MT.

AMUYAO you: there are pink flowers, highland grass, wild

Mountain Province orchids, and other rarities. The scenery is
Jump-off points: Sitio Macalana, Barlig, Mt. breathtaking, encompassing the high mountains of
Province; Batad, Ifugao the Cordilleras to the west, and the Sierra Madre to
LLA: 17°10N, 120°57E, 2702 MASL the east. Visible are the provinces of Benguet (W),
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days / 5-7 Abra (WNW), Kalinga (N), Cagayan (NE), Isabela
hours (E), and Ifugao (S). Both sunsets and sunrises have
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class a magnificent character; more so the sea of clouds.
3 Aside from the beautiful view its peak affords, Mt.
Amuyao is also special for other reasons. In Igorot
BACKGROUND folklore, diluveal legends say that it is in this high
Rising at the northeastern edge of the Cordilleras is mountain where the surviving man and woman,
the highest point of Mountain Province, Mt. Bugan and Wigan, took refuge. This legend is very
Amuyao. Unlike the famed mountains of the range much like the Biblical tale of Noah, whose ark
such as Mt. Pulag and Mt. Napulauan which can landed in Mt. Ararat. Hence, the mountain has a
only be viewed on high elevations, Mt. Amuyao special place among the locals. Also, its bioversity
stands prominently and can be spotted along the has earned the notice of scientists. Salcedo and
highway to Banaue. Because of its prime location, it Calora of the Benguet State University (2006)
was chosen to be the site of two transmitters, that of reports that “A total of 280 vascular plant species
the PT&T and ABS-CBN. And because its summit belonging to 180 genera and 84 families were
area hosts these sites, the access to the mountain has recorded from actual floristic surveys and
been made easy, with stairways literally running all vegetation analysis of the northern slope of Mt.
the way to the top. This literal flight of stairs takes Amuyao.” They were further able to caterogize
4-7 hours to climb*. Exhauasting and steep, yes, but the mountain into zones: a tropical moist forest
the trail is assuringly well-established and (1600-1800 MASL), tropical premontane wet
continuous. Night trekking is a possibility. forest (1801-2400 MASL) and tropical montane
rainforest (2400-2702 MASL). The same report
Barlig itself is set in high ground, 1300-1400
warns, however, of a bad prognosis regarding the
MASL. From here you would see a mountainous
denudation of the forest; hikers must be aware of
prominence: this is not Mt. Amuyao but Mts. Polis
these environment concerns and lend their hand
and Alemmona. At the start of trek, you would
whenever possible to avert them.
climb up the Awa Rice Fields in Barlig, and then
commence the stairways to two low, successive Another option, recommended for the adventurous
mountains: Mt. Alemmona (1800 MASL) and Mt. lot with the luxury of time, is a traverse of Mt.
Polis (2000 MASL), around two hours total. Here Amuyao all the way to Batad, Ifugao via Pat-yay. A
the refreshing views comprise of pine trees; in Mt. seperate article in PinoyMountaineer has been
Polis a mossy forest ensues, leading to further areas constructed to describe this trek.
locally known as Lifod / Lipod and Tokchor,
respectively (these names are written on a map at
the Tourism Office). The difficult assault ot
Monkelat trail will, after around 3-4 hours of
trekking, take you to the Barlig Viewpoint (2400+
MASL, total of 4-5 hours from jump-off). Here
you can take great shots, including that of the
summit of Mt. Amuyao. Not so far from here is a
spring water source, and also a campsite known
simply as Camp 1. The trails would eventually lead
to a mossy forest again, this time grander, and
culminate in a steep but manageable portion near
the summit called the Amuyao Knife-Edge. From
there, the summit area with its radio towers and
relay stations are very near. From the viewpoint to
the summit, allot an hour of trekking.
