This climb was supposed to be a Trilogy Hike, three mountain for a day but weather condition did not permit us so we just climb the peak of Espadang Bato and Sipit Ulang.
It was still dark when we started our trek, there is a light rain but we still continue our hike. It was just my second time to hike trilogy agad, feeling harkor na.
It took us an hour from the jump-off point to the first peak which is Sipit Ulang. Sun has still not risen when we arrive at Sipit Ulang, we were told to wait until there is a sunlight already since they do not allow the hikers to climb the rock formation when it is still dark, hindi din naman kami makaka-awra kung madilim pa, hindi din makikita yung rock formation.
While we're waiting for the sun to rise, I accidentally took a glimpse of the cloud formation on the left side on where I am standing. Little did I know it was already the sea of clouds that every hiker loves to see.
I had a lot of firsts in this hike. This is where I first saw a sea of clouds. This is also where I had my first rock climbing experience. When the sun was already up, I already had a chance to look at the Sipit Ulang's rock formation, I've never imagine myself scrambling on those sharp edges rock. It was not until one of our tour guide told us that we should start to line up for the photo ops. Crap. I was hesitant at first. It was my first time to climb a rock, without a harness, or anything to support my body if something goes wrong. I was extra cautious because the rock are slippery due to the light rain, which eventually stop when we are still on the line, waiting for our turn for the photo ops area.
Never kong na-imagine yung sarili ko ng gumagapang patawid sa bangin, pero I did. Kahit takot, tinuloy ko, nandoon na ako. Sayang naman kung hindi ko susubukan. Naging maingat lang ako dahil one wrong move, isang maling tapak pwede akong madulas, bangin at matatalim na bato sa ibaba ang nag-aabang.
Matapos ang ilang minutong paghihintay, we finally reached the first peak. Sipit Ulang.
Uulan, titigl, aambon, hihinto. That was the entire weather that day. Ni hindi man lang sumilip yung araw nung araw na yun.
We were already on our way to Espadang Bato when we took a rest in bukohan. We were enjoying the sip of our buko juice when our tour coordinator told us that the mountain in front of us was the one that we are about to climb. Just by looking at it makes my knee give up already.
Kung gaano kadali at kabanayad yung daan patungo sa Sipit Ulang, ganun naman ako sobrang pinahirapan ng trail ng Espadang Bato. Pagkalagpas ng bukohan, doon na nagsimula yung totoong bakbakan. All of us were scrambling on a 70-ish degree assault, I've heard our fellow joiner comparing Espadang Bato trail to the famous Mt. Daraitan's trail. Since I was still a beginner, I have no idea how difficult Daraitan's trail is, basta ang inisip ko, mas malala pa sa siguro sa trail na tinatahak ko nung mga oras na yun. From that moment, nasa blacklist ko na ang Mt. Daraitan. I will never climb that mountain, I don't want to suffer on a trail as difficult as Espadang Bato's trail.
Ginusto kong huminto para magpahinga, pero hindi ko magawa dahil once a huminto ako mapapahinto din yung mga nasa likuran ko dahil maliit yung trail, and so I continued. Habang gumagapang paakyat, nadaanan namin yung isang kasama namin sa event, she said she can't carry on anymore at maghihintay na lang siya doon sa bato kung saan siya nakaupo. Muntik na akong huminto at hindi tumuloy dahil kung saka-sakali may kasama naman akong maghihintay, pero I didn't. Sayang yung experience kung hindi ko pa itutuloy.
Up until now I can still remember how I felt nung mabilis akong umakyat doon sa isang bato sa daan. My energy was draining and so as my patience, all I want to do that time was crawl as fast as a I can para makarating na kami sa summit at makapagpahinga na din. Umay na sa assault na halos face to face na sa lupa at bato. Muntik na akong sumuka the moment na nakaakyat ako, dahil sa sudden altitude gain, which during that time, I still have no idea pa. I took a sudden stop and told the guy who's next to me na mauna na lang, but he refuse to advance, instead he told me that we should rest for a while. At doon nagkaroon ng traffic sa trail, pero saglit lang kasi dumiretso na ako ulit nung medyo nahimasmasan ako.
The endless assault end when we are about five minutes away mula doon sa tindahan malapit sa Espadang Bato. We took a quick rest to recover from the hell-ish assault. Ayaw kong bumalik ulit sa daan na yun.
Dito ko din naexperince na umusok ako dahil sa init at pawis. Para akong pinakuluan, ganun din yung iba sa mga nakasama namin. Wala pa man din kami sa summit pero grabe na yung experience ko sa event na yun.
Photo Ops. Isa na siguro 'to sa kinaiinisan ko sa tuwing naghahike ako dahil ito yung nagpapatagal. Mahabang pila. Walang katapusang pag awra.
We had our lunch doon sa kainan habang hinihintay na matapos yung first group sa photo ops nila. We waited for like an hour bago kami nakapunta sa mismong paanan ng Espadang Bato. At bilang ayaw ko ng patagalin pa yung paghihirap at nerbyos ko, kasama na ako dun sa mga naunang pumila sa grupo namin. Wala pang ulan nung nakapila kami, pero habang papalapit kami sa unahan, and it was our turn already, biglang umambon. Crap.
I've been mentally preparing myself na wag akong kakabahan habang paakyat at nung desidido na ako, bigla namang umulan. Madulas na naman.
Aakyat ako, pero hindi ako tutungtong sa taas. That was my only goal. The guide keeps on telling me to go further and to stand above the rock pero dahil it was just my second time to climb, I didn't. I know my limit. Bukod sa umuulan, hindi ako sanay sa akyatan sa bato. Kinakabahan ako, at beginner pa lang ako. Sobrang liit nung tutungtungan, sakto lang na makatayo ka, wala ng hakabang ng paa pagdating sa taas. I won't risk my safety for the sake of instagrammable photo. Kuntento na ako na naging ulo ako ng Espadang Bato that time, but I promised myself na babalik ako in that exact spot when the time is right, pag kaya ko na, pag mas madami na akong experience when it comes to hiking, at madami na akong baon na lakas ng loob.
Natuyuan ng pawis, nabasa ng ulan, natuyuan ng ulan, nabasa ng pawis. Pagbaba namin ng jump-off, hello fever. Ito yung hike na naging dahilan para kumbulsyunin ako kinabukasan. Still, memorable.
