Monday, September 12, 2005
The Marvelous Group goes to Marvelous Kibungan, Benguet
PART 1:
We're back from Kibungan, Benguet! It was a hard but extremely fun climb. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
I was terribly busy that Thursday. There was a thousand and one things to do at the office, at the upcoming 7th ICFC competition and a meeting with the bankers. I had to remind myself to pick up the tapa and the rhum butter cake. That's when I remembered to text Rizza (who I nicknamed Goldilocks)about the lemon squares and the brownies. Little did I know that text would be a significant event.
We left Tower 1 aboard a very nice Partas bus arranged by the 'posh' queen Janet, a trainee of B2K5. It was one of the best bus that I have ever traveled in this country. Partas has buses that seat only 28 people in reclining chaise like seats with a rest room. The Marvelous group was in high spirits and as usual, the last to arrive was Ane and Eira. mosscake was engaging in light witty banter with Goldilocks (Rizza). I started to tease Vanesa who I realize I terribly missed climbing with. Felix was wearing his trademark basketball sando that I knew would burn him to a crisp. Mau was conversing with Melody and I shared the seat with Barbs. I rested relatively well. I found out that Malvin's group did not join us and opted to take the plebian way to Baguio, a Victory Liner bus ride. Lol. The bus trip was relatively quiet with almost everyone asleep.
We got to Baguio at the Victory Liner bus terminal at about 3:30am. I gave instructions for the Marvelous group to head inside the terminal and distribute their loads. I saw Malvin and his group. I couldn't help it so I asked him "Ooi, musta na ang 'others?'" Lol.
While the group was doing their load distribution, I sauntered over to Team Leader Alvin and quizzed him some more about the trail. I didn't want my Marvelous group to night trek and I wanted them to enjoy this climb. I had a suspicion that most of the trainees in the group didn't really enjoy their 1st and 2nd training climbs. I wanted them to enjoy this climb.
TL Alvin, ATL Marris and I worked together last year in AMCI's Board of Trustees. I was President at that time, Alvin was a Trustee and Marris was the efficient Treasurer. TM Dado was from Baguio/Benguet area so he knew the locals and the mountains. I knew them quite well. So I decided to place my trust in them.
I made a decision not to pressure my group to trek fast but just to merely follow and meet the I.T. AGL Mau would lead the group with Neil, Tads, Jason following. Vanesa, Felix, Tey, Ane and Melody would trek with Eira, Rizza, Gerry and Barbs. I on the other hand will take the rear. I communicated this strategy to the group and told them to enjoy the trail. As it turns out, it was a good strategy.
TL Alvin arranged for 2 buses and a jeepney to take the team to Kibungan, a good 4 hours away traveling in rough roads. The buses were very basic. It had 5 narrow bench seats across. The seats were straight back with hardly any legroom.We left the Victory Bus terminal quite early at 4:45am. Upon reaching the La Trinidad Valley in Benguet just before hitting the toll road of the Halsema highway, we turned left to a rough road going towards Kibungan. I was seated near the door. Soon I started to doze off and everytime the bus jolted, my eyes opened and I started to get motion sickness. Before it got any worse, we had a weewee stop at town called Taba-ao. I noticed also that everytime the bus approaches a town or baranggay, the roads are concreted but the moment you leave the town, the roads become rough again. There also seems to be some sort of strict road courtesy among the locals. The roads were mostly made for one vehicle travel. We went for several kilometers before encountering another vehicle. The bus or the other vehicle would make way for each other to pass. Sometimes we would back up, sometimes the other vehicle would back up. The drivers would give each other a friendly wave when they passed each other.
20 minutes before reaching Kibungan, we heard a loud bang. We had a flat. We reached Kibungan 10 minutes behind schedule. We got down in the municipal hall. The locals were curious to see us. They don't get too much mountaineering tourists in these parts of the country. In fact, the chief of police was kinda apprehensive about us trekking through the mountains. The town is neat and tidy. Garbage seems to be non-existent. The rest rooms were clean. And for a remote town, they had PCs and internet connection!
