8 PART II: HOLY CLIMB 2013 AT MT. UGO

Sunrise at the Summit of Mt. Ugo

Day 2 | Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013

Everyone was still at the deep sleep, snoring. I understand because of mindboggling trek from Kayapa all the way up to the camp site. However my night is quite different, I never learnt what happened in Mt. Pulag. I only brought myself two pieces of jackets and pants and barely sleeping the frozen ground, no ground sheet, no sleeping bag – nothing at all. I was awake the entire night, shaking.

The radiance of the earth showed up, multiple colours painted the horizon. I chose to go out and started to take a rare view of the sphere in an extremely cold dark ambience. I almost forgot that I woke up not just to celebrate for another mountain top but the resurrection of the only Begotten Son.

I feel so blessed that I was on top of the earth, an inch away from heaven. I feel so blessed when the sun shine brighten my pale face. Nothing more to ask but a simple thank you for the wonderful nature and friendship with my TOSOC family.

Suddenly the sea of clouds once again showed upon us, everyone started to wake up. Another overwhelming view of nature entertained our eyes. The sun rises and everyone had to seize another rare moment. Behind us are the Luzon’s highest peaks and the Cordillera mountains.

Mt. Ugo's Sea of Clouds

TOSOC Family in front of Sunrise.

Mike, leader naming pogi-pogi with the Bellas.

TOSOC's Kanto Boys

Loneliness is not cured by human company, loneliness is cured by contact with reality.

As the sun cheering up , Jaime invited me visit the summit. It was 10 – 15 minutes walk from the camp site. Surprisingly, I thought we were the only group visited Mt. Ugo but there were three mountaineers pitched their tent at the peak. We continued to witness the view from the top as the sun rises. We also visited the “marker point” which as per Ivan Cultura of Batang Lakwatsero, the spot is a tri-boundary shared by three provinces namely: Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, and Pangasinan. 

Preparing for Breakfast.

Minutes later we need to go back down to help others prepare our breakfast and prepare ourselves for another big day. As per local, it will be another seven hours or more down to Itogon, Benguet since we do traverse.

Hot Coffee or Sticky Rugby? :)

Our small community.

Right after breakfast, we still managed to do some crazy photo shoots while other busy fixing their tents. Take nothing but pictures indeed. This is a very rare opportunity so take photo as long as the battery and the memory still available. Especially conquering Mt. Ugo is far easy. 

Photoshoot!

TOSOC Family

And the time has come that everybody needs to live. Proud for another mountain top and pleased to succeed major climb challenge. Tent gone one by one, bags filled with the gears and zippers rhymed little by little. TOSOC once again conquered a beautiful mountain.

Start our descent by 8:00AM, we were divided again by two groups. And before we leave the panoramic place we had best shot in front of the marker. We were standing in three provinces, in the three different regions. We were at the 2,150 meters above sea level or eight times the tallest building in the country, PBCom Tower.

Standing 2,150masl, Mt. Ugo's Summit

Second Group with Mt. Ugo mark.

These two people fell in love with each other because of the mountains. The forest, the slopes, and the trails witnessed your belongingness that your heart lingers like the peaks of the mountain. Thinking if I'm gonna send this photo as an official entry for PinoyMountaineer's photo contest. :)

The height charm us, but the steps do not; with the mountain in our view we love to walk the plains.

So the descent began. That day there was an event for trail runs challenge, there were 63 participants. Proud to those people because they can still run and had the time pressure despite the ascents. Our complaints were worthless as compared to their challenge. That was the real challenge.

Participants for the trail run.

Going down is a bonus round except for a long walk. Walking inside the pine forest trail looked like the woods seen from The Walking Dead series. Lucky to have these Pine trees that will serve us shed from the tremendous heat from the sun.

Descent started from 15KM, and there will be yellow marker each and every half kilometre. However it seems like inaccurate, half kilometre looks like equivalent to 3KM. Darn! And I don’t know what R.O.X means. Nobody knows.

Along the trail we met some flocks of cows, and we almost crushed. For some reason, I don’t know maybe Albert wearing red or the mother cow was just protective to her kids. I was after him and when he passed that slope a cow was running towards him and luckily he was able to avoid the almost dreadful accident. He was able to turn behind the pine tree and pick up a twig and ready to slash out if pursued. And we don’t know if we could pass through after him since the male cow has a big and sharp horn and ready to chase us. And end up with a quick run going down. Good thing they chose not to follow us. Whew thanks God!

