BMC 2006 Induction Climb at Mt. Pulag
The temperature was about 8 degrees Celsius; it was 4:00AM Saturday January 20 at Camp 3 of Mt. Pulag.
Inductees Ai, Jeng, Lorna, Genie, Leo, Aries, Dexter, Zaza and Claire together with members James, JB, TeeJay, Kim, Gilbert and Bing plus members of the habol climb team - Alman, Jenny (Anarna), Beng, Tonyboy, Cecil, Thad, Shai and myself prepared for the induction rites that will take place at the summit of the highest mountain in Luzon.
Inducting officers were Tonyboy (in behalf of President Lovell), Bing (in behalf of Chairperson Arnel) and James (BMC 2006 Training Director); Alman presided over the induction program while I assumed the role of program coordinator.
Slowly we made our way up to the summit, blanketed by the pre-dawn, star spangled sky. We huddled together, hiding ourselves in the clusters of dwarf bamboo as the cold breeze swept across the peak. A few minutes later, the inductees arrived together with Alman, Cecil and JB.
Soon after, I made two whistle blows signalling the start of the induction ceremony. The vast grassland and nearby mountain tops were silent witnesses to the unfolding AMCI induction rites. The sea of clouds which seems to spread from just below the summit of Mt. Pulag to the east was slowly being engulfed with an orange-red tinge as we were winding down the singing of the AMCI hymn.
I’ve seen 15 sunrises on the summit of this mountain previously, but I get mesmerized still. After a few more minutes the orange-red tinge was replaced by a blazing yellow-gold glow as the sun slowly made its way through the thick blanket of clouds.
Three days previous, the main climb team composed of 9 inductees and 6 members led by TL Bing embarked on a 3-day trek to Mt. Pulag at Sitio Wang-wang in Ambaguio, Nueva Viscaya. They met up with the habol climb team led by TL Alman Friday January 19 at the Babadak Ranger Station.
Together we proceeded to Camp 3 in the grassland of Mt. Pulag. Arriving at the campsite just before it got really cold. The temperature could have easily gone down 5 degrees Celsius around midnight. My watch read 7 degrees Celsius inside the vestibule of my tent.
After the induction ceremony, photo session and basking in the warmth of a new day, we proceeded back to our campsite, had breakfast and prepared for our trek to Camp 4 in Eddet River.
The first stretch is an ascent to a peak called Junior Pulag, followed by a descent into a mossy forest which exits to a Pine forest. The rest of the way is a knee-busting and toenail-killer descent to Eddet River.
I arrived 4PM at the foot of the hanging bridge leading to Camp 4. Members of the climb team were bathing and swimming in the cool waters while others were setting up camp and preparing dinner. After dinner, Tonyboy and Alman took turns in re-telling stories of past climbs as well as sharing what they know about AMCI’s history with the newest members of the club - AMCI Batch 2006.
~ Carpe Diem ~
Inductees Ai, Jeng, Lorna, Genie, Leo, Aries, Dexter, Zaza and Claire together with members James, JB, TeeJay, Kim, Gilbert and Bing plus members of the habol climb team - Alman, Jenny (Anarna), Beng, Tonyboy, Cecil, Thad, Shai and myself prepared for the induction rites that will take place at the summit of the highest mountain in Luzon.
Inducting officers were Tonyboy (in behalf of President Lovell), Bing (in behalf of Chairperson Arnel) and James (BMC 2006 Training Director); Alman presided over the induction program while I assumed the role of program coordinator.
Slowly we made our way up to the summit, blanketed by the pre-dawn, star spangled sky. We huddled together, hiding ourselves in the clusters of dwarf bamboo as the cold breeze swept across the peak. A few minutes later, the inductees arrived together with Alman, Cecil and JB.
Soon after, I made two whistle blows signalling the start of the induction ceremony. The vast grassland and nearby mountain tops were silent witnesses to the unfolding AMCI induction rites. The sea of clouds which seems to spread from just below the summit of Mt. Pulag to the east was slowly being engulfed with an orange-red tinge as we were winding down the singing of the AMCI hymn.
I’ve seen 15 sunrises on the summit of this mountain previously, but I get mesmerized still. After a few more minutes the orange-red tinge was replaced by a blazing yellow-gold glow as the sun slowly made its way through the thick blanket of clouds.
Three days previous, the main climb team composed of 9 inductees and 6 members led by TL Bing embarked on a 3-day trek to Mt. Pulag at Sitio Wang-wang in Ambaguio, Nueva Viscaya. They met up with the habol climb team led by TL Alman Friday January 19 at the Babadak Ranger Station.
Together we proceeded to Camp 3 in the grassland of Mt. Pulag. Arriving at the campsite just before it got really cold. The temperature could have easily gone down 5 degrees Celsius around midnight. My watch read 7 degrees Celsius inside the vestibule of my tent.
After the induction ceremony, photo session and basking in the warmth of a new day, we proceeded back to our campsite, had breakfast and prepared for our trek to Camp 4 in Eddet River.
The first stretch is an ascent to a peak called Junior Pulag, followed by a descent into a mossy forest which exits to a Pine forest. The rest of the way is a knee-busting and toenail-killer descent to Eddet River.
I arrived 4PM at the foot of the hanging bridge leading to Camp 4. Members of the climb team were bathing and swimming in the cool waters while others were setting up camp and preparing dinner. After dinner, Tonyboy and Alman took turns in re-telling stories of past climbs as well as sharing what they know about AMCI’s history with the newest members of the club - AMCI Batch 2006.
~ Carpe Diem ~