees, we’ve also
been through a lot. Being qualified for this Auxiliary Climb was not easy.
We’ve been through a lot of tests and diagnostics which really challenged our
inner beasts — mentally, physically,
psychologically, and emotionally. They’ve pushed us to our limits and I don’t
think I would be able to make it without the ever supporting friends that I
have. You know who you are.
Most of us made it.
And everything was just beginning.
Our first ever major climb was dated June 4-8, 2015 and the
prepared itinerary was as follows:
(Prepared by Mr. Alen Bautista, our Team Leader)
USTMC Auxiliary climb
June 4-8
Mt Napulauan
2642 Meters above sea level
Day 0
2100 Call time at Ohayami Bus station. Lacson cor Fajardo St.
2200 Bus Departure going to Banaue, Ifugao
Day 1
0700 Arrival at Banaue, Side Trip and eat lunch
1300 departure of the jeep going to Hungduan Brgy Poblacion.
1600 Arrival at Hungduan Brgy Poblacion
1630 Prepare for dinner
1800 Dinner, socials
2200 lights off
Day 2
0500 Wake up and Prepare for your breakfast and packed lunch
0730 Start Trek
0930 Camp ny-o
1130 Lunch and rest for awhile
1300 Start trek
1700 Arrival at the summit,
1730 Prepare for dinner and socials
2300 lights off
Day 3
0500 Wake up and Prepare for your breakfast and packed lunch
0730 Start Trek. decent via hapao
1100 lunch at the trail
1140 Start trek
1430 Arrival at Brgy hapao jump off, take a quick shower
1600 Departure of the jeep going to Banaue
1800 Arrival at Banaue. eat dinner
1900 Departure of the bus going to Sampaloc Manila
Day 4
0500 Arrival at Ohayami Bus station.
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| Our Ohayami Bus |
Four girls and fifteen guys—We headed north.
We left Manila in a very convenient time. It was midnight so
we just slept off the 8-hr trip to Banaue. We had two stopovers, in Bulacan and
Vizcaya, and I love the fact that their comfort rooms are well-maintained. Also,
I won’t forget the grilled hotdog in Nueva Vizcaya.
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| Nueva Vizcaya hotdog |
I wasn’t able to sleep that much because I used to look
outside the window during lengthy trips. Nevertheless, I think I dozed off
after sunrise.
We reached Banaue slightly earlier than the IT and we took
our breakfasts in the nearby
carinderias.
Honestly, I did not enjoy the food that much. I asked for soup to somehow
compensate the taste but the soup is actually worse. (I tend to be picky with
foods.)
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| Arrival at Ohayami Terminal in Banaue |
We crossed the bridge to Banaue Public Market and we bought
everything we need for the next days’ meals.
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| Carlo pretending to be a fish vendor #spotted #viral |
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| We bought ingredients for Sinigang and Pritong Baboy here |
The next ride is about an hour and it’s a roller coaster of
a ride. There are plenty of sharp curves with cliffs on the other side. The
roads are also narrow so we get a mini heart attack whenever we will meet
another vehicle or there are children beside the road. I guess Banaue drivers
are really good (and a bit of a reckless).
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| Really cute jeepney tho |
We stayed in Hungduan for the night with these cool mini
village of Ifugao houses. This is the “hotel” of the place. There is no
bathroom inside these houses though but there is a main hall where there is
kitchen, comfort rooms, stage, and fresh water. There are
sari-sari stores near the place so some of us bought anything else
that they need. With all these convenience, believe it or not, it just cost us
100php/person. We had four groups and each has their own hut. We are 5 in our
group and I was the only girl.
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| An Ifugao hut |
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| Our dwelling place for the rest of the day |
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| Amazing Ifuago village |
The whole village was ours that night. Good music filled the
air. Each group prepared something for dinner and shared it with everybody.
When everything was already served, it was like boodle fight! I also had a few
shots and went a little light headed. Glad I didn’t vomit or get dizzy for the
next day’s hike.
I love the fact that we are in the middle of Cordillera and
everything around us is mountains. It gives a different aura and a smell that
makes the night a little sweeter. The cool breeze of the summer night and the
dim light from the full moon lulled me to sleep.
Gulpe de gulat (wallop
by surpise). That’s what they’ve told
us and it’s true! I literally got knocked down immediately but of course I
survived! The first part of the trail is stairs. It has so many steps I lose
count. We happen to be the first group and in front of me are three guys who
are fast paced so I get really pressured. We passed through grassy trails with
minimal shades so I was already running out of breath for the first 20 minutes.
Our team leader decided to give us a little rest so I can
catch my breath (thank God) and one of our tour guides gave me a branch from a
tree which I can use as an improvised walking stick. I really helped me a lot.
We regrouped and we were placed in the middle which is a little chill than our
first position.
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| First rest. It was really hot! |
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| :) |
I’m not sure if it’s the elevation or the trees got thicker
but it got a little cooler as we continued. We had very minimal to no rest at
all. Lucky if we had to wait for others who are being left behind, I was able
to snatch a quick rest. We tried to chase the first group but they already had
like 30-minute gap from us. Kuya Sean, the senior in our group, told me to just
walk in my pace and put no pressure on myself. I just took small steps and
tried not to stop.
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| Camp Ny-O |
We arrived at Camp Ny-O and tried to regroup. We were
already late for our IT so we thought about getting our lunch there or sticking
to our IT. In the end, we chose to follow what’s in our IT. The first group
left when the third group arrived at Camp Ny-O. Each has around 30-minute gap
from one another.
