As promised, here's my Ormoc Trilogy Adventure Part 2!
In my recent post, about my first day in Ormoc City, I shared our experiences and everything in between while conquering Mt. Janagdan and Mt. Malingatong on our first day of the climb. I enjoyed writing that post because, even though it's been almost a month since my major climb, it still feels like it happened just a week ago. Everything is still so fresh that I remember every detail from those 3 nights and 2 days adventure. And now, I'm ready to share my unforgettable night at the campsite and our last day of the climb, which involved scaling the Highest Peak in Eastern Visayas, Mt. ALTO!
On Saturday night, October 7, 2023, we found ourselves at the Mt. Alto campsite, where we were going to spend the rest of the night after a tiring yet fantastic first day climb. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from that night, perhaps because so much was happening, and I forgot to document it. It was a challenging night, as I mentioned in the Part 1 blog, due to heavy rain that made it difficult to pitch our tents and protect our belongings from getting wet. It was a bit stressful, but at the same time, it had moments of hilarity that made it unforgettable.
We then prepared and ate our dinner. While in the middle of dinner preparations, a friend alerted us to a snake nearby, and being curious, I immediately got up to have a look. Fortunately, there was a water source near the campsite, so we could freshen up before joining the social gathering. We had a few drinks and got to know our new mountaineering friends more.
The Beauty of Mt. Aminduen - Alto Peak
Mt. Aminduen, also known as Alto Peak, is the highest peak in Eastern Visayas, Philippines, standing proudly at 1,332 meters above sea level (MASL). Many outdoor enthusiasts from various regions have been visiting this mountain due to its challenging trail and breathtaking views. You can find numerous blogs about this incredible mountain on different websites where you can both enjoy the content and gather valuable information.
Rise and Shine!
Everyone had decided not to start our climb too early at dawn since it had rained heavily the night before. This meant that the trail to Alto Peak was quite slippery, especially its rocks, which would be challenging in the dark. Kuya James woke us up at almost 6 AM, and we quickly prepared and ate breakfast while engaging in light-hearted chitchats and laughter. Afterward, we readied our climbing gear and changed into appropriate clothing.
Kuya James, @mariasalve , @katiemeow , and I were the first to leave the campsite, accompanied by Kuya Ferdinand, our guide. The others followed a few minutes later with another guide, Kuya Jurry. A bright morning sun shone as we approached the base of the mountain. Kuya Ferdinand informed us that the 1-kilometer ascent to Alto Peak would take approximately 1 to 2 hours. Can you imagine that? A seemingly short 1-kilometer trail requiring up to 2 hours? But let's not be deceived by the distance; it's far more challenging and demanding. You'll soon understand why the climb to Alto Peak will take that long.
Starting the ascent trail of the mountain, I felt a surge of excitement, but Ate Kim was the opposite, hahaha. Perhaps she was genuinely tired from the previous day's climb, and her body needed some stretching to awaken from our night's rest.
I won't deny it; the trail was highly technical, especially considering how slippery it became due to the previous night's rain. This added an extra layer of challenge for all of us. We took breaks intermittently, catching our breath and hydrating to prevent dehydration.
As we approached the summit, the trail became progressively more difficult. I particularly enjoyed the sections where we used ropes for climbing. It was tough, given my lack of familiarity, but it brought a sense of excitement and fun to the experience.
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Finally, we reached the summit! Look at those faces—clearly filled with joy, grateful that we all conquered the challenges we faced. We took our time resting while waiting for the fog to clear, which was quite thick. Moments of bliss unfolded as we savored the achievement, capturing it in numerous solo and group pictures. We even met another group of climbers at the peak, sharing moments and taking pictures together.
After relishing the peak for almost 2 hours, we began our descent. Upon returning to the campsite, we prepared lunch and enjoyed a meal together. We packed our belongings, dismantled our tents, and headed to the waiting area for the driver of our rented elf cab service.
Before the driver arrived, we took a shower at the water source near the waiting area. Then, we went back to the Barangay's Tourism Center to get our climb certificates. Afterward, we returned to the Ormoc port for our departure to Cebu.
What beautiful days we had in Ormoc, Leyte! Forever grateful for the wonderful experience and the amazing people I shared this journey with, this will always have a special place in my heart. I am excited about the next mountaineering journey I will embark on, looking forward to meeting new friends along the way.
Thank you for reading, everyone!
Let's keep exploring and enjoying life!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hello there! I'm Danah, a Marketing Services Associate by profession. I'm an adventurous person, always seeking to discover new experiences and extract valuable life lessons from each of them. I'm passionate about dancing and performing on stages in front of the crowd. I thrive on exploring the great outdoors and capturing memories.
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