At the summit, a display of wild flora will greet
MT. MAAGNAW
Lantapan, Bukidnon
Major jumpoff: Sitio Bul-ogan, Lantapan,
Bukidnon
LLA: 2742m (#8)
Days required / Hours to summit: 3-4
days / 17-18 hours
Specs: Major exploratory climb, Difficulty
9/9, Trail class 3-5
Features: Tribal domain, exploratory
trails, mossy forest
BACKGROUND
The renowned Northern Mindanao explorer
Mijan Pizarro, now of the Bukidnon
Mountaineering Club shares with us the
“next destination” in the Kitanglad Range
after the giants Dulang-Dulang and
Kitanglad. Behold Mt. Maagnaw, the third
highest peak of the range and the eighth
highest mountain in the Philippines. First
summitted on February 2009 by Pizarro,
Jangulan, and the High Conquerors
Mountaineering Club , Maagnaw is the 9th
of the 10 Highest Peaks in the Philippines to
be summitted and documented; leaving only
Mt. Ragang in Lanao del Sur as both
unexplored and undocumented. Maagnaw
was also part of the “Triple Traverse” that
Pizarro led as his 24th birthday climb in
November 2009.
sources around the campsite. Then beyond
the campsite, the trail passes to
Langkayugan Ridge and finally to the
summit of Mt. Maagnaw. This is, of course,
easier said that done: as of now given its
exploratory nature, Maagnaw is given a
rating of Difficulty 9/9.
At the summit, the views of the Kitanglad
range and other peaks are expansive and
breathtaking. Interestingly, from the summit
you can view tribal camps whic are resting
areas of the Talaandig hunters to catch wild
animals. In the photo gallery below Mijan
Pizarro shares the pictures of various peaks
as viewed from Maagnaw. Truly Maagnaw
is a reason for veterans of D2-Kitanglad to
come back to Kitanglad, and along with the
other unexplored summits of the range, it is
proof that there is still much to expect from
the highest mountain range in the
Philippines.

Mt. Maagnaw shares the ethnocultural

heritage of Kitanglad and Dulang-Dulang,
being part of the ancestral domain of the
Talaandig tribe. As in D2 or D2k climbs, a
ceremony has to be performed in which a
sacrifice of chickens would have to be made
before the climbing party will be allowed to
proceed. This ritual ceremony is often held
the night before the climb. Also, Maagnaw
shares the rich biodiversity of the Kitanglad
Mountain Range – said to be one of the final
bastions of the Philippine Eagle, among
other endemic species.

The climb proceeds in Sitio Bul-ogan in

Lantapan (same jumpoff as Mt. Dulang-
Dulang) and, after open trails, passes by a
forest. The campsite in this forest is called
Panginoma, which means “To drink” in the
native tongues; there are lots of water
Mount Ragang
also called Mount Piapayungan and Blue
Mountain by the local people, is
a stratovolcano on Mindanao island in
the Philippines. It is the seventh highest
mountain in the Philippines and the highest
point in Lanao del Sur.
Ragang has an elevation of 2,815 metres
(9,236 ft) and a base diameter of 32 km
(20 mi).
It is the most active volcano on Mindanao, and
is part of a string of volcanoes in
what volcanologists call the Central Mindanao
Arc. It is one of the active volcanoes in the
Philippines, which are all part of the Pacific
ring of fire.
There is still some confusion on the number of
times Ragang has erupted. The Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lists
eight eruptions, with the last one occurring in
July 1916. But the Smithsonian Institution's
Global Volcanology Programs, citing
the Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the
World (Neumann van Padang, 1953),
suggests that some eruptions attributed to
nearby Makaturing were those of Ragang.
On April 4, 2013, 1205H, I together with
Reynaldo Nalda, Lance Dy, reached the
summit of Mt. Ragangtogether with our
esteemed local guides. It was a very
challenging trek, meriting a Difficulty 9/9
classification, and the logistics and security
concerns involved a lot of effort, patience, and
faith.
2013 and it took us 20 hours of hiking to
reach the summit, and 17 hours to descend.
The trail is highly overgrown and full
of rattan and lipa, owing to illegal logging in
the mountain range during the 1990s. Beyond
2000 MASL, however, a beautiful mossy
forest emerges, and even the peak is covered
by a mossy forest.
