Mount Pulag (Y2016 Winter Trek)
BASIC INFORMATION
Trek: Y2016 Winter Trek
Date: 9 - 11 December 2016
Location: Mount Pulag, Benguet, Ifugao, Philippines
Elevation: 2,922m
Duration: 3D2N
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 0
Flight to Phillipines
Day 1
Start Trek in the evening
Camp Site
Day 2
Early Morning trek
Camp Site
Day 3
Summit Push
Descend
Day 4
RnR
Day 5
Flight back to SG
Preface
Preparation for the SmuX Winter trek expedition took place early in Semester 1 of the academic year 2016/2017. The organizing committee came up with many viable trekking destinations for the expedition that was expected to commence in early December. Eventually, the team reached a consensus on the main objectives for the trip as well as the target audience we wished to attract which aid us immensely in narrowing our choices to a manageable pool. We wanted this trip to serve as an opportunity for amateur participants to be exposed to the sport of mountaineering and experience overnight camping in higher altitudes. In essence, we were hoping that some of our participants will kindle an interest for trekking after the expedition and continue to explore their love for outdoor adventures in the distant future. We wanted to choose an ascent that would leave budding trekkers with the feeling of fulfillment and challenge them beyond their comfort zone without compromising on their personal safeties. However, there was only a short window of 6 weeks to conduct trainings to prepare the participants physically for the uphill challenge ahead. As such, it was important to choose a route that was reasonably demanding for the limited time we had to train up for it. Finally, we wanted to choose a location that was tucked away from the limelight of consumerism to give participants a tranquil and alternate experience while achieving our goal to keep the cost for our trip price competitive.
We decided that the 3D2N Akiki-Ambangeg trail at Mount Pulag in the Philippines was the most ideal destination in satisfying our key considerations. Standing at 2922m above sea level in the Luzon region of the country, the mountain boasts a picturesque summit view that transports trekkers beyond the sea of clouds. We also factored in an extra night for the Akiki-Ambangeg trail, dubbed as the ‘Killer trail’, that could be typically completed by more experienced trekkers within 2D1N to ensure that our participants get adequate rest and breaks from the overnight van ride from Manila that brings us to the foot of the mountain.
Pre-trip
Climbing any mountain is no walk in the park and we believe that we are only as good as our team since we will be ascending the mountain together. As such, optimal preparation before the trip was imperative as we did not want the expedition to be one that is filled with a nagging anxiety and dread due to ill preparation. In terms of physical training, we conducted weekly mandatory sessions that typically alternated between Wednesday night runs with the SmuX team and Saturday staircase climbing to simulate the physical demands of trekking a mountain. Trainings concluded with a hike up Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on 2nd December.
The Luzon region of the Philippines is also considered the more temperate climate in the Philippines where temperatures are expected to plummet to 5degree Celsius coupled with chilly winds during the summit push for Mount Pulag. It was thus essential to educate the participants with important layering knowledge to reduce the risk of hypothermia from occurring during the trek. The organizing committee conducted a pre-trip information session that ensured the trekkers knew exactly what was needed to handle the erratic weather during the ascent as well as ensuring that participants do not end up over packing for the expedition.
Day 1
Due to an unforeseen vehicle breakdown enroute to Mount Pulag as well as a detour to the DENR to acquire our permit to scale the trail, we were set back by close to 4 hours and only managed to embark on the Akiki trail at around 2.30pm on 9 December 2016. This meant that any chance of reaching Marlboro camp site were ruled out since it would mean an overnight trek up the steepest portion of the trail with a team that was already weary from a lack of a good night’s sleep. We decided that the best possible course of action was to camp overnight at an intermediary campsite instead and continue our trail early next morning to cover the lost distance. We arrived at Eddet camping area right before sunset and was treated to the view of a waterfall near the vicinity. There was also a constant supply of fresh spring water for everyone to wash up. We had dinner by the campfire that was prepared by our local guide, Mr Jasson and the group of porters. Night quickly eclipsed and we were treated to a cloudless sky filled with stars. We turned in early at 8pm to catch up on our lack of sleep to prepare for the early ascent the next day.
Photos of Day 1:
Day 2
Reveille was at 4am on our second day in Mount Pulag. We washed up and had a light breakfast of toast and cheese. With the first break of sunrise, we continued our ascent towards Marlboro camp which would be the campsite of our second night in the wilderness. Along the way, we took a wrong path up Mount Pulag that led us to the older and less renowned path up. The path turned out to be longer in distance but less steep relative to the original path we intended to take. Fortunately, we met a local mountain ranger who gave us precise instructions that brought us back safely to the original path and we arrived at Marlboro campsite by noon. The campsite was filled with wild cows that reside along the mountainous region. We set up our tents and establish our boundaries since we were expecting an influx of foreign trekkers arriving at the campsite by nightfall. We had a filling lunch to replenish our energy from the arduous 6 hours trek we had. It was a great opportunity to bond as a crew after lunch and we basked under the sun all afternoon. Thereafter, we had a light dinner and turned ourselves in by 8pm that night to prepare for the 2am reveille summit push the next day.
