Mt. Sembrano - Biglaang Dayhike for Me

Mt. Sembrano, Brgy. Malaya, Pililia, Rizal

Tinawag ko itong biglaan sa dahilang wala pa talaga akong planong umakyat that weekend...Medyo masakit pa ang mga binti at hita ko dahil sa pag-akyat ko ng Mt. Tapulao...But a chat con with a climbing buddy, Ka Freddie...nabuo agad yung plano na umakyat ng Mt. Sembrano...warm up daw nya para sa nalalapit nyang climb...since dalawa lang kaming nag-usap nag-imbita na rin ako ng mga dating kasama and I invited a couple of our climb buddies but only Jc and Gilda replied positively...hahaha...mga gala talaga!...And it turns out with a very exciting climb...
Before,... every time na may akyat ako, I always check google about the mountain I'm about to climb. But this time, I did not check Mr. Google about Sembrano...Ganun talaga siya ka biglaang lakad...and having a very comfortable climbing buddies, I did not feel any hesitation or whatsoever about the climb. Instead, I got so excited because this is my first time that I will climb Mt. Sembrano...
Every time I climb, I always felt the weakest link among the group...that is why my "baby walk" term was created....pero kahit anong pagod ko, kapag nakikita ko ang ganda ng kabundukan, napapasigla ako nito at napapamangha....
Mother nature realy makes me amazed and overwhelmed....nanghihinayang man ako sa mga nakalipas na panahon, still I am very thankful because I still have a chance to see and feel this magnificent God's Creation...


view of Mt. Sembrano before our climb proper

A very clear summit (south view) during our climb

A very beautiful north view from the summit

Since my last climb was just a week ago...I can still feel a little pain on my feet and legs. Assuming that if I did this climb, maybe the pain will lessen or it might get immune to climbing. But unfortunately...my pre-assumtion did not happened. Instead, I suffered from a leg cramp....Ouch! It's painful!... This is my first time I felt that pain. Unti-unting naninigas ang binti ko....Aww!...di ako makasigaw kasi may mga nakakasalubong kami. Take note...I can still say the trail courtesy...."Good morning sir/ma'am"...hahahaha....while Jc cannot touch my foot because he doesn't know what to do. He just uttered..."Ano? Ano nangyayari sa'yo ma'am Weng? And I answered him with a low voice..."ang paa ko...ang paa ko"...Looking at sir Jc...he did not know what to do...So I just stand and put my body weight on my foot which is suffering from a cramp. At naibaluktot ko ito and I felt more relax. Whew! akala ko di ko na mailalakad ang mga paa ko...worried enough because we are only on the one-third part of the trail. Ayokong maging dahilan ng climb failure....that is a big no, no to me....

Some photos of the trail I encountered...

Place where you can take a rest and buy fresh buko

The part of the trail which I got my leg cramp....

 Medyo matarik ang part na ito ang you realy need an additional force on your leg....parang ang sarap bumalik sa buco station and drink more buco juice...hahahaha....But we are enjoying the trail...With this, I can say na talagang iba-iba ang katangian ng bawat bundok na aakyatin mo...that is why mountaineers are always excited every time they will climb a new mountain...Different feeling of excitement ...different mountain to climb....different kind of experience to treasure in your life...

Trails getting closer to summit....so...so...excited!

the place where we took our lunch break and meet some new fellow hikers

meet some new friends along the trail

Byaheng Jologs' victory sign on top of Mt. Sembrano

Beautiful Sunset in Mt. Sembrano

Another precious moment happened in my life, and as I always says...Thanks to our Creator, he is so kind to me for giving me this experience and see his creation before I can truely can't do it someday...

And as a return...I am happy and humbly sharing this experience to all of you...on my Byaheng Jologs way....

Kaya tara na....Byaheng Jologs na!!!

Special thanks to my climbing buddies...Jc Sabio of ReadyJCGo, Gilda Tarlit and Ka Freddie

Mt. Apo...Day 3...A Special Gift from the Creator Above

Time to say thank you & goodbye to Apo...

Bakit ganun, kung kailan malapit ng sumikat ang araw saka naman parang noon ka pa lang makakatulog ng ayos....haaay! But on this day, we woke up by our porters by saying "Good morning mam/sir...Coffee na po tayo" haist!...after a sleepless night eto ang maririnig mo....napaka sayang umaga talaga. And when we go out from our tent, grabe parang binagyo ang tents ng ibang kasama ko...it only shows na wala talagang nakatulog sa amin ng ayos...and when others starts to come out with their tents, makikita mo na ginaw na ginaw pa rin sila....Binigyan kami isa-isa ng coffee ng porters namin...salamat talaga sa kanila!

