Mount Pulag: Descent via Ambangeg (Part 3 of 3)

There’s a reason why Mt. Pulaog is popular even to non-mountaineers – the Ambangeg Trail (or Amba for short). Smooth and straightforward, this trail is also known as the "Executive Trail". The view on the trail is also a great visual feast. From the Amba Ranger station, it’s just an hour of walking until you reach what looks like a Japanese garden, and then another hour until you reach Camp 2. From there, you will need to take an hour of walk on the rolling and grassy terrain of Mt. Pulag to reach the Summit.

See Part 1 of 3: Mt. Pulag: Overview
See Part 2 of 3: Mt. Pulag: Ascent via Akiki

Day 3

A magical sunrise

We woke up at around 4 AM to catch the sunrise. When we got to the summit, the sky was already lit, suggesting that the sun is somewhere below the clouds. This time, the summit was crowded with other hikers – probably more than hundreds of them. I sat on my own comfy seat in the viewing deck – a “sofa” of dwarf bamboos and cogon grasses. Everywhere people were taking pictures. Finally, at 5:30 AM, the sun peeked and cast its sleepy rays.

We explored the summit further. It was windy that the clouds were drifting so fast, hitting and splashing againt the mountain side like water.

Clouds smashing against a mountain

A "waterfalls" of clouds

Hello there!

I just really had to do my dare for this trip – a shot at the summit without a shirt on. For the record, I’ve seen others who did the same. Thank God I didn’t catch pneumonia as I hurriedly put my layers (upon layers) of jackets back on. Unfortunately, I don't find the shot visually pleasing so instead I'm sharing a tiis lamig shot at the campsite.

Tiis lamig at tiis gwapo.

Team Pulag all packed up and ready to go.
From left: JB, me, Ozcar, Ron, Genesis, John and Allan

We descended from the summit at around 7 AM, ate our breakfast, unloaded our intestines, packed up and descended on the Amba trail.

Japanese Garden-like part of the Amba trail

A breathtaking panoramic shot

It's amazing that, even as we descended, we were still surrounded by a sea of clouds.

What a cloudy view it was!

Trail markers

Happily resting at the Amba Range Station

I took a shower at the ranger station, which I eventually kind of regretted. The water was biting cold that I was cursing every time I poured water into myself. The other hikers we’re even screaming. It's like bathing using water that you got straight from the refrigerator.

We took the same chartered jeep that  brought us to the Akiki jump off. We returned to the DENR office to log out and ate our lunch at a carinderia somewhere in the highway – at 3PM! When we reached the Victory Liner terminal, I immediately took a bus bound for Pasay. I couldn't join the rest of the gang in their Baguio City sidetrip as I had to attend to a conference the following day.

On the bus, a middle-aged lady asked if went on hiking and how the summit was. I said it was amazing (“Maganda po, as in”). I wished we had a longer conversation, but I was too tired (and I’m not very sociable either) that I fell asleep on the bus immediately.

In sum - amazing view, amazing trail and amazing company – not to mention: amazing meals by our resident chef Genesis. I’m definitely coming back to Pulag when the budget permits, but on a different trail (Tawangan – Ambaguio, anyone?).

Scaling Mt. Pulag isn’t just an ordinary hike – it’s more of a pilgrimage to nature and a communion with our indigent brothers. I don’t think anyone leaves Pulag without a lesson learned, regardless of the trail taken. Others who have come to Pulag weren’t so blessed with the great weather that we had and even fail to scale the summit – a testament to both the power and beauty of Nature. And even until now, I could distinctly remember how the sun set on that day – it was beauty and solemnity beyond description. Truly, what a wonderful world it is.

RATING

2/9 for descent

4/9 for ascent

Photo credits: Ron, Gen, Allan, JB and John.