Bakun, I shall return!

Instead of spending a comfortable long weekend at home, I joined once again Basekamp Trinoma’s tramping (trekking + camping) last April 2-4, 2015. It was my third tramping activity with them and I was very glad to see some familiar faces I met during our Mt. Pulag and Mt. Purgatory hikes, as well as meet new mountaineers.

For this activity we went up to the Cordilleras, but this time to Bakun, Benguet, to attempt a hike populary known as the Bakun Trio. This trilogy consists of hiking mountains Lubo, Tengalawan, and Kabunian back-to-back for three days. Unfortunately for us, it was only Bakun Duo. Mt. Kabunian was swept in a forest fire (whether it was natural or intentional, we don’t know) and for safety reasons, we have to abort the hike there on the third day.

Bakun Trio- this trip is truly unforgettable. To reach it, all fifteen of us have to travel to Baguio, the city of Pines, in a van designed for ten people. I don’t know what ninja technique we used to fit in that van but we made it. We sat cramped as a hiker’s gear for three days in a 30 liter pack for six (6) loooong hours. Once there we transferred to another van which zigzagged to Bakun for another three (3) hours, and then carried our numb butts to a monster jeep that brought us to Brgy. Lubo (another 1 hour ride).

It was there at Brgy. Lubo that we started our trek to Mt. Lubo- the first mountain in the Bakun Trilogy. It was an easy two-hour trek through established and open trail that passes several agricultural plots and pine forest, however, the sun-with its stinging rays made the trek very arduous.

When we reached the base of the mountain, we were already tired and fried. But of course, these did not deter us in summiting the mountain (goodness we travelled 10 hours for this!). And so we climb, crawled to the endless assault to the summit of Mt. Lubo under the noonday summer sunshine. At the summit: clouds- North, East, South, West. Hooray!

But don’t misinterpret me, we were still happy even though we arrived to see a white chasm. We were made happier when going down, we digressed to another trail that went through a beautiful mossy forest. It was a surprise because we didn’t expect to go through any forests at all.

After another two and a half hours of continuous descent, we reached New Poblacion, Lubo- a community that is situated on a plateau surrounded by towering mountains. It was there we set-up camp and stayed for the duration of the hike.

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Mt. Tenglawan (Day 2)

Mt. Tenglawan was tackled at Day 2. We started the long hike early- at 4:20 in the morning-to avoid much of the daytime heat that is bound to set upon us. It was talked about the night before that we have a hike estimated to last eight hours one way and we want to avoid the taxing heat as much as we can.

The hike started in a continuously descending trail composed of very loose soil and rocks. This made the hike challenging to the knees- we just started and in the darkness I can hear yells from my teammates who have either slipped on the trail or whose knees are already starting to ache.

As the sun goes up, we were given many beautiful views of the mountains of Bakun. It was so magical the way the sun gradually illuminated the cascading Cordillera mountain range with golden warmth, the way individual shafts of sunlight streamed through distant pine forests. It was so nice to be surrounded by the mountains and as I looked on the never-ending expanse of green, I felt so proud to live in a country blessed with so much beauty.

We continued to move on and the sun followed. At its full glory, the heat was almost tormenting. We passed by some communities where we rested and filled our water bottles but after that there was nothing but a winding and rolling open trail with loose soil and unstable rocks.

Mt. Tenglawan watches over as we hike. From afar, it was a puzzle how one can climb its solid rock face. Do we have to scramble all the way up? But as we neared the base, we saw that there was a trail that winds through the back of the mountain. The trail surprisingly passes a brief interlude of mossy forest (yay, moss! Yahoo, shade!), after that it continues to a pine forest with a 60 degree incline reminiscent of the notorious Akiki trail of Mt. Pulag.

At 11:40 am, we finally reached the summit of Mt. Tenglawan. From there we can see the plateau where Bakun sits and the tall mountains that tower over the small town. The view was wonderful. We were very high up and I can’t help wishing that I be a bird so that I can dive to the chasm below and fly back up.

We then climbed to the precarious “Carrot Peak”-a precipice jutting out near the summit. We know the danger, but then, we hiked almost seven hours to be on that mountain- we have to make the most of our time there. Carpe Diem!

What goes up, must come down. We cannot stay at Mt. Tenglawan forever. And so at 1:30 pm, after having lunch, we set out to hike the way back to New Poblacion. By 5: 45pm we were back at the municipal hall where we ate halo-halo (shaved ice dessert) and munched on whatever we could find. It was such a gruelling day and we deserve to pig-out!

Day 3 (Benguet)

With a heavy heart, we went back to Baguio in Day 3 instead of pushing for Mt. Kabunian. I want to fight for the chance to climb the moutain, but I was thingking of our safety. Maybe what happened is a sign for us to back down already as we have already been given a chanve to climb Bakun eventhough there is a threat of a super typhoon just a few days before.

I can't help but feel really sad that we have to leave Bakun and to leave with an unfinished hike. But as I said to myself, I would hike the hellish trails of Bakun once more just to be in that town again.

I shall return to Bakun. I shall return.