The banks of a beautiful river in a valley
where wild deer live served as our campsite
before assaulting the summit. Where mossy
forests do not obscure the view, you can see
the vast Lake Lanao, along with the towns of
Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Cotabato,
the three provinces on whose borders the
mountain range lies.
I thank our Christian and Muslim brothers and
sisters, as well as my companions in the trek,
for making this hike possible. I see promise in
the Piapayungan Range in terms of future
explorations, and I will do my best to share
information about this hike in the future, in
coordination with local official.

Mt. Ragang, is one of several high peaks of

the Piapayungan Range, and many of these
peaks have unverified altitudes. It will take
further explorations of the range to confirm
the relative elevations of these peaks, but I am
convinced that what we reached is one of two
highest peaks in the range, the other being Mt.
Piapayungan, which has an aerial distance of
3.7 kms from the peak of Mt. Ragang.

The exploration climb lasted from April 1-5,

MT. TABAYOC
Benguet and Ifugao
Major jump-off: Brgy. Ballay, Kabayan,
Benguet
LLA: 16.7000° N; 120.88333° E; 2842
MASL (#5)
Days required / Hours to summit: 2-3 days
/4-6 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail
class 2-3 (as of 2019)
BACKGROUND
Mt. Tabayoc, in Kabayan, Benguet, is the
second highest mountain in Luzon and the
fifth in the Philippines. Like its southern
neighbor, Mt. Pulag, it has name variants,
such as Tabayac or Talbayog. The meaning of
the name, in the native tongues, is “basin”,
alluding perhaps to the four lakes in its base:
Lake Tabeo, Ambulalakao, Iculus, Detapnaco.
All the lakes can be visited together with a
hike to Tabayoc. You could camp near Lake
Tabeo on the first day, in the same way that
hikers would sometimes camp at Lake Venado
before sumitting Mt. Apo. At 2206 MASL, the
temperature is already cold up here. As for the
Ambulalakao Lake, it is said to be the cleanest
lake in Benguet.
The proximity to Tabayoc to Pulag’s famed
Tawangan Trail makes it a possible trip before
proceeding to Pulag. You can go by foot from
Sitio Tabeo, Ballay to reach Brgy. Tawangan,
the jump-off for the famed Tawangan trail.
From there, you could proceed to the
Ambangeg or Akiki trails. Also, you could
visit the nearby sites such as the Opdas Mass
Burial caves. On the other hand, there is also a
trail to Mt. Tabayoc via Tinoc, Ifugao. This
approach comes from the east.
The trek to Tabayoc via Ballay passes by
forests similar to those encountered in the
Tawangan trail. Trees are covered with moss
in what is known to be one of the best-
preserved virgin forests in the Philippines.
Rare species, including those from the orchid
genera Dendrochilum, filmy ferns, mosses,
and forest trees abound in Tabayoc. The
mountain is also the habitat of a number of
bird species, many of which are endemic and
endangered. Unlike Mt. Pulag, which has an
open grassland summit offering tantalizing
views, Tabayoc is predominantly forested. Its
main feature is being the second highest in
Luzon, offering an alternate climb to Pulag;
hikers will also find refreshment in its
beautiful virgin forest.
The climbing conditions have previously been
described in PinoyMountaineer as follows:
“The trail to the summit of Tabayoc remains
virtually unknown. Definitely, guides from
Ballay and some preparation will be required.
All climbs to Tabayoc, as of 2007, are still
exploratory.” However, in 2008, it has become
clear that the summit is not only reachable, but
quite manageable (the blogger personally
hiked Mt. Tabayoc in May 2008 in what locals
say ).
Even without reaching the summit, exploring
this mountain, including the mystical Lake
Tabeo, is a great experience because it is
beautifully unfamiliar. Perhaps this pristine
characteristic of the mountain adds to its
charms, and sets it apart from its popular
neighbor, Mt. Pulag.
