I was supposed to wake up at 3am but instead, woke up at 4 and left at 430am. The night before, i was excited but at the same time thinking if i made the right choice coz it was my first time to hike. By 7am, we arrived at Mt. Arayat, Pampanga and when i saw the mountain, i thought that it wasn't as steep as it should be and we have been told that it's a good place to hike for beginners as it's classified as Level 2 climb. 
The picture above was just the beginning of the hike. It looks easy suuuurree but let's see how it goes later on.
This is mount arayat from the bottom.
Still from the bottom of the mountain.
On the way up to 1/4th of the mountain, we have been resting every 15-20 minutes. I was shocked at how humongous the mosquitos are and how pesky they are and we've been told by the guide that they don't carry malaria or dengue. I wondered why they were awake on broad daylight. If you plan to hike on this mountain, bring mosquito repellant but i don't think that it will be as effective as it should coz you will be sweating the whole time ergo attracting mosquitos. Going up is actually a cardiac workout. Your heart will start pounding at every step you make, will have chest constrictions and everything feels soo heavy. Resting is a must and the weather helps since it was still early, the wind was cool and a bit cloudy. Thank god we bought like 100 bottles of water and loads of gatorade.
still going up
By this time, the way keeps getting steeper and steeper that we'd rest every 5 minutes.
It was around 830am when i took the picture above and mind you, we've only gone up 1/4th of the mountain. Still a long way to go and i am soo tired and my whole shirt is drenched in sweat. It is advisable to wear long sleeves (keep cloth as thin as possible) as there are branches that can scratch you and mosquitos, ants (as in really big black and red ants) and spiders that can bite you.
I actually felt like giving up coz on the picture above, you'll see how steep it is and later, it will be even more steep. Not to mention being on all fours and climbing rocks. Everyone started asking, how are we supposed to go back?? It was scary.
Unbelievable smog! Lol actually in these pictures, it looks like smog but up there, it's actually clouds and still early in the morning. Bring camera coz if you're too shy or ashamed to take a break when everyone is on the go, taking pictures is a good excuse for you to stop
Pictures above are of me being soo stroppy. All the while i kept saying to myself, i should have never done this!
Oh dear! More obstacles comes are way and they aren't getting better!
Oh my god the rocks! Climbing them is easy but think about how to go down that effing huge rock!
Finally at the viewing deck!
Oh my god I really wanted to stop and turn back lol. I started to get hungry around 1030am. We were supposed to go to the viewing deck of the mountain and i expected a big place with railings and stuff but it was actually just a big boulder. All 15 of us squeezed in. It took us 4 hours to get to that viewing deck. The viewing deck was about 2 more hours away from the very top. We decided to eat at the viewing deck. I had my pan-fried salmon while everyone had tocino, longganisa and red egg with huge amount rice wrapped on banana leaves. The view in the viewing deck was really beautiful. So, this is the longest break we've had lol. An hour and a half break compared to 15 minute break each work out.
Going down was really scary. It was "slippery" considering the ground was too dry and too many dried leaves. Thank god that I had a really good balancing stick i found on the way up and it was very helpful.
Going down was as challenging as going up but not as tiring.
It took us about 4 hours to go down with only 4 rests compared to going up, we've had like maybe over 100 rests lol. It was about 330pm when i took the photos above. IT was about 1/4th of the mountain from the bottom. Try comparing the photo above from the earlier ones i took at about 830am. This time, sun is up and it's hot but the wind is still cool. On way down, because of so much pressure i put on my toes, my shoe broke. The cleats/soles had to be removed and while walking, the shoe finally had holes underneath that sands and sharp stuff keeps going in my shoe. Well what can i say, it's a sacrifice i'm willing to make just to get back to the comfort of my own home.
The whole experience was new to me. I've never been on a hike before and I think i did a good job at it. At the end of the hike, i feel like i've achieved so much. Sure it was tiring, hot, and obviously wake up the next day with a very sore body but rewards are priceless. This is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.
