Mt. Pulag Summit Quest the Return (2011)

my 3rd attempt to sea of clouds
june 11-12, 2011 saturday to sunday

mt. pulag national park
mt. pulag funhike, a determined planner's pursuit (2010) 1st part
mt. pulag funhike, a determined planner's pursuit (2010) last part

yes, even I cannot believed that I availed a package tour for this chilling trek in northern luzon. this is due to the epidemic vouchers that offers online at a very huge discount. imagine i consider my mt. pulag fun-hike last august 28-29, 2010 as one of the major trip i organized then all of a sudden after 9 months of surviving the rainest and coldest trekked i ever had not to mention combining people i dont even know, i went back here on a package tour basis. since one of my friend availed best discounted deals online and cannot pursue anymore due to health problems, he transferred the tour in my behalf to assist also our other friend in his quest to feel the mt. pulag journey. so there i am, another spontaneous trip and 6th consecutive weekend get-away since my nature-waving aurora province last may 7.

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011)

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) going to summit

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) going to summit

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) going to summit

experience on my 1st journey (2010);
according to the records, august is the rainiest month for mt. pulag so be prepared for the most foggy and chilling trekked to encounter. from ranger station, there already had drizzles so we gear-up with our raincoats and poncho's. and from there on, raining didn't stop until we reach camp site 1, camp site 2, pitched tent and dinner. even in the night, rains were continously dropping. and because of that, most of my fellow hikers had leaked inside their tent which added to the most annoying mountaineering experience we had. most of us wants to go home immediately, others call their mom for help silently while everyone is still trying to patiently resist the cold and rain combined. floody tents, cold wind, foggy surroundings, all experienced by 1st timer mt. pulag dreamers.

aside from that, we woke up 0400H in the morning to witness the famous sea of clouds on a 360 degrees view. but again, due to the inadvertent weather, our local guides warned us to not pursue that quest anymore because of the heavy mist and rains pouring. frustratedly, we went back to our camp but around 0700H sunlight comes up so we immediately decide for our 2nd attempt. then, another sad experience, it was for a couple of minutes only. heavy mist and rain came back and we only wore shirt and shorts that time. since we were just minutes away to the summit, why dont we continue it and try to resist that gruesome wind. and yes, we made to the peak but no views wherever we look-up, all mist.

though the experience was like this, we went home safely and completely.

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) the summit

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) the summit

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) the summit

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) the summit

nine months after (2011);
rain poured in between the trail from ranger station to camp 1. i saw the grassland before it gets dark, mild mist occured. we pitched tent on the camp 2 extension. at night, here comes the rain again. falling in our tent like a snow, falling in our body like what happened before.thanks to my poncho once more, it just covered the entire area where rain drops fell inside and saves our night. chilling was the same before, somehow frightening. i'm fortunate i've been to this experience before plus my winter madness in korea, it gave me a lot of cold resistance level. woke-up 0400H, mist not bad on our way, grassland visibly seen. but on the summit, lot of hikers were there, party people indeed. i just sit laid back, and relax somewhere there, contemplating the 360 degrees view, very soothing to my eyes, what a heavenly landscapes. we went home with a very sunny weather. major backslide was the time we spent on this careless driver of us wherein the jeep was almost put on fire while going home on the road in baguio city.

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) going back to camp

mt. pulag, the 2nd hike (jun.2011) going back to camp

of course, comparison of being a trip organizer and a package tour availer was playing in my mind. in my honest opinion, the package rate did not suffice the service they provided. somehow, its not worth it. if i will come back to this wonderful journey (which definitely will be), i'll do the do-it-yourself itinerary again.