Bajay, our head sweeper and all around AMCI guru, opted to stay behind. Apparently, his head hit the jeepney ceiling and it may have affected his back. But I couldn't help it but tease him about his old age. lol.
As we begun the trek down towards a bridge, I noticed a sign that said "keep dogs on leash" and I asked why Kuya Mar didn't put his pet dog named Boy on a leash. Lol. I couldn't help it!We trekked down to a bridge. The trek down was steep and crossing a steel suspension bridge, typical of the area, gave me the jitters. We were already an hour behind the I.T. and I was beginning to doubt my strategy. I passed by TL Alvin and a guide and TL assured us that our pace was good.
After the bridge, it was a long upward trek to Gorio's Inn, our lunch area. The upward trek was steep. Almost like the Akiki trail in Pulag or Tey's revenge in Ugu. We got to the lunch area at noon, an hour behind schedule. The team re-grouped in the lunch area. Still behind by an hour, we continued our upward trek towards Mid Rock. The Marvelous group took lots of pictures and trekked upwards with a steady pace. Not too fast, not too slow but enough to enjoy the views. We could see the municipal building in the other mountain where we came from. I was beginning to worry that we might have to night trek. So when TL Alvin passed us by, I asked him if he was confident that the last man in at the campsite would be at 5pm. Alvin says we was very confident. Hmmmm.....
Passing Mid rock, we came to a the site called Cramp Site to rest awhile and monkey for the camera. We were still in high spirits because of the beautiful views. The trail though was steep. A combination of Tey's Revenge and Akiki Trail in a never ending upward trek reminiscent of Halcon but with the views of Ugu. Actually, better views than Ugu. The Cordillera mountains all have pine forests and mossy forests but Kibungan has this fantastic walls and cliff faces with paths/trails etched into it. Fog was starting to set in. I didn't even know that we reached the West Face until TM Dado told me. He said the left side of the path was a drop down into oblivion. I couldn't see a thing so I didn't care. By the time we trekked down to Alalegbi Bridge to replenish our trail water and camp water, we were within the IT.
As we replenished our trail water, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Malvin toss a stone that was suppose to land in front of me splashing me with water. It didn't happen. It was more of a plop. So I acted as if I didn't see it. Sneakily, I picked up a large rock and when Malvin was getting water, I tossed the rock towards him and landed right smack on target splashing him with water! Success! lol.
As I trekked up to Lanagan the campsite, I passed Alexis who was having cramps. His group mates were giving him salt or salty food. I also passed Xenon and ialman who was obviously keeping the Queen Mother company. lol.
By 4:30pm, I reched the campsite. Melody suggested that we transfer the camp to better site that she saw. So I asked the Marvelous group to decamp and move to the better campsite. Neil, though didn't like it. I explained it to him that making them choose the campsite was part of their training. But experience takes over when a better campsite is selected. They should learn from the experience.
One thing nice about the Marvelous group is that you didn't have to tell them what to do. They set up the kitchen area and the tarp. They organized the cooking chores and campkeeping chores. I was worried though about Ane. She was running a fever and was asleep in her tent. Vanesa and the rest of the members gathered round the kitchen area generally just observing what the trainees were doing. Neil is a vegetarian and Mau is trying to stay away from meat. Neil and Mau cooked laing. This prompted Jason mosscake to comment "but you both eat raw pussy!" Lol. We had sinigang na baboy.
And as the coup de grace, we had one whole rhum butter cake for desert. We sang happy birdie to Neil who was celebrating his birthday. alman dropped by to bitch about his tentmates/groupmates but its better if he tells his story. Don and Boy (Kuya Mar's pet) dropped by and had a piece of rhum butter cake and baileys in hot coffee plus a shot of vodka.
I decided to turn in early because I was pooped. I didn't know if I snored but Mau and Melody will have to get used to it. It's my tent! Lol. Anyway, at about 1am, I had this funny feeling of shitting. So I left my tent and went off to find my spot. I found a perfect spot to the right of a tree but he moment I looked closer, Vanesa used that spot! So I looked across and saw a perfect spot diagonally across Vanesa's major spot. So I crapped in that spot. I covered my spot with leaves and rocks. Little did I know that spot was smack right in the middle of the trail going to the view deck.
