Location Details:

From:  Ambangeg, Kabayan, Benguet          

To:      Ambangeg                                                      

Via:     Palansa, Bichoy, Balalak, Mt Babadak Ranger Station, Mt Pulag Summit              

Time:  8Hrs                                            Distance: 38kms                  Total Kms to Date: 3860

Team Leader & Medical Consultant: Cujo

Sweeper: Induces Menstruation                                                                   

Comments: An unforgettable two day hike to the summit of the Philippines second or third highest mountain depending on what map or travel book you are reading. Some of the more robust, or foolish, of the group decided to walk from the Ambangeg office to the Ranger Station which only took a couple of hours plus a few minutes. Our early jeepney travelers had already pitched their tents by the time we arrived. The accommodation for non tenting hikers was basic to say the least but not anything to moan about. "Dances With Dogs" had his guitar with him so we had a sing-a-long to while away the early evening and the setting was stunning, no clouds so the sky was shining with hundreds of stars, truly magnificent. We were sharing the Station with about forty Baguio students who were crammed into the Ranger office and who despite their academic qualifications did not seem to know that the live chickens they brought with them for their mountaineering meals had to be killed before they were plucked and cooked. Sleep was impossible because of the near freezing conditions and "Pisstop’s" baritone snoring did not help any. So five thirty and we were off to the summit only eight kilometres away and a relatively easy five hundred metre ascent. The toughest part was the last five minutes clambering up to the peak where it was COLD and windy, just like a bad summers day in Scotland. Breakfast at the peak was cancelled as we retreated back to the halfway camping area for something to eat. Back at the Ranger Station where we knew it would be a long wait for “Induces” the usual suspects decided to foot it back down to Ambangeg just to pass the time. "Two Bottles" started later and ran all the way down in one hour thirty five. Well we thought it was all over, but when the jeeps arrived at Ambangeg we discovered that three of our group were missing, "Reefer", "Pisstop" and "Golden Shower". They had started to walk back down slowly and would then get picked up by the passing jeepney’s. Unfortunately a short distance out of Babadak they turned right instead of left. They ended up sixteen miles away in Kabayan town "Reefer" some hours in front of the other two. Thanks to the nonstop efforts of Ms Emerita Tamiray who coordinated all afternoon with the Rangers and the local police Reefer was reunited with us at Ambangeg and "Pisstop" and "Golden Shower" decided to spent the night in Kabayan.    

Tuduyan Creek Valley from Palansa

 

Mixed Hats And Drinks

 

Mt Pulag, Early Morning

 

Ambangeg Trail