From The Highest Peak to The Deepest Sea

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I am thrilled for this climb because it will serve as my first solo hike and my first hike in the north. The night before my hike gave me so much mishaps and I hope nothing worst will happened on my climb.

We were supposed to meet by 5:30 am at Barangay Ambabag but there are so much dogs that blocks my way, I know, this is too funny because I end up meeting her by 6 am. That’s the time I get to cross those dogs. HAHA!

Moving on, we stop by this house because my guide will borrow a bolo to be use to cut some grass for the trail. But it seems that there are no people there so we end up empty handed and continue our trek. It was 6:30 am when we started climbing.

The first part of the trail is crossing this bridge and then into the forest. There are no clearing so I am not expecting any clear sky on the summit but deep inside of me I know I am hoping for a great clearing. The trail consists of steep and assault and some single-use trail.

I know, its blurred. :P

There are also few nipa huts and according to my guide they are the ones who prefer living there in the woods. I also seen some bat trap, she said some of the locals ate bats.

bat trap

The bat that was captured using the trap

First stop

As we go deep inside the forest trails became confusing. Honestly, there are no established trail during our climb. I asked the guide when was the last time someone climb this mountain and she said that the last one was last October 2015 (my climb was last March 2016). That explains. Climbing this mountain really requires a guide. If you notice, on my pants and top are plants attached to it, I don't know what its called but it is itchy and can cause papercuts so make sure to cover your skin when you plan on climbing this mountain.

some parts of the trail

plant you will see on the trail

some notable part of the trail which means you are halfway there

I’ve been climbing almost every week and been doing my running training since November 2015 so I am pretty confident that I will finish this climb early. I am also doing a no-hydrate hike in preparation for my trail running in the future. My bag only has 500ml water and a biscuits. My target finish time is 11am.

almost there

By 8 am we are on the last ascent going to the summit. It was pretty fast according to her. And the good thing is I never drink any water! Ha! My guide left me for a while because she was examining the trail to summit. So I waited on this big trunk of the tree.

This is the exact trunk

When she came back, that’s when I heard about the bad news. Trail is not possible, we need to abort unless I want to end up in the hospital or more so. I hesitate for a while, I think for fifteen minutes or so. I can’t decide, really. I wanted to continue. The last ascent will take us only fifteen to twenty minutes, I was that closed. My guide explains everything and I have to make up my mind and agree to her. There are some climb that you need to decide whether to continue or abort it especially if your safety is at stake.

Also, according to her, the hut on the summit that was constructed as a viewpoint area were burnt already, some says it was because of a couple who recently climbs the mountain but the police are still undergoing some investigations.

By 8:30 am we decided to go down. It was heartbreaking decision for me, knowing I was that close enough.

When we were descending, I notice that there are some flowers on the trail that I don’t remember passing during our ascent. And I was checking the time because it was almost 11am and we are still inside the forest and didn’t end up halfway down. Until we reached this dead end trail and that’s the time I finally realized that we are lost.

So we go back to where we both agreed that this is where we take the wrong turn. But still no luck. We stop for a while to rest because we are taking wrong turns and I did not bring any food or enough water. My guide make several calls with dialect I really don’t understand. But she informed me that she is calling for help and rescue. Good thing signal is very strong inside the forest. But before help came, we were able to find the right trail.

It was around 4:30 in the afternoon when we finally reach the jump off. It was one for the books, really. I really thought my first night in Ifugao ended all my mishaps. I was wrong. But it was a climb I will never forget for it gives so much memories that I will forever treasure and will bring to my every climb in the future. My first solo hike; what a memorable one.

With my guide

After my climb, I really wanted to visit the nearby falls, I think I need this kind of reward after a fail climb. Next post will be my encounter with one of Ifuago’s falls.

I really hope that locals or authorities will make action on this mountain, according to my guide, when they establish a trail they make a blockage on trails to avoid confusion but during our climb there are several wrong blockage that is why we end up on the wrong trail.

Realization:

1. Expect worst. I don’t know if it’s a good thing but base on my experience yeah it is. At least we are ready for whatever will happen.

2. Bring enough water, no matter how confident you are about yourself and no matter how strong you are or pro you are on climbing, you may never know what will happen.

3. Bring enough food. Why? Read number 2.

4. Always be ready. For whatever comes your way you have to keep calm and work on whatever you have and whoever you are with.

xBelow are some of the photos

Below are Mt. Kapugan

I'm organizing events: Climb and Beach and any other Adventure activities. Please visit my facebook page for the scheduled events.

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1. She’s always MIA. Why? Because she is out there living her life. It is either she is summiting a mountain or catching some waves or probably somewhere else exploring less traveled places. She don’t stay in one place. She is not always home. She’s always on the move. Her weekend is spontaneous and may change depending on her mood. And if you can’t keep up on her busy schedule maybe you aren’t ready for it.

