Mt. Pulag summited

Mt. Pulag Summit

After 4 hours of gruelling trek on bone-chilling climate, we finally made it on top! We had to pitch our tents as quickly as possible as we were about to lose natural light and the temperature was dropping. The winds were just too strong! Even the local guides claimed the winds were unusual. By 10pm, 2 tents collapsed; numerous got flooded in.

Windburns on nose and cheeks, numbed hands, wet socks, cold feet, praying that the sodden tent — the only thing that protects me from horrendously manevolent winds won’t give in, bruised ego for asking 2 climbing buddies to adopt me in their tent by 3am because the chill got so unbearable, broken cellphone --- is Mt. Pulag even worth all that trouble? Hell, yeah!

Ambuklao Dam

On our way to Mt. Pulag jump-off, we made a quick side-trip to Ambuklao Dam in the mountains of Bokod, Benguet. Considered to be one of the largest dams in Southeast Asia, it seems to be in deep, peaceful slumber. Mesmerizing, sinister and proud.



Built to prevent water from Agno River from gushing out and submerging the plains of Pangasinan and Tarlac, the dam and the catchbasin is a sight to behold and place to visit for people who venture in the area. Without the Ambuklao dam, I wonder, how would Pangasinan fare during the 2009 Pepeng devastation?

After a quick photo session, we're off again for another 3-hour drive on unpaved, uphill roads to the DENR office, where we would have to sit down for an orientation and to log our name. The office was also our last stop before we head to the rangers station, the jump-off to Mt. Pulag, Ambangeg trail.