MT AL-AL

cloud-capped Mt Al-al and Mt Pulag emerging from behind
as seen from the mossy forest of Mt Tabayoc

My expedition last weekend was a manifestation of how I push my limits and at the same time how I limit my push. I had initially planned to scale Mt Al-al—the mountain between Mt Pulag and Mt Tabayoc. I was suspecting that Mt Al-al could rival the loftiness of Mt Timbak for the third notch on the list of highest peaks in Luzon!

Misty Mt Al-al

My guide was all prepared for the trek but on our way to the jump-off, he mentioned that the park superintendent was against the idea of opening the mountain to climbers. I didn’t know that Mt Al-al was still covered by Ma’am Emerita Tamiray’s jurisdiction so I called her up and she vehemently opposed our plan to delve into the rainforest of Mt Al-al. This mountain and its neighboring peaks are within the NO CLIMB Zone of the Mt Pulag National Park. I didn’t want to set a bad example to others and I didn’t want to risk being banned in the national park so I just decided to call off the plan to climb Mt Al-al! Defeated as I was, I didn’t feel very bad! I can never feel bad when I’m in Benguet’s loving arms. But my guide could not hide his disappointment. He was even considering doing a backdoor trek. No one would know anyway according to him.  But I respect the rules and I know they don’t call it NO CLIMB Zone for no reason. I proposed instead a trek in Mt Tabayoc and through the four lakes of Kabayan (Tabeo, Incolos, Letep-Ngapos and Ambulalacao) and Junior Pulag. I had done that expedition twice before and I was just curious how Mt Tabayoc looked like three years after I climbed it for the first time in 2008.

sea of clouds of Mt Tabayoc
and Mt Pulag above the clouds

I was glad to know that Mt Tabayoc didn’t deteriorate despite the influx of climbers in the area. This is a testimony that really, we have to trust our local mountaineering community. We keep blaming ourselves for the trash in the mountains but actually, the non-mountaineers are the ones responsible for this. The four lakes were still as mystifying as when I saw them in 2006. This area is not frequented by non-mountaineers. That’s why it is still in its pristine condition.

Lake Letep-Ngapos

On my third day, I headed for Mt Timbak and I climbed it via the non-traditional Kabayan-KM55 route. The uphill climb from Kabayan Barrio is as steep as the Akiki trail. You start at 3500 fasl and end at a little below 9000 fasl. I spent the night at the house near the Timbak mummies! And when I did my summit assault the following day, I learned about the fees that the owner of the mini-Calvary recently decided to impose on visitors to the place. I made a stop at Sayangan, Atok and discuss the matter with the municipal council and the tourism and planning officer of the municipality of Atok, Benguet. I promised to work hand in hand with them to resolve the issue. I’ll tell the story in another post.

Mt Timbak @ 8950+ fasl