“I’ve been to Purgatory, and I had a lot of fun”. Not a lot of people could say that; and I’m willing to bet that not a lot of people would even WANT to say that. But I’m referring to Mt. Purgatory, which we’re about to pass through later on.
Day 2 of our Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse, and we set off with full stomachs, heavy packs, and light hearts.
The assault started early in the morning, after everyone has broken camp and (broken their fasts).
Predictably, we were the last to leave the campsite again.
(Disclaimer: Pix are mine, unless otherwise indicated in the captions.)
Mt. Mangagew, which is 1705m above sea level (MASL) is 10.2 km away from Mt. Purgatory. So, that’s, like, Shilan to Baguio City, only it’s going to be mostly uphill.
I just love stopping and seeing a great view. You don’t get to see this in the City anymore. Instead, all you see are…buildings.
It is also as good a time as any to let your imagination run wild. At some areas, I got that Sleepy Hollow vibe, and was simply waiting to see the Headless Horseman bearing down on me from round the bend.
And we’re close!!!
Another added perk of joining activities like these is meeting new people. And what better place to do that than in the great outdoors, right?
Then we’ve passed by Mt. Pack, which is referred to by others as Mt. Banshila. It is one of Bokod’s highest mountains.
It was already past 12 when we arrived at the Mt. Purgatory peak. This is where we stopped by and grabbed a bite.
Mt. Purgatory is 2100 MASL, and was named because of the environment or atmosphere surrounding it. According to the flyer we were given, its name came from its “purgatory-like” characteristics, which is cold, waterless, and dark, due to the thick vegetation.
The place was quite dreary-looking. Again, Sleepy Hollow-ish. It’s so easy to feel as if you are alone or isolated when you’re here.
Well, I dunno what I would’ve thought if I suddenly found myself standing on a very sunny Purgatory. Now there’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever seen one.
These are the real survivors and heroes of this adventure. Haha!
Continuing on, after lunch, we proceeded towards the next campsite. But before that, we had to traverse Mt. Bakian. A landmark along the trail is the Bakian Primary School, where we stopped to rest a bit.
And remember the old man who was with us the day before at the canao? Here he is. Almost 70+ years, and acting as a porter for some of participants (tap us on the back for carrying our own stuff, k?)
Finally, we arrived at where we will camp out on our second night: the Tangbao Campsite at Mt. Tangbao.
The sign says “Kikan shi Bakian”, or “eating (lit.) or a feast at Bakian.
By this time, we were exhausted and just dropped down on the grass. A slight shower also started coming down. My mates and I went to the village a bit further down and were allowed to take a bath in their bathrooms. So accommodating, the locals. The group living in this area are the kalanguyas.
That night, it rained, so it was cold, and the soil was cold as well. Still, we had a fairly decent sleep.
Before I wrap this up, take a peek at the camping area.
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