MT. BULUSAN (BULUSAN VOLCANO)
Bulusan, Sorsogon
Major jumpoff: Lake Bulusan, Brgy. San Roque, Bulusan
LLA: 1565 MASL
By: Mike
Bulusan Volcano is situated in the southern most part of Luzon. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. It's last eruption happened in February 2011. Because of the eruption the Black Bird lake was covered by ash and leaving the lake dry until now.
Climbing Bulusan takes a lot of time travel. It takes 10-14 hours from Manila to Irosin Sorsogon, then a 45 minute tricycle ride going to Bulusan Volcano National park. Seven people agreed to these adventure, we left Cubao Bus terminal via Elavil bus around 8:30 pm and arrive at Irosin, Sorsogon around 10:00 am. We headed straight to Irosin market to buy supplies and eat our early lunch.
After lunch we take a tricycle to trailhead for 150/trip. We reached Bulusan Volcano National Park by 12:30 PM. Caretakers then approached us and ask if we have informed their Park Manager Mr. Phillip regarding our climb. (sabi ko yes po we texted sir Phillip). But because cellphone numbers do change often. Mr. Phillip never received any text coming from me regarding our climb on the said date. Biglang nalungkot lahat. haha
But because of the information I told them that we send a text message to Sir Phillip, caretakers right away contacted their park manager and prepare all the necessary requirements so that our climb can push through. (sobrang bait ng mga local caretakers dun) Thumbs up!
While waiting for our permit, Donna, Bogs and I decided to ride a kayak along Bulusan lake to warm ourselves up. At first, I was nervous because this would be my first time kayaking and I've heard that Bulusan lake's deep is around 80 feet. (Shit ang lalim)
Our permit to climb arrived around 2:30 pm. We started kayaking across the lake by 2:40 pm and arrived at the jump off by 3:00 pm. After a short prayer, we then started are trekking inside a tropical rainforest which has a moderate slope. Three kilometers of walking past 5:00 pm we reached the ranger station, we then take a few minutes rest before we start the much steeper trail.
Ranger station is a small hut that marks the halfway point of Bulusan lake and Aguingay lake. After 20 minutes rest, we resume our trek to a much narrower and steeper trail and with limatik presence on the area. From Ranger Station to Aguingay lake campsite it will take around 2-3 hours of trekking. We arrived at the campsite around 8:00 pm, by 9:00 pm our socials started.
We commenced our Bulusan adventure by an early 3:30 am summit assault. This summit assault sometimes requires the hiker to crawl up the slope. For me this is the most challenging part because it takes 3 hours to reach the crater. Around 6:30 am I was the first one to reach the crater and I was lucky to have a great weather, and saw how breathtaking it is. The BlackBirds lake is already dry because of the explosion happened last February 2011. After a few minutes clouds covered the crater, we then decided to go down to have our brunch before starting our descent back to lake Bulusan
It was 2:30 pm when we reached Bulusan Lake, caretakers from the lake cooked sinigang na isda, fried chicken, and vegetables with unlimited rice for only 150 pesos per person. After late lunch we went to Mateo Hot and cold spring for a relaxing bath.
Contact Information when climbing Mt. Bulusan
Mr. Philip Bartilet (Park Manager) (Email) phil_bartilet@yahoo.com
AGAP Customer Service - +639192231536
Visit their website: http://www.bulusan.net/
Itinerary
Day 0 Friday May 31, 2013
Bulusan, Sorsogon
Major jumpoff: Lake Bulusan, Brgy. San Roque, Bulusan
LLA: 1565 MASL
By: Mike
 |
| Bulusan Lake |
Bulusan Volcano is situated in the southern most part of Luzon. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. It's last eruption happened in February 2011. Because of the eruption the Black Bird lake was covered by ash and leaving the lake dry until now.
