Let's start with, how we celebrate our
Valentines day?
This is our kind of
Valentines Day
Mount Pulag is Luzon’s highest peak at 2,926 metres above sea level. The
borders between the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya meet at the
mountain's peak. The peak of the mountain is located in the Municipality of
Kabayan Province of Benguet. It is the third highest mountain in the
Philippines, next to Mt. Apo and Mt. Dulang-dulang.
About Mt. Pulag
Mount Pulag is famous for its
"sea of clouds" and the view of the Milky Way Galaxy at dawn, which
has attracted many tourists who wish to see the "other-worldly"
scenery. The entire mountain is believed to be the home to the tinmongao
spirits and is the sacred resting ground of the souls of the Ibaloi people and
other ethnic peoples in the area.
It is the natural habitat of the endemic Dwarf Bamboo, As the highest mountain
in Luzon, Mount Pulag attracts a lot of mountain climbers. Highlights of the
climb include the montane forests and the grassland summit with its "sea
of clouds" phenomenon. There are four major trails up the summit: the Ambangeg,
Akiki, and Tawangan trails from Benguet and the Ambaguio trail from Nueva
Vizcaya. These trails are managed by the Mount Pulag National Park, under the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Among of these trails, Akiki
trail is the most difficult one for its assualt trail from Eddet camp site to
Akiki camp site until the summit of Mt. Pulag.
We had our climb to Mt. Pulag via Akiki -Ambangeng trail back on February
14-15, 2020. We are all from the province of Cebu, our team compose of hikers,
not really hikers and non hiker or first timer. Some of the goup were picked up
at Clark while me, Renson and Hardilene were picked up in Baguio City. Fast
forward, we left Baguio City around 5am going to the DENR in Mt. Pulag.
Ambuclao Dam
Its too early pa at malapit na
kami sa medical clinic at sa office ng DENR so since it's too early pa naman
huminto kami saglit sa Ambuclao Dam. Maganda at siguru sobrang lamig ng
tubig dito.
Physical Check-up
Every hikers needs to go
though to physical check before hiking to make sure that you're physically fit
for the activity and for safety na rin. Pagdating namin sa DENR, we had our
last minute buying for the things we need in the summit or in the camp site
such as cloves, emergency blanket, jackets, foods, water and etc. After
preparing, we had our orientation first in DENR's office, everyone must go
thourgh to the orientation before going to the summit just to remind the rules
in hiking and in the mountain.
We arrived in Akki rangers
station/jump off at 1pm and we officially started our "agony" at
0130pm. In the first 100 steps (more or less), parang exhusted na ang lahat
kasi ....."it's for you to find out"... In the first 30 minutes of
our hike, lahat ng trail is assult, pa joke pa naming sinasabi na "balik
nalang tayo", akala namin malamig yung hangin but its not, sobrang init sa
trail kasi it is an open trail at assualt pa. Thankfully after more or less 30
mins of assualt downhill na until Edden camp site. Medyo may kalayoan din yung
Eddet camp site, it took more or less 3 hours, slow pacing namin.
Eddet Camping Area
We did not stay in Eddet camp
site much longer, kasi hapon na and kailangan pa namin makarating sa Akiki camp
site kung saan kami mag ka camp. Good thing about the trail going to Akiki camp
site is that the trail is establish, however, it is purely assualt trail
until Akiki camp site. After 5 hours of hiking in a purely assault trail, we
finally arrived at the Akiki camp site around 9pm. Everyone were exhusted kasi
nga the trail is puro assault from the start until Akiki camp site plus yung
back pack namin na super bigat, mine is 12kg by the way😣.
Hike from Akiki Camp Site to Mt. Pulag Summit
After 8 hrs of hiking in a
purong assault na trail, everyone are so puyat so after dinner tulog
agad, no socials or kung ano ano. We need break our camp and pack our thing at
3am as we will start our ascend to the summit at 4 am. Everyone has no descent
breakfast, we only had coffee and noodles (harkor. haha) buti na din yun para
di masyado mabigat tyan namin kasing bigat ng feelings ko sa kanya. WRONG! haha
It is already 6 am but we
were still in the middle of Mossy forest (still assault assault assault..) we
had a teammate who is first timer sa hike so expected na slow yung pacing namin
at wala pang descent na breakfast. Sa gutom namin, kahit ano ano nalang kina
kainin namin along the trail buti nalang may tuna, bread and etc yung mga
kasamahan namin. Masaya at naka smile parin ang lahat kahit gutom, pagod at ina
antok pa. In the middle of Mossy Forest, the last water source before the
summit can be found.
