DESTINATION: Anawangin Cove via Mt. Pundaquit 464 MASL
JUMP-OFF POINT: Brgy. Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales
SPECS: Minor Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail Class 2
CLIMB DATES: March 5-7, 2010
I left work 30 minutes early to be able to catch the last trip to Iba, Zambales. The traffic in the Metro took 45 minutes of our travel time. It was to be expected since it was a Friday night, gimik night for most yuppies.
We arrived in San Antonio at around 3:30am but we had to wait for Manong Boatman until 4 o'clock. I had balut while my companion was having a cigarette break. We stayed at Manong Boatman's house and waited for our climbing guide. He arrived with a few pan de sal which he secured at his side, near his bolo. I had to ask if the place was dangerous and what the bolo was for. The guide assured me that it was for the branches and whatever which would be getting in our way through the trail. I was relieved but I couldn't hide my fear. I knew the bolo was for something else.
We started trekking before the dawn broke. The way was dark so we had to use flashlights. I tried taking pictures but I couldn't get a clear shot. There were orbs in every attempted take.
When the sun finally rose from its slumber, Manong Guide told us about why some of the grasses were burned. I thought it was "kaingin" done by highland farmers. I was wrong. The burning was done by hunters. And what do they hunt? Deer and wild boars. So, that's what the bolo was for. He assured us that there had been no attack to climbers. However, there was a mishap in the past, when it was rainy season. He showed us the riverbed where a few climbers got taken away by a sudden rush of water from the mountains. They got killed by it. No danger at that moment, though, as it was summer and El Nino just gulped almost all the water that the ground could produce.
When we reached the summit, the beautiful cove could already be seen and we could almost taste it. The way down was confusing but a few stone arrangements helped us find our way out. We went ahead of the guide, that's why... A hour and a half after we reached the beach, the group arrived with our guide.
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