The Tease That Mt. Danglay Is

Easily seen across Cancabato Bay from Tacloban City, is Mt. Danglay...a prominent rise that has been left rather a mere lure by me, for some unfair stretch of time now. Perhaps, ironically... the proximity was part of why. But as a return to Mt. Guiting-Guiting looms, all of sudden... a day hike up the Basey, Samar elevation sounded just right as a climb conditioning activity. Thus, up early late part of last week... off I was. 

I opted to take a pump boat ride from the port area. It took a mere fifteen minutes to cross the bay. I then decided to make Basey's Sitio Calbang as my jump off point, which took another fifteen minutes via a "habal-habal" ride. Upon my reaching the tucked-away community, I announced my intent to climb up Mt. Danglay and that I needed a guide. I was advised to go to the plaza and perhaps among a group of idle youths I'd find one. No one seemed as eager but one did present himself... only that he would want us to bring along a third party. So, it was Jhunjie and Kokoy.

The trail from the village is not as established as the one

from Basey proper. Although from the sitio the route is shorter, the ascent is significantly more steep, and became even more challenging as we decided to veer off the seemingly disappearing trail anyway. So instead, outright we headed towards the wall instead of the trek further around... and made our last portion of the climb a 90-degree assault, creating our trail as we went. Thankfully, Jhunjie the lead guide had a jungle bolo to help us pave our way through. 

So it was "four-wheel-drive" time...meaning

pretty much the use of both hands and feet to hoist ourselves most of the vertical way up the 35-40 meter cliff-side. There were plenty of wild rattan vines to help us only they were to be first pulled till they were felt secure enough to prevent additional give... specially that footing was a bit treacherous.  Rocks for feet to rest on often were not anchored deep enough that at times...they would simply peel off. Bushy growths were the other options. But yes, definitely ensured that at least one hand was a solidly secure hold to support body weight in case of foot-slippage... which did happen to me a couple of times, and yes... feelings of those adrenaline driven simultaneous gasps and smiles.

Jhunjie, Kokoy and I turned to be quite a trio of a

team. Definitely  an overnight at the summit would now be the next inviting option... thinking sunset, stars, sunrise. 

Life is good!