Its been three years when I last visited Palawan. And there are lots of changes happened that made me surprised in both ways, good and bad.
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Thumb Peak in the middle
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My purpose of visit, is to climb Thumb Peak which is located at The Iwahig Penal Colony at Brgy. Irawan, Puerto Princesa City. We alloted 5 days (from February 28 up to March 4 2011) for the whole trip including side trips and a chance to meet again relatives for so long. I was amazed that there are improvements happened after three years. Some roads being paved and become main public access from city to small villages but Lolaś mini store stay simply and with the same color as before, native brownish.
The first day of our trip began with a quick City Tour of Puerto Princesa. We´re in a hurry and we just visited familiar places like The Provincial Capitol, The Cathedral, Plaza Cuartel, The Puerto Princesa Baywalk, Butterfly Farm, and Mitra´s Ranch before we go to Brgy. Sta. Lourdes to show up to my father and to my dearest Grand Mother, Lola Cely. But even we make things quick we already consumed a day by visiting the city just like an ordinary tourist.
After visiting and made little talk with relatives, we now went to Balsahan Resort in Iwahig and it is our jump off point going to Thumb Peak. We thought that we will be ahead of schedule but we ended following the original schedule arranged by Sir Kim Pagente of Suakwal (Sakwal) Mountaineers. It was planned that on the first day we will advance to near Camp 1 for us to save a day alloted for our sidetrips. As we know, if we hear Palawan, it always comes in our mind the ¨BEACH¨. But as for safety it is better to start trekking the next day, because the first part of the trek is to cross rivers and it is difficult to do it while in the dark. And we don´t know what lies behind those darkness.
The total attendees of the climb are 22, composed of 4 groups they are : ¨Conde Outdoors, Lucky Jar, Suakwal (Sakwal) and U.Soc of Mountaineers.
We started walking on the trail at around eight thirty in the morning. Almost behind schedule. But a little bit okay because we have been recharged enough energy for the whole day jungle adventure.
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No established Bridges. The first river cross of the day.
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From the end boundaries of Balsahan resort, the trail immediately narrows not like other mountain trails of the same elevation with paved roads and houses. The forest really showed up quickly. Then after 45 minutes of smooth narrow trail, the river crossing begun. Whew! It was a little surprise, I never thought that it is the start of the wet season while entering the forest. Imagine, my dry feet only last for 45 minutes and the rest of the day it was soaked wet.
After 6 river crosses, the trail is now going up and still no dry soil, muddy trails ahead. I realized that it is La Niña season and a Shallow Low Pressure Area is affecting the whole province of Palawan the day we started to moved upward. What a great start for summer.
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| SGT. Limatik |
Before I forgot, other than rainy weather, wet and muddy trails, another thing that added the climbing challenge is the famous ¨Limatiks¨ (forest Leeches). For me it jumps, move quickly and fly, even though it has no wings. You will not realized that it is now crawling to your skin and sucking your blood until you will feel that you were bitten just like an ant.
Almost a day it is raining. It suddenly stops then rain again.Then it really pours hard while having lunch at the last water source before heading to Camp 1. Uncomfortable but refreshing, lessen my water consumption and saved a lot for dinner.
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| The rainfall |
We changed clothes after we arrived and set up a tent at Camp 1. The space is not wide enough to pitch tents. I realized the benefit of having a hammock. Tie it between the trees. Put a tarp above it, then a temporary and comfortable shelter is provided. I also observed that a quick camp mobility if a hammock is used. It also lessen the pack load and easy to clean. The Host Group (Conde Outdoors, Suakwal and Lucky Jar) set a camp in just 15 mins and we took about 30 mins before we feel comfortable with our pitched tents. Then the real test came when we are in the middle of our sleep, heavy rains poured hard it started to penetrate our ply sheets and dripped inside. Almost 50 percent of our things inside have been, again, soaked wet. But the hammock group complained a little bit about the rain but it sounds like a joke. They were look fine when I saw them the next morning before the summit assault.
