Mt Apo: The Untold Story

Day 1 of the Three-Day Trek


During those times when I had intense desire for mountaineering, it was part of my plan as a mountaineer-wanna-be to conquer the highest peak in Philippines, the father of all mountains, our Mt Apo. I am pretty much aware of my physical limitations. I've never been a hardcore mountaineer, and never will be. Hence, the idea of reaching the summit of Mt Apo was something I did not really dream of doing, but it's something that's worth of giving a "try". And so, when BP organized the climb, I joined.

Lake Mirror in Kapatagan, Digos, Davao del Sur

It was 13th of February 2013 when the group headed to Davao del Sur. It's been 8 months from the actual date of our climb and I still feel the urge of writing my travel experience and so here I am writing this blog.






I'm going to divide this write-up into three parts. This is the first part which tells about our first day experience in our 3 - day Mt Apo Trek.




Our first day in Davao began with a tour around the city and near by tourist attractions. We were waiting for Ivan's contact person to pick us up at SM Davao and it took time before they could meet us at the agreed location so we did visit some places in Davao, a travel experience which I'm going to share in a separate blog entry.





It was almost night when the tour guides arrived in SM Davao. They came with a jeepney, then we all got in. From the city, they drove us all the way to Kapatagan in Digos Davao del Sur and that's where we spent a night. I forgot the name of the resort or inn, whatever it's called. I felt like the place was closer to home. I'm not sure if it's with the ambiance or it's with how the locals treated as well or it could also just be a product of my excitement. Anyway, we had a good night there. Beside the inn is the famous tourist attraction, the Lake Mirror, where Mt Apo can be seen from afar. It's a very nice place. Seeing Mt Apo from Kapatagan excites me more that I couldn't wait to begin the actual trek.

This is where we spent an over night.

Christine, my climb buddy 

The Lake Mirror_Courtesy of Liz Honrade

With Christine, my climb buddy

After spending a cold night in Kapatagan, we got ready for a three-day trek to Mt Apo. Everyone started to get busy. Tour guides were distributing loads among themselves, including our porters.



Trek to Mt Apo is going to be a long trip, with 3 days spent at most, and I just know I can't sustain the required stamina with heavy loads at my back. I needed a porter to carry my back pack and so I got one for only 1,200 for the whole 3 days.




When everything was all set, we proceeded. We boarded a small truck that brought us to the jump-off point. It was a nice truck-experience, though not really comfortable because we were exposed directly to the sun. But seeing such beautiful scenes along the way, it was an over-all fun.

We're excited!

Photo by Liz

From the jump-off, the trek began with traverse along plains and some slightly hilly portions. It's manageable at first. I mean there wasn't a need for an overly excessive consumption of strength. It wasn't tiring yet. However, due to intense heat of the sun, we had multiple requests for "five minute - break" and photo-ops. While others were resting, I took every single opportunity I could get to take photos.

Kapatagan

Few more kilometers and we're about to enter the gate of wilderness. I had the gut feeling that the trail would be getting more difficult. It's Mt Apo. What should I expect? But when we entered the forest, it seemed like we found shelter from the sun. It was not hot at all. It could be because of cloudy sky or the thick leaves from tall trees covered us from the sunlight.

I could not remember how long we'd been walking. All I could recall, my goal was to reach the campsite where we could rest for the night, and I'm sure everyone in the group had the same thinking. Although the trail could still be categorized as "easy and manageable", given proper precaution, but walking for more than half a day, that was tiring. I was getting little weaker as we moved a long. Gladly, we reached the area where the tour guides said we could take a nap and rest for a while. Whoah! Finally, I could lay my back on the ground, sleep and recover my strength.

Hahah. I was dead tired. Photo Credit to Liz Honrade

Our guides cooking 

Christine, helping the tour guides with the cooking.

Lunch Time :)

After an hour of rest which included lunch break, we continued the trek. We needed to reach the campsite before dark because it would be very dangerous to do a night trek, especially for us who were all first - timers in Mt Apo.

We had walked more than hundred kilometers and everyone was still having fun, including myself. It's always nice seeing such beautiful vegetation in the forest, and the trail to Mount Apo offers one of a kind. There were greeny and mossy meadows and trees but one has to be very careful because at any point, in just one wrong move or misjudgment, accident may happen, just like when I did an epic-fail assessment of the pathway. I accidentally bumped my head against one of the tree trunks on our way to the campsite. There were portions in the trail where we needed to walk on big trunks of trees that are laid down on the ground.  While bridging in one of those trunks, I could no longer bend my knees to step down from the trunk and walk on the ground again. To reach the other side of the trail without bending my knees, I jumped big time and hit my head on a tree on the other side, and it was a huge "ouch!". My head was bleeding and I was crying. I didn't know what to do. I was scared. I could die on the spot. I didn't know exactly why I didn't see that big tree in front of me before I jumped! It's either because it was getting dark or I was not just looking.



