continuation of : Summiting Mt. Apo -"There is no shortcut to the top." (Day 1)
Day 2 ( Aug 12, 2013) : Going to the summit.
Thankfull for a good sleep last night. Today is our second day, this will be a full push whole day trek going up to the summit camp..
Second day wake -up call is suppose to be 5:00 early in the morning, due to the very cold temperature our body feels so lazy to get- up and so good to sleep inside my sleeping bag. It was a very cold night but indeed a restfull one.
After 30 minutes of wake -up call we decide to get up and drink hot milo and coffee to relieve the cold. Prepare, cook our breakfast and pack lunch. We eat full breakfast, as we need more energy for this full push.
Well, sorry Dang that i include this "Sino ang nakatapon ng tuna spaghetti?" (Peace Dang).
We pack our things, clear the campsite of our trash and ready to leave. Our next target for that day this day is the summit campsite with an estimated 8 hours climb.
Group picture on our second day at Upper Sabwag campsite. Ready to assault the summit.
(L-R) Shao, Sir Rodel, Me, Dang and Loyd
At around 8:00 am we are ready to go. Still the temperature is cold but as we continue to trek our body temperature is getting high 'coz of the exerted energy. The trail is a forested area and a rugged one. Some tree trunks with moss are along the trail. We stop at the Baroring river to take some rest. We're 1 -hour ahead when we reach the river 'coz on the sign at Upper Sabwag campsite it is 3 -hours (wow yabang naman). Take rest, re -fill our water container and take some pictures.
Taking time to pose on refreshing place at Baroring river.
Taking a rest at Baroring river.
After the Baroring river we continue an assault trek going to Godi -godi campsite. Every 30 minutes is a time check, to get rest and take some breath as instructed by Migo Loyd. Yes, i am the time keeper. I pass by on the trail the broken shoes of our porter Mang K (Kulas) he left it hanging on the tree. I feel so pity, realizing that he is now on -foot and carrying a sack backpacks with a loads of more than 20 kilos of our food supply and other stuff.
So torn apart.Our porter (Mang K)shoes .
Around 11:00 am, we reach the Godi-godi campsite. Which suppose to be our campsite last night but our guide hesitate that it is much better to camp at Upper Sabwag 'coz he did not want us to night trek (kaya kami nabitin kahapon pag dating).
Taking a rest at Camp Godi -godi.
It's so disappointed to see the condition of the Mt. Apo natural park. Just like the other mountains it is deprived by some irresponsible mountaineers and wanna be mountaineers. I forgot to take pictures of the garbage that was left behind here in camp God- godi.
At camp Godi -godi.
We take rest, eat some trail snack and do some picture taking. And what have we got here for our trip (pinag trippan)- the sack backpack of our porter Mang K a.k.a" Kulas". Thank's to Shao he let Mang K use his slipper so that he will not be on foot while climbing and carrying his sack backpack.
Go Dang. Carrying our Porter's ( Mang K) sack backpack.
Looks good on you Loyd.
Can you swap yours to Mang K's backpack?
We left camp Godi -godi to proceed on the boulders, it is approx. 1 hour trek going up to the foot of the boulders. The trail is getting more inclined and somehow i lost my breath as i making my assault.
As i enter the foot of the boulders i was amaze of the breathtaking view of the summit. Here it is, the view that we seen on day one at the jump -off point.
Finally I'm here at the foot of the summit behind me is the boulders going up to the summit.
At last we're here at the foot of the boulders.
Behind the view of Kidapawan but is covered by fog.
At around 12:00 noon we reach the foot of the boulders and we eat our lunch. While taking lunch the rain pours again. As we expected there's no perfect clearing on this day 'coz there is a low pressure in other part of the country. But still we have fun and enjoy the weather.
Time is running up, we need to do full assault at the boulders going up to the summit campsite. It is 4 hours assault on the boulders with sulphur vents, its just like entering in the Land of Mordor's in Lord of the Rings movie.
