Guiting-guiting Exploration Day 8 - The Long Walk (Part 1)

(Warning: A very long entry)

Good Friday, 4 a.m. - It has been raining since midnight, and our bivouac site had little resistance to the incoming water. I've been sitting on the last dry spot while Levi and Bunny slept, sometimes snoring, oblivious to their soaked state on the flooded groundsheet. I've been missing my bed at home. 

In between sleeping and waking states, I've been telling myself, "this day better be worth it".

6 a.m - Daylight finally came, and the rain appears to have concluded its mission to make me miserable. In hindsight, sleeping beside a natural drain was not the best idea we've had. Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of options on where to sleep.

Mga basang sisiw

It's a complete "180" from the awesome weather less than 12 hours ago. Visibility was just about 20 feet. A testament to Mt. Guiting-guiting not giving a rat's ass on what we wanted. 

Breakfast was moldy pita pockets with cheese and peanut butter. (Just to be safe, we toasted the bread directly into the Trangia burner.)

breakfast of uncles

8 a.m. - We got word from Ram-mon that Binoy already left for Peak 1. Isong and Ram-mon will follow right after the day's meals have been prepared. Bunny and Levi will head down to the saddle connecting to Peak 2. I will follow as soon as Binoy catches up.

About 30 minutes in, I got bored and made it to the viewdeck to report back to Manila. As luck would have it, my phone line got cut. With nothing else to do, I decided to follow down to wherever the two might be. I didn't get far when I heard their voices. I thought the wind was just carrying it. Visibility was negligible. I saw them talking at the spot where Bunny and the guides were yesterday. The drop they told us has become more dangerous because of the wet and foggy conditions. This was the end of the line.

As far as we can go

I don't know how long they planned to stay there before I came, but after a few short exchanges they got up and we went back to camp. We saw Binoy coming down to us, so we told him we're turning back. I also radioed Ram-mon to abort their trek here. I felt bad he didn't get the chance to see this place.

10:30 - After packing and stashing the spare water, we started our long walk. Today, we will head all the way down to Tampayan where we will meet up with the rest of the team. It's useless to stay in Kabit-tubi for the night. We might miss the boat leaving tomorrow. Besides, it would be great to eat something made from fresh ingredients. I think Lakai jusd had about enough of processed meat.

Oh what fog we had that morning! It helped us a bit so we can focus on what was ahead, and not the drop we might fall into should we slip.

Under these wet conditions, everything was crumbling. The top soil was so saturated with moisture that it some portions of the trail give out with just the slightest weight. I don't know how the mighty Binoy manages to wend through on just his bare feet. He is the true mountain man, and I just a pretender in fancy clothing.

drop on the left, drop on the right

 The rocks are even more dangerous. We had to make sure that we have at least three points  (hand or feet) connecting to something stable before taking another step forward.

Lakai taking one last long look back to Peak 1

It's totally clear now that the mountain was in no mood to make our lives any easier.  All we can do is keep going, and make sure that we keep our eyes forward. The wind has also picked up. My eyes become irritated by the jet stream of mist and the flailing of my hair.

easy does it

In the midst this chaotic weather, the plants are as serene as ever. Bunny showed me a nook where the cutest pitcher plant has taken root. At another area, I see a spider with its freshly woven trap patiently waiting for its breakfast. I do regret having to cut the web out of our way. I did it the most delicate way I can.

Isn't it the cutest?

We almost never stop, unless to take photos. Levi's camera conked out days ago; moisture seeped into the electronics after being exposed to the same conditions as we have right now. 

more precarious terrain

We move closer and closer to ABC. Soon we pass the "gateway rock". I don't know what time it was. I felt a little hungry, but this is not the place to stop. Bunny was right in pushing us not to have lunch mid-trail. The weather my get worse and we'll be trapped here.

Bernardo Carpio twins

The penultimate obstacle was the grassy wall that marks the climb towards Peak 1500. Just like in Peak 1, the ground here is verging on being muddy. Carefully we climbed, avoiding putting our entire weight in each step on the crumbling soil/mud, or pulling too hard at the grass covering this slope. One could say about their similarity in terrain that Peak 1 and Peak 1500 are twins standing with their arms raised side-to-side.

steep grassy terrain bookmark both ends of this ridge, between Peak 1 and ABC

1 PM - We reached ABC. Isong was smiling as he welcomed us back. The camp was clean except for the Xplo tarp still up in case it rains. Ram-mon was nowhere in sight. Isong said he went ahead since there was nothing for him to do there, anyway.

the last rock climb before ABC

As if happy to get rid of us, the clouds that hampered our sight all the way from Peak 1 disappeared while we gobbled up our lunch! We now have a virtual 360-degree view, and can see as far as Masbate! I could only smile at the cards we were dealt, and joked that maybe we should go back, seeing that the weather looks better now. They rightly ignored me.

You can now see islands far away

We rested in ABC for a little over an hour. Drying our clothes in the sun that was absent the entire morning.

A parting gift from the mountain. 

(to be continued)