Ang ganda talaga ng Mt Apo. Kaya lang bakit ganun? Ang daming kalat na basura sa bawat camp site and along the trail. Saku-sakong basura na nakatambak sa may Godi-godi at maraming nakalat na mga lata ng sardinas, maling, plastics at mga bote ng alak. It only proves that Mt Apo is not regulated well and not protected. Ang mahal pa naman ng permit fee tapos hindi inaalagaan at di ipinapatupad ang Leave no Trace practice. Hindi malayong maging bundok din ito ng basura kagaya ng ng Mt. Maculot. Bakit di kaya maglunsad ng clean up drive ang mga lokal na pamahalaan na nasasakupan ng Mt. Apo para linisin ang mga campsite, mga basurang naka kalat at ibaba lahat ng mga basura.
Last Sept 23-25, 2001 our group (INTA- Independent Trek Adventurers) together with sir PJM climbed Mt. Apo. This has been organized ahead as early in 2010 as our major finale and tribute climb to Nympha our team mate who's in abroad and a treat when she gets back home from Holland, but unfortunately she has'nt arrived. Still we decided to push amidst of the conflicts and budget.
Whatta heck....! Very awesome and one of a kind experience that I ever had in my entire mountaineering experience. Though we encountered some minor troubles along the way but we're able to surpass pleasingly. I'm thinking of my retirement after Mt. Apo but I know I can't do it. I'm still young and I've never yet completed the mountains right up on my list. As always after the climb or during the post climb sessions our pinuno Gary Lou S. Malvar planning of the next mountain to climb and always been seconded by Sherwin Wilnito Ricamora and many others from the team.
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Mt. Apo - The Proposal |
While uploading pictures on facebook, I could imagine every captured moments of each pictures flashing on monitor. The stories behind those photographs keep on flashing in my memory and off course the unforgettable challenges along the trails. I could easily remember the spots in each every picture taken unless not my shots.
Buti na lang hindi na ganun ka bigat ang aparador (bag kong eusebio na parang mabigat pa sakin kung minsan) na aking dala-dala sa bawat akyatan namen. Weather is not that bad nung umakyat kami ng Mt. Apo, paminsan-minsan pinapasilip din sa amin ni inang kalikasan ang mga view along the trail at mga over looking spot. Malakas ang hangin di masyadong mainit dahil may paparating na bagyo pala sa Maynila nung araw na yun. We lasted 3 nights and 2 days sa hiking.. Kompletos recados ng food supplies at trail foods. Supplies are more than enough for the entire climb. Energies are still on it's consistent level. Though majority in our group are girls but they are not burdens and headaches to us infact they are on the lead. Hindi ko mabilang kung how many times kaming nag take 5. Take 5 ay hindi dahil magpahinga (yabang!) kundi para antayin yung mga kasama na nasa likod namin dahil mabagal sila sa kaka piktyur-picture.
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| MT. Apo - The Summit |
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| Mt. Apo - Way down to Lake Venado |
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Mt. Apo - Net Weight of my Eusebio Bag
Bonus na lang sa package namen yung travel from Kapatagan to jump-off via vegetable truck. Warm up ba tawag dun? Pwede.. I could hear the girls murmuring, screaming and shouting at the back of the truck. Umuungol. Napatawa ako ng marinig ko ang bulalas ni sir PJM "sussssan rocessss" P*&^%@ I*n@ na daan to' kalsadang parang patay na ilog sa naglalakihang mga bato. Kalsada daw yun. Binayo kami sa loob ng truck sa ubod ng pangit na daanan. Pagdating sa jump off buti na lng replineshed agad ang energy sa isang masarap ng pananghalian. |
Ready get set go...Ang aming paglalakbay.
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| Mt. Apo - The INTA Girls |
Pagdating sa bouldering mag kahalong amoy alasingko sa kili-kili at sulfur na nunuot sa damit. Buti na lng di mainit. Swak-na-swak ang klema sa amin at sa inaalala naming kasama. Si Iva. Hindi mainit at manakha-nakhang pag-ulan lamang. The most challenging part of the trek etong bouldering. The views down hills are great. Mausok at maamoy ang sulfur at ang naglalakihang mga bato pataas. Sarap mag planking malapit sa bunganga ng sulfur crater, katakot nga lang dahil baka ma suffocate but still I tried planking near at the crater. It was pretty good.
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| Mt. Apo - Planking near the creater |
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| Mt. Apo - Bouldering |
Acrossed the bouldering and up to 87 degrees trail, ...hmmm...one more take 5 approaching the summit..Walang clearing at halos nangangatog na kami sa lamig. Salamat! we're at the summit at 4:30pm. Not that late uh. Malakas ang hangin at mahirap mag set up ng tent.. Nabulabog ata ang mga daga dahil may mga bisita. May be they're thankful at makakain sila ng aming mga left overs...Napakalaking cloud rat naman nyan! I think hindi cloud rat yon. A typical rat gaya ng makikita sa bahay o di kaya sa imbornal.. I guess nag trekking din ang mga yun up hill sa kakasunod sa mga basurang galing baba and eventually namalagi na lng sa summit dahil maraming basura din dun... Hindi naman siguro sila ganun ka lupet at violent. Nakapag break camp kami ng maayos at walang laslas ng daga ang aming mga tent.
We descended Mt. Apo safe and enjoyed so much sa river crossing on that morning...Umuulan at medyo malakas ang current ng tubig pero may mga areas naman na passable. Sarap magpa anod sa tubig...May tawid sa tulay segment pa sa isang big log acrossed the river.
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| Mt. Apo - River crossing @ Nile River hmmmp este! Marble River |
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| Mt. Apo - Marble River Crossing @ extreme current |
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| Mt. Apo @ River Crossing |
We've reached Lake Agco @ 11am. Refreshing splash of hot spring that hits our tired muscles. A soft massage of sprinkles coming from hot spring at the sulfuric sauna..An hour of deep bleaching into hot spring and Jacuzzi bathing were good enough to reflex our tired body.
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| Mt. Apo - Lake Agco Hot Spring Jacuzzi |
We're about to leave Lake Agco, all of the sudden we are interrupted by a lady who's claimed to be the Tourism officer of Region XI. Her name is Ma Fe Permi. According to her she's in charge of the Mt. Apo Licensing and Permits. As far as I know protected areas like mountains are being managed and protected by DENR. So DENR and DOT are absolutely different. ( sorry I admitted konti lng alam ko sa specific functions at mga sakop nila) She even called us "violators" although we presented our permit to climb and ID's. The route of our climb permit is dual as stated Kapatagan-Kidapawan travers. Therefore, it is legitimate indeed. We are wondering, how come that lady in "bakat" suit kept on accusing us as violators. According to her we supposed to pay 500 bucks each as an exit fee. We informed her that certain fee was already included upon issuance of our permits in Kapatagan. She was also asking for our garbage which has been dispatched by one of our porters. We explained that our permits were processed in Kapatagan. She just uttered, its been their problem entries from Kapatagan and she will just deliberate the issue in their meeting but then we're still be called violators. They will discuss our penalties in their meeting she said.
For the sanctions and penalties they will just notify us accordingly. But how? in what means? How could we serve the offense? If hey will agree with our proposed service, instead of paying the exit fees (which is already been paid) then penalty shall be served. We're going back to Mt. Apo in the same trail and do clean up.
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| Mt. Apo - 90 degrees Kiss the Wall Segment |
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| Mt. Apo - The Balance Beam |