Grassland
It took more or less 3
hours of purely assult trail in Mossy Forest. Di na namin nakikita how
beautiful Mossy Forest is kasi it was dark pa when we had our hike. Gayun pa
man, may part parin ng Mossy Forest na nakikita namin kasi almost 7 am na at
nag hike pa din kami sa Mossy Forest. We finally had our exit in Mossy Forest
to Grassland almost 7am. It feels like "Yes! Finally, malapit na din kami
sa summit", unfortunately, agony is not over yet kasi parang fake news
sobrang layo pa pala 😣😣. It was already around 8am but Kaka
start lang namin mag hike sa grassland. Open trail na at masakit na sa balat
yung init, we are all exhausted and hungry so tumingil kami kunti at kumain ng
biscuits, tuna at iba pa.
Mt. Pulag Summit
Moving forward, after lahat
ng pagod, pawis, gutom at 6 hours na hike from Akiki Camp site to Mossy Forest
to Grassland, finally nakarating na rin kami sa summit. Hindi namin ramdam ang
lamig sa peak kasi sun was shining so bright nung pagdating namin sa summit
pero worth it lahat ng hirap at pawis. Of course everyone deserve cool photos
after all ng pag hihirap at *pagmumura* sa trail.😂😂
We just stayed at the summit for more or less 30 mins kasi malayo pa lalakarin
namin pa exit which is via Ambangeg trail but good thing kasi wala ng assault
trail, hayy what a relieve.
Ambangeg Trail
Sa hirap ng dinaranas namin
sa Akiki trail parang super easy nalang yung Ambangeg Trail 😂. In fact,
nag mini trail run kami/ako sa trail galing summit before Mossy Forest in
Ambangeg kasi yung trail is open wide and it was around 12nn na, therefore,
super init talaga. We arrived at Ambangeg Camp site 2 around 1pm, medyo okay na
kasi covered at malamig na yung trail kasi nasa loob na ng Mossy Forest.
We all thought na kasi nakarating na kami sa Camp site 2 malapit na kami
sa Ambangeg rangers station or yung jump off ng Ambangeg pero di pa pala.
Sobrang layo pa, it shows sa maps.me kung gaano pa kami kalayo. We are all
exhausted kasi it's past lunch time na pero wala pa kaming lunch at all and no
descent breakfast pa. 😣
We finally arrived at Ambangeg rangers station almost 4pm na. Yung assault team
nakarating dun around 2pm, technically nahati yung groupo namin into 2 (assault
team and asshault team). Assault team sila yung tunay na harkor 😍 and
asshault yung nasa sweeper mga slower pacer 😂😂.
Gayun paman, we are all greatful sa experience namin and can say na everything
is worth it. Our experience in pulag is worth the pain. We are also greatful na
we're are able to exit from Akiki Trail, Pulag's Summit at Ambangeg trail
without casualties, there's no even minor casualty except nung gutom na gutom
na kami 😂.
Kudos to Alanide who is first time mag hike, did not went through to practice
climb but was able to conquer Mt. Pulag via Akiki-Ambangeg Trail. Kudos also to
Hardi, Renson, and Mharz na wala ding practice at naka tapos sa Akiki via
Ambangeg Trail. Woot woot..
Kudos to all. It was indeed a great experience, sa ulitin but sa Ambangeg na
tayo never na mag Akiki 😂.