MT. KALATUNGAN/TRAVERSE VIA
MAKAUPAO PEAK
Talakag and Pangantucan, Bukidnon
Entry point: Brgy. Miarayon, Talakag
Exit point: Brgy. Mendis, Pangantucan
LLA: 7°57’18″N 124°48’09″E 2880 MASL
(#5)
Days required / Hours to summit: 3-4 days
/ 15 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 8/9, Trail
class 3-4
Features: Tribal domain, mossy forest,
Top 10
BACKGROUND
Complementing the grand Kitanglad Range to
the southwest is the Kalatungan Mountain
Range, which, although smaller, has its own high
peaks and perhaps even more challenging
climbs. Everest climber Carina Dayondon has
described Mt. Kalatungan, the chief mountain, as
a “difficult climb”. Coupled with the logistic
difficulty of climbing Kalatungan, it has grown a
reputation as being one of the most difficult
climbs in the country. Finally, to complete its
credentials, it is now regarded as the 5th highest
mountain in the Philippines at 2880 MASL
(formerly, we considered it the 6th highest
mountain in the Philippines based on a reading of
2824 masl).
Kalatungan deserves all its majestic appelations.
Mijan Pizarro, among the most notable
mountaineers in Mindanao, has favorably
compared the mossy forest of Kalatungan vis-a-
vis those of Dulang-Dulang. And, perhaps the
strongest evidence for its biodiversity are the
recent sightings of no less than the Philippine
eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) in its slopes in
2001.
PinoyMountaineer is pleased to feature this
mountain with information from Jan Pambid and
Kat Ocol – friends of the blogger’s – who
climbed the mountain in March 2009. They
follow the classic traverse of Kalatungan which
starts from Brgy. Miarayon in Talakag town.
Here, the tribal ceremonies of the Talaandig tribe
are held prior to an ascent; as in Dulang-Dulang,
they consider Kalatungan as a holy mountain.
While interacting with the tribe and the reigning
Datu, Reo Biso, an interesting story about
Kalatungan’s story and etymology may be heard
— and I am isolating it as a stand-alone narrative
courtesy of Jan Pambid:
Bukidnon legend has it that during the primeval
Great Flood, only the Kitanglad peak remained
above the waters – and therein grew a stalk of
lemon grass (tanglad) hence the name of the
mountain. But the Talaandig tribesfolk of Brgy.
Miarayon [trailhead of the Kalatungan trail]
clarifies that in fact, the Kalatungan peak too,
stood above sea level. And whereas plant life
survived in Kitanglad, animal life took a stand in
Kalatungan’s summit, where praying mantis eggs
were found. Hence, Kalatungan became the
mountain’s name, meaning “praying mantis
eggs” in the native tongues.
This and more tales are just a part of the cultural
component of the trip, and it is always
encouraged of climbers to take interest in the
tribe’s ceremonies and folkways. Indeed, the
datu’s words will ring true as you ascent the
mountain, where praying mantis, various insects
and other fauna could be found. The latest survey
in 2003 showed no less than 129 animal species
dwelling in Kalatungan.
The first part of the trail is open and like that of
Madjaas, would consume three hours of trekking.
Then the forest line is breached, after which the
long trek continues, taking 8 hours to reach the
summit campsite and involving a scenic “summit
ridge” trail. Then, the traverse proceeds south to
the town of, starting off with Mt. Makaupao, a
component peak of the Kalatungan Range. It will
take a dozen more hours to reach the town
proper, and climbers (indeed, survivors) of the
Kalatungan climb will tell you that the final leg
of the trail is called “Dead Nails’ Trail” and for
good reason. Indeed, the technical challenges as
well as cultural and natural wonders of
Kalatungan are a powerful invitation to climbers
who must not miss Kalatungan in their list of
must-climbs in Mindanao.
MT. KITANGLAD
Impasug-ong, Bukidnon
Major jump-off: Sitio Intavas,La Fortuna,
Impasugong
LLA: 8°8’2″N; 124°47’0″E; 2,899 MASL
(#4)
Days required / Hours to summit:
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail
class 2-4
BACKGROUND
Mt. Kitanglad is the fourth highest mountain
in the Philippines. Amazingly, there are
bunkhouses with electricity at the summit,
for it is a communications center. Since
people actually work at the summit, the trails
going up are well-established. Still, the trails
are challenging, the views beautiful, and
experience unique. There are steel stairs that
will assist you in ascending the very steel
trails, and at the top, so many mountains and
places in Northern and Central Mindanao are
visible. The Kitanglad mountain range is
very rich in biodiversity, and the forests are
refreshing. A more thorough discussion is
found in the “Mt. Dulang-Dulang” entry in
this blog.
