While others were partying it up a la LaBoracay, we were also partying it up a la Mt. Bulusan. We woke up at half past 3 because we wanted to start the summit assault (I think “crater assault” is the more apt term) early, with the goal of being at the summit to witness the sunrise. Well, that was the plan. Rain happened.
(Disclaimer: All photos are mine unless otherwise indicated on the pics.)
At around 10pm the previous night, rain began pouring in earnest while we were sleeping in our tents. It was still raining when we woke up close to 4 am. So we waited for it to stop before starting the trek.
It didn’t stop. It slowed down a bit, though, and while hoping that rain would stop later, we started the walk at half past 4am.
We crossed the dried up area of Aguingay Lake, and started the climb.
Rain really started falling.
Now, I have been through several “river crossing” adventures before. This was taking it on a whole new level.
You see, we were walking up through a waterfall for a trail. Haha! I was wearing a water-repellent jacket, but that was not enough. Thirty minutes later, I was already soaked to the skin. Even my camera bag was soaked through and I had to hand it to our guide for him to keep it (relatively) dry in his backpack.
The trail itself was quite difficult already. But add running water meeting you, and it’s going to be even harder. I was just glad that I was wearing my TEVA sandals instead of sneakers. And that our gears are left at the campsite.
It was cold, the trail was rather steep (it was a summit assault, after all), water was running down the mountain to meet us, we were quite saddened (but still a bit hopeful) that we might not see the sun rise, and we were cold and wet. And, at the back of my mind, I was thinking, “oh darn, this is what we’ll pass through on the way back down to the campsite!”
But, I don’t know if you will believe me when I say this, I was having fun while putting one foot in front of the other. It’s not everyday that you get to hike in the rain (you see, I am a person that likes getting wet by the rain from time to time).
Here’s proof of how hard the rain was: I was not able to take pictures going up. Normally, I’d have had a ton of them by now, but I had to (painfully, if I may add) hand it over for safe- and dry-keeping.
After around 2 hours of hiking in the rain, we came upon a grassland area filled with cogon grasses. No protective trees here to ward off the rain. We can see fog all around. Suddenly, our guide got a message through his two-way radio. It’s from the main office, telling us to turn back because it’s raining sooooo hard. Yes, it was also raining hard down there.
B-b-but… we’re only, like 15 to 20 minutes away from the crater!!
Discussion went this way.
Us: We’re going back?
Guide: The Office says let’s go back because the weather’s really getting worse.
Us: Let’s wait a bit more!
Guide: We have to do as they say, it’s for your safety!
Us: But we came all this way!
Guide: You won’t see the sunrise anyway, it’s already past the time for that!
Us: It doesn’t matter!
Guide: And there will be no view because of the clouds!
Us: Let’s wait a bit!
And, suddenly, as if on cue, some of the clouds shifted. This set us off on a frenzy and we singlemindedly persuaded the guide to let us go on. After all, we’re only about 20 minutes away.
So we pushed on forward and, around 6:45, arrived at the summit…. There, we saw Blackbird’s Lake, or the Crater Lake.
THE RAIN STOPPED. HOW AWESOME IS THAT.
Our guide told us that they do not let anyone stay in the area for more than 15 minutes, so we rushed forward to take photos and do whatever we want, haha! Here’s everyone, having their own moments.
There’s Albay in the distance. You can spot Mayon Volcano from here. At the time, it was slightly obscured by clouds but it was peeking.
The crater/summit is 1,565 masl. That’s what was printed on the shirt we were wearing, which was customized by someone in our group for us.
That’s the town of Irosin down there, slightly covered from view by clouds.
Personally, it was a very fulfilling adventure. The moment we got there, all our exhaustion went away. Truth be told, I did not find the hike itself exhausting, mainly because I was preoccupied with not slipping and my mind was going, “darn, I’m already soaked through”. But after a while, you get used to the dampness and not care about it. The only thing left on your mind is how cold it is.
