The Quest of Mt. Apo - The Climb

Reporting at the Apolandia Elementary School, at theTown of Santa Cruz

Aphio Trekkers basking on a very successful mission of delivering gifts, supplies, clothing's, and other goods to the children of Apolandia Elementary School. The elated locals, were very thankful to Alpha Phi Omega, to our sponsors, and to the Dr. Librado I. Ureta Foundation. Our dedicated brothers and sisters exemplifies the tenets of our fraternity and sorority advancing and promoting Leaderships, Friendships, and Services in action and in true spirit of friendships and service.

The Trailhead

Apolandia to the trailhead is about 2 miles of rough roads, and ends up to a point where it's no longer safely accessible by vehicles. A welcome break for us to have a lunch and regroup, waiting for our guides and porters that will lead us to our destinations. This is the time for us to put ourselves ready for the long haul, group prayers and thanksgiving to God Almighty.  

Up ahead in the distance the magnificent Mount Apo, the "grandfather", the tallest mountain of the Philippines, elevation 3144 meters (10315 feet). The visible gray color near the top is the famous "boulder face". Looking up from the trailhead, we will be hiking and climbing the famous Santa Cruz Trail a good 30 kilometers of uphill battles, crossing into 3 different types of forest. 

With its panoramic views and diverse scenery, Mt. Apo offers an array of adventures, a mountaineering experience of a lifetime. The area features an array of landscapes, virgin forests, crags, rivers, lakes, mossy swamps, volcanic structures, and crater of sulphuric deposits. Climbing the country’s summit is not to be taken lightly; the trail to the mountaintop is not advisable for beginners. It takes about three to four days for a hiker to reach the summit and get back to the plains. Yet, the sunrise at the highest point of the Philippines is truly a marvelous sight to behold.

Did you know?

Mt. Apo is the habitat of some of the rarest kinds of animals in the country. If you are lucky, you may even get a close encounter with the Philippine Eagle. The stratovolcano is home to 270 bird species, 100 of them endemic. As one of the highest land-based biological diversity in terms of flora and fauna per unit area, it is marked for the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage List.

This pictorial blog will feature the flora's of the mountain endemic plants unique to this place. Our adventure begins by going up to Kapatagan trail and into our first destination near the DENR station in Sitio Tumpis.

The Climb

Crossing the banana plantation will lead us to the main trail of Kapatagan and from this point it's all uphill all the way.

The banana plantation and into the main trail of Kapatagan.

Sis Evelyn and sis Mary Jane

Mr. Asher himself - The Ash Man

The Chef, sis Camille with brother Michael.

Beginning of the uphill climbs to Sitio Tumpis.

Sis Toni, sis MJ, and sis Evelyn.

Sis Giza and Ching ahead of the packs.

The start of the uphill climbs, lungs getting acclimated to a new environment, leg muscles starting to develop more energy. In my case the humidity melting me away, cant stop sweating.

Welcome to Sitio Tumpis

Bro Asher, bro Hasan, and bro Michael lead the way..

DENR Monitoring Station - making sure no contrabands being carried to the National Park.  Weigh limits on backpacks to minimize accidents and protect the porters.

The Supermarket!!!

The last place to buy supplies before heading up the mountains.

My Tumpis buddies!!

Kapatagan plateau..
A major agricultural lands, the cool weather is suitable for all kinds of cool weather vegetables.

Marching on to our first camp.

The Tumpis highland.

Amazing country side, main agriculture products are green onions, carrots, and green vegetables.

Last remaining highland community at the fringes of the National Park.

Small horse feeding on carrots, and a water buffalo mud bath relaxation.

First Camping Site... 

The Ash man and the Bok's..

Photo ops bro Ash, me, Pong, Carol, and Louie.

Sister "sweet" Caroline..

Bro Manny, Carol, Boks, Dong, Toni, and Tad's.

MJ and Camille

Dong, Toni, and Bok's

Wake up time at 2am., pack up tents and supplies, ready for assault of the mountain at 4am.

Thunderstorm looming over the horizon, we're hoping it will not go through our trails, and thank God it did not. It was very dark but its manageable uphill all the way for so many miles.

At this point my DSLR camera runs out of juice and I brought a different battery, I was so disappointed to myself, thank God I still have my I Phone camera.

All along the trail I use my I Phone to take pictures, luckily able to charge it 95% from a nearby house the night before with the owner who happen to have a solar panel.

Morning has broken...

Going higher and deeper into the woodlands.

Fog disappearing and the sun flickers into the trees.

Sunlit from heaven..

Forest starting to show it's beauty.

Watch out for dinosaurs...

Sitting down: brother Coco, Ricarlo, and Michael.

Standing up: Sis Evelyn, bro John Angelo, sis Giza, sis Mary Jane, bro Louie, sis Jhoanna Ross, sis Carol, and brother Robert. 

Finding Tarzan...

Large ferns dominates along the 2nd stages of the forest, wet and muddy conditions at this point.

Tinikaran Campsite - Late lunch - rest stop here before chalenging the famous Boulder Face.