Quite village of Lusod.

Boodle Fight, kainggit di kami nakasama dito.

Since were divided into two groups, the first group already passed the quite village of Lusod; a supposed to be our meeting place for lunch while waiting for the second group to arrive. Unfortunately we received their message 3KM away from Kawayan Village. So we chose resume our trek to reach the village where we can get rest and lunch. We were damn hungry and water is the only source of our energy. My legs were shaking and ready to give up, nobody likes to talk and I feel like I had bad breath already. We were too serious, you can really feel the eagerness to get to Kawayan village. 

Finally we reach Kawayan village after a walk-run-walk pace. We we’re welcome by a sari-sari store who offered 1.5L of cold Royal and gone for just a couple of seconds. Jizz we almost eat human flesh..that’s how hungry we were. Manang offered us free rice so we ordered can goods, the best taste ever. While waiting for the others, we shell out sleep for two hours. A good rest already from a killer hike. 

Kawayan Village, rich with rice crops.

Second group arrived and we asked them if they can still walk all the way to hanging bridge where we can have rest for a while and took picture all together. Everyone continued walking until we reach the Petican-Animal Bridge, crossing the Agno River. 

I was very glad to cross this hanging bridge, aside from the magnificent view. I had checked out my bucket list for this year. First ever crossing hanging bridge.

• To cross hanging bridge.  √check
• To summit five mountains including Pulag.. 3 summit to go.  √check

Petican-Animal Bridge

Finally we reached 00KM after nearly 8 hours, the yellow mark congrats us for a triumphant. But look at their faces!!! Galit?

And to formally complete our traverse, we need to register at Brgy Hall of Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet and pay the necessary payment and get our prize, the Certification. Our chartered jeep waited for us at the welcome mark that will bring us to Barangay Hall and there you can get some refreshments.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Kuya Edwin: Chartered Jeep from Aritao CCQ Market to Kayapa, 0920 469 7713
• Guide: Contact Alex @ 0921 984 0254
• Registration and Chartered Jeep from Kawayan Village to Brgy. Hall to Baguio contact Mam Jerda @ 0939 834 5655

EXPENSES:

• P2,000/head for 16 people
• P1,600 for registration and expenses at Tingondan Brgy Hall, Itogon Benguet
• P400/day per guide [3 guides, 2days] = P2,400
• Prices for chartered jeep, you can call them at the number listed above.

CLIMB ITINERARY:

Meet Up / Day1

2000: Meet Up Victory Liner Kamias

2200: ETD to Aritao CCQ Market

0400: ETA CCQ Market

0500: ETD to Kayapa via Chartered Jeep

0600: ETA Kayapa Public Market [JumpOff Point, Registration, Preparation]

0700: Start Trek

1030: Indupit Village [1 hr rest, snack - lunch]

1130: Continue Trek to Ansipsip

1300: ETA Ansipsip Shed - Continue Trek

1600: ETA Camp Site [Not the Summit]

1800: Social - Dinner

2100: Lights Off Sleeping Time

Day 2

0500: Wake Up Time / Sunrise viewing at the Summit

0600: Breakfast Preparation

0700: Break Camp

0800: Start Descent

1200: Lunch Losod Village

1600: ETA Kawayan Village

1630: ETA Petican-Animal Bridge

1730: ETA Brgy Tinongdan Hall, Itogon, Benguet

1830: ETD to Baguio

1930: Baguio City Victory Terminal / Dinner

--------**ETD to Manila, depending on ticket availability.

Here's the part 1 of Mt. Ugo Traverse

Another mountain top, another major climb success. Thank you TOSOC FAMILY  for a memorable and unforgettable climb experience. Though we had a lot of complaints yet we made it. Though we had a lot of pains yet we received a rare prize. And most of all thank you Papa God for your guidance, blessings and love that all of us went home safe and sound. Mr. Mike Simeon sa walang sawang pag invite samen, of course Netskie and Mitchell matagal ko nang nakakasama to halos sa lahat ng pagsama ko. Our girls, Donna, Angelica and Kim, lovers Rochelle and Dennis, new lovers for the love of mountaineering Rudolf and Charo, ngaun ko lang nakakasama sir Idol Van, Idol Bolong and Idol Caloy, our hottest model Idol Donald aka Bogz, and si Idol Jaime na lapitin sa girls. Salamat mga Idols. Looking forward for another mountain top this year.