The weather gets colder as we ascent. I guess that’s my
biggest strength in climbing. I can endure the 40L full pack and never-ending
slope as long as there is cool weather or no direct sunlight that exhaust me.
We reached the lunch camp and took a quick rest.
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| Just a quick lunch. Team still got no chill. |
Of course, it didn’t get any easier. We kept asking Kuya
Sean we’re already near and he keeps saying yes. Two hours passed and we were
still on trail. Then there’s this point in every climb that I ask myself why I
do it. Why do I let myself get hurt? I can stay at home, get a good sleep, and
eat everything I want, or browse through Facebook or Twitter all day. I started
to think of all the delicious food I can eat once we get back to Manila. But of
course, giving up is not an option. I’ve been through all the courses and
seminars of USTMC. I’ve had my share of sleepless nights and thoughts if I will
get accepted or not. I’ve shared a lot with these people. I’ve traveled all the
way to Banaue and climbed a few elevations. I was not supposed to give up.
The rest of the trek was a deafening silence until we
reached the dwarf forest. We saw the first group on the other side. They looked
giants amidst the trees! And of course, the Napulauan flag to indicate the
peak. There’s a short descent then an ascent to Napulauan’s peak. We were
greeted by our friends and it’s truly rewarding. The view is very rewarding!
Truly, the best view comes after the hardest climb.
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| View from the other side of the summit |
As we used to, we have to pitch first, pitch fast before we
can take pictures or do other errands. But after we pitched our tent, it
started to drizzle. We were already set inside when it started to rain so hard.
There were leaks in our tent but my group mates was able to make a way for it.
We cooked our dinner (sinigang and turon with a twist, yummy!) inside our
vestibule. Also, my allergies started to attack me and I had rashes all over my
torso. One of my group mates had a slight fever. Fortunately, we had a
fresh-grad nurse in the team. She attended us with our needs. Also, I was able
to predict that this could happen so I had my anti-histamine with me. After we
ate our dinner, the rain stopped for a while. (I was able to do my first ever
call of nature, thanks to my friends who dug and wasn’t able to use it.) We
wasn’t able to have our socials anymore so I just went to sleep while others
still shared a few shots.
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| Just before it rained so hard. We didn't even have the time to fix our messy vestibule. |
They said around 12 mn it started to rain hard again so
everyone get in their tents. That night was quite a beautiful disaster. I woke
up around 4 am and it was still dark. I waited for the sunrise and volunteered
to cook breakfast.
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| It was a stormy night but we made it. |
This time, we did not have rest at all. I slid for like
three times and stumbled for two times. We had to pass through fallen branches
and logs. Glad I got no
limatik on my
skin. By noon we were already at the lunch camp. We had a quick rest and were
told that we were just an hour or two from the jump off in Barangay Hapao.
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| Kuya Sean got no chill on the descent. This is already near our lunch rest |
After the lunch camp, the trail became harder but more
beautiful. The beautiful rice terraces started to be our view. We even passed
through the terraces! The trail is like a set of never ending stairs and my
knees started to get hurt big time. It really got me slower so my group mates
had to bear with my slow pace (Sorry, guys).
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| Real rice terraces I got there |
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| Beautiful view of Banaue Rice Terraces from our descent trail via Hapao |
The trail goes like cliff or water on one side and rice
field on the other side. We have to walk through these steep stairs but it
really got me excited seeing the road from afar.
Around three o’clock in the afternoon, we reached the end of
the trail.
We made it! I made it! I survived Mt. Napulauan!!!
We top-loaded a jeep, took our obligatory selfies, and had
our much-awaited bath while waiting for the last group to arrive. We started to
get worried when it’s already five o’clock and they still haven’t arrived.
After a while, they appeared and it looks like one of them had a sprain. They
took a quick bath and we left Hapao at around 6 only to find out that our team
leader’s phone is missing.
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| Just finished the Napulauan traverse faces of the first two groups. We were in dire need of bath on that moment |
We were already getting late for our bus but we were still
able to buy some of the famous rice wine of Banaue. I think it’s a few hundred
for a bottle but it is worth it! It tasted like one of those sparkling wines
that my father bought from Middle East. I wish I had bought for myself to take
home.
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| The taste of rice wine is as colorful and happy as this picture |
We were not able to go to Banaue Public Market to buy
souvenirs or take our dinner. The jeep arrived at the bus station and one of
the ladies there said that our bus just left. It was like a Fast and Furious
movie. I was sitting beside the door and I had to tighten my grip on the
railings or else I will be thrown out. I was praying that we catch our bus and
we’ll be safe knowing that one side of the road is a cliff. Luckily, we saw our
bus and our seniors in top load started flashing their head lamps to signal the
bus driver. After finding a clearance, the bus stopped, we hopped out our
jeepney, loaded our full packs inside the bus, and saved ourselves a seat.
Thanks to Manong Jeepney Driver! Cool and badass!
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| Last look of the Rice Terraces on our way home |
Once we got ourselves comfortable on our seats, we started
to get our pretty slumber. We arrived at our stopover in Nueva Vizcaya in time
when my stomach gets complaining. I really loved the hotdogs there and we had a
good dinner.
The rest of the ride got pretty smooth and we were in Manila
before the sun breaks and I headed home. I had some sleep and went to Jollibee
to get the food I was craving since the first day of the climb. I packed my
stuff and left for Cavite the same day. Rainy days are starting and the song
Hooked on A Feeling is on loop in my iPod.
Two days after, I flew to Dubai.
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| Mt. Napulauan Summit |