Second day of the climb, third day of the trip. Another day has come. Early in the morning, a little bit dark, forest fog covered the whole area within campsite and beyond, and nature called us. It is time to unload (poop time). It is amazing to experience the first morning at the campsite of Thumb Peak. While fetching water from a stream near the camp I saw little creatures running away. It looks like a mouse but without the tail.
After a quick breakfast it´s time for Peak assault. Then its time to wear again a wet suite (wet trekking clothes). Another uncomfortable feeling but later on our trek going to the summit, I get used to it. The Hammock group really moved fast. We woke up early than them, but before we trek going up to the peak they are the ones who wait for us. Then a half day walk to Thumb Peak´s summit begun.
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| Malasiga Tree |
An initial 30 degrees up climb put us again in our senses that we will walk again for more than 2 hours. But after an hour of up hill climb through the wet forest, almost a flat walk followed, that relaxed our muscles a little bit. We passed Series of trees with small cuts excreting nectar called ¨Malasiga¨. It looks like candle droplets and it is flammable. It is used as a fire starter and sold in wet markets for about Php 10.00 per 1/4 kg.
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Pitcher Plant
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After a long walk on a almost flat up and down trails, bit by bit I saw that trees are getting shorter while we are nearing reaching the summit. And Pitcher plants showed. Then the approach to the summit became a steep climb . While trees became shorter, huge rock formations are hiding behind and required to climb it with the help of tree branches.
After the rock challenge, and passing little trees, we reached the summit almost noon. Bad time for us, no clearing and the whole surrounding is covered with gray clouds. With little view but it is only in seen seconds. Blame it to La Niña.
Lunch time at the summit and most in our group forgot to prepare one. Too bad. I only brought a boiled egg and trail foods. It is the result of our excitement to finish the task of reaching the peak. But were saved because the Hammock group shared their food to us and all of us was spared. A great lunch with a combination of sardines, corned beef, Vienna sausage and canned tunas. It was delicious. Mmmmmmm :)
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One of the summit Views
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| Team U.Soc at the Summit of Thumb Peak |
After lunch and picture taking we decided to descent fast going back to camp 1. We need a faster descend for us to reach the Hunter´s Rock before another night comes.
Almost consumed more than half of our day before reaching Hunter´s Rock. We break our camp 1 slow because we never made preparations before we leave for the summit. All are exhausted and now slowly walking but then we reached the final camp almost on schedule. Arrived at Hunter´s Rock with all energy drained and what I did is wash immediately, hanged all wet clothes, scattered my items, eat dinner then sleep. I forgot to do socials with the others and I am so sorry about it. I never felt the spirit of wine and happiness of it. But much better to sleep, I need for a last descent for tomorrow.
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| Hunter´ s Rock |
Hunters Rock, a semi cave rock formation that serves as a shelter for hunters, ¨Bagtikan¨ Harvesters and Mountaineers. It is a huge rock as big as an ordinary house. The main cave is good for 10 people and outside of it can accomodate another 10 people. Just put a big tarp on it. It was my first time to sleep in a cave open for insects, wild animals and limatiks. But I have a good night sleep with my Kokotz without being bothered by such creatures.
It was already the third day of the climb and fourth of the whole trip. It was a blessed morning. There is no rain and I can see the blue sky with fluff of clouds above the forest. I wish it happened at the summit. But there is still a next time. It is time to descent. After a quick breakfast with noodles, boiled eggs and leftover rice, we break the camp same as the time at camp 1. Another fast trek going down. Same trail. The trail we used to go up is the same trail we used to go down. Same series of river cross. Same limatik experience. I forgot to save in my Phone´s GPS the places that we have been through while climbing. I only registered some of the places, when I am already approaching back to Balsahan Resort. Then relieved when the end gates of the resort showed up and it tells me, the climb is over and we did it. Thumb Peak initial quest cleared.
Celebrations with wine and Balut followed. Then the taste of leftover rice with imported corned pork is great!
