It was a few minutes past 4am when we started our ascent to the peak of Mt. Pulag. The 5km hike up would take about 1-2hours depending on our pace, according to our guide. We were one of the last groups to leave the camp and I was a little worried that sunrise might come before we reach the peak.
The night was very cold. Without gloves, my hands were getting numb. We walked fast so that our bodies would warm up. The good thing was that the terrain at the start of the climb is only gently sloping. We still had to stop a few times though, to wait for the other members and rest for a few minutes. At 2000+m, the elevation was no joke to us who are near-sea-level dwellers.
As we were walking (and still far from the peak), we could already see a glimmer of light on the horizon. We were able to walk at a steady (and relatively fast) pace on the gently sloping grounds. But the last few hundred meters to the peak was really steep. Everyone was panting and had to stop a few times to catch our breath. We kept on pushing ourselves because we didn't want to miss the sunrise.
They say that God rewards those who persevere to the end. Though out of breath, we had smile on our faces as we reach the peak of Mt. Pulag. We knew we were in for a treat. The sun didn't fully come out until after 30 minutes or so though. We watched the sky as it turns to light, slowly revealing a magnificent landscape. This in itself makes our trip already well worth it. But then the sun finally revealed itself amidst the sea of clouds. I am out of words.
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| It was still dark when we reached the peak. |
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| Playing with silhouettes. |
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| More than a hundred were blessed to witness the sunrise at Mt. Pulag. |
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