Mt. Pulag
| SUGGESTED THINGS TO BRING |
| BONNET |
CAP |
HEAD GEAR |
UMBRELLA |
| RAINCOAT/PONCHO |
RAIN JACKET |
COAT/FLEECE |
TSHIRT |
| ARM SLEEVE |
THERMAL GLOVES/Just Gloves |
THERMAL PANTS/Just Pants |
SHORTS |
| UNDERWEAR |
SOCKS |
SHOES |
SANDAL/SLIPPER |
| TENT |
SLEEPING BAG |
INSULATOR MAT |
TREKKING POLE |
| TRAPAL |
CUP/LunchBox/Spoon&Fork |
WATER BLADDER/ Water Bottle |
TRAIL FOODS |
| ENERGY GEL/DRINK |
PERSONAL HYGIENE KIT |
PERSONAL MED |
Batteries for head lamp/flashlight |
| POWERBANK |
HEAD LAMP/FLASHLIGHT |
EMERGENCY BLANKET |
TOWEL |
| NOTE |
| MAKE SURE YOUR ATTAIRE CAN FIGHT COLD ENVIRONMENT |
| MAKE SURE TO WATER PROOF YOUR THINGS (USE ZIPLOCK OR TRASHBAG/BIG PLASTIC) |
| MAKE SURE THE NUMBER THINGS YOU BRING IS ENOUGH |
| ITS NOT NECESSARY TO BRING ALL THE THINGS LISTED. ALTERNATIVE WILL DO (e.g use stick instead of trekking pole) |
Mt. Pulag Fire Alert
NEWS: Mount Pulag Forest FIRE 2 years ago.
On January 20, 2018, the Mount Pulag National Park temporarily suspended trekking and hiking activities on Mount Pulag following a forest fire at a section of the mountain. According to an initial investigation, the fire started when a butane gas stove brought by a hiker allegedly exploded. The fire officers in site have declared a fire extinguished later that day. Cases were afterwards filed against the perpetrators of the fire. Park rangers estimate that it will take at least 6 months to 1 year before the area recovers holistically.
NEWS: Eddet Camp site and Akiki Trail on Fire
On February 14, 2020, we arrived at Akiki rangers station nag start na yung wild forest and as per lokals normal lang daw yun at it was on going 5 days from the 14th. Few days from the day ng amping hike, napabalita nang na susunog yung Akiki Trail, we are the last group who were able to have hiking before it was shutdown for hikers due to wild fire. It was estimated 900 hectares ang na susunog at na damage. Sa pagkaka alam namin sa news sadya daw yung pag susunog hanggang sa lumaki. 😣😢.
Surely, there are no laws that would prevent you from doing something or fun activities as long as you do not disturb others or hurt nature and environment, Yes?
Enjoy your trip and let your worries go away even just for a day!
RESPECT mother nature and practice The Leave No Trace Policy.
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of other visitors
LEAVE nothing but FOOTPRINTS, TAKE nothing but PICTURES, KILL nothing but TIME.
See ya!
We had our climb to Mt. Pulag via Akiki -Ambangeng trail back on February
14-15, 2020. We are all from the province of Cebu, our team compose of hikers,
not really hikers and non hiker or first timer. Some of the goup were picked up
at Clark while me, Renson and Hardilene were picked up in Baguio City. Fast
forward, we left Baguio City around 5am going to the DENR in Mt. Pulag. 
We all thought na kasi nakarating na kami sa Camp site 2 malapit na kami
sa Ambangeg rangers station or yung jump off ng Ambangeg pero di pa pala.
Sobrang layo pa, it shows sa maps.me kung gaano pa kami kalayo. We are all
exhausted kasi it's past lunch time na pero wala pa kaming lunch at all and no
descent breakfast pa. 😣
We finally arrived at Ambangeg rangers station almost 4pm na. Yung assault team
nakarating dun around 2pm, technically nahati yung groupo namin into 2 (assault
team and asshault team). Assault team sila yung tunay na harkor 😍 and
asshault yung nasa sweeper mga slower pacer 😂😂. 
Gayun paman, we are all greatful sa experience namin and can say na everything
is worth it. Our experience in pulag is worth the pain. We are also greatful na
we're are able to exit from Akiki Trail, Pulag's Summit at Ambangeg trail
without casualties, there's no even minor casualty except nung gutom na gutom
na kami 😂. 
Kudos to Alanide who is first time mag hike, did not went through to practice
climb but was able to conquer Mt. Pulag via Akiki-Ambangeg Trail. Kudos also to
Hardi, Renson, and Mharz na wala ding practice at naka tapos sa Akiki via
Ambangeg Trail. Woot woot.. 
Kudos to all. It was indeed a great experience, sa ulitin but sa Ambangeg na
tayo never na mag Akiki 😂. 
Surely, there are no laws that would prevent you from doing something or fun activities as long as you do not disturb others or hurt nature and environment, Yes?