MT. PULAG (AMBANGEG TRAIL)
Bokod, Benguet
Major jump-off: Ambangeg Ranger Stn,
Bokod, Benguet
LLA: 16°34’58″N 120°53’15″E, 2922
MASL (#3)
Days required / Hours to summit: 4-5 hours
/ 1-2 days
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail
class 1-2
Trail system: Grand Cordillera Trail,
Section 3
Features: Sea of clouds, dwarf bamboo
slopes, pine forests
Last updated: December 3, 2015
BACKGROUND
Majestic Mt. Pulag is highest peak in Luzon
and one of the most beautiful mountains in the
Philippines. Its fabled views, of winding
slopes of dwarf bamboo, and distant peaks
surging like islets in the ocean of lofty clouds,
comprise perhaps the most breathtaking sights
in Philippine mountaineering. The native
tribes say that Mt. Pulag is the “playground of
the gods”. In Luzon, it is literally the closest
to heaven that mountaineers can get!
See “Special Feature: Mt. Pulag – This
Way to the Clouds”
The enchantment of Pulag, however, is much
greater than just the clouds and dwarf
bamboo. The entire experience is a great treat
that makes the long travel time (10 hours from
Manila to Baguio then Baguio to the jump-
off) worth it. Whichever trail you choose – the
easy Ambangeg, the challenging Akiki, the
arduous Vizcaya trail, or the various traverse
climbs – Pulag is a great adventure. Of course,
many would opt to do different trails in one
climb, the most common of which is the
Akiki-Ambangeg combination.When you
climb Mt. Pulag, you would already start off
on a high altitude. The cool weather is
refreshing, but if you are not prepared the
weather will become a great burden
because temperatures have been recorded to
reach zero or subzero levels. But with proper
preparation, the cold weather is quite an
experience. Pine trees are everywhere, and
you will encounter villages of the Kankaney,
Kalanguya, and Ibaloi tribes. Their children
are very cute, and bear a resemblance to the
other mountain peoples of the world. Their
main livelihood is agriculture; you will pass
through sloped plots of cabbages, lettuce,
potataos, and other crops that ultimately find
their way in Baguio’s famed markets. Bear in
mind that the region is the ‘Salad Bowl’ of the
Philippines.THE TRAILS OF MT. PULAG
The map illustrates the approximate locations
of each trail, as well as its path, in relation
with the summit of Mt. Pulag. The Ambangeg
Trail is discussed in this main article. Visit
also the Akiki Trail and the Tawangan Trail.
THE AMBANGEG TRAIL
It is very convenient to make arrangements for
jeepneys from Baguio to take you directly to the
Badabak Ranger Station. This significantly cuts
climbing time, and it makes possible a 2-day
Pulag climb. If you arrive early in the morning
in Baguio, you can take the jeep and be at the
Ranger Station by lunchtime.
From the Ranger Station to the summit is
around 8 kms. First you will pass by wide trails,
surrounded by pine trees and picturesque
landscape. After awhile, you will enter the
montane forest, with its grand spectrum of flora
– from the pink flowers known locally
as ayusep (see photo) and various mosses to the
archaic, bonsai-shaped trees. The next landmark
in the middle of the mossy forest is Camp 1,
marked by a hut.
In the entirety of the trek to the grassland,
there’s only one moderately steep part, taking
just a few hundred steps. Actually the trail is
very relaxing and enjoyable, with the cool
weather and the encounter of various faces of
the mountain (pine trees, montane forest,
grassland). At the montane forest, you will catch
the first glimpse of the Pulag summit, which has
a hue of golden brown.