(TO BE CONTINUED)....
We're back from Kibungan, Benguet! It was a hard but extremely fun climb. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
I was terribly busy that Thursday. There was a thousand and one things to do at the office, at the upcoming 7th ICFC competition and a meeting with the bankers. I had to remind myself to pick up the tapa and the rhum butter cake. That's when I remembered to text Rizza (who I nicknamed Goldilocks)about the lemon squares and the brownies. Little did I know that text would be a significant event.
We left Tower 1 aboard a very nice Partas bus arranged by the 'posh' queen Janet, a trainee of B2K5. It was one of the best bus that I have ever traveled in this country. Partas has buses that seat only 28 people in reclining chaise like seats with a rest room. The Marvelous group was in high spirits and as usual, the last to arrive was Ane and Eira. mosscake was engaging in light witty banter with Goldilocks (Rizza). I started to tease Vanesa who I realize I terribly missed climbing with. Felix was wearing his trademark basketball sando that I knew would burn him to a crisp. Mau was conversing with Melody and I shared the seat with Barbs. I rested relatively well. I found out that Malvin's group did not join us and opted to take the plebian way to Baguio, a Victory Liner bus ride. Lol. The bus trip was relatively quiet with almost everyone asleep.
We got to Baguio at the Victory Liner bus terminal at about 3:30am. I gave instructions for the Marvelous group to head inside the terminal and distribute their loads. I saw Malvin and his group. I couldn't help it so I asked him "Ooi, musta na ang 'others?'" Lol.
While the group was doing their load distribution, I sauntered over to Team Leader Alvin and quizzed him some more about the trail. I didn't want my Marvelous group to night trek and I wanted them to enjoy this climb. I had a suspicion that most of the trainees in the group didn't really enjoy their 1st and 2nd training climbs. I wanted them to enjoy this climb.
TL Alvin, ATL Marris and I worked together last year in AMCI's Board of Trustees. I was President at that time, Alvin was a Trustee and Marris was the efficient Treasurer. TM Dado was from Baguio/Benguet area so he knew the locals and the mountains. I knew them quite well. So I decided to place my trust in them.
I made a decision not to pressure my group to trek fast but just to merely follow and meet the I.T. AGL Mau would lead the group with Neil, Tads, Jason following. Vanesa, Felix, Tey, Ane and Melody would trek with Eira, Rizza, Gerry and Barbs. I on the other hand will take the rear. I communicated this strategy to the group and told them to enjoy the trail. As it turns out, it was a good strategy.
TL Alvin arranged for 2 buses and a jeepney to take the team to Kibungan, a good 4 hours away traveling in rough roads. The buses were very basic. It had 5 narrow bench seats across. The seats were straight back with hardly any legroom.We left the Victory Bus terminal quite early at 4:45am. Upon reaching the La Trinidad Valley in Benguet just before hitting the toll road of the Halsema highway, we turned left to a rough road going towards Kibungan. I was seated near the door. Soon I started to doze off and everytime the bus jolted, my eyes opened and I started to get motion sickness. Before it got any worse, we had a weewee stop at town called Taba-ao. I noticed also that everytime the bus approaches a town or baranggay, the roads are concreted but the moment you leave the town, the roads become rough again. There also seems to be some sort of strict road courtesy among the locals. The roads were mostly made for one vehicle travel. We went for several kilometers before encountering another vehicle. The bus or the other vehicle would make way for each other to pass. Sometimes we would back up, sometimes the other vehicle would back up. The drivers would give each other a friendly wave when they passed each other.
20 minutes before reaching Kibungan, we heard a loud bang. We had a flat. We reached Kibungan 10 minutes behind schedule. We got down in the municipal hall. The locals were curious to see us. They don't get too much mountaineering tourists in these parts of the country. In fact, the chief of police was kinda apprehensive about us trekking through the mountains. The town is neat and tidy. Garbage seems to be non-existent. The rest rooms were clean. And for a remote town, they had PCs and internet connection!
Bajay, our head sweeper and all around AMCI guru, opted to stay behind. Apparently, his head hit the jeepney ceiling and it may have affected his back. But I couldn't help it but tease him about his old age. lol.