Freshen up after a sumptuous lunch of meatloaf, cornedbeef, pork adobo and rice, this mountaineers is ready to go.

Selfie along the way..

Needed rest..

Position that Hero5

All relaxed bro Coco the man!! sessssss!

 The Apo wooden staircase...

 Mosses and ferns... The cop and chef photo op's...

THE BOULDER FACE

This point of our climb we have covered about 24 to 25 kilometers starting from the trailhead at the bottom of the mountain. The challenge up ahead is the famous Boulder Face, sounds intimidating but indeed it is, careful trekking and common sense will play beyond this point due to susceptibility to injuries and accidents, banging into rocks or slipping and falling or twisting your ankle by stepping into crevices of the boulder. The smell of the sulfur is so strong on most point of the trails that can make a person gags, and also keep in mind the sulfur dust hurt your eyes, masks or even a large handkerchief is necessary to cover your nose and mouth and gogles for your eyes just in case you cant stand the sulfur. In all aspects of this climb always "be prepared".

The narrow canyon of the Boulder Face is mossy, wet, muddy, and slippery rocks.  The trail is not fully maintained, we have to be very careful on our ascend to the next segment.

 Green moss and stunted trees and plants at this point of the mountain around 8,400 feet elevation.

Sulfur smokes comes out on the crevices of rocks and the sides of the mountain. The hike is high and be overwhelmed with sulfur smokes and never ending array of boulders and rocks for miles on. One good about the place? It has delicious wild berries... sweet!!

The narrow canyon give way to a clearing where you can get a good glimpse of the above area of the volcanic portion of Mt. Apo, and underneath is the canyon that we climbed earlier.

The woodlands give way to rocks and stunted plants, wild berries, smaller ferns, succulents, shrubs, and sulfur dust and sulfur smokes. There's a  large portion of the boulder face area that is devoid of plants, just plain rocks and giant boulders.

Foggy conditions in some part - the mountain creates it's own weather pattern.

Numerous succulent plants thrive nicely in the upper slopes.

Sweet berries...

Sustenance for a hungry hiker.

The mouth of the Boulder Face...

Fresh sulfur..

Going higher above the clouds..

CC Top..

Camille and Carolyn

Brother Hasan enjoying the smokey flavor....

Sis Evelyn rock climbing...

The Nevlin flings..

Smiley face - break time. 

Proud Mu Theta chapter emblem. 

They cant wait for me, I'm sleeping in top of the rock!

The boulder trail that never ends..

How do you find your way on to this maze? Follow the ribbons that was planted by the park rangers.

APO Small World

meeting a brother and a sister at the middle of the boulder face. Priceless!!

APO Mountaineers...

Sister Mikee Rose Pabon (Petitioning chapter) and brother John Mangu of Kappa Theta.

Welcome to Mars

Find your way onto this rocks!

Natural Bonsai's

Welcome to White Sand

I was one of the first one to arrived at the White Sand camp site, elevation around 9500 feet, I was so dammed tired my legs is getting stiff and at this point my knee seems like it's getting raptured, I'm out of water. The never ending "boulder face" trail is just too much to handle, but thank God I was able to tackle it without injuries or accident, and the same to be said to my brother's and sisters, we did well, very well indeed. It's getting dark and we've been climbing for more than 12 hours and counting, temperature is at the low 50's F and gusty wind. I was able to pitch my tent quickly and decided to just lay low and rest up for the late afternoon, protecting myself from the harsh environment. The rest of our group still down below the ridge battling it with the rocks and darkness and worst of all the sudden down pour. A heavy thunderstorm just rained on us for hours, everyone is trying to get dry, some of our backpacks got soaked and some of the tents got flooded. It was a hard days night for all of us.

The Sunrise Ridge

The eastern portion of Mount Apo peaks towering at 2954 meters above sea level (9692 feet) is called the Sunrise. It's the most popular peak for a lot of climbers, it's not an easy hike the trail is rated at 87 degrees slopes and the rain we experience the night before soaked the trail and made the rocks much more slippery. 

Victory to the Top..

Dedicated to All APO 

Worldwide

and to

Commemorates the 68th Years Anniversary of APO Philippines

 Celebrations - Accomplished the first high peak.

The morning sunlight comes and slowly reveal the rugged face of the western peaks and the blue skies in the top of the Philippines put on it's glory.

Watching the sunrise on Mount Apo is like sitting in a watercolor painting. As the mist clears, pastel pinks, oranges and purples dance in the sky around you, challenging you to race the sun to the summit.

It's a beautiful sight to behold, it excites the mind and spirits of individual climbers.

The Sunrise rock outcropping - symbol of the peak.

Victory dance!!!

Oh! What a feeling!!

The Caldera 

A natural lake a sweet tasting cool water in the middle of the ridge, the towering western peak on the other side with it's rock formations. Our next challenge ...

Braveheart!!

Sis Carolyn on the edge...

Brother Tads and Carolyn looks on from the edge of Sunrise.

