At Digos bus terminal, we rode a tricycle going to the market where the old terminal is, and looked for another ride to Kapatagan. It was getting hot while waiting for its departure, so we ate our lunch in a small carenderia where our van is parked, realizing it was my first meal of the day because I only ate a hamburger for a quick breakfast. We were almost getting out of time when our van finally set off. I took a nap on the road, still filled with excitement and fear of whatever contingencies that might come along our way, praying that we've got everything we need and we'll make it through the mountain safely.
I felt the cool breeze when I woke up at Kapatagan. The driver dropped us by the registration office to pay our entrance fee of P400/head and when we reached the drop-off, my heart starts to pound fast. This is it! But there's still one last ride to go, a habal-habal going to Sitio Mainit. Lol! It was a rough ride because the road is challenging you might fall if you lost your balance. Good thing we got the best driver and he set us down safely by the end of the road, leaving us some tips of who and where to find a local guide.
I took my bag behind my back saying "I can do this!" We moved our feet towards the mountains passing along a farm of cabbages and greeted the locals. I started to feel dizzy when we were ascending not far enough than 100 meters. My friend, Kela said I looked pale and everyone got worried. Then I think to myself, I'd be a burden if I can't go on like this, so I can still decide to go home instead. Jake, who also came from a graveyard duty like me, encouraged me to take it slow until my body can cope up, because we still don't have enough rest and sleep. As I looked to my friends I thought of the need to survive this climb. We have all wanted it. I saw Trisha's eagerness and also Ever's face of exhaustion, but we need to respect each and everyone's needs, to be sensitive to recognize other's feelings, so we try to wait for each other. We walked together. Joseph and Boboy, my high school batch mates who also served as our guide, reminded us of the remaining time left to reach the first camp site at Sitio Paradise. Way to go, team!
We reached camp Paradise with more time left to finish the afternoon but Joseph and Boboy decided to stay here for the night because we won't be able to make it to the next camp before it gets dark. I agreed of course, because I really think I cannot make it through the day.
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| Welcome to Paradise! |
Day 2. We woke up getting ready for the climb proper. This would be a tough day so better feed our stomachs! We ate our breakfast, filled our water bottles, and cooked our lunch food that we can just eat along the trail. There are many water sources in Mt. Apo which is safe to drink. Enjoy it free!
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| Ready for take off! |
I enjoyed hiking the trail with no more dizziness but rather a rush of adrenaline and clean oxygen in my veins, with the sweat of love and passion for the mountains that's coming out of my pores, a thirst only for natural waters in the wild, my body that excites more as it touches the bareness of the earth, and my lungs that expands as I climb up gasping for fresh air.
We also walk the talk, with humor of every nuances of ideas so we wouldn't easily feel tired. Ever and Jake are good actors. They always crack jokes that often make us stop to breathe harder. But there's also one thing about Ever we girls annoyingly observed, he's so vain he always apply sunblock over and over again on his face. HAHA!
We reached camp Godi-Godi in about five hours and spend the rest of the day here. We can't push ourselves to hurry if that's just all we can take. There, is a very beautiful place inside the mossy forest like that of the Twilight movie where Edward Cullen confessed his love and identity to Bella.
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| Mossy forest |
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| Camp Godi-Godi |
The rain poured when we installed our tents up until dawn. We had a 'cheers for another adventure' night to fight the coldness of the evening. Everyone had a good sleep though.
Day 3.
A beautiful cold morning greeted us the next day. Boboy even saw a monkey but I didn't catch it. We headed to the summit this time, full of energy and vitality after eating our breakfast, drinking coffee, and defecating into the woods. Hehehe.. ;)
To the boulders and peak!!!
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| Mt. Apo boulders, Kapatagan trail |
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| Mt. Apo Sulfur vents |
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| Boboy & Joseph's stolen shot |
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| Mt. Apo buddies |
We took more pictures everywhere. We reached the crater lake then went to the grotto to eat our lunch and take a little rest. Kela and I almost got lost, we just stopped and took a bite of sneakers, until Ever came back for us to the cross.
And oh, don't forget to taste the wild berries!
And oh, don't forget to taste the wild berries!
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| Grotto |
This place is so wonderful you'd love to lie on the green bed of grasses and just let the wind caress your tired body, and the sun to kiss your resilient face. But be careful, you'll get sunburned! :)
We would really love to stay at the peak for a night to witness the majestic sunrise the next day, but we won't be able to come home on time before reality knocks on our doors. We proceeded to Lake Venado after lunch and camp there instead.
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| Lake Venado♥ |
It was our last night at Mt. Apo, a night to celebrate. So, Kela and I cooked spaghetti for everyone who are exhausted and dreaming to spend the rest of the night in a cozy room with a delicious heavy dinner. But wait, we still have more dried fish! Everybody's been complaining we always eat dried fish the whole day that our sweat almost taste like it. HAHAHA!
RJ, our kind local guide and porter, professed his "dramas" that he will be missing us and it hurts him to say good bye soon. We will not forget him too, because he had been a friend to us in this journey. He is a gentleman, an assertive and very cool guy he runs into the boulders with bare feet. We left him our landmarks in case he would visit Davao City. We left Lake Venado via Kidapawan trail, with anxieties of separation that our feat is about to end. I enjoyed the lush of flora on the way out of the lake, and the invigorating silence of the forest down to Mt. Apo's foot. The thrill that tickles my nerves every time I walk through misty woods is something I lusciously treasure and will never ever forget.
Kidapawan trail
River crossing...
If it's adventure you seek, you must definitely set your foot here. 'Coz in every path you cross, you also find yourself better in the quest for survival, who you are and what you are in your worst clothes without the make up on.
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End of the line.
But the end of the trail has brought me mixed emotions. Conquering Mt. Apo is one of the best achievement one can boast to his friends. Imagine climbing the Philippines' highest peak! I rode home with pride and humility, even though we felt bad with the DOT taking the Kidapawan exit, I still got the vigor and insatiable lust for more mountains.
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I arrived home October 22, 2012 at around 9PM, took a bath and headed back to work for my 11-7 shift. Yes, I did not sleep yet! Still hyped I did not even close my eyes for a nap/break until I came home after duty.
ZZZzzzzz.........