Climbing Bulusan takes a lot of time travel. It takes 10-14 hours from Manila to Irosin Sorsogon, then a 45 minute tricycle ride going to Bulusan Volcano National park. Seven people agreed to these adventure, we left Cubao Bus terminal via Elavil bus around 8:30 pm and arrive at Irosin, Sorsogon around 10:00 am. We headed straight to Irosin market to buy supplies and eat our early lunch.
 |
| Irosin Market |
After lunch we take a tricycle to trailhead for 150/trip. We reached Bulusan Volcano National Park by 12:30 PM. Caretakers then approached us and ask if we have informed their Park Manager Mr. Phillip regarding our climb. (sabi ko yes po we texted sir Phillip). But because cellphone numbers do change often. Mr. Phillip never received any text coming from me regarding our climb on the said date. Biglang nalungkot lahat. haha
But because of the information I told them that we send a text message to Sir Phillip, caretakers right away contacted their park manager and prepare all the necessary requirements so that our climb can push through. (sobrang bait ng mga local caretakers dun) Thumbs up!
While waiting for our permit, Donna, Bogs and I decided to ride a kayak along Bulusan lake to warm ourselves up. At first, I was nervous because this would be my first time kayaking and I've heard that Bulusan lake's deep is around 80 feet. (Shit ang lalim)
 |
Our permit to climb arrived around 2:30 pm. We started kayaking across the lake by 2:40 pm and arrived at the jump off by 3:00 pm. After a short prayer, we then started are trekking inside a tropical rainforest which has a moderate slope. Three kilometers of walking past 5:00 pm we reached the ranger station, we then take a few minutes rest before we start the much steeper trail.
 |
| the Seventh Heaven. lol |
Ranger station is a small hut that marks the halfway point of Bulusan lake and Aguingay lake. After 20 minutes rest, we resume our trek to a much narrower and steeper trail and with limatik presence on the area. From Ranger Station to Aguingay lake campsite it will take around 2-3 hours of trekking. We arrived at the campsite around 8:00 pm, by 9:00 pm our socials started.
 |
| Aguingay Lake Campsite |
We commenced our Bulusan adventure by an early 3:30 am summit assault. This summit assault sometimes requires the hiker to crawl up the slope. For me this is the most challenging part because it takes 3 hours to reach the crater. Around 6:30 am I was the first one to reach the crater and I was lucky to have a great weather, and saw how breathtaking it is. The BlackBirds lake is already dry because of the explosion happened last February 2011. After a few minutes clouds covered the crater, we then decided to go down to have our brunch before starting our descent back to lake Bulusan
 |
| at the crater :) |
.jpg) |
| Mt. Mayon from a far distance |
It was 2:30 pm when we reached Bulusan Lake, caretakers from the lake cooked sinigang na isda, fried chicken, and vegetables with unlimited rice for only 150 pesos per person. After late lunch we went to Mateo Hot and cold spring for a relaxing bath.
Contact Information when climbing Mt. Bulusan
Mr. Philip Bartilet (Park Manager) (Email) phil_bartilet@yahoo.com
AGAP Customer Service - +639192231536
Visit their website: http://www.bulusan.net/
Itinerary
Day 0 Friday May 31, 2013
2030 Take bus to Irosin ( Cubao bus station)
Day 1 Saturday
1000 Arrival at Irosin/Bulusan. Buy supplies
1100 Early Lunch
1200 Take tricycle to Bulusan lake (P150/trip)
1240 ETA Lake Bulusan. Registration/Orientation
1400 Start kayaking across the lake
1420 Arrival at trailhead
1430 Start trekking
1630 ETA Ranger Station
1930 ETA Lake Aguingay / Set up camp.
2000 Dinner / Socials
Day 2 Sunday
0300 Wake up call
0330 Start trekking
0630 ETA summit/crater of Mt. Bulusan (1565m)
0730 Start descent
1000 Back at Lake Aguingay / Brunch
1100 Start descent 5 minute Tree Planting at Ranger station
1330 Back at Lake Bulusan
1500 Tidy up at hotsprings
1630 Head back to Irosin crossing
1700 Bus to Manila
Expenses: 2,450 ( no food)
Bus Fare
Air conditioned bus: 900 (Elavil bus) to Irosin
Trike: 150/trip
Registration Fee - P550.00/Pax
Composition - Five (5) Pax per Group
Inclusions - 1 Mountain Guide
- Bulusan Lake Exploration. (Choice of Canoe,Kayak or Rowboat)
- Climbing BIB
- Orientations
- Seedlings(Native) for mandatory tree planting
- Certificate
- Web Postings in http://www.bulusan.net/ (mountaineering page)
No comments:
Post a Comment