If you're planning a trip to Mt. Pulag, you'll need to have proper preparation. Later on, I’ll give you some tips on how to do that and some facts about this beautiful Philippine territory. First, you must be physically prepared. Second, you must be geared up. Third, you must pack well. Fourth, get a good company. And lastly, have a good time! :)
Mt. Pulag Summit is located along the borders between the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya. Your first stop is Baguio. If you’re coming from Manila, Partas, Dangwa, Dagupan and Victory Liner buses have rides going there. The trip is about 7 hours at a fare averaging P400. From Baguio, there are jeeps offering rides to the DENR and Ranger Station. (Tip: do not drink Taho in Baguio to ensure a problem-free tummy.)
All Mt. Pulag visitors are required to register and attend an hour of orientation at the DENR station. Basically, they will tell you facts about Mt. Pulag, some mountain rules, trail etiquettes and tips on how to survive. From what I can recall, the highlights of the talk are the following:
1. The name Mt. Pulag: Ibaloi word pulag means to fall down reflecting its towering height. Others say it’s from the Kalanguya word napulogan which means bald - referring to its treeless grassland summit. Animism, still practiced by some in Benguet, termed Pulag as "Playground of the gods".
2. Leave No Trace: ”Kill nothing but time. Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints.” Do not trash, pee or poop anywhere but in the provided latrines. Natives say it’s an insult punishable by the Gods. Anything you bring up there, up to the smallest candy wrapper and cigarette butts, you must take down with you.
3. Trail etiquettes: There are 3 simple rules when trailing in the mountains:
a. Only walk on established trails.
b. The trails are one-way, one-person-at-a-time.
c. Should you come across locals, give them right of way and greet with a smile. :)
4. Camp rules: Bonfires are not allowed because of ash debris. Making noise, drinking liquor and taking prohibited drugs are
5. Forces of Nature: Drizzles, rains and frosts happen! It’s true. So wrap up. If you have no jacket, you’ll die. I'm not kidding.
After the DENR station, the jeep will take you to the Ranger Station. If you want to know how the Ranger Station looks like, imagine a house within a remote area: No electricity. Toilets without a flush. Houses made of wood. Pail and buckets are common. So, for the high maintenance, consider this as once in a lifetime experience. ;) This is where you’ll change clothes, cook, pack and prepare for the real trek to the camp site.
The trek to the camp site lasts ~3-5 hours, depending on your pace. If your bag is too heavy, you can hire a porter at P250 per way. (I don’t know why they priced it per way; going up is much harder than going down.) If you hire them both ways, you pay P500. When I went to Pulag, I hired one and boy am I so glad I did! Because I fainted on the way up. So I gave the porter a tip for that. (Note: the porter will NOT accompany you during the trek. He/She is a native; thus, he/she is likely to arrive first. If you’re an experienced mountaineer, you probably won’t need one unless you have excess baggage.)
Arriving at the camp site is a breath-taking experience. The view is really nice, with mountains of different curves and shades. Usually, if you arrive late afternoon, fog will start to come out. On most occasions, other campers have already set up their tents. There is a nearby latrine, but don’t expect comfort. There is no toilet bowl. You’ll have to shoot it to the right hole. :P And beware, because flies are as big as the nail of your pinky. Consider bringing tissue papers and alcohol for sanitation. ;)
At the campsite, you can set up and chill for a while. By 6PM onwards, the temperature can start to fall dramatically. Fog will arise until the skies turn grey to black and stars come out. It can get as cold as 2°C during night-time and -5°C past midnight to dawn.
At 3AM, campers are advised to prepare for the trek to the Summit. Early birds catch the best spot. The summit area isn’t too wide, especially if there are about a hundred other campers trekking up. Be sure to get there before 5AM to catch the sunrise. Don't be late, King Sun doesn't wait. Trust me, seeing the sun come out over the horizon makes all back and knee pains worth it.
On physique. All in all, the climb to Mt. Pulag Summit from the Ranger Station (this is your starting point; where the jeep will drop you off) will take you 5-8 hours, depending on your pace. If you do not engage in physical activities at all and have no previous climbing experience, do not go up there. You must be fit and you must train your body prior to the climb. Some tips:
1. Exercise. A daily 15-20 minute jog will help prepare your system. Do this at least 1 week before your climb.
2. Do not eat too much. Eating too much or even drinking too much may cause you to poop or urinate easily. Remember: latrines are available only at the campsite and doing ‘it’ anywhere may insult the Gods.
3. Stretch. Warm up before you start the trek. You may also cool down once in a while. An indicator is when your heart pounds too loudly that you can almost hear them in your ears. Be kind to yourself.
4. Learn proper breathing. Do not hold your breath while climbing up. Get as much oxygen circulating in your body to avoid stress and stiffed muscles. This is how I fainted, because I wasn’t breathing properly, and the air coming in is very thin.
