A connotation, “Lots of confusing
trails for hikers could have seen in Mt. Marami”. It was true that trails in Mt.
Marami were confusing and deceiving, lots of entries were seemingly like the
right way, think twice you might be entering the bamboo fence where “pastulan
ng kambing at baka”. Amazing right? Stop wandering around, you may have step on
to a lost trail. It was aside from confusing trail the long trail without trail
sign, there were signs maybe, but it was tedious to find. Though, locals can be
our source of information towards the right way, you’ll find them at the
barangay hall, jump-off point and along the trail, but it was barely to ask help from
them since they were always offering a guide, with fee of course – 300 -500, we
understand them, they needed money to get through the day for their families,
also they would understand our tight grip budget at the moment but it is strongly advisable to hire a guide if you are worried about loosing your way and halt waste of time. Trail
information we got from our internet source prior to climb were absolutely
helpful. Thanks to them.
Hiking with friends and typhoon
Ambo. This was another first time experience to walk onto the trail while it
was raining with minimal strength. Trekking in the rain was unusual that made
me feel unlucky at the same time happy (unexplained kung bakit Masaya). With
the umbrella on the 3 people’s hand, folded tent held on my other hand, it was
tiring, still ascent moved smoothly and lost trails faced bravely. Portals lost
about an hour in the middle of trek, it was raining and treacherous trail was
deceiving so asked somebody’s help to lead us the way. To think several times,
the name of typhoon wasn’t reminded not even passed by several times in mind,
didn’t avoid us to go through but push through it. It wasn’t pour down hard; I
am a freethinker about it.
don’t cross the 1st river yet, it is the sign…but we push
through it, so we lost for about 30 - 45 mins
Rather, continue walking on the Right side of the River and when you
see this… wooden bridge
It is your signal to cross the 1st river and we relieved
from our 20 – 30 mins lost in the wrong way.
Weather was truly unpredicted.
Exhaustion craves for rests, the sun shone its summer days over us and I’m
tired. I got no sleeps before the climb, it simultaneously added up to my
tiredness. Take 5! Take 10! Take5! No shed along the assault. Umbrellas were
still useful device to protect our head, to prevent greater dehydrations and
provide higher oxygenation through our body systems and brain. Energy
conservation, a woody cane used temporarily. Business as usual as head rose up
looking for a gradual steep.
Rain or shine, rest or continue… we don’t hesitate to conquer marami
despites of many confusing and deceiving trails. Cheer up!
3 Rivers were crossed, mud
crossed for lots. The crazy mud in the 1st river was unbelievably
foolish that a right foot of mine buried. Withdrawal reflex happened in a split
second, I am afraid. Along the way, locals
determined not the safety while walking on unprotected foot. Greetings
temporarily ease the weakness and dried mouth for locals so just as the three
of us. A marvelous smile of nowhere simply soothed ones heart. Unbelievably,
the lame sunlight reflected on tedious clouds dimmed over the muddy land and
green environment. Dashed through the rain, cautiously watched steps avoiding
foot buried few inches on muddy trail way and watchfully stepped on slippery
ascent and descent.
1st, 2nd, 3rd river crossing
Muddy trails and the thick clouds na nagbabadyang bumagsak
It was chucking down over
umbrellas. Awkward moment, the three of us sat down on sizes rock, each of us
with distant measure in a meter or two. Took pictures in the midst gracious
moment of Ambo. Speechless, stare counts the rain drops impossibly like
counting sands underneath the shore. Forecasted about 15 – 20 minutes of my
wandering mind the rain seized.
Mga kawawang batang walang magawa kundi maghintay sa pagtila ng ulan
Looking for the campsite, tent
would be pitched up with strong pegs. Strong winds flew us invulnerably so tent
placed beside the small stems of considered high trees over there. The weather
has started to scare us, fogs begun to embrace the campsite. Tent pitched,
things were all inside the tent, surrounding was started to shut down its
lights, no visible stars, not even the moon, we were all together spent a
tremendous night in the 2nd campsite. It was Mother Nature that
sounded angry outside our tent.
Mukhang masarap matulog nyan!
Ambo made us experience his power
over us. Scary it was to think back all the memories with Ambo at the campsite.
To remember a few, the 3 of us were lying down inside the tent, in my mind I
was thinking that though social rituals of any kind in the midst of the night
were not possible but it could be a mysterious night for us and unforgettable
one. It was true that mysterious and unforgettable experience hit us
tremendously.
