#20TripMoments: Pulag Sa Katotohanan

My 2023 travels opened with me enjoying the view from the top. This year’s opening salvo had me puffing in the early morning cold along the mountain trails of the Cordilleras. Mind you, it was not an easy adventure, but it was one for the books. It was a personal feat that had me tearing up when I reached Luzon’s rooftop. This is my Mount Pulag story.

My Mount Pulag story is about challenging myself to be rewarded with a God-given view.

Mount Pulag is the the third tallest mountain in the Philippines. Tucked comfortably between the boundaries of Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, and the Ifugao, its peak stands at a height of 2,926 meters above sea level and towers over the rugged terrains of the Cordillera. This mountain is sacred among the locals as it believed to be the home of the spirits of their ancestors in the afterlife. It is often referred to as the playground of the gods as you get to enjoy its rolling grasslands with the sea of clouds as its backdrop.
 
7.30am: DENR Visitor Center, Bokod
 
After two hours of travel from Baguio, our journey to Mount Pulag started at the DENR Visitor Center in Bokod. We arrived at around 8am and the first thing that we had to do was to get medical clearance for the hike. There is a doctor in the area who can evaluate you for a fee of Php150 (as of January 2023). The medical clearance is a pre-requisite to climb Mount Pulag.

The town of Bokod was our first stop for the orientation.

The wait is long so take the time to enjoy the views of Bokod.

It was then a long wait for our turn to be given the pre-climb orientation by the DENR. You really need to bring a lot of patience with you as the waiting time can be gruelling depending on the number of guests for that day. The park only accommodates a maximum of 500 guests daily but that still means a long wait as they conduct the orientation in batches. You can choose to explore the town of Bokod or catch up on your sleep while waiting. I chose to pop in some music while enjoying the rugged views and the tranquility of the town.

I popped in some good music and started having my own pictorial to kill the boredom. Hahaha!

The weekend crowd to Mount Pulag is huge so be extra patient.

The surrounding views of Bokod is very relaxing.

The orientation gives you a brief on the natural and cultural significance of Mount Pulag among locals.

The DENR orientation gives visitors of the park a brief on the mountain’s unique environmental features. Mount Pulag is classified as a national park that covers 11,550 hectares. It has 3 existing mountain trails with the Ambangeg Trail as the easiest to hike. This trail gets you to the peak in 4-5 hours. The park is home to a large diversity of flora and fauna with some of these species endemic to Mount Pulag so a huge part of the orientation focuses on being responsible visitors of the park to help preserve its natural state.
 
1.30pm: Baba Lak Ranger Station, Kabayan
 
The Baba Lak Ranger Station is the jump-off point to Mount Pulag. It is about an hour away from the DENR Office and lies within the boundaries of the Mount Pulag National Park. A small community was already established here that offers homestays and basic food services to its visitors. This would be our home and base for this trip.

Baba Lak Ranger Station would serve as our basecamp for the trip. It will give you a preview of what to see at the peak.

The ranger station sits along the slopes of Mount Pulag. Its location offers an amazing vantage point of the surrounding areas, from terraced farmlands to rugged mountains of the Cordilleras. As we had a lot of spare time to kill, I decided to go around and explore the rustic beauty of the place.

The Baba Lak Ranger Station is the jump-off point of the Ambangeg Trail.

The community has grown over the past years with small businesses flourishing offering basic services to guests.

The ranger station has great views of the Cordillera mountain ranges.

The community is also agricultural so you get to see terraced farmlands.

They also have campsites and homestays in the area.

​The center of the village serves as its business area. This is where you would find homestays, convenience stores, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Going further down the road, you would find a good vantage point where you could have a panoramic view of the terraced farmlands and rugged eastern mountain side of the Cordilleras. The mountain views, with fog drifting along and gentle cold, is very relaxing and peaceful.

I discovered a spot uphill where the ridge offers an amazing view of the surrounding landscape and a perfect spot for sunset watching.

An afternoon view of the Cordillera mountains from the ridge.

It is also a good view deck for the sunset and sea of clouds.

The view along the ridge was amazing with the surrounding rugged terrains and farm lands.

The sunset view was like hand painted.

The clear skies and mountain landscapes was a very relaxing view.

​My biggest “discovery” at Baba Lak Ranger Station is found on the upper side of the business area. At the end of the village, the road forks into two dirt roads. Take the left one and walk up the hill. Follow the road until you reach a ridge where you get the most beautiful views of the Cordillera mountain ranges. I found my spot where I enjoyed the view, the afternoon sun, and the cold. This is also a great spot to catch the sunset as it gives you a play of colors matched with its own sea of clouds. The clouds here are appreciated at closer views.
 
1.30am : Sunrise at 2926 MASL
 
Our journey started out early in the cold morning. January and February are usually the cold and dry months in the Cordillera making it the best time to visit Mount Pulag, meaning a higher chance of having to hike without the rain and mud. However, you really need to bundle up on sweaters and jackets to warm you up. Temperatures can get really cold especially at the peak. I doubled up on everything - knee high socks, sports leggings, jogging pants, a shirt, a sweater, and a thick hiking jacket (designed for cold temperatures). Don’t forget to bring with you a bonnet, warm gloves (bring 2), and an extra “balabal”. Don’t forget to bring a headlamp, a rain poncho, extra shirt, trail food, and water.

I was bundled up because temperatures were really cold.

Our group was getting ready for the early morning climb.

Our guides giving us the final briefing.