Once we arrived at the summit, however, all that melted away. I no longer cared about my clothes sticking to my skin. The breeze at the top was a welcome coolness compared to the cold brought on by being wet from the rain. And the view, yes, even with the clouds, was breath-taking.
What I liked about this group was that there were no complaints heard. AT ALL. No one was going, “Oh, I shouldn’t have come”, or “I should have just stayed at the campsite!”. Everyone was going, “I hope it stops raining when we’re up there!” and even the persuasion of the guide was a collective effort. Even without discussing amongst us, we wanted to go on.
For Team Baguio, that is a given. After all, this climb has been planned since the beginning of the year, and it took us 6+ hours from Baguio to Manila and another 14 hours from Manila to Irosin. It’d be a waste to not go on.
We only stayed at the summit for around 15 minutes. Even if we wanted to stay longer, it was against the rules, and we also noticed the fog coming in at the summit, decreasing visibility.
The trek down was just as challenging, because water was still flowing from the mountain. We could not see the trail that we were stepping on because it’s just mostly flowing water. The sides are also slippery mud, and so we mostly preferred to walk on the areas with running water, knowing that they aren’t as slippery.
The descent took half the time the ascent. Haha! When we got back down to the Lake Aguingay level, leeches started appearing on our clothes. One even made it on the cheek of one of us. Uh-oh.
Back at camp, we had breakfast, rested for a bit, and started breaking camp. The whole time, Mt. Bulusan summit was looming over us.
Just before leaving the campsite to go back to the Park Receiving Area, we looked up and were amazed at the clouds carpeting the summit. It looked sooooo pretty we took lots of photos.
Little did we know that, on the other side of this view, where the crater is, it started spewing smoke. 
We took the route we used in coming up the previous day. Remember the pit stop where we left the lanzones seedlings? We stopped there and planted our own seedlings. After that, we took another fork in the trail to go down another way.
By the way, we met other climbers going up.
After another 2 hours or so, we arrived back at the Park by Bulusan Lake. Had a late lunch (I think this was already close to 3pm) and got our certificates!
They are nothing if not thorough. Our certificates were even laminated~ Coolbeans, eh?
Still wearing our damp and dirty clothes, and looking thoroughly unkempt, we took a tricycle to bring us to one of the hot and cold springs in the area. This was around 30 minutes away. I forgot how much the day entrance fee is. I think it was minimal, not even close to Php 100.00.
But we got in, occupied one cottage, soaked in the hot springs, and let our fatigue melt away. The place was quite crowded, but not so much. After 30 minutes of soaking our tired muscles, we had a shower at the shower area.
It was also while browsing the net that one of our companions saw the post about Mt. Bulusan acting up. It turns out, the activity started at the crater barely 30 minutes after we left the area. It was a good thing we were quite fast in descending. PHEW.
In no time at all, we were clean and bathed, and ready to proceed to Legazpi for our next adventure. You see, just the day before the trip, we decided on a spontaneous side trip to Donsol, Sorsogon. 
All in all, this was a very fulfilling adventure, one of the most memorable (and best) climbs I’ve done so far. I didn’t mind the rain; I actually thought it made it more fun and challenging. And I am also thanking the Great Man Upstairs to this day for keeping us safe, and giving us enough time to see the beauty of His creation, before letting Nature have her way.
You can read parts 1 and 2 of this adventure here and here.
(Note: Right now, many tours and climbs to the crate of Mt. Bulusan are being cancelled. Refer to their Facebook page Wild Boars for more info.)
awesome
Whoa! Two hours or so later for the nearest hot spring, you guys have very strong constitution,. 😀 The last hike I told you about last year in Forestry under the damp August weather, when I was heading from home, I was starting to show signs of hypothermia, good thing I was only a block a way from our house that I managed to jog quickly, get hot water running and have jumbo-sized tea drink.
Haha! We’re used to it by now. In fact, I noticed that if we go more than 2 or 3 months without any hiking activity, we’re already restless and ready to climb the walls. Hiking’s the best way to build up your endurance, IMO.