Arjon James Esteban climbedlogged Sat, Nov 7, 11:24 AM

Mt. Purgatory Traverse

Trail · Mt. Pack, Mt. Komkompol · climbed Sep 20, 2025

Second major hike for me! Overall, the hike was relatively manageable, thanks to the cold weather. However, one thing I realized along the way is that climbing paved roads can feel much harder than navigating actual trails. Or maybe it had something to do with my gear combination. 😂 The mossy forest, on the other hand, was an entirely different experience. It felt eerie, almost as if some unseen presence was following us. You could hear rustling in the forest, and it genuinely felt like something was moving along with us. The trees even seemed to take on different shapes whenever you weren’t looking directly at them. Definitely a place that gets your imagination running wild! A few things to keep in mind: bring a poncho because the weather can be unpredictable. You don’t want to get soaked, especially with how cold it gets up there. One of my buddies even came close to experiencing hypothermia, so it was a good thing we managed to descend quickly. Best experienced with a group. Don’t attempt this solo, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the terrain and weather conditions. If I were to do this traverse again, I’d make sure to properly test my gear and clothing combination beforehand. A comfortable setup makes a huge difference on the trail. ⛰️