Mt. Kanlaon: 2011 year end climb

almost at the summit

                 



     Standing over 2000 meters above sea level, considered as the country's largest volcano and Visayas' highest mountain, can be found in Negros Occidental.

         

    On December 2011, this was our climb destination. With the aid of the much awaited airline promo fares we managed to booked months before the climb, and the monthly savings from our work pay, we finally made it there. Aboard Airphil Express bound to Bacolod, we are so excited as we travel our way to this majestic mountain.An hour later we arrived in Bacolod, meeting up with rest of the group we started are long journey.

         From Bacolod we rode a bus to LA Carlota, almost 2 hours of bumpy travel that only cost 20 pesos/passenger, (nakakagulat para ka ng bumyahe pa Batangas). And from there we rented a jeepney to our destination jumpoff via Guintubdan trail. We reached our first stop over at around 7pm, and there we spent our night, preparing for the long walk ahead of us.

            Morning of the next day,packed with all the things and geared up for the climb,we.. opps pose muna picture eh.

                 We said our prayer and head out to the wilderness. Naks.. After several hours of walk,skip, hop, bend and most of the time "water break" we reached its camp site. The cold breeze measuring up to 17 degrees Celsius brings unlimited goose bumps. :)  as we pitched our will be home for the night.

               

      The sun was almost setting, it's time for the   summit assault. Its literally freezing during the assault, ang sakit ng tenga ko sa lamig.. but we still pushed on, it takes me almost an hour to reached the summit.
               But when I finally reached it, all those freezing moments came to past. This majestic volcano shared with us the view of all Visayas. "Ang ganda", worth of all the pain we went through.
                   
        Buti nalang I pushed on,  I am so thankful for being able to climb this mountain, a wonderful experience and memory worth keeping.

The descend is as hard as the ascend, (kahit ala na ko bag).. This climb is definitely a test of will and patience and of course stamina. I have included below the lush vegetation present all the way. And I am proud we survived it. :)




TRIVIA:

                The place that Mt. Kanlaon holds for the people of Negros is irreplaceable and important in many aspects of their life. Culturally, Kanlaon is central to the loyal mythology, named after no less than Kan Laon, the supreme deity. Some tribes also hold Kanlaon to be center of the universe - its crater a portal into the unknown source of fire and energy. Attesting to the plurality of legends the mountain has inspired, children also grew up to the tales of "La-on and the Seven-Headed Dragon" . In this tale, a dragon appeared from the mountain, wreaking havoc in the whole island. In order to appease the dragon, the people had to sacrifice one beautiful maiden each year, until they have run out of women, save for the king's daughter. The King, agonized, offered a reward to anyone who could kill the dragon. Then comes a prince named La-on, whose affinity with nature and animals helped him slay the dragon - winning the princess' hand and

earning the mountain as a tribute for his feat, hence Kan Laon, meaning "The Exalted" Laon, later becoming Kanlaon.

reference: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/02/mt-kanlaon-wasay-guintubdan-trails-2435.html