After having a good breakfast, one by one, our lead, sir Ivan approached us saying "let's go near the lake, set up na natin yung surprised proposal ni Louie kay Shyne" It was so romantic and so emotional...halos lahat kami napaluha sa ginawang marriage proposal ni sir Louie....And I was lucky because I witnesses that wonderful event in their life...Congratulations to both of you....

View of Lake Venado

View of Mt. Apo from Lake Venado
( Looks like a man lying peacefully)

Our Happy Guides

Our Camp in Lake Venado

Trails from Lake Venado to Kidapawan

After the wedding proposal of Louie and Shine,  we started to break our camp and prepare to descend via Kidapawan trail. Kidapawan trail was so nice and mossy. I described it as a continuous down slope and slippery. I think everyone of us had an experience to slide down and get wet. We encountered so much river crossing and different kinds of handmade bridge like bamboos and logs. I felt it so adventurous and exciting because this is the first time I experienced descending with wooden stairs and lots of river crossing which I couldn't count. Hoping on logs, walking under logs, going down on a sitting position, get wet and dirty, but I don't mind the hardship. We can still smile even our feet are aching...we can still enjoy taking some photos and posing in our best smile...I can say...of all the mountains I climbed, this is the most longest and yet very happy and exciting adventure...

I remembered one of my fellow climber told me, "walang madaling bundok na akyatin...pero lahat pwedeng maakyat, as long as na nag eenjoy ka at masaya ka" and he is right...hindi ko akalain na makakaya kong akyatin ang pinakamataas na bundok ng ating bansa...hindi ko inaasahan na makikita ko ito ng malapitan at madama ang ganda nitong taglay...ang klima na nagbibigay ng buhay sa kanyang kapaligiran...ang tunay na kamangha-manghang katangian ni Mt. Apo... 

Camp Coong

After having lunch in Camp Coong, we continued our trek and enjoy the last part of the trail. From the very start to the end....Mt. Apo gave us the best of the best experience...He let us saw his God given beauty that makes me think that this is His Gift from the Creator Above...

from where we spend our relaxation
after the climb

Our trek ends with a very relaxing hot bath and bonding with our porters/guide and the rest of the group....I personally thank The Backpackers who's always there inviting me and feels like I am one of the family our porters and guide who made this climb easier for me...and tho The Creator above for this Special Gift for us and to the next generation...Let us unite in taking care of our Mother Earth...Practice LNT (Leave No Trace) all the time...Tara....Byaheng Jologs na!!! wooot...wooot...

You may also read these:

http://thebackpackersadventures.blogspot.com/2013/02/mt-apo-part-1.html

http://thebackpackersadventures.blogspot.com/2013/02/mt-apo-part-2.html

http://thebackpackersadventures.blogspot.com/2013/03/mt-apo-part-3.html

Mt. Apo....Day2...A Special Gift from the Creator Above...

Our final trek to summit...

Group picture at Godi-godi Camp
(photo credit to Ms. Clue of Bp)

We woke up early that day and everybody was so excited and energized. After having some breakfast, we took our last minute in Godi-godi Camp by taking our remembrance pictures...then we start our trek by asking more guidance to our Creator as the Backpackers used to do before the climb...

This time, I can say that the real challenge begins...In this part of our trek, we experienced to use not only our legs, but with our both hands too. Grabe, ramdam mo agad ang matatarik na akyatan. You really have to use your both hands just to hold the roots and stems of the trees para lang makaakyat...and I ask the group...Ganito ba ang Mt. Tarak, sabi ng iba sa Tarak daw mag aabot ang muka at tuhod mo sa pag akyat? And one of the Bps replied...."Mas mahirap ito mommy Weng"... another psychological strength for me since Mt. Tarak is one of the mountain that I am afraid to climb...hehe.

After a couple of hours of passing through the mossy part of the trail, and doing some "spiderman" like style of climbing....hehe...we saw a clearance....Huwahhh!...the most awaited Boulders of Mt. Apo...What a fantastic view! We clearly saw the whole view of the Boulders and the sulfuric smoke coming out from that mountain....Everybody was so happy that time and I don't see any tired face among the group. And being so excited, every cameras we had, came out and start shooting the Majestic Mt. Apo...Kung minsan biglang tumatahimik ang grupo na para bang kinakausap ang kalikasan...Like on my experience when I am on that part of the trail...my tears almost fell down with so much happiness in my heart...And these are the only things I can say..."Thank you Lord and you made me so lucky to see this beautiful and amazing creation of yours"..."I know that you loved me so much and you have given me this unforgettable experience and opportunity." Emotions are over-flowing to each and everyone of us....Ang saya ng feeling ko! Di na nga namin naiisip nung time na yun kung gaano kahirap akyatin ang napakalalaking bato. At kung titingnan sa ibaba nito ay napakataas at matarik....And our lead guide gave another precaution to the group. " Mam/Sir, doble ingat lang po sa pag-akyat...may mga malalambot at mga umuugang bato...tingin lang po sa inaapakan at kakapitan. Paki handa na rin po ang mask at mabaho po ang amoy ng usok na lumalabas" Haaay ....ang babait talaga nila!