Photos of Day 2:
Day 3
We woke up promptly at 2am and were plagued with light showers. It dampened our hopes of witnessing a picturesque summit view that we were looking forward to leading up to the summit push. Notwithstanding, we continued to push and beckon each other to carry on. The route up was steep and the ground was slightly slippery due to the rain. We arrived at the summit at around 6.30am. Even though the weather was less than promising, the showers cleared up significantly when we arrived at the peak. We were greeted by the sight of a rainbow that served as a consolation for our valiant effort of achieving our objective to reach the summit together. We spent about half an hour up in the mountain top before embarking on the gentle Ambangeg trail down that would take us another 4-5 hours. We stuck to a comfortable and leisure pace down the mountain as the conditions were less than ideal due to the muddy and slippery terrain, a product of the inclement weather this morning. We arrived at Ranger’s station for a quick wash up and had lunch at an indigenous hut before setting off to Hotel Pasay (our accommodation back in Manila).
Photos of Day 3:
Day 4
We got the opportunity to explore Manila during our rest and relaxation day after our expedition. We decided to visit the Intramuros in the city center to get a glimpse of what it was like to be living under the rule of their Spanish colonial masters before WWII. We were instantly transported back to a time where East meets West as we witnessed the collision of Spanish architectural within a bustling Southeast Asian region. We had a traditional Spanish meal in one of the more prominent restaurant within the Walled city. We spent the rest of the evening in a shopping mall near Chinatown before heading back to the hotel for a good night’s rest before catching our early morning flight the very next morning.
Photos of Day 4:
Day 5
Finally, we reached the end of the Winter trek expedition and the team of 12 parted ways. Some of the members extended their trip in the Philippines and headed to El Nino for their own vacation. The rest of the crew headed back to Singapore.
Reflections by participants:
“This is my first time climbing a mountain and it was a great experience. The SMUX trek team provides a cosy environment that makes trekking accessible even for first timers. A student-led expedition is also much more enjoyable as it is tailored towards our own needs. It was also amazing that despite being a relatively large group, everyone made it to the summit. A large group has its negative aspects as well. Different people have different expectations which might differ from the vision of the organising committee. Also, different people have different fitness levels and fitness level is an important aspect of trekking. In a large group, problems such as peer pressure and groupthink arise.”
Kendrick Low Year 1 School of Accounting
“Trekking is a sport that is new to me, and winter trek provided a good experience and served as a great introduction to this foreign sport. As strange as it may sound, the exhilaration did not come to me when we reached the summit, but only after we finished the trek and had time to reflect upon. For me, the toughest part of the trek was the early morning on the third day. I was panting heavily fifteen minutes into the trek; my pace was slow and I struggled to continue. I remembered how the other trekkers checked to see if I was doing alright every time I slowed down and how they urged me to persevere on.
Someone once told me that trekking is a not an individual sport; it is an team sport, but I never really understood why until winter trek. Despite feeling exhausted both physically and mentally, people still tried to display this team spirit by encouraging each other on. I am very grateful to everyone who had helped me in one way or another on this trip (words of concern and encouragement, the little nudges when i have trouble going up or down), which showed me what trek is really about. I am also very thankful to the organising committee for planning this trip!”
Tricia Lee Year 1 School of Economics
“Before going on this trip, I was not expecting so much because I did not know everyone well. Being my first trekking trip overseas, I also did not know what to expect. I was proved wrong – the trek surpassed my expectations. It only took me a couple of hours to feel comfortable with the other participants, as we all came with an open-mind and shared the same interest of being outdoors. Trekking Mount Pulag was an opportunity of a lifetime – not only did I challenge myself on dangerous foreign soil, I had the chance to experience the culture in the Philippines. The locals were so warm and welcoming and tried their best to communicate with us clearly despite the language barrier. The trek itself was breath-taking, it was an entirely different experience because the scenic views at every stop made the process so much lighter and easier. Although the weather was not favourable on the last day, we dismissed any negative thoughts and focused on the trek as a whole. We also encountered setbacks – the miscommunication with our guide, which led us on the wrong path. Fortunately, we got help from one of the guides along the way who helped us rethink our route which saved us much time. I’m more than thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone for it made me appreciate the little things I have at home. I am also grateful that I forged lasting friendships with the team. I do hope that i would embark on another trekking trip next year!”
Victoria Drysdale Year 1 School of Business
“I’ve done a trek overseas every year since 2013. I want to continue with this practice as long as my body allows me to, hence the decision to join this winter expedition with the SMUX Trekking Team. It was a rather short expedition; despite being a 3-day 2-night trek, trekking time totaled around 15 hours, two hours in the first day, five in the second and eight in the third day; it became harder and colder. With a 0200hrs reveille for the summit push, we made out of the dense rainforest and onto to grassland just before sunrise, exposed to the elements as we had to mount on extra layers midway. It was a memorable trek, and as always, the journey is as important as the destination. It will be hard to forget bathing nude by the cold waterfall, the scenery at Camp Two, and the uncountable stars at night which defined the horizon. Keep walking.”
Kenneth Kong Year 1 School of Accounting
After the trip we wanted to get a sense whether we met the objectives that we set out for SmuX Winter trek 2016. We asked for the participants’ general impressions and thoughts on the trip. We initially had 13 participants in total but only 12 of them made it to the top of the summit as one of our participants ran a high fever prior to the trip. The level of difficulty of Akiki-Ambangeg trail was generally challenging for most of the first time participants but they felt that they were well prepared for the challenge and some really surprised themselves at the feat they managed to accomplish. While there were many unforeseen impediments such as a vehicle malfunction and unfavorable weather condition that threatened to hamper the expedition, the trip turned out to be fruitful for the participants as well as the organizing committee nonetheless. The crew was generally very easygoing and they looked out for each other along the way which was pivotal in the success of the expedition that saw zero fallouts.
Written by: Billy Moh, Training and Logistics IC