So I got an injury on my head. Christine gave me first aid. She cleaned the wound I had on my scalp. When she could not tell how deep the wound was, I panicked. I'm not ready to die, not yet. But with supportive peers around me, I just knew I need not worry. "I'm going to be safe", I told myself.


My head was aching but I needed to proceed with the trek. I needed to reach the campsite and rest there. And finally we did.


It was past 5 in the afternoon when we reached the camp site called Godi-Godi. At last, the whole day trek ended.  I hurriedly took my tent and set it up. I was freaking tired. I wanted to rest.  Right after I got myself cleaned, I contained myself inside my tent and slept. I didn't join the evening socials which, according to Christine, was one of the best socials she ever had. Our tour guides and porters were so cool and were on-the-game. While everybody was having such a fantastic night, undoubtedly I was snoring in my tent so good.

The Campsite

Our porters and guides. Just like us, they were also tired.

A beautiful plant in Godi-Godi campsite. I don't know what t's called.

I had a very nice sleep. When I woke up, I felt extremely energized; and with head ache gone, I was completely ready for another day of trek. That was all I needed - long hours of sleep :)

Day 2 at Godi-Godi..packing up for our second day

Nice morning at Godi-Godi

These were all the girls in the group: From L-R April, Me, Christine, Liz, Shine and Weng

The entire group. We were all ready for another whole day of trek

Christine

Everyone was ready for another whole day and probably for a non-stop trek. We were so blessed to have a good weather on the first day of our trek, and we hoped to have the same. Before we left the camp-site, we had a little prayer for everyone to be safe and to have the same nice weather as we had on day 1, and that there shouldn't be another injury.

To read about what happened on our day 2, please click this link.

Cristina

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila

Featuring My First Mountaineering: Mt Gola and Bagong Bali

My First Climb

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. 

Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. 

Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. 

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." - Steve Jobs from Brainy Quote

I just talked a little about my hometown in the first write - up. Now, Let me share to you a dream which I thought would never come true. 


I grew up in a town where mountains and hills are just along side the residences but believe me or not, I had never been to nearby mountain ranges that comprise the municipal land area. No offense to those people who share similar ideologies with our brothers and sisters in the mountains but my mom would tell me not go to those places because of the NPAs. She was afraid I might be suspected as a military spy cuz I dont look as someone who resides in the area. I didn't know what she was saying at first. I was just a kid by then and was only concerned about being able to eat, play, and go to school and nothing else. In other words, mountaineering was not an activity that I would most likely get indulged with, not even when I'm grown. That was what I thought days back. 


Things changed as I grew up. Slowly, I developed a surprising interest toward mountaineering. I began to adore people who've been to mountains and somehow get envious a little bit. I tried to join my friends in their visits in the mountain area but my parents wouldn't let me. It was so hard to get permission from them. The only instance they allowed me go to mountains was when I was tasked to feature  "Bukid Tabur" in Spectrum, our college publication. That was my first mountain experience but I couldn't call it a climb simply because we didn't really climb the heel but rather came to visit the community in the mountainside. Anyhow, that visit was remarkable for me and that set the birth of my attraction toward mountains, an attraction that feels like having a special shoe design that only I, myself, could wear. 


With parents against mountaineering, I had a late start. I guess I had to wait for the time when I could make responsible decisions, a time when I no longer have to ask permission from my parents before I could act on something.  It was only in 2011 that I finally got the opportunity to do it. I took my first courage not to ask parental permission anymore, and I'm not saying it's a good thing to do but that was the only option favorable for me.  


In May 2011, I joined a group of mountaineers (The Backpackers) in a "Three Peaks" challenge where they were going to climb three (3) mountains in two (2) days in Bulacan. It was a very difficult climb not only because I was a first timer but also I got a knee injury two weeks before the climb. I wasn't supposed to do any extraneous activity until my injury got healed but the high spirit was already set and I just couldn't stop it. Besides, I had my brace on for my kneecap and when I tried going up and downstairs, I felt I was perfectly fine and capable of mountaineering life. And so the actual date came.

With Weng

I have a friend, Weng, who loves mountains as much as I do and she really likes to try mountaineering. Prior to the climb, I phoned her and asked her to join with me. I knew she wouldn't say "NO" because I kinda know some of her passions, and that include this big thing. So we both joined the climb. We're both excited that together with Sir Alex, another guest, we were among the first people to reach the assembly area, the ES Transport Terminal in Cubao.  When the group was complete, we then left for San Miguel, Bulacan. 


While on our way to San Miguel, I was thinking how would I be able to survive the mountains. I didn't have common kits such as sleeping bag, flashlight, not even a tent. I knew the group will provide tents to its guests but I was still not comfortable with the climb. I realized along the way, I wasn't prepared completely and now I dared to go to mountains! So the negative feeling of fear and uncertainty struck me but I was on board a bus so there was no going back. Besides, Weng was with me so I guess I would be fine, so let's see! 



