This years Ayala Mountaineering Club Inc. (AMCI) climb to Mt. Apo is a historical one for the group for they include it to the thirty five 35peaks to be climbed by the group on August 18-20, 2018 as part of their 35year anniversary celebration.
The climb started with a briefing of the group the day before the climb at D’Counter Executive dormitel where mtapoadventures.com usually houses their guest.
The climb was scheduled for three days via Sta. Cruz trail on its ascend passing Sitio Colan and MT. Apo Boulderface and descend to the West side via Lake Venado by way of Ko-ong trail and Marble river that will exit in Agco Hot spring in Kidapawan City.
The trek was composed of 27 members of AMCI headed by MS. MARINELLE E. PADILLA together with me and my seasoned crew Roger Navarro , Voltaire Lopez ,Butch Baylon, Arnold Ajoc, Paul Mendoza, Franklin Ponce and 10 of the local porters.
On our day 1 the group visited the local village of Colan which is along the way to the 1st camp site which is in Tinikaran Camp 1. There we purchased some of our last minute basic supplies like biscuits, soft drinks and rice as a support for the local economy.
Along the way, the group conducted tree planting activity at the entrance to the rain forest which makes them feel more closer to mother nature , then proceed to the camp site.
We arrive at the camp site around 4PM then we set our camp. I have been catering AMCI group on their climbs in Mindanao for more than Ten Years and I’ve known some of their cultures for a while.
The AMCI group aside for being well disciplined as a trekker ,they want to bring luxury to the outdoors and you can observe that on their meal plans that’s is why this group needs more time in preparing their meals and breaking the camps.
On the second day of the climb, the group passed the boulderface which tests the endurance of the group specially the first timers for the trail is exposed and would drain your energy faster as you think. Thanks to Voltaire who attended the weakest member of the trek to successfully reach the top of the mountain and safely arrive in Lake Venado where we set our next camp. During this night the group enjoyed the sumptuous dinner prepared by my assistant Moroy as we call him but his real name is Roger.
On the 3rd day we woke the group early since it would take this group with a minimum of 2 hours to break camp not including eating time since we will be having a long trek going down via Ko-ong trail.
Ko-ong trail is very suitable for first timers since there is a portion if this trial where you need to crawl down and test your upper body strength but its manageable as long as you a lot enough time to it .
The last member arrive the exit point around 6PM on that day and we spend the night celebrating the success the group on a small resort in Agco with sumptuous dinner over a couple of drinks while enjoying the hotspring…