2. She has already plotted her plans for the next two years of her life and clearly you are not part of it. (Well, not yet, maybe you have to prove whether you are worthy to be in it) Next two years meaning that every weekend on every month she has a plan for it. But it may still change, well again, depending on her mood. You can’t just invite her out for a dinner or watch a movie because aside from the fact that she hates that and that she can do that herself she already has a plan for that specific date. She probably can't make it on your most special day or whatsoever.

3. Her life is messy and her things untidy. Or is it the same? She really don’t care about how she looks. Her cap, bandana, her shorts, camera, and oversized shirts is all she need and she’s good to go. She probably wears that shirt for consecutive three-day straight now while she’s on the road and she doesn’t care. Her bag is full of unwashed clothes and smelly socks and she don’t care.

4. She will keep you waiting and that kind of sucks right? She already made a solo plane booking on some isolated islands and no returning ticket yet for she don’t know whether she wanted to come home soon or stay a little longer.

5. She is independent and she don’t need you. She’s been travelling for over a year now on her own and face obstacle on the road on her own and overcomes it on her own. ON HER OWN. She don’t need rescuing not from you or anyone else. She can slay the dragon herself.

6. She has her own definition of fancy date so be careful. Her definition of a fancy date is either under the starry sky while lying on the sand on her favorite surf spot or at the top of any mountain while watching the clouds passes by. But date means, a date with herself.

7. She don’t have enough time for you. You can’t just call or text or message her all the time. She is busy taking photos, running some trail, and of course catching a wave. She won’t reply immediately. She hates bugging with some clingy guy who can’t respect her time.

8. On her free time, she’s on the internet researching for new places to explore. She uses her spare time to make her itinerary for her next trip and to the other. Bothering her on times like this will put you to hell.

9. She falls in love immediately with the people or person she met on the road because of their story and their culture and how they live their lives. It doesn't mean she isn't loyal. She just craves for something very unusual.

10. She is eccentric and too crazy for you to handle. There is more to adventure and discovery. She craves and values and enjoys her freedom, personal space and time. She hates her day-job because she thinks it is too normal. She may change her mind over a thousand times because she knows there are a thousand possible options out there and that’s beyond crazy because she does everything she can to break away from routine.

11. She’s too far from settling down. Yes, she thinks of a family with a baby but it scares her. Because she knows she can’t settle on one place for longer time. She wants to live on the road, buy some truck or used buses and turn it to her customized home. She wanderlust and normal people can’t and will never understand that. She is a wanderer. She wanders and wanders and no one knows not even herself when and how it will end.

Ellie

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On my last out of town trip, I've made an impromptu decision on my hair. Though this plan is way back months ago and I decided to have it early next year, this was not on the plan but I did anyway. If you are so confused what am I talking about it here, I'm talking about me getting dreadlocks. Yep. You read that right, guys. Dreadlocks. I know some don't approve if this kind of hairstyle and many will not be able to pull this off, because, well, obviously, there are only a few people who have dreadlocks, especially, women, or its just that I know few of none at all.

Why dreadlocks? Of all the hairstyle out there, why this one. For the past years, my hair has been to one style to another, jumping from different colors, dying my hair, perming it, you name it, my hair's been there. And this time, I wanted something more of me that resembles that way I am living now. Untamed, Bold, and Free. Just like my tattoos.

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I always admire people with dreadlocks as their hairstyle because I know it is some kind of expressing yourself and a form of art. It is self-explaining yourself without having to speak.

There is something with dreadlocks that mesmerize me that makes me want to try that hairstyle. Little did I know my fantasy will come to reality when I visit, probably one of my favorite provinces in my country.

A local and the one who manage this surf camp where I stayed who became my friend knows how to do it. I have mentioned it to him and he says that if I want to he can do it on my hair for free. Dreadlocks are very costly. And this is an opportunity. I said, yes, of course. But not all. Part of me can't let go yet of my long straight black hair.

I've got five strands of dreadlocks on the right side of my hair. It was awesome in the first days. So many photo ops have been made since I've been to four different beaches and it has been the center of my photos. But as days goes by a load of having dreadlocks slowly starting to show off. It was harder than I thought. If you knew me personally, you know I don't really put much effort into making myself look neat and proper. Seriously, whatever shampoo and conditioner is available inside the bathroom that's what I'll be using. Itchiness started to unveil, so much hair fall, dandruff, I can feel some small wounds on my scalp and so much more. To make it short, dreadlocks became a burden to me as we speak. Now I just want my hair to be Dream Wheat Hair again. Just like the old times. Healthy long black hair. I will not wait for it to be in so much trouble.

I know I really wanted to have this kind of hair and it is my dream but I guess I am not ready yet to have this. I am not prepared for what is coming. I did no research on how to handle this before getting it.

But, honestly, I am torn between removing it or continue this mess but do something about it to make it looks healthy and all.