5. Take sugar to boost your energy. Energy bars, chocolates, jellies and gummy bears will do. They’re easy to bring and has glucose. Sports drinks like Gatorade will also help replenish lost water from perspiration and at the same time, balance your electrolytes.
6. Release the gas. Never mind your crush, if you won’t feel comfortable trekking with a grumpy tummy.
7. Urinate and poop before the climb. As I’ve said, take out anything in excess.
8. Heat up your body. At the camp site, you may experience numbing of toes and fingertips. A shot of tequila will help warm you up. Coffee is ok, but for some people, it has laxative effects.
On gears. Not all climbers are mountaineers, but you must still be geared with the basics to ensure safety and performance. You don’t have to buy expensive outdoor items, you can borrow or find alternatives. If you are not geared up, you will perform poorly during the climb. Things to wear are the following:
1. Really, really THICK jackets. I don’t need to explain this. Winter jackets will be great, but if you have none, you can use any other jacket, just make sure it’s thick enough.
2. Bonnets and thick gloves. There is value to wearing bonnets. It covers your ears and your forehead. Gloves will protect your hands from numbing. You may still feel numbing fingertips but at least your hands are covered. (And did you know? The skin at the back of our hands are as sensitive as our eyelids.)
3. Thick socks. (Your feet are likely to numb more than your hands, because they're closer to the ground. Although it carries the weight of your body, this weight does not release much energy to warm up our feet. I don’t need to expound, just wear thick socks.)
4. Thermal wear or multi-layered clothings. This is self-explanatory.
5. Lip moisturizer. Your lips can get really dry, because of the climate. Be kind to your lips by using moisturizer.
6. Sunblock. You are standing at the peak of the island. Therefore, you are closest to the Sun than the rest of the regions. Although the climate is cold, you’re more exposed to UV rays.
7. Trekking shoes or sandals. Cap you feet with tough, strong footwear. It is unsafe to wear slippers. Wear strapped sandals or better yet, wear shoes. There are instances of puddles when it rains.
8. Head lamps. Flash lights will do but head lamps are better so you can free both of your hands.
9. Trekking stick. This is optional, but it helps a lot. If you have no stick, be resourceful. You may pick a fallen branch from a tree if it's as straight as a stick. Excuse yourself from the Gods though ;) and don't bring the stick home after using it. Bring it back to nature.
On baggage. Travel light and only bring items which are essential. This is to lighten your load as you trek, especially if you do not plan to hire a porter. I suggest you include the following in your back pack:
1. Extra Clothes. You will not bathe in Mt. Pulag but as it gets colder, you’ll need to add another layer on top of your skin.
2. Sleeping Bag. I have friends who didn’t bring sleeping bags and they couldn’t sleep from too much cold. A sleeping bag can save you from pneumonia, specially if your lungs are weak.
3. Insulator or Earth pad. This is to serve as layer between you and the ground. The ground is really cold. You can ask a geologist for profound explanations.
4. Tent. Of course, where else will you sleep? You or your colleague can bring this.
5. Extra food. You need energy, especially for this activity. Bring light but energy-packed goods like canned sausages or cookies.
6. Medicines and first aid kits. Paracetamol, loperamides, antihistamines, band-aids and Povidone/Iodine topical (e.g. Betadine) can help you or your friend in small injuries or anatomical problems.
On company. When climbing Pulag, be sure to be accompanied by at least 2 people. Unless you’re an experienced mountaineer, it's dangerous to climb by yourself. Who wants to climb alone after all? It’s always much better to have friends around. Your company will complete the happy experience.
If it is your first time to climb Pulag, it is advisable to include a mountaineer in your group. Have at least two with good climbing skills to serve as Lead and Sweeper. The lead will guide the group’s direction while the Sweeper will serve as the last person on the line. Since the path is single, this is to ensure nobody gets lost.
On having a good time. Get to the summit! Other climbers, after the strenous climb to the camp site, get disheartened to the go all the way up to the peak. But missing the sunrise is missing half the journey. It is the mountain’s best spot.
Mt. Pulag has plenty of natural wonders. Since it is the peak of Luzon, you get the best and most infinite view of the stars. If you’re a fan of constellations, you’ll see them all! I just saw two shooting stars by accident when I looked up. It’s also best time to visit Pulag on a full moon. If you’re lucky, a big colorful rainbow can show up after a mild rain. Ahh… paradise. :)
So, train your body. Pack well and go off with your good company. Breathe as much air as you could. There is no pollution in Mt. Pulag, it’s all fresh air. You can’t get this environment in the metropolis. Bring out your cameras and take lots of pictures. Laugh with your friends, reflect on yourself, smile and keep going! =)
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