Mt. Timbac, Atok Benguet

Our 5 favorite memories in Mt. Timbac

This entry will start with a short story back from my childhood days:

Long ago as a little kid, I asked my father why the mountains are colored blue.

We live in a little hut in the middle of the rice field and when I was a little child, every time I help my father in planting the string beans/sit seeds, I can see vividly from the distance a blue cone, which really fascinates me. I blurted out the question.

Me: Papa, why are mountains blue?

Papa: Actually, they are not really blue. Mountains are full of green things growing in them, the huge trees, tall coconuts. A mountain is a home for people…like in the tribes… and animals like baboy-damo, birds, wild chickens, rabbits, deer and many more wild animals. But since it was too far away from us, it looks like blue.

Based from my father's bedtime stories, he lived in the forests as a wild boar hunter when he has not yet met my mother.

Me: Where is that blue cone? (me, pointing at the mountain)
Papa: It is in Baguio, that is a part of the Cordillera mountain ranges.

Me: Is it very far? as in verrry verrry far?

Papa: Yes, one needs to ride a bus to get there.

Me: I want to go to Baguio. It is where I was born. If I do not have money, can we just walk to Baguio?

Papa: (chuckles..) I am sure you will get there soon, when you are already a grown up.

Since then, when I looked outside our window, just after the guava branches I can see the blue mountain which Papa said is a mountain in Baguio, I dreamt of getting there...reaching its summit, looking down from there and search for our little house. I also heard it was very cold in Baguio too. And so, I promise myself that when I grow up, I will get there and bring my jacket. That was long 18 years ago. I was then 5 year-old little kid full of wonder and innocence.

Hurray! The day I was dreaming of became a reality. It was one of the most exciting days of my life, in one cold day of December. Our adventure will be climbing one of the mountain located in Atok, Benguet, a few hours town from Baguio City - the charming and very peaceful, Mt. Timbak. Okay, let’s do it together!

Mt. Timbak is the third highest mountain in Luzon. This mountain is part of Atok, Benguet and there is a boundary trail which leads to Kabayan, Benguet, a nearby municipality. It is also one of the favorite entry point for mountaineers who want to experience climbing the Mt. Timbak-Mt.Tabayoc and Mt. Pulag aso known as the Luzon 3-2-1 adventure climb. Mt. Timbak as we witnessed offers a very beautiful view of the Halsema Highway, highland vegetable gardens of the local farmers, and the magnificent sea of clouds. Our pictures will never do any justice the real beauty of the views we have just seen. But once reminisce; the memories always bring a mood of happiness and love.

This is the story of a day climb to Mt. Timbak and the 5 things that we will never forget about it:

1.Going up 

 Pag akyat palang namin wala pang 1 minute pagod na kami.

2. Clearer minds up and open heart up there

Yung naglalakad kami tapos heart to heart talk sa daan

3. Summit!summit!summit!

Yung nasa tuktok na kami! Yey!

4. See you, mummy!

Pag akyat sa hagdan galing sa mummy cave...challenging!

5. Just your presence

Yung magkasama kaming dalawa sa buong araw ng adventure. 

The locals are very nice to us. We were on our way up the summit when an elf truck stopped by and ask us if we want a lift but we politely decline, cheerfully telling them that we need to exercise. Along the way, we saw some farmers tending their vegetable plots. It was our first time to see cabbage still planted in the soil and the harvested potatoes still scattered in the soil. They gave us curious glances maybe wondering what on earth are we doing on their place? Hehe.. 

Along the trail we also meet a foreigner, who we exchanged greetings and safe wishes. As we go on our trail we try to guess his nationality. All my childhood days, I believe that if one is white, then that person is from America. Haha! Anyway, so much for funny memories. Before packing our bags and spend our time travelling up there, we are already aware that locals preferred not to let travelers camp on the summit. They have heard that once, some group of people had camped there and leave the place in great disaster. Once, there were also some couples who stayed at night at the summit and did disrespectful things which they believe affect their harvest because the gods/bantay up there became angry. Of course, they only wanted their place to remain peaceful, and respected. We came here with utmost respect for them and their traditions and belief. I think it is very important to bring good discipline anywhere we go. The old woman gave us her blessing to continue our journey and bade her thank you. We also meet some little kids and gave them candies. They confirmed us that we are going the right direction. However upon one last lap of an ascending trail to the summit, we lost our track. We headed to the house which is a dead end, no more trail. Hehe. We went back where we came from seeing beautiful plants, rabbits and colorful flowers.

Then we saw the old woman again and in her back, a one full sack of chicken dung they used as fertilizer to the vegetables and told us the right way up there. Whew! She's very strong and climbs so fast, we thank her again. Up we go and finally reached the summit! Thanks God. 

Summit!Summit!Summit!

After few minutes of enjoying the view above, we are now ready for descend. We are sure we can go down fast because it is now a “going-down trail” which means lesser effort because of the pull of gravity and extra careful not to slipped. We still had the chance to cherish all the beautiful views we saw and we never get used to it. I do not know and I do not care how many times I utter the words: "Wow, nagpintas!" (Ilocano phrase for “Wow, it’s beautiful!”) With the hope, that this raw beauty be preserved in many years to come.

We also visited the Timbak Mummy Burial Cave down the paved road going to Kabayan. We almost lost hope because it was a long walk. We even try to rest for a while wait for someone to ask for directions. When a truck passed by and the people there offers us for a lift again, we humbly decline again and just asked for the mummy cave direction. They just pointed at direction where many trucks are located. It was like a talyer in the place. And opposite to the talyer is the house that welcomes visitors who wanted to see the mummy cave. The caretaker's daughter was there to assists us. She said lucky the weather is good that day because last few days, they have rainy days. The stairs to the mummy cave is a little steep but the view is breath taking. It was located at high altitude and it serves as a viewing deck of the place. Mountain ranges in your right, pine trees in your right. “Wow, nagpintas!” They let us take a peek on the mummies inside the wooden coffin. It is very different from mummies in movies being wrapped in tissue-like cloth. We have just witnessed a part of history and culture. It was our first time to see a real mummy. 

Going back to the main highway though a little far, we still managed to walk. We pause a little savoring each other's company, the silence between us is a beautiful song, the mountains view we behold were like a dream, the breeze that touches our cheeks refreshes our tired body, but our souls are full of heartwarming experience we will never forget.

We have a very tiring but unforgettable adventure that we will cherish forever. Success! We both agree that this experience calls a bowl of steaming bulalo for dinner :)

Cheers!

12.22.13