Hiking Through the Mossy Forests of Mt. Molmog in Bauko, Mt. Province

After three hours and a half of navigating through the tricky and winding roads of the Halsema Highway, the two vans finally stopped at the jump-off point for Mt. Molmog in Bauko, Mt. Province. A motley group of around 30 hikers have come to this place for a tree-planting/camping event organized by the town through Jomar Buclay and the Bauko Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO). 

The sun was yet to make its grand entrance in the horizon and we were at an altitude which can be fairly considered as moderate to high. That said, it was cold. The good news was there was hot coffee and bread waiting for us at the jump-off point. We took our time to shake off the morning jitters of the long drive from Baguio City. After a quick orientation, the hike commenced. It started to get warm as the sun inched higher above the surrounding mountains.

At the start of the trek, each hiker was given a bamboo seedling or two. We were to plant these at a section of the trail going to Mt. Molmog. Planting the trees went smoothly. All trees were planted firmly into the ground within an hour or so. With the planting done, the focus now was to make it to the summit of Mt. Molmog which is basically a grassy patch of land which also serves as a camping ground. 

Mt. Molmog isn't a difficult climb. Its trails are a perfect blend of moderate ups and downs. As long as you're fit, the hike to the summit should be a breeze. I didn't track how long it took us to reach the summit from the jump-off point but I'd say it was between 3-4 hours. Most of the time, you will be hiking through a thick mossy forest with grassy clearings here and there. Jump-off to summit measures approximately 9 to 10 kilometers.

At the summit, there's more than enough space for 8-10 camping tents. Tents in excess can set up camp in the surrounding forest. Which was exactly what we did. Some pitched their tents over the grassy clearing at the summit. Others pitched theirs in the surrounding forest.

We had pinikpikan for dinner. And some drinks, of course. Then everybody settled in for the night. It wasn't as cold as I expected during the night. Based on my experiences camping and pitching tents in similar mossy mountains in Kabayan and Bokod, it can be freezing cold at night. That wasn't the case here. It was cold but not freezing cold. I slept rather soundly for a change.

Everybody woke up early the next morning to watch the sun rise. It was beautiful as you would expect. Sunrises and sunsets are always a sight to behold here in the Cordilleras. A sea of clouds sometimes occur in Mt. Molmog. Unfortunately, we didn't see one when we were there. Maybe next time. 

We then had a little breakfast. Then the descent down the mountain. 

[P.S. - There's a mountain trail run to be held there this coming July. The race route will pass through Mt. Molmog. Just search for "Mountain Ridge Run" on Facebook for the complete details. See you there!]

      

Mt. Purgatory Overnight Traverse: A Hike To Remember

When I decided to fire up my old laptop to write this short blog post, I found myself staring into a blank screen for long stretches of time. Like a bored ghost, the cursor blinked endlessly as the minutes went by. I was utterly clueless on how I should begin. Then I remembered a piece of writing advice I’ve read just several days ago. It suggested that if you’re writing about a recent trip, you should jot down the most memorable parts of it then create a narrative around them.

So I asked myself "what were the most memorable parts of my recent Mt. Purgatory climb?" Several ideas came rushing through.

1. The jokes we shared and the laughter that often came after.
2. The thrill of riding on top of a speeding monster jeep.
3. The amazing views of the great Ambuklao Lake as it wraps itself around the towering mountains of Bokod.
4. Savoring bottles of limited gin and brandy on a cold, cold night.
5. More genuine laughter.
6. The unguarded moments.
7. The taste of brewed coffee after a back-breaking trek.
8. The unbelievable temperature as dawn breaks.
9. One, two, Pack. One, two, Bakian.
10. The houses with heart-shaped windows.
11. The sea of clouds.
12. The mist.
13. The smell of pine trees.
14. My injury-prone knees starting to act up.
15. Running the trail from Purgatory to Bakian.
16. That satisfying feeling of beginning the trek as strangers and ending it as friends.

How am I supposed to create a narrative around such a long list. I don't know. It beats me. Maybe some other time. All that it matters (for now) is that it was a good climb among good company. I can't wait to go back and do it all over again.

Thanks for the memories. Hanggang sa muling pag-ahon.

Missing Korean Hiker In Cordillera Mountains FOUND ALIVE After 8 Days And 7 Nights Of Search Operations

The search is finally over. After eight days and seven nights of search and rescue operations, the Korean hiker who went missing in the mountains of Barlig in Mt. Province has been found. And he's alive. In an update from the Mountain Province Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Choi Sung Kyu was found around noon by Joselito Tukyap (a local resident) in barangay Latang, Barlig. The man was hunting for wild honey when he came across the Korean tourist.

Choi will be transported to the Bontoc General Hospital tomorrow (Wednesday) or as soon as his health condition permits.

Choi went missing over a week ago when he tried to hike to Batad, Banaue through Mt. Amuyao. At one point, policemen as well as the Korean Embassy were able to contact him via mobile phone and asked him to divulge his location. He said he was near a big rock which prompted rescuers to head over to Ammiw and Furud where large rock formations can be found. The rescuers failed to locate him

For the next several days, a massive search and rescue operation was conducted involving more than 70 people. These include responders from the Sagada MDRRMC, responders from the PDRRMC, locals and volunteers from the Barlig MDRRMC, and over a dozen Korean nationals. The Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and the K-9 unit of the Cordillera DRRMC were also tapped to assist in the search and rescue operations.

© Daniel Feliciano / The Cordilleran Sun

In light of the incident, tourists and travelers are being advised to always get a guide especially for hiking trips in the Cordillera region. It's easy to get lost in Cordillera's mountains. Even locals and experienced climbers often find themselves lost in the region's thickly forested slopes. What more if you're a visitor who is unfamiliar with the region's terrain. Lesson from the incident: get a guide.

After Hiker's Death, People With Heart Ailments Warned Against Climbing Mt. Pulag

The management of the Mt. Pulag National Park has issued an advisory warning people with heart ailments and related illnesses to think twice and procure medical clearances from authorized physicians before they climb the famed mountain that towers 2,922 meters above sea level.

In a bulletin posted on their official Facebook page, the park's management said that, "Mt. Pulag National Park is such a beautiful destination but it requires physical and mental preparation before ascent. In line with this, all organizers and trekkers are advised to have medical clearance or certificate before ascent to the park. People with heart ailments and other ailments are discouraged to come to the park without medical certificate/clearance from authorized physicians."

The advisory came just days after it was reported that a hiker died on the mountain on November 6 (Friday) due to cardiac arrest. Edna Ocampo Villanueva, a 51-year-old climber from Quezon City was reportedly found in her tent unconscious. She was rushed by Kabayan policemen to a hospital in the nearby town of Bokod but she was declared dead on arrival by an attending physician.

This is not the first time that an incident of this nature occurred in the mountain. Back in October last year, a certain Rogelio Canceran also perished on the slopes of the mountain due to a heart attack.

In a nutshell, always see to it that you are physically fit before you even plan on climbing the mountain. People who have heart ailments but still want to climb can check out this simple guide for a start.

Image from Google Maps.