Go Loyd. Start of the assault climb on the boulders.
Entering the Land of Mordor.
Mt. Apo is a volcanic mountain it has the biggest sulphur vents here in the Philippines and it is an excellent source Geothermal power.
Start to assault the boulders and it starting to rain also.
Sulphur vents and boulders are around us.
While we are at the middle of the boulders heavy rains still pours and we are getting wet and cold. With an open area the wind are getting cold and the rocks are so cold to touch. Although i wear handglooves my fingers are getting cold and numb. My two feet are so tired and heavy plus the backpack on my back, that if i can just carry my feet i will.
Boulders are everywhere, yet still having time to make some fun. "Jeddai"
There's no definite trail to follow, rocks are everywhere. Huge sizes of rocks that make us a full push on assault. And there's always a time to play just to enjoy our journey.
Behind is the sulphur vent at Mt. Apo summit.
Magnificent view of the sulphur vent.
Indeed it is such a great experience trekking the boulders for 4 hours. Such a magnificent summit with breathtaking view of boulders and sulphur vents. At the top of the boulders you can find "Boracay" (white sand).
At the top o the boulders at "Boracay" - white sand.
At the top of the boulders at "Boracay"
Heavy rains are still pouring at "Boracay"
It was such a tiring and breathless 4 hours assault on the boulders and we decide to take rest in "Boracay". Get some shelter on the rocks or plants from the pouring rain while hoping it will stop. But so sad the rain did not stop, if we will rest long it is not good our body temperature will drop and more prone to cold.
Behind is the crater lake of Mt. Apo. Not so visible because of the fog.
The journey has not yet ended, still we have long way to go before on our final destination the summit campsite. We are feeling more colder and it's time to get up and continue our trek going up to the mother peak.
Thanks there is a slight clearing. The crater Lake.
To bad there's no perfect clearing on our second day. We did not able o see the crater lake at the mother peak but just thankful enough that is still a great and enjoying climb.
Mt. Apo crater lake with a clear view. Thanks their is a slight clearing.
I take some photo's on the plants that i see around the crater lake. These plants can be found on the tropical rain forest here in the Philippines, i had seen also these on the other mountains. Usually on the high altitude mountains. It's like a bonsai plants with flowers.
Plants at the summit.
Plants at the summit.
Before we go down at the summit camp, we take side trip on the mother peak. Still it has fog and zero visibility on the 360 degree view. It feels so colder at the peak. We take some pictures and enjoying our glorious victory, we're now at the highest peak of the Philippines!
The team at the Mother Peak- "There is no shortcut to the top."
Our heavy duty hiking shoes.This is where our feet leads us.
No limits, no boundary. "There is no shortcut to the top."
It is such a great feeling to reach the highest peak of the Philippines, all the effort are priceless. Every summit that you reach is another achievement. Entrust a strong belief in yourself that you can conquer it, no matter how high and how hard, as long as you have passion.
At around 5:00 pm we reach the summit campsite. It caught my attention here is the grotto of Mama Mary and Jesus Christ. They say that some priest put this statues here.
Mt. Apo summit camp. Mama Mary and Jesus Christ grotto.
The summit campsite is large enough to accommodate more than 50 climbers, like a football field size. No wonder that during summer season and especially holyweek this is filled of climbers. It is cogonal, surrounded by some peaks and i may say it's also a crater.
Still the rain is pouring, we're getting so cold. It is always on my thinking to put up the tent immediately when reaching the campsite especially when it is raining. To have a better shelter from the rain and change the wet clothes inside the tent. In this way it feels more comfortable.
The rain still did not stop as we finish setting -up our tents and prepare our dinner. The temperature that night is more colder compare on our first night. We secure our things properly not to get wet from the rain.
It was another long and tiring day. Full pack of great adventures. It's time again to sleep, have some rest for tomorrow is another day and our last day (3rd day).
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