When we reached the jump-off point, the excitement was all over me. I couldn't wait to do the actual climb. The previous anxiety suddenly subsided when I saw the river with kids swimming on it even though the water was not clear due to heavy rains. To cross the river, there were two (2) options given. First was to take a raft and second was to do the tyrolean traverse. I chose the second as it appeared to be more challenging for me. It will test my balancing and the strength of my knees. Besides, it's something I have not done before. 

Whoah! That was an amazing traverse! I couldn't wait for more! So far I was enjoying it. Let's see if I could sustain this when the actual climb came in.


After lunch, the group started the trek. It began with a short passage inside a cave. Oh Gee! This is one of the things that bug me. I didn't bring a flashlight so as expected it was so dark inside the cave. I couldn't remember how I survived that aside from obvious walking but I managed to get out, and the moment I got my eyes on stuffs outside, the more I got all the thrills in the world. The Madlum river and the rocky mountains, they just made the environment so refreshing and stunning. For me that was already a nice present for my birthday!

Photo Credit goes to King Aguilar

Photo by King Aguilar

The group continued the trek. It was long but manageable. We didn't have to ascend yet. And then there was this river crossing that added more substance to get people in frenzy! 

Photo by King Aguilar

Wow. That was another "first" in my list!


And so here comes the actual climb. Every step needs enough strength from both knees and as my left leg could not really support 100%, I had the difficulty but when I reached the summit, everything I saw at the summit and the feeling that I reached the peak, they all paid off the hardship. It's all worth it! The feeling was different, that I could not believe I got myself standing at the top of the mountain. It's my first climb, one of the most unforgettable challenges I dared myself on, and I'm so happy.

At the top of Mt Gola

But hold on, it was too early for me to celebrate. After Mt Gola, the group continued its trek to Mt Bagong Bali, and this was where all my "calvary" started. As my left knee was injured that time, it must not be forced to stretch or slide or any type of "forced activity" should be avoided. Thus, I was so cautious with my steps. However, things happen even the most avoided. I didn't know how long we had been walking but it felt like forever. The night had fallen and we were still walking, crossing rivers. And since I'm not a good girl scout, I didn't have my own flashlight so tendency was to fall on my knees, get out balanced and slide on slippery rocks in a river. That happened several times, more than 10 counts at most. I could feel my left knee was struggling so hard that I couldn't walk farther. The pain was increasing and all I could do was cry and ask myself "what am I doing here?" It was a bad idea for me to join the group when I just had an injury. I know that but I'm hard headed and stubborn sometimes. More steps to do and I could no longer do it. I wanted to discontinue the trek but that is something more dangerous as we couldn't tell if the water from the river would go up. Besides, it wasn't the best place to camp, and I was afraid to be left alone, so I need to find another source of strength, but where am I going to get that when my body is begging to stop and rest. I didn't know, but the idea of getting the right place to camp so I could rest and sleep was stuck in my mind and I guess that gave me the courage to carry on, not to mention Weng and Sir Alex were also helping me so I survived the night trek.

                                                Photo Credit by King Aguilar

  

Night trek. I started to hate it but that is part of what they call "The Unexpected". When we reached the campsite at Bagong Bali, the group set - up the tents. I didn't know how to do it so one of the BPs helped me and Weng set it up for us. I got myself cleaned then I fell asleep and woke up the next day. Oh Gosh! I didn't know what was happening around me. I was sound asleep. Weng and the group said I was snoring loud. Oh my, I was so tired. There was supposed to be a "Socials" at night but I missed that because my body needed to rest and my eyes could not stay awake any longer. 

When I woke up, the beauty of the mountain ranges as seen from where we at struck me again. I had a hard night on a trek but I seemed to forget it. Truly, when one reaches the summit, all the positive energies are absorbed by the body so all the things that a mountaineer could feel and think of are those happy moments.  

Photo by King Aguilar

Photo by King Aguilar

Photo by King Aguilar

Next stop for the group was Mt Manalmon, the third peak in the itinerary. I could no longer walk. My left knee was swelling and aching so I asked the group to exclude me from the challenge. Together with other peeps, we waited at the Madlum River while the rest went on to complete the challenge. There was also an spelunking activity after the three-peaks challenge but I no longer took part of it. I had enough. My knee had been complaining so I must rest. 


This was like a dream - come - true drama for me. I never thought I could climb mountains. My parents had been against it. The doctor also said it's something that I can't do yet given the circumstances with my knee injury. But like I said, I'm stubborn at times. When I want something, I get it despite the risks. This could be a bad attitude but this could also be achieving a passion beyond the set limitations. And that's joy and self-fulfillment at the end.