Mt. Apo, Dare the Challenge

   As a true blooded Kidapaweño, one has to conquer Mt. Apo, the Philippines highest at 10, 311 feet above sea level; the mightiest surge of a long mountain range that extends from Cotabato, Davao de Sur and Davao City to Agusan and Misamis Oriental in Mindanao.

That moment came when the five of us classmates in medical transcriptions hastily decided to climb Mt. Apo last Dec.08, 2007. With no physical preparation and lacking equipment we decided to go on and registered at Kidapawan Tourism Council. We bought second hand jackets and mountaineering gear the night before the climb.

Starting early, we passed by curios onlookers and children with a staring glance. How on earth they decided to climb? This is not a climbing season and for sure it is deadly cold up there, not to mention that there would be no other climbers who dare to climb. Finally, we arrived at Brgy. Ilomavis and look for a porter and guide.

We started the long trek at 10am in the morning, passing bright dainty wild flowers and orchids clash with the forest green; there is also an orange field of flowers as a welcome sight to all who pass bye.

After an hour of steady climb, we got dog-tired and gulp the whole contents of my mineral water. We occasionally stop to gaze with awe the huge moss-covered trees, pitcher plants and the strange sounds of forest animals. Following continuous trekking for 5 hours, the climate becomes colder giving the forest a misty fog and a lingering feeling that someone is watching. There are a lot of rumors of those diwata or forest dwellers who sometimes play tricks on the hikers just like what happen to the 11 boy scouts who lost there way and did not survive way back in the 80’s.

 Using flashlight we continue to go our slow trek to Lake Venado, our first stop since we did not want to sleep under the forest.

A strong gush of wind welcomes us to Lake Venado; we immediately put up our tent and started to build a fire. Luckily we have a very good guide and in half an hour we where resting around the bonfire. After a heavy dinner we enjoy playing cards and end it up with a bottle of tequila.

I woke up early in the morning to catch a glance of sunrise on the lake and got awestruck on how magnificent the mountains, the serenity of the lake and the towering grandeur of trees. Past 10 in the morning when we started our trek to the peak, passing sweet wild berries yours for the picking and after 3 hours of trekking we finally arrived at last.

We linger a while and took pictures. Unfortunately we did not saw the vastness of Mindanao, Davao City and Cotabato since everything is covered with fogs. From that point however you could see the whole of Lake Venado and realized how diminutive and lowly you are compared to God’s creation. A glancing tear is just my response to how stunning and wonderful everything around me.

We decided not to go further down the extinct volcanoes mouth since our food supply is a little bit low and a trickle of rain started to come down adding to our dilemma the biting cold that started to give us a beating. Temperature goes down as low as 3 degrees Celsius so we hurriedly go down to Lake Venado under a heavy rain. I decided to go barefooted since it is too slippery. With our mission accomplished, we excitedly dried ourselves in our midnight bonfire and rewarded ourselves with dozed of sleep remorseful that we did not bring two bottles of our tequila.

The next morning we started early our downward trek to the jump-off point at lake Agco passing trough the same winding, knee-deep and swift-flowing Marbel river hugging the rocks and boulders, jumping from stone to stone to make a total of 13 exciting crossings from a single river. At this time, I decided to walk again barefooted and occasionally use my ordinary slippers abandoning my shoes.

Finally, at Lake Agco and back at civilization we had our first bath for 2 days. A hot sulfuric dipping pool soothes our tired and aching bodies sending our last night in the tent. Having had our share of adventure we reported the next morning in the tourism office to get our very own certificate of climb and bottles of free soft drinks.

This was the end of our one day plan and preparation in climbing the Philippines highest mountain proving that constant determination and trust to each other could make a very big difference considering that my companions are first time climbers, with a limited resources and a weather that is against us could not get in the way to the impossibilities.

Beyond doubt, it is not a record to hold but a constant reminder that you can do the impossibilities if you think you can.

Note: All pictures are copyright and own by Amos Gene M. Ladia