There are a few campsites to choose from:
Camp 1 is still within the mossy forest area; in
Camp 2 the grassland is just beginning (2600+
MASL). There is also another campsite which
goes beyond the summit, on the way to the
Akiki trail. This is the saddle campsite (Camp 3)
and is preferred by those who want close
proximity to the summit. Camp 2 is the most
advisable campsite, with a close water source,
latrines, nice views, and more manageable
weather conditions. However, the saddle
campsite, being very the near the summit, takes
you as close to the sky as possible. Either way,
brace yourself! Temperatures can really
plummet to near-freezing levels.
Ranger Station to Campsite 2 takes around 3
hours. From this camp, the summit assault is
typically done either late afternoon (for the
sunset) and very early morning (for the sunrise).
The trail beyond this point is offers unparalleled
grassland landscapes, with the grand array of the
Cordillera mountains as backdrop. The dwarf
bamboo grass that envelope the slopes is a
wondrous presence. After an hour of trekking,
you will finally reach the summit, that is, the
highest point in Luzon.
The summit views of Pulag are fabled and
legendary. On a blessed time, seas of clouds
form beneath, covering everything but the
highest points in the Cordilleras: Mt. Amuyao
rises very distinctly northeast, then the twin Mts.
Kapiligan and Napulauan (NNE). The picture on
the left shows the blogger’s hands at Amuyao
(L) and Napulauan (R). Mt. Tabayoc (N) and
Pulag is separated by Mt. Panotoan (N). Then
moving your eyes westward, you will see the the
mountains of Tenglawan and Kibungan (NW),
and you will also appreciate Mt. Timbak
(WNW), said to be the Luzon’s third highest
point. The range from which Mt. Timbak rises is
one where the Halsema highroad, the
Philippines’ highest highway, passes. In this
range one can also see Mt. Pawoi (W). Beyond
this, further west, is already the Ilocos region.
Baguio City and Mt. Sto. Tomas continue the
visual circle (WSW) and if the sea of clouds is
lower than 2100 MASL, you can also see Mt.
Ugu (S). These are objective sights to see, but
the subjective feeling of being there, above the
clouds, is hard to put in words. How beautiful
exactly? One has to go to Pulag in order to find
out.
MT. DULANG-DULANG contacts. Climbers fly to CDO, then take the bus
Lantapan, Bukidnon to Malaybalay, Bukidnon. From there, jeepneys
are arranged to go to Lantapan. The last leg of
Major jump-off: Sitio Bol-ogan, Brgy.
the drive is comprised of rough roads which
Songco, Lantapan become very slippery when wet. You will then
LLA: 8.09798°N 124.9605°E 2938 MASL spend the night at the jump-off. Add two days to
(#2) the climb proper, and the whole trip becomes a
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days / total of 3 days. Although very difficult,
experienced climbers attempt the “Mt. Dulang-
10 hours
Dulang – Mt. Kitanglad Traverse”, which takes
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail you deeper into the heart of the Kitanglad
class 2-4 mountain range to reach the second highest peak
Specs (Traverse): Major climb, Difficulty in the range, Mt. Kitanglad (4th highest in the
8/9, Trail class 2-4 with roped segments Philippines). It is considered by some one of the
top 5 most challenging climbs in the country.
BACKGROUND The pristine and mystical environment of Mt.
The second-highest mountain in the Dulang-Dulang makes it worthy to stand among
Philippines also possesses one of the most Mt. Apo and Mt. Pulag as one of the three
impressive forests in the country. Mt. Dulang- highest mouintains in the Philippines.
Dulang, chief among the high mountains the
Kitanglad mountain range, possesses a mystical
aura that visitors compare to the elven forests of
Rivendell in “Lord of the Rings”. Indeed, the
long trek to the peak boasts of a variety of
landscapes, starting from the wide trails with
pine trees and grassland and progressing into
denser and denser jungles. The jungle will reach
a point that virtually everything is covered with
moss and clouds. Trees are like bonsai, with
spiraling, convoluted branches and ‘beards’ of
lichen and white moss that give an ‘ancient’ feel
to the forest. The temperature goes down even
in daytime, and when you emerge from this
jungle to the clearing at the peak, you can
behold the whole of the Kitanglad range and
even catch a glimpse of majestic Mt. Apo.

