Climbing Mt. Apo – Highest Peak in the Philippines

Before having my breakthrough, I experienced one of my breakdowns last 2015. I was diagnosed with Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) with PAPVR (Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return) – a Congenital Heart Disease, and have undergone open-heart surgery. Thank God I survived and I’m all well.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d hike/climb any mountains given my condition. 

I started hiking in November 2019 when my workmates invited me and my boyfriend to go on a minor hike.

I was a bit anxious to ask permission from my parents, until finally I had the courage not to ask them. Instead, I just informed them that I would go on a hike for just about 2 hours. 🙂

♥♥♥

It was an abrupt decision to go on a hike and that is why I named our group team ON THE SPOT. From then on, we made it a hobby to climb mountains on the spot just in General Santos City.

Some of the peaks we have reached were Leyson Park (2 hours), Malyango Peak (2 hours), Sanchez Peak (3 hours), Barikot Peak (2 hours), and Boku-Boku Peak (2 hours), and our hike to Lake Holon (5 hours) in South Cotabato.

Being with nature is so surreal and the breathtaking views when you’re already at the summit or peak of the mountain is just fulfilling. Last October 2021, my friends invited us to ascend Mt. Apo – the highest mountain/peak in the Philippines.

I was having second thoughts given its high altitude, the level of difficulty going to the summit, the expenses to book for a tour guide, buy hiking stuff, and other necessities. 

Mount Apo, also known locally as Apo Sandawa, is a large solfataric, dormant stratovolcano on the island of Mindanao, Philippines. With an elevation of 2,954 meters (9,692 ft) above sea level, it is the highest mountain in the Philippine Archipelago, Mindanao, and the 24th highest peak of an island on Earth.

Located between Davao City and Davao del Sur in the Davao Region and Cotabato in Soccsksargen, Mount Apo is the most prominent mountain in the Philippines. The peak overlooks from Davao City 45 kilometers (28 mi) to the northeast, Digos 25 kilometers (16 mi) to the southeast, and Kidapawan 20 kilometers (12 mi) to the west. It is a protected area and a Natural Park of the Philippines. Source: Wikipedia

And yes! We made it to the top! 😊

Here are some of the snaps we took during our ascent to Mt. Apo via Circuit Trail (3D2N), Kapatagan Digos – Sta. Cruz Traverse Trail last November 20-22, 2021.

Day 1: November 20, 2021

🌳 1st Stop: Sitio Tumpis

We already hiked around 40 minutes from the Dam which is the jump-off area until Sitio Tumpis. 

🌳 2nd Stop: Basakan E-Camp 

I think it’s called “basakan” since there are portions of the trail that were muddy or wet land just like in a rice field.

🌳 3rd Stop: Bugha-anan Stopover Station

We relaxed here for 30 minutes and ate our snacks: 8.5 km before reaching Mt. Apo Summit (so near yet so far. Hahaha.)

🌳 4th Stop: Big Rock E-Camp

This is an amazing big rock with a full-grown tree in it. I can already feel the exhaustion from the previous stopover until here. We were still on our first day of hiking. More to go. Haha. 

🌳 5th Stop: Tinikaran Camp 1 (Our First Night) 

This was our 1^st overnight in Tinikaran Camp 1. Exhausted from the almost 8 hours hike. 

Trivia: The camp was named after the Tinikaran trees endemic to Mt. Apo.

It was still 4 pm when these photos were taken yet it’s already very cold We have no group pic since our friends were busy arranging their things inside their tents. 

Day 2: November 21, 2021

🌳 1st stop: Tinikaran Campsite 2

When we broke camp, we were supposed to leave at 2 am but heavy rain poured so we started our ascent to the boulders at around 4 am. This is one of the most unforgettable stations since we ascended at dawn and it was very dark even if we had headlamps/flashlights. It’s like an 80-degree assault. Huhu.

Thanks to my boyfriend who carried my small backpack (added to his 20 kilos backpack) while I was catching my breath, haha.

Blinded by darkness, I had a few bruises on my legs because of the logs of trees horizontally blocking the way.

🌳 2nd Stop: Welcome to the Boulder Face

When we reached the entrance of the boulder face, we just said, Woooooow!!

And then the adventure began.

🌳 3rd Stop: Gabroq E-Camp (still in Boulders)

Yehey! We reached this camp and the guide told us that we were already halfway to Mt. Apo summit. Also, we were halfway through our breaths. Hahaha. We ascended continuously for almost 4 hours (with resting time), from Tinikaran Camp 2 until here.

🌳 4th Stop: White Sand E-Camp

When we reached this camp, it felt like we were in a foreign country. It was also one of the beautiful camps that we passed by.

🌳 5th Stop: Old Crater

Felt surreal! Wuhoooo! Increasing altitude means Check the last photo: it was taken when we continued climbing to the summit.

Mt. Apo Regional Boundary R.XI and R.XII 

Mt. Apo Summit: 10,311 ft. above sea level 

Wuhooo !!! We made it! 

The 2^nd day is the most crucial day when we ascended Mt. Apo. We hiked for almost 12 hours from 4 am (we just stopped for a 5-minute interval and during lunch time), and reached Lake Venado at already around 5 pm.

🌳 Last Stop: Lake Venado

Day 3: November 22, 2021

Lake Venado Sesh.

This is the last day of our major climb. We hiked for almost 8 hours, and thankfully, we safely returned to the jump-off area at around 5 pm.

On The Spot Mountaineering Team conquered the highest point/mountain in the Philippines, MT. APO via CIRCUIT TRAIL, 3D2N (Kapatagan Digos – Sta. Cruz Traverse Trail) 

Our organizer named us Power 6 hehe -> Reyva, Reynald, Jemmarie, Larry, Jayson, Nasron

Thank you so much to our supportive families and to all who are involved in this major climb.

📣 Shout Out! Shout Out! 📣

✅ Our ON THE SPOT T-shirt Layout Artist: Kuya Ryan

✅ Official Printing of T-shirts: AD Apparel, Ronnel, Lance

✅ Organizer/Guide/Chef : Sir Gio Kol Phaw 

✅ Legit Guide/Photo/Videographer: Sir Clyde Gingco, Wander Apo 

✅ Legit Chef: Neyo Depita

✅ Sweeper: Sir Panpan, Jc Dum, Sir Bebot and to all colleagues of Sir Clyde and Sir Gio, especially to all the porters who tirelessly carried our extra bags for 3 days. Thank you so much!

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✅ Wander Apo
✅ Philippine Group of Mountaineers 
✅ NOMAD Outdoor GEAR
✅ Brown Trekker Gensan
✅ AD Apparel

Till our next climb,
Team On the Spot

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.”

Mary Kay Ash