The Chef and the English Man...

Lake Jordan

The view of the 87 degree trail on a clear day.

We tackle this Sunrise peak in the crack of dawn, wet and slippery and dark. 

Beautiful Lake Jordan at the summit.

Going back to White Sand campground.

The porters forte

One of our friendly guides and member of the Rescue Team.

Sis Camille preparing our lunch, our needed energy for the next task of challenging the tallest peak, the western slope of the mountain at 10,315 feet. By doing so we have to climb another famous junction of the mountain called the 90 degrees...

Mount Apo highland floras.

The view of the White Sand campground.

Brod Manny Cabido following our group, the beginning of the 90 degree climb to the top.

View of the other side of Mt. Apo National Park from the 90 degree trail

Following the ribs of the mountain trail.

The craggy side of the mountain...

From this we're at above the clouds and down below is partial view of Lake Venado.

Lake Jordan at the summit.

Almost there!!!

Made it up on to the top of the Philippines!!!

At the top of Mount APO -  elevation 3144 meters (10315 feet)

The Descend to Lake Venado...

The APHIO Trekkers symbolically climb Mount Apo with 3 reasons.

1. The "grandfather mountain" is a symbol of stature the namesake of APO.

2. Dedicated the climb to those who volunteered and help doused the fire in 2016, and to commemorate 68th Years of Alpha Phi Omega Philippines, national anniversary.

3. To formally organized and vote for officers and the new president appointing members to various posts and to formally list all the chartered members of APHIO Trekkers Inc.

The trail going down from the top of Mount Apo to Kidapawan trail is not an easy task. From the upper meadows a good 3 to 4 hour hike down to Lake Venado. Muddy and slippery trail of tall grass and stunted trees. I slipped maybe about 5 times going down on this trail and in the process injuring and suffered a cut to my index finger, got it from holding on to a sharp blades of the giant grass. The hot blazing sun and shear winds also burning my neck my face and my arms, and my legs getting so sore, feet getting sore, it's a hard run to the bottom. Eventually reach the Venado basin after grueling 3 to 4 hours of downhill trail, and we decided to camp in this beautiful large meadow.

APHIO Trekkers Meeting at 7200 feet above sea level.

Formally organized Aphio Trekkers

Voted chartered leaders and officers and members.

Installation of Officers.

Plans for the future.

Celebrations.

Sister's Camille, Mary Jane, Raquel, Carolyn, Evelyn, Giza, and Toni Ross.

President - Giza Montejo  - Beta Upsilon ‘83

Vice President - Mindanao Region - Carolyn R. Cotales - Alpha Rho '04

Vice President - Visayan Region - Raquel Doronila - Zeta Chapter '92

Vice President - Luzon Region- John Angelo Cruz - Xi Eta '05

Secretary - Evelyn V. Diaz - Lambda Tau '01

Treasurer - Jhoana Ross T. Calumba - Theta Beta '10

Auditor -  Nelvin S. Serfino Alpha Rho ‘09

Asher Lucmayon Cumahis Lambda Sigma ‘10

Adviser - Manny Cabido - Gamma Chi '79

Adviser - Marc Wilson Barcelona - Alpha Theta '80

Looking up at the view of the mountain from Lake Venado at 7200 feet.

Ancient forest borders along the lake.

I went swimming on the lake not knowing the implications of a folklore, and the story goes about the lake taking lives of mountaineers who dared to take a dip in the lake. I  innocently did not know about the warning and the folklore and only to find out that swimming is prohibited. 

The beautiful meadows of Lake Venado (the deer).

Going down the Kidapawan Trail

Wet, muddy, and slippery, slides along the trail that is impassable without implementing "rappel techniques".  

The rappelling main concern would be a secure anchor like large trees, boulders, bamboo trunks, able to withstand the weight of 2 large adults. Rappel on the doubled rope then pull one end down, no knots, no carabiner.  The safest way to ascend or descend a certain portion of a trail that is washed out, or a large boulder to climb up or to go down.

The Kidapawan trail is a long narrow trail about 25 km., very challenging at times and trail ends at the DENR station in Lake Agco about 7 to 8 hours trek. Both ways going down and going up on this trail is not an easy task. It seems like the trail has no end, about 7 river crossings, some have a make shift bridges, but some doesn't, you have to cross it by hopping on shallow rocks on the water.

The place is so beautiful it mesmerized the soul of a person, this is truly an enchanted place.

In the end we were able to traverse the Kidapawan Trail, we were so fortunate that no one got critically injured, we have a bit of some close encounters but we were able to survive that too.

I never been so proud of my brothers and sisters of there tenacity, determinations, and outright courage. The love and respect of nature, the knacks for adventures, the spirit of friendships, and the heart of service to humanity and community, it was a wonderful feeling of being in a

great company of men and women that mutually respect each other.

The relationships is second to none - the true "kapatiran".

We missed some of the chartered members of APHIO Trekkers not being able to make it to this momentous climb, but this is a start of something bigger in the future that we all can be a part of.

May We Always Be