Dulang-Dulang, like Pulag and Apo, is sacred to

the locals. The Talaandig tribe of Lantapan have
been accorded rights to the mountains as their
“ancestral domains”. Hence it is a must to
secure their blessing to climb Mt. Dulang-
Dulang. It is said that they limit the climbers to
groups of 20, although this demand is somewhat
negotiable. Nevertheless, a ritual sacrifice of
chickens is done before every climb by the datu,
and climbers perform the ritual of hanging
bands of white cloth at the summit, as respect to
the native culture. These traditions add to the
mysticism of Mt. Dulang-Dulang.
Usually, Manila-based climbers go with
Mindanao-based groups when climbing Mt.
Dulang-Dulang; it is logistically difficult to go
independent without local knowledge or
MT. APO (KIDAPAWAN-MAGPET
TRAIL)
Kidapawan City and Magpet, North
Cotabato
Entry point: Brgy. Ilomavis, Kidapawan
City
Exit point: Brgy. Kisandal, Magpet
LLA: 7°0′30″N, 125°16′33″E, 2,956 MASL
(#1)
Days required / Hours to summit: 3 days /
10-11 hours
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 7/9, Trail
class 3
BACKGROUND
The highest mountain in the Philippines is Mt.
Apo, towering over Southern Mindanao,
covering the provinces of Davao del Sur and
North Cotabato. At 2,956 MASL, it possesses a
formidable array of landscapes, from craggy
rockscapes to virgin forests; from mossy
swamps to volcanic structures. Indeed, Mt. Apo
possesses the widest spectrum of environments,
and provides an experience for mountaineers
that lives up to their expectations from the
country’s highest.
The Kidapawan trail, one of many trails, will
take you first to Lake Agko. From there, you
will have to cross Marbel river in an
unforgettable adventure: you have to cross the
river several times by walking through coconut
logs without anything to hold for support! Even
here, lichens cling on the rocks, and very tall
trees rise to the sky. The threat of sudden
flashfloods, emphasized by the strong flow of
water, will remind the intrepid hiker that he not
climbing an ordinary mountain.
After three hours of river crossing, you would
reach the first campsite, at the Mainit Hot
Springs. Here, there is a small pool where you
could dip; the water is hot and very soothing.
You must reach this campsite before 1500hr,
because the next campsite is already Lake
Venado, 5-6 hours away. Between the two
campsites is a thick forest which you have to
cross. Here, two ‘killer trails’ are upcoming: the
’87-degree’ and the ’90-degree’ trail. Each
taking around 15 minutes, these trails are known
to have taken their toll on climbers. As of 2006,
ropes are in place in the ‘90’ to make it a little
bit safer.
After the difficult ascent, the next landscape is
the swamp that heralds the proximity of Lake
Venado. This is where many Mt. Apo trails
intersect. If you will recall, this is the lake which
claimed one hiker in March 2007. It is very
cold, and also very serene, surrounded by pines
on the north, and the peak of Mt. Apo from the
south. The peripheral areas can be used for
camping. During summer, Bagobo tribesfolk
would also camp here and put up stalls. You
could choose to camp here, or proceed to the
summit.
From Lake Venado, the summit is still 3 hours
of trekking. This time, the environment changes
into a cogon grassland. Then, the otherworldly
summit area is reached. It is rocky, with wild
berries, and temperate plants. Beneath is the old
crater of Mt. Apo. Many Mindanao climbers
have fallen in love with the summit. After all, it
has a water source, and lots of areas to explore
(there are several peaks). Here, you are at the
highest point in the Philippines.
Going down, since this is an Apo feature on its
north face, the Magpet trail is suggested, even
though climbers typically do a traverse to the
Davao (south) side. The Magpet trail, said to be
easiest of all trails to Mt. Apo, will take you to
what is called the Bobbong campsite, and from
there, you will reach a beautiful waterfalls,
called the Bongolanon Falls. It appears as if the
water curves and bends, before descending. You
can swim in the pools beneath, and it is perfect
refreshment after a grand Mt. Apo experience!