Hello Hive!
It has been more than a month since I posted my introduction post here and I am so grateful for the response and welcome messages that I received from the community.
I was preoccupied with my pending tasks these past few weeks. But as promised, I will share some of my past pre-pandemic travels and adventures on this virtual platform. As an active local mountaineer, I planned to climb the highest peaks in my country, one mountain at a time.
Better late than never, so here is my second blog.
No Mountain High Enough
The Philippines is located at the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is an area along the Pacific Ocean known for having many active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
Theoretically speaking, all of the Philippine Islands are volcanic in origin, and as a result, our country has a lot of mountainous formations.
The mountains here in the Philippines are actually diversified. There are different types of trails for everyone. Some of the best experiences you can get from mountain hiking are the priceless and breathtaking views from high above, at the summit.
Last November 2019, we ventured all the way to Mindanao. From Mactan Cebu Airport, we took an hour flight to reach Davao City. From Davao, we rented a shuttle van that took us to the province of Bukidnon where we have done our major climb.
Mt. Kalatungan - The Country's 5th Highest Peak
Mount Kalatungan is situated at Pangantucan, Bukidnon. With an elevation of 2907 meters above sea level, it was listed as the fifth highest peak in the country. Mt Kalatungan is a stratovolcano with no known historical eruptions and is classified as a potentially active volcano.
We arrived at the registration and orientation area past lunchtime. We signed up for the needed forms and underwent a brief orientation about the dos and don'ts in climbing Kalatungan Mountain Range. Our group also learned about the cultural heritage and history of the said mountain.
Start of a Difficult Climb
Our itinerary climb for the Mt Kalatungan - Mt Wiji traverse was projected to last for 3 days and 2 nights including the descent. Professional mountaineers who have experienced ascending Kalatungan considered this hike a "difficult climb".
Rated by the experts with a difficulty level of 8/9, Mt Kalatungan has gained a reputation as being one of the most difficult climbs in the country through the years. We did physical training months before this climb.
It was already past 5 PM when we started our hike from Barangay Mendis covered court. A ritual ceremony was already conducted prior to our arrival by the local chief resident, to pray for our safety. We noticed that the skies have started to darken and the humidity increased.
We found ourselves wearing our raincoats and headlights. The rain has started falling before we even began. Minutes later into our hike, the plain terrain has slowly shifted to an ascent as it was already getting dark and we are getting wet. I started using my trekking pole to make every step easier for my legs.
What a starter combination for a major hike indeed; dark, wet, and cold breeze. It was getting worse. The trail became muddy and slippery. We have no plans for stopping to take a rest. We would just pause at our own pace to catch our breath for a few seconds and resume the hike.
First Stop at the View Deck
After an hour and a half of walking through the heavy rain, we reached the View Deck. This is where we will rest for the night. My body was soaking wet but the good thing is I already did waterproofing prior to our climb to protect my own valuables and clothes inside my hiking bag so that it will not get wet in case of rain.
The deck was super dark and the area had minimum signal coverage only. Our headlights are the only source of illumination. We had our dinner and prepared our sleeping bags. The view deck has no walls but it has a roof so there was no need for us to use our tents on our first night.
Our half-tired bodies immediately went to sleep after our dinner because our wake-up call is so early by the next day. We need a good rest to prepare our stamina for the impending 14-hour hike.
Second Day: Unlimited Assault
At 2 in the morning, our alarms went buzzing to wake us up. We started stretching, prepared our bags, and I drank my hot coffee.
We started our climb past 3 AM. To be honest, this was a very challenging climb. One hour into the endless ascent, Shiela asked me if I was okay but I can no longer talk since it will just drain my energy. Our team took a short rest and I ate my calorie snacks.
At 4:30 AM we reached Kikikoka Peak but we didn't stop to take a long rest since it was still dark. Whenever I feel tired, I sip water from the tube connected to my water source inside my bag. We did months of preparation for this major climb and I must continue.
We reached the open trail of Buko Buko Sa Anay, and I was amazed by the beauty of the sunrise that bestowed before me. The majestic beauty of nature is so priceless that it motivated me to push more and just enjoy the climb.
This is the part when you realized the reason why you keep climbing. It is not just about reaching the top and seeing the view but also overcoming your inner saboteurs and performing more than the capacity you have mentally limited yourself to be.
View of Muleta Falls and Mossy Forest
The relief we got from the breathtaking view managed to keep us smiling until we reached the stopover at the view of Muleta Falls. Our team had breakfast at an overlooking altitude. We got to rest for a while and take photos.
We continued our hike past 7 AM, and we are bound to pass few more stations including the Sako Camp and Junction Area before reaching the peak of Mt. Kalatungan.
On the way, we get to experience series of enchanting mossy forests! I can feel that the oxygen content inside these mossy forests is clean and crisp. The air is so refreshing and cool. The vibe is mysterious but calm.
We did a few stopovers just to appreciate and immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of this God's captivating creation. As a person who lives in the concrete jungle, it is not every day that you get to walk around the woods.
After this part, our team was unknowingly divided into three small groups according to our own pace in hiking; lead, mid, and sweeper. I was part of the mid-group since I'm not a fast walker compared to my companions.
The climb was full of steep and endless assaults. You have no choice but to move your leg forward and just keep walking. Maybe without proper body conditioning and practice, my body had given up on me halfway.
The mossy forest ended after the Sako Camp area and I entered an open area in the mountain without any trees to provide some shade. This was the part when I started to walk alone. I stopped and rested just to look at those beautiful clouds. I also got the time to reflect and contemplate on my life decisions.
Kim, @ybanezkim26 who was hiking before me started to drift away to the point that I can no longer see him ahead of me. I stayed there for 10 minutes just glaring at the skies. I suddenly remembered the Cinemalaya movie, Above the Clouds. It was a beautiful film about a hiking trip starred by Ruru Madrid and Pepe Smith.
Junction Journey To The Peak
After the open-trail, I entered another mossy forest. This time, I was alone. At first, I was uneasy since walking alone in a place like this feels weird. Somehow, it feels that someone is watching you. But my confidence boosted when I saw the ribbon marks along with the trees and trails. I followed the orange ribbons and avoided the paths with red ribbons.
There was never a part of the trail where we have to go downhill, every path was ascending since the beginning. I was endlessly catching my breath from time to time. My heart was throbbing a million times. My mind can't think straight and I am just moving my legs to continue the hike. After hours of walking, I finally reached the junction point.
I saw my friends who went ahead of me resting at the junction. This is the area where we will leave our bags to reach the summit. We didn't wait for the rest of the group and went ahead to do the last assault going to the top. It took us around 45 minutes
Summit At Last
Reaching the top of the fifth highest mountain is already a big achievement for me. This is the moment where you realized that every step, pain, and sacrifice was worth it. Our group finally reached the summit and the weather was perfect.
This moment was one for the books. But our journey doesn't end here since it is just the second day of our climb. We need to descend toward the campsite where we will spend the rest of the day and sleep until Mt. Wiji traverse the next day. The rest of my adventure story will be posted in the second part of this blog, which will be posted soon.
If you read my blog, thank you for scrolling down until the end.
I would really appreciate every upvote, comment, and repost that I will receive. Being appreciated is one of the small things that make my heart and soul happy and fulfilled.
Thank you very much fellow Hiveians and I will see you around.
Welcome to Zan's blog site in Hive. He is a friendly millennial who loves to travel, have fun, and discover new places in the Philippines. He is a licensed chemical engineer and chemical technician by profession. He currently resides in Cebu.
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