Culture and Nature - Mt. Dulang-dulang and Mt. Kitanglad Climb (Part 2)

continuation....

Since we decided to cancel our Kalatungan climb, wake up call at 5 in the morning was perfect enough to regain loss strength and savor a "rain-free" night at the campsite.

the view upon opening my tent door

prepping for breakfast

Break camp came right after breakfast and lunch were packed.

my newly cleaned tent

Break camp with Airis and Jason

break camp almost done...

By 7 AM, the group started trek to Mt. Dulang-dulang summit.

perfect view at the campsite. Thanks for finding this, Sir Jala.

Beauty overload!

After less than an hour emerged a beautiful view of neighboring peaks of Kitanglad Mountain Range.

Helmitchy posing before the summit

Summit....finally! Mt. Dulang-dulang summit was boasting with unspeakable beauty.

sorry NO K (Kalatungan) :(

The group had their fair share of the summit when we decided to continue our trek. The time was past 8 AM.

Happy faces of me, Helmitchy and Racky at D2 summit

Traversing Mt. Kitanglad was one of my most loved part. The trail was steep and the mossy grounds made it a lot easier. It was like going back to Mt. Arayat minus the mossy part. Word of advise: Strengthen up your upper body! :)

Mt. Kitanglad as viewed from summit of Mt. Dulang-dulang

The very steep descent! Upper limb exercise to the max!

It was part 8:30 AM when we reached the first of two rope segments. A good 15-20 feet of rock and mud combined.

I call it 'The drop!'

Ten minutes before 9 when we reached a small view deck showcasing the peak of Mt. Kitanglad and the ridge that we have to pass to get there. Suddenly I was reminded of a song 'so close and still so far!'

the group at the view deck

The ridge and Mt. Kitanglad summit as seen from the view deck

We proceeded with the trek after 10 minutes of rest. We decided to have our brunch along the trail upon the first sight of a flat ground. Sadly, it wasn't only us eating but the enormous amount of huge and hungry mosquitoes as well. They were all over our faces! Some even tried getting through our eyes! With that, we quickly ate our brunch and continued with the trek.

The gang having our brunch...with the mosquitoes!

a not-so clear view :(

At around 11:45 AM, we reached the limatik (leech) infested cogon grass area. This is it...the scary part!

at the entrance of 'limatik' land!

The cogon grasses were tall and covering most part of the trail making it harder to maneuver. Fortunately for us, no limatik were present at that time. Must be because not a single drop of rain ever passed by. The trail was a bit dry based on the mossy patches that I checked. The cogon grass are not that sharp as well and the grounds are of soft mud. Thank God for the ritual! :)

Yep...that's a trail!

After an hour, we reached the last steep ascent (last rope segments). A 15-20 minutes, 80-85 degrees of pure assault holding on to crevices of rocks and grabbing patches of grass and sturdy roots. On a rainy season this could get nasty but since the sun were beaming brightly,

start of the 80-85 degrees assault. happy for the good weather!

I still managed to throw some shots and a selfie...of course.

selfie....finally!

Sir Jalaman in action at the assault part

Past 1 PM when we arrived at the rolling terrain to the bunker houses at the summit. Passing onto some mossy trails and bonsai trees along the way. After 20 minutes, we saw the tip of the bunker houses and some makeshift booby traps made of wires and empty glass bottles.

bunker house...finally!

inside the bunker house with Bea and Yvonne.

 At 1:27 PM, we were at Mt. Kitanglad's summit! It was foggy and the telecommunication towers surrounding the summit was too depressing but still a co-climber managed to give me this nice shot. Thanks, Airis!

Summit shot with Redhikerr

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. In climbing, when summit gives you fog, make sea of clouds! Haha!

We stayed at the summit for almost an hour snapping shots,  refilling water, doing #2 (poopies) and taking pictures of the bunker beds.

these bunker beds must be heaven!

By 2:20 PM, we were hitting the trail again for our descent to Kitanglad jumpoff. 

Strawberries at the trail down the summit

The trail was not that steep. Presence of steel staircases and tree branches lined with rocks made it a lot easier to go down. Just be mindful of some cable wires as posts were also present.

nice steps along the way

steel staircases for easy descent

It was exactly 5 PM when I arrived at the Mt. Kitanglad billboard/signage.

Done at last! Thanks, Peaks N Prints!

my ever dependable companion... cheers to us!

Here's the detailed itinerary based on my personal account.

Day 0 (Oct 29, Wednesday)
1045 ETD Manila - Cagayan de Oro
1155 ETA Laguindingan Airport, CDO
1220 Meet up with Tatay Bullecer - forgot to ask his first name :)
1235 Lunch at nearby carinderia
1250 Resume travel to Malaybalay
1420 Arrival at "Pagbantay" signage (sort of ritual to all passengers)
1422 ETA Bukidnon
1600 ETA Malaybalay
1618 ETA Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO)
1720 ETA Talaandig Anestral Territory, Brgy. Sungco
1900 Stay for the night at Hall of Peace
2130 Meet and Orientation with Datu Migketay (study IPRA)
2300 Lights out

Day 1 (Oct 30, Thursday)
0500 Wake up call
0600 Start of Permission Ritual
0800 Start of Cleansing Ritual at a nearby river
0848 Start of Communion Ritual
0920 Photo opt after tribe ritual
0926 Breakfast
1000 ETD Hall of Peace to Mt. Dulang-dulang jump off
1025 ETA Mt. Dulang-dulang jump off. Binahon Agroforestry Farm signage. Start trek.
1145 ETA Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park billboard.
1202 ETA Forest Line. Turn left at fork. (almost got lost :( )
1220 ETA Big Tree. Photo opt. Start of mossy forest. Assault trail.
1400 Late lunch near water source
1425 ETA water source. Refill.
1430 ETA Ancestral Domain area signage
1700 Rolling terrain to Mt. Dulang-dulang campsite
1725 ETA campsite. Pitch tent. Prepare dinner.
1930 Socials
2200 Lights out

Day 2 (Oct 31, Friday)
0500 Wake up call
0530 Prepare breakfast and lunch
0630 Break camp. Photo opt. Prepare for summit assault.
0700 Pray. Start summit assault.
0745 ETA Mt. Dulang-dulang summit. Photo opt.
0810 ETD Mt. Dulang-dulang summit traverse to Mt. Kitanglad. Steep descent.
0835 ETA Rope segment
0850 ETA View deck
1000 Brunch along the trail. Mosquito overload!
1030 Resume trek
1145 ETA cogon grass area. Steep ascent to Mt. Kitanglad.
1248 Start of 80-85 degrees assault (15-20 minutes). May require ropes on rainy season.
1307 Rolling terrain to summit
1327 ETA Mt. Kitanglad summit
1330 Refill water at bunker house. Photo opt.
1420 Start descent.
1700 ETA Mt. Kitanglad billboard/jumpoff
1830 Start rough road trek to jeep service
2200 ETA Malaybalay

SPECIAL THANKS to the following:

Bullecer Family - for ALL the assistance (from logistics to ritual needs and FREE biko, corn and rice! Helmitchy, Tatay and Nanay --- Daghang salamat!)

Ka Gerald Ternola - for the invite! Truly what you do as an event organizer is such a pain in the @ss! Salute to you and all the event organizer I have come to meet.

Sir Jalaman - yo da man! Greatly appreciate your "built-in refrigerator."

To our guide and porters, you have my respect and sincerest thanks!

To Datu Migketay, thank you for the learnings! I am truly humbled.

Lastly, to all the participants....Revenge Climb next year!

Till then!