Yes, these are the serene, picture-perfect images from Day One and half of our ascent through the challenging Akiki route. What about the pictures on the second and third days of our Mt. Pulag climb?

After departing from our camp near Eddet River on the second day, it was all tough, uphill terrain for me. Rather than tarry shooting pictures then, I opted to keep on walking. Then we pushed on even when the weather turned really ugly late that afternoon. You can say I was more concerned about staying alive when a fierce storm caught us on the almost vertical winding slopes of the grasslands before we could make our way to Saddle Point, our last campsite before the summit. On the third day, with only one rain-soaked layer of top clothing and two wet pants, no dry socks and one damp glove, I had one ultimate goal: to get down from the mountain as fast as I could before I got close to getting pneumonia or hypothermia. Though my body was wracked with chills through the entire descent, I did stop for a few moments at different points through the Ambangeg route. I couldn't NOT admire the vivid greens and subdued blues of the surrounding peaks, the mountainside tucked away by a bulging blanket of fog and the deep orange sunset. Sadly, I had no camera in hand to capture those moments...sometimes we have to hold on to just memories.

In the end, it's not just Day One of our Pulag Climb I will want to remember. I'll remember ALL of it, not just the postcard-pretty days. The corners of my mouth will always turn up at the recollection of Lou sitting on the side of a sharp incline trying to capture a picture of the cow blissfully grazing on the same steep slope just a few meters from us. I will smile fondly at the memory of Abet's yummy macaroni with corned beef and sausage and Sherwin's hot coffee. I will want to "pay forward" the kindness of Jane and Lennie for sharing their water and cups with us when we desperately needed to brush our teeth. I will forever be grateful to Roy for helping me with my ten-ton backpack and for Gae's comforting presence as we hiked close together all throughout the trip. I won't forget our Igorot guide Mang James leading me by the hand through the haze of wind and rain to the safety of Saddle Point during that terrible night. I will NOT forget imposing Mt. Pulag, whose sheer natural beauty and fierceness has humbled me. I am indeed grateful for the lesson and the memories and will not easily forget.

I'll leave you now with a few essential and helpul mountaineering tips for your own hiking and camping adventures:



TAKE ONLY PICTURES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS
by Diana Koll

You know the rules, but do you follow them? Enjoying the great outdoors is something everyone can participate in, and more and more people are taking advantage of the adventures that Mother Nature provides. It is for this reason that we all need to be conscious of our impact on the areas that we visit, and what we take from them. Following are some tips from Leave No Trace, a non-profit organization that promotes a code of ethics encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to minimize wear and tear on the environment.

* Keep your group small - less people means less of just about everything: less garbage, less food, smaller fires, smaller campsites, and less crowding of popular areas.

* To minimize the chances of injury or getting lost, stick to marked paths. This also helps preserve delicate wilderness areas and minimize the chances of bumping into a wild animal. If you must leave the trail stick to durable surfaces such as gravel, rock, or dry grass.

* Pack it in, pack it out! Whatever garbage you accumulate during your trip (wrappers, toilet paper, cans, film canisters, band-aid boxes) needs to come back with you. Don't leave anything behind! When in doubt, pack it out.

* Only bring what's absolutely necessary! Be realistic . . . do you really need five tee shirts, three pairs of shorts, AND three pairs of pants? Needless to say, camping is not a fashion show, but remember that you may need to be prepared for warm days and cool nights, or a sudden downpour. So pack appropriately, and intelligently.

* Dispose of waste appropriately - when nature calls, be responsible about it. Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and at least 200 feet away form campsites, trails, and water. When you are finished, cover and disguise your port-a-potty. Toilet paper should be packed out with you, not buried or left behind!

* Leave what you find - one of the greatest gifts being outdoors is all of the beautiful things that nature provides. Enjoy these gifts, but leave them for others to experience as well. That rock may look great on your desk, but it looks better right where it is.

* Be responsible with fire - everybody loves a campfire, but it is important to realize that there is a responsibility that comes along with building one. An un-tended fire can scar a landscape, deplete wood supplies, destroy natural habitats, kill wild life, and endanger lives. Be smart when considering a campfire, if it isn't necessary for warmth or cooking, then it is best not to build one.

* Let people know where you are - never venture into any wild or unfamiliar environment without letting somebody know where you are going, whom you are going with, and when you expect to return. Devise a plan ahead of time for what should be done if you do not return as scheduled. If something should happen, you become sick or injured; you will have the peace of mind of knowing that officials will be notified to begin looking for you. This can mean the difference between life and death.

Whatever you are planning, be it camping, backpacking, river rafting, skiing, snow shoeing, fly-fishing, or just strolling, be conscious of the environment around you. Think about how much you love these activities, and the areas that they take place in. Respect these sacred spaces and preserve them for yourself as well as others. Wouldn't you like to return next year to find your favorite campsite in the same condition you found it the year before?

© 2007 Green Home, Inc.

(Taken from http://www.greenhome.com/info/articles/getting_away/34/)