As we begun the trek down towards a bridge, I noticed a sign that said "keep dogs on leash" and I asked why Kuya Mar didn't put his pet dog named Boy on a leash. Lol. I couldn't help it!We trekked down to a bridge. The trek down was steep and crossing a steel suspension bridge, typical of the area, gave me the jitters. We were already an hour behind the I.T. and I was beginning to doubt my strategy. I passed by TL Alvin and a guide and TL assured us that our pace was good.
After the bridge, it was a long upward trek to Gorio's Inn, our lunch area. The upward trek was steep. Almost like the Akiki trail in Pulag or Tey's revenge in Ugu. We got to the lunch area at noon, an hour behind schedule. The team re-grouped in the lunch area. Still behind by an hour, we continued our upward trek towards Mid Rock. The Marvelous group took lots of pictures and trekked upwards with a steady pace. Not too fast, not too slow but enough to enjoy the views. We could see the municipal building in the other mountain where we came from. I was beginning to worry that we might have to night trek. So when TL Alvin passed us by, I asked him if he was confident that the last man in at the campsite would be at 5pm. Alvin says we was very confident. Hmmmm.....
Passing Mid rock, we came to a the site called Cramp Site to rest awhile and monkey for the camera. We were still in high spirits because of the beautiful views. The trail though was steep. A combination of Tey's Revenge and Akiki Trail in a never ending upward trek reminiscent of Halcon but with the views of Ugu. Actually, better views than Ugu. The Cordillera mountains all have pine forests and mossy forests but Kibungan has this fantastic walls and cliff faces with paths/trails etched into it. Fog was starting to set in. I didn't even know that we reached the West Face until TM Dado told me. He said the left side of the path was a drop down into oblivion. I couldn't see a thing so I didn't care. By the time we trekked down to Alalegbi Bridge to replenish our trail water and camp water, we were within the IT.
As we replenished our trail water, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Malvin toss a stone that was suppose to land in front of me splashing me with water. It didn't happen. It was more of a plop. So I acted as if I didn't see it. Sneakily, I picked up a large rock and when Malvin was getting water, I tossed the rock towards him and landed right smack on target splashing him with water! Success! lol.
As I trekked up to Lanagan the campsite, I passed Alexis who was having cramps. His group mates were giving him salt or salty food. I also passed Xenon and ialman who was obviously keeping the Queen Mother company. lol.
By 4:30pm, I reched the campsite. Melody suggested that we transfer the camp to better site that she saw. So I asked the Marvelous group to decamp and move to the better campsite. Neil, though didn't like it. I explained it to him that making them choose the campsite was part of their training. But experience takes over when a better campsite is selected. They should learn from the experience.
One thing nice about the Marvelous group is that you didn't have to tell them what to do. They set up the kitchen area and the tarp. They organized the cooking chores and campkeeping chores. I was worried though about Ane. She was running a fever and was asleep in her tent. Vanesa and the rest of the members gathered round the kitchen area generally just observing what the trainees were doing. Neil is a vegetarian and Mau is trying to stay away from meat. Neil and Mau cooked laing. This prompted Jason mosscake to comment "but you both eat raw pussy!" Lol. We had sinigang na baboy.
And as the coup de grace, we had one whole rhum butter cake for desert. We sang happy birdie to Neil who was celebrating his birthday. alman dropped by to bitch about his tentmates/groupmates but its better if he tells his story. Don and Boy (Kuya Mar's pet) dropped by and had a piece of rhum butter cake and baileys in hot coffee plus a shot of vodka.
I decided to turn in early because I was pooped. I didn't know if I snored but Mau and Melody will have to get used to it. It's my tent! Lol. Anyway, at about 1am, I had this funny feeling of shitting. So I left my tent and went off to find my spot. I found a perfect spot to the right of a tree but he moment I looked closer, Vanesa used that spot! So I looked across and saw a perfect spot diagonally across Vanesa's major spot. So I crapped in that spot. I covered my spot with leaves and rocks. Little did I know that spot was smack right in the middle of the trail going to the view deck.
(TO BE CONTINUED)....