Boulders of Mt. Apo

Berries

Photo of Ms. Clue

Thanks Ms. Clue

And we start to trek the Boulders...Kuya Omel lead us to the right side of the Boulders from where the air is blowing with the opposite direction, so that we cannot inhale the smoke coming out from it. But you realy cann't predict the wind during that time...It seems that, Mt. Apo did not want us to passed on that part without experiencing to smell the smoke coming out from him. Urgh! Ang hirap talaga huminga pag na tyempo and usok papunta sayo.....Grabe!  And like the winds, we cannot predict the weather, we also experience some rain showers while we are trekking the boulders, we have to take on and off our raincoats. But it does not mean that it will spoil our excitement in completing the trail. Boulders of Mt. Apo was truly amazing...there are lots of wild berries around and that is the only plants that lives in the area. Nakakatuwa talagang makita, it seems that it was the season for wild berries. Berries...berries...berries...everywhere...hahaha!

Until we reached the E-camp called Boracay. It was called Boracay because it is the flat part of the trail and it has a white sand and pebbles that makes the place so beautiful and admirable. We took our lunch on that place and as usual...our porters and guide prepared our food and assist us since everybody was so tired and exhausted. 

The Boracay Camp

We took our chances to some photo things and have some rest for an hour and a half...but again  a strong wind blewed up with some rain showers....ganun ata talaga ang hirap na pwede mo danasin makita lang si Apo...but the group can still uttered some jokes..."mam, teka lang ililipat ko yang bato para maharangan tayo"...knowing that the stone was big as a car...lol...But we have to push and continue to hike for our final assault to Mt. Apo's creater and summit. We have to take the 90degrees trail this time. Looking on the trail that we are about to climb ....parang di ko kakayanin....haaay!....kailangan nanaman dito ang "spiderman style". This time, we have to be very extra careful and cautious where to hold and where to step your feet...because it was really stiff and no roots or trees that you can hold...only rocks....whew! Buti na lang wala akong backpack na dala-dala...kundi pwede kang bumaligtad at mahulog...ang lakas pa naman ng hangin...ang hirap tumayo ng diretso...Daddy
Willie keeps on saying...."Guys...stay low...stay low..." Di talaga siya nakakalimot magpaalala...

Me, on Mt. Apo's Crater
(photo credit to Ms. Liz)

Mt. Apo's Crater

It was so cold and very windy when we reach the Crater...Sir Ivan told to the group..."Guys, konti na lang, we have to continue our trek to summit because the wind and rain is getting stronger"...And the group followed what he said.  We reach the summit in 5mins. Grabe ang ginaw....sobrang lakas ng hangin...mabuti na lang and I protected my head and back not to get wet...Natakot na kasi ako na baka mangyari ulit sa akin ang Pulag experience ko....Thanks be to God....even we are not lucky enough to have a clear view...punong-puno pa rin kami ang kasiyahan...Kakaiba talaga ang pakiramdam kapag narating mo ang tutok ng Mt. Apo....!

Mt. Apo Summit

Ms. Clue & Dadddy Willie
at the Summit

Though we wanted to spend more time in the summit, we decided to go down and proceed our trek to Lake Venado from where we will spend our 2nd night with Apo....

View of Lake Venado 

While on our way to Lake Venado, we experience it quite difficult because of the rain. Napakadulas ng trail and lahat kami giniginaw na....I ask sir Ivan na kung pwede na kami mauna with other porters kasi nakita ko nanginginig na sila sa ginaw...and I was thinking na kung mauuna na kami...they can take a little rest and we can make shelter for the others specially to Heinz, Clue and Tin who got some minor injuries along our way. And we are so lucky that we met a group from Bicol, inaya nila kami sa loob ng tarp nila para makasilong at binigyan pa kami ng coffee...super bait nila sayang at di ko nakuha ang name nila. Anyway, thank you guys who ever you are...And after that hot drink, we started to set our camp. Naawa talaga ako sa mga kasama kong giniginaw...thanks be to God and He gave me a strong body condition that time.....alam na bakit...hahaha...young at once! After pitching our tents, makikita mo talaga ang division of tasks among our porters...may nagtayo ng tarp, may kumuha ng tubig, may nagluto ng dinner. Sobrang swerte talaga namin sa porters and guide. Di ko kayang ubusin ang pasasalamat sa inyong lahat. Dinner was finished. Early lights off....pagod lahat....Zzzzzzz....Brrrrrr....basa kaming lahat pati loob ng tents...yaiks! Hirap matulog....hay!

I know na nakakabitin ang kwento...but let me cut it here...again...I cannot say my traditional ending, rather follow me on my 3rd day of adventure with Mt. Apo...see you again folks!!!