There's a whole story behind these pictures and this second Pulag climb for me. I've already written it in a open letter, though, which you can read here in my Multiply blog "WILDMIND". Check out my February blog entry entitled "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: TEXTBOOK DELIVERY FOR ABUCOT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL".

I'll also bow to EJ Gamboa (another budding young Pinoy writer) and quote his sentiments about Mt. Pulag here:

"So this is where it all begins. Three thousand meters above sea level, on the summit of Mt. Pulag...The clouds begin to disperse and flow past us in lithe succession, finally granting us consent to gaze at the sunrise that signaled the start of a new day. The sun burns a brilliant white hue, framed perfectly by the blue of the open sky. I've never seen the sun shine this intensely, yet for some reason I'm not blinded by the light...The clouds continue to part, slowly baring the entire landscape. And for the first time since I set foot on this mountain, I see how vast it really is...The grasslands alone stretch as far as the eye can see. Threadlike lines twist and turn across the green expanse, cutting through the forests, hills and valleys before disappearing in the shadow of the summit. Every single one of those trails leads to where I stand...Pride overcomes me...So this is where it all begins." (Taken from his book "Passages", an anthology of his creative works so far.)

I hope you enjoy your virtual "climb" of Mt. Pulag in Kabayan, Benguet through my pictures. And when you do go up there yourself or on any other mountain, please remember to "take only pictures, leave only footprints". Hike and trek with care, folks, thanks! Ü