THE JOY OF BEING ON TOP

How does it feel to be on top? I love mountains, their vegetation, their landscapes, their forms, their slopes and their heights. Climbing a mountain for me is not just tiring myself for a long hike. It is escaping away from everyday's humdrums. It is panting fresh air. It is communing with nature and appreciating its Creator. And for somebody like me who is extremely in love with heights, it's truly a different feeling being on top.

So how does it really feel to be on top? . . . Well, it simply makes your knees shake.

MY MOST ECSTATIC ENCOUNTERS IN 2012

2012 is my most trekked year so far. The past year has been filled with new explorations, new discoveries, new acquaintances and new fulfillments. As I reminisce my numerous treks and trips, all of them are truly worth sharing. I can't just simply identify which among them is/are the best, so I'm giving you my 20 most ecstatic encounters (in chronological order).

1. MT. KITANGLAD CLIMB. A solo climb was really a great year-starter. My 7th climb to the country's top 4 highest peak was like a first time. Though I was treading through the same trail, the experience was totally different from my other climbs. This is my only unguided 2-day climb. I got to meet other hikers, though. This 2-day strenuous climb tested my stomach without rice intake. I only thrived for burger buns, eggs, canned goods and a lettuce clove.  

BAY-YO VILLAGE: SAGADA EXPERIENCE BONUS EPISODE

Bay-yo is the last barangay of Bontoc in Mountain Province and Ifugao boundary. The village stuns every passer-by since its regal location amazingly blends with the grand rices terraces.

HANGING COFFINS/ECHO VALLEY: SAGADA EXPERIENCE EPISODE 6

  

The morning of our last day was spent hiking to the Echo Valley. 

AMPACAO PEAK: SAGADA EXPERIENCE EPISODE 5

Ampacao Peak humbly rises 1,889 meters ASL, yet the highest point in Sagada. It gives a panoramic view of the town. It is a good site for bird and sunset watching. 

After a short bonding with Lake Danum, my now-departing guide, Cris gave me his sketched map of the trail. He said I could summit it in 2 hours. I was challenged to break the expected time. All alone, I started trekking at 3:50 pm hoping to catch the sunset at the summit. 

LAKE DANUM: SAGADA EXPERIENCE EPISODE 4

 

A visit to lake Danum was an unexpected deed. The lake has no enormous width to boast for. But its grandiose charm will bring you beyond expectation. 

It was past 3 pm when we're done with the Sumaguing and Lumiang caves. 

SUMAGUING and LUMIANG CAVES: SAGADA EXPERIENCE EPISODE 3

 

Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves are explored by tourists in an adventure called the Cave Connection. These caves are of cultural significance to the Kankanaey tribe of Sagada. They make these caves burial sites, thus, considered sacred.