My group has been to Mt stomas for god knows how many times. In fact, 3 in the group as just been there last month.
While it has been initially planned for Mt Damas, since the group is climbing Mt pulag early march, they thought about diverting the plan to Mt Sto Tomas as dry run for the upcoming climb. Due to the 2weekend days+1weekday required time, i thought it is so much loss on my part considering how much I will be spending to get there plus what i'll be loosing if i time off from work. I thought i'd rather wait and join a group that'll try to fit it in a sat-sun (plus i'd rather take the more challenging akiki trail).
Ian Limbonis in the Jump off point for Mt Sto Tomas, Benguet |
Due to my consistent tardiness, it was already past 10am when we left Gerona Tarlac. I was supposed to meet them in Pampanga but because of the glock of peiple in the bus goibg to the hot air balloon, i told them to go ahead and that i will meet them instead in Gerona where were supposed to meet the rest of the group.
Mt Sto Tomas, Benguet |
It was past 2am when we got to te jum off point. Along the palispis highway, right in front of the the petron gas station is the entry to brgy green valley, dontogan. Just a few hundred meters from there, will be rough road, just like that going to sagada. There'd be occasional landslides and totally steep inclines that our hyundai getz 1.1 couldn't handle; we had to get off for it to climb.
We left the car in front of the Church and trekked from there. The rest of the group in the van drove even further 500 meters further.
Mt Sto Tomas, Benguet |
Mt Sto Tomas, Benguet |
Just an estimated 100m from the jump off are the PAGASA weather radars. Then, From that point, I could see clearly the path to the camp site; where the Globe Telecom towers stand (which were very visible from Kennon Road). I heard that that is the highest point in Baguio.
Mt Sto Tomas, Benguet |
It took us an hour and a half walk to get to camp. And since it's getting dark, cold begins to strike.
Immediately after getting set with our tent, we got the balloons and cupcakes ready for a senior member's birthday surprise. By about 7pm, dinner was served. Our staple camp dinner, tinolang native na manok and adobo; and, even more a surprise, a huge watermelon came out of someone's 40L bag.
Mt Sto Tomas, Benguet |
Then came the Remy Martin; since we're more used to emperadors, GSMs, or da Bars, half of the group was drunk in less than 2 bottles and an hour. I also did not like the taste so I quit it..after all, none of those left awake are really drunkards so i knew i'll be left alone in a deuce with the bottle with a bonus headache the following day. Besides, it was getting very very uncomfortably cold.
Mt Sto Tomas, Benguet |
I went inside the tent but i just couldnt stand the 6 degree celcius cold. I wore all my spare shirts,5 of them, slid in my other spare pants and socks, wore my shoes, wrapped my hands with some more cloth, took out my blanket, wore my jacket..nothing helped. The wind is even making it worse. I was about to turn out the butane stove inside the tent but i was more worried about not having gas for coffee the next day. I couldnt get enough comfort to get to even sleeping level 1. More than an hour later, i heard someone moving his tent somewhere closer to the transmission facility gate. I realized there's less wind there because it hids in the summit side; pulled my stuff out and pulled my tent...there you go. Problem solved.
Mt Sto Tomas, Benguet |
Consequently, Everybody woke up quite late the next day. We would look up every so often checking out the sun, but to no avail. It was still very cold. Til the time we left, i did not feel like dropping a sweat.
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