While laying in the tent, a great
thunder followed by stronger lightning scared us, with intervals of seconds to
minutes it repeated for times in my fingers, it counts before the strong wind
with strengthen rain poured over the tent. Like the thunder and lightning, the
rain had left different stories in this experience.
Headlamps opened. Dinner was
over. Social rituals spent with ambo the whole night as it intermittently
raining cats and dogs with the scariest thunder and lightning ever. The only
hope we prayed for was to be safely gone down and home but Ambo as if he
doesn’t want us to leave out. To think that, the way down I couldn’t imagine,
the 3 rivers may be overflowed, landslides and erosions were possible. Geological
changes might happen. Big eyes and drop jaw! Shocking! Be optimistic!
Moistures! It was felt from all
sides of the tent. “umaanggi nanaman”. Whooooo…. The videos taken and be heard
like this. (watch video clip).
Draining the flooded tent. Squeezing hancherchiefs and drying the tent. Few
hours had passed that we couldn’t find the best sleep pattern it would give us
since the water seeped inside, 1 – 2 inches the water leveled inside tent that
made my clothes wet so as my guy friends too, even our things inside fated to
experience the angry Ambo. This wasn’t expected but it was an experience to
prepare about before it organized. Another learning adventure picked up.
Ulam pack, limited rice, egg, hotdogs, bread, water for dinner
The 3 of us faced ambo bravely, even annoyed because we can’t sleep due
to strong wind, thunder and rain and worse water sipped inside the tent
Umbrella inside the tent was an unusual thing I ever experienced
because of the strong pour of the rain that even enter all over the sides of it, not waterproof!
Draining out the water inside the tent, a crucial thing that added up
my tiredness aside from 3 day lack of sleep including this Marami day
On the next day. The sun had
shown invincibly but covered with thick clouds. No clearing at all, “let’s wait
for the rain has seized, few minutes to pass the weather will be nicer as it is
expected”. But nothing happened, the fogs surrounded the summit, the trail
too.
The trail to summit when the rain
seized, no one can stop us, not even typhoon Ambo from conquering the summit
despite of all the fears we encountered. No clearing at all, strong wind may
blew us once you stand longer but IVAN was really amazing guy that he got the
courage to stand in one of the danger zone of summit notwithstanding of the
wind and slippery rocks, he only had a smile before our worried faces.
Rock Assault to summit
The thick clouds of mt. marami summit
It must be a 360 degrees awesome backdrop view over the summit.
Gone from summit, we started to
trek down. Fixing up all things, drying up bags and cleaning up mess brought by
proud Ambo last night were done on time. Descending down while minimal to
moderate rain showered over us, muddy trail became muddier, slippery trail
became more slippery, rivers expectedly crossed above knees. Carefullllll!!!!!
Tidying up the messy tent inside
Drying up bags
Crazy mud on our way
3rd, 2nd, 1st overflowing creamy latae
river
Oh well, where’s the trail way to
barangay Ramirez? Few entry points were deceiving,
thanks to the locals we met along the way and lead us to the right way, still
muddier trail ways were expected, including theirs famished horses carrying heavy
loads over backbones, needed tidying up after the long walk. They didn’t stop
walking until they’ve lost my eye, we can’t follow them anymore but their marks
lead us to Barangay Ramirez so we took our lunch in the middle of the way while
raining, just a pack of viand and running out water we shared altogether for
lunch,we don’t know what would happen after this so few minutes passed, we
continue dashing through the rain.
Very near, here at Nuestra
Senora, we smell the nearest shower room at Barangay Ramires, after 10 minutes
of rest, we continue to walk and
Finally, here at Barangay Ramirez
and took shower not in the
barangay hall but in one of the residences here, just beside the barangay hall,
owned a “sari sari store”. P20 per head. Alighted to police station from a
tricycle (P50), we rode on to a jeep heading to naic cavite for a bus to
manila.
Before we took ride to manila, we
saw “ihawan”, plan was to eat at fastfood chain but it suddenly changed due to
our dancing hungry stomach.
Now, after the muddier trail
ways, the stormy weather at campsite, tedious views at summit, we promised to
return, we shall return, there’ll be revenge!
And we’ll leave you with this
reminder seen posted in one of the trees in Nuestra….
Photo Courtesy by:
Ivanlakwatsero.com
Joshua of PKP
Paxenxa kinuha ko mga pics nyo, heheehe salamat ng madami :D
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