The morning hike was uneventful. You don’t really get to see much as everything is swallowed by the darkness. We hiked in hush, most of the time, focusing on our steps. We exchanged stories to keep us amused through the dark trails. Keep the noise at minimum as locals believe that when the spirits get annoyed by the noise, they make it rain. And getting wet is not something you would want in the biting cold. The trail is a gradual ascent to the top. The first assault is the trail leading to Camp 1. There were two major stops along the trail - Camp 1 and Camp 2. It was in Camp 2 that you would start feeling the cold biting.

Our first rest stop was at Camp 1.

This was the crowd at Camp 2 before we started our final stretch to the peak.

The grasslands of Mount Pulag gave me front seats to the early morning skies.

​From Camp 2, it was going to be hike along the grasslands of Mount Pulag. The trail traverses along the sides of the mountain. Here you will be treated with a rare sight of hiking lamps snaking along the trail matched by the stars twinkling in clear skies. You get to see a glimpse of the peak of Pulag, in the dark, because of the lights leading up to its height. At certain points in the trail, you would catch a glimpse of the Baguio’s city lights glowing from a far distance. The sight would amaze you. I got off-trailed when I tried catching up with the group on the lead and I ended up climbing the third peak of Mount
Pulag.

The stars and lights of hikers was a sight to see along the trail.

The lights of Baguio City from a vantage point along the trail.

The lights from hikers along the trail from the vantage point along the final ascent to the peak.

The day breaking as we continued our trek to the top.

Finally catching the sunrise at Luzon's highest peak.

I almost did not make it to the peak. I almost quit on the last stretch and I had to push myself a little more. The last few meters were the hardest and I really teared up when I reached the top and saw the sunrise and the rugged terrains around the area. I found my corner behind the shrubs, hoping that it could shield from the cold wind blowing on us. It was already cold and the wind made it colder. I took my spot and enjoyed the view of the mountain sunrise. I loved how the sky slowly shifted from a dark shade to blue to orange with the sea of clouds on the foreground.

Giving my biggest smile at 2926masl! I had to push myself to get this picture. Thanks to our coor, Jorge Afable of Lakbayan Pinas.

We all had to find our own spot to catch the amazing sunrise.

Mount Pulag's sunrise gives you that feeling of achievement.

Enjoying the warmth of the sun after more than 4 hours of hiking in the cold.

A group pic at the summit is a MUST. Salamat, Lakbayan Pinas for arranging the trip!

The view from the peak of Mount Pulag!

The crowd at Mount Pulag grew as the sun rose on the horizon.

The view at the peak was beautiful and dramatic.

​As the sun rises in the horizon, the rugged landscape is revealed in full view. You get warmed up by the sun’s rays and you get to enjoy the views of the sloping hills of Mount Pulag and the mountains of the Cordilleras. Don’t forget to have your picture taken at the Mount Pulag sign to complete the experience. It may be a challenge, because of the crowd, but it is a souvenir worth taking for taking on the Mount Pulag challenge.
 
8.00am : Above The Clouds and Trails
 
After two hours at the peak, we started our descent to the base camp. This time you get to see the views of along the trail that was covered in darkness during the hike up. We got to enjoy the beauty of Mount Pulag’s grassland as we headed back to Camp 2.

We had to hike back under the pleasant warmth of the sun.

This is the view of the highest peak from the trail.

The view of Pulag's rolling hills along the trail.

The trail to the "Tower" where you get a better view of the sea of clouds.

The closer view of the sea of clouds from the "tower".

We took a detour to another peak of Mount Pulag which they call “Tower”. Our guide, Jorge, said it is the best place to catch Mount Pulag’s famous sea of clouds. I pushed myself for another assault to get a better view above the clouds. It did not disappoint. The sun was already up when we got to its peak and we were lucky to have caught it in its full beauty. It was a beauty to see fluffy clouds covering the horizon.

Enjoying the view of the cloud. Photo by Jorge Afable.

Getting dramatic at Pulag's Mossy Forest.

Walking the trails that snake through the grasslands of Mount Pulag.

The trail along the mossy forest was like walking on the set of the "Lord of the Rings".

The final leg home was through the Pine Forest of Mount Pulag National Park.

​As we continued back the trail, I enjoyed the view of the park’s Mossy Forest. Mount Pulag has three distinct flora features - the Pine Forest, the Mossy Forest, and its Grasslands. These features are clearly outlined along the slopes of Mount Pulag. The Mossy Forest was very dramatic and ethereal. It was like walking along the set of the “Lord of the Rings”.
 
 

POST TRAVEL NOTES

Mount Pulag was a 2023 travel goal unlocked for me. It was a challenging first travel and yet a very fulfilling one. It was a good introduction to my curiosity to unravel the beauty of the Cordilleras. I am a Baguio resident and yet I still have to explore the uplands beyond Sagada and the Banawe Rice Terraces. This was a good start.

Getting ready for our 2023 travel adventures.

I am really not a huge fan of hiking along mountain trails as I am more of a beach person. However, the Cordillera have caught my eye and I am starting to research on exploring this side of Pinas. I guess this area remains off beat for most travelers and yet I also think that it is a tourism treasure box waiting to be opened because of its rich culture and rustic beauty. Tara na sa Cordillera!😁

Watch out for the release of my Pulag adventure on video on my YT channel, #ByahengOffTheGrid, soon.

​Getting there: This Mount Pulag trip was organized by the FB Travel Group, Lakbayan Pinas. You can join the trip as a joiner for a rate of Php4500 (as of January 2023) that covers everything from RT transportation, accommodation with three meals and UNLIMITED coffee (Lunch-Dinner-Recovery Meal), and Registration and Guide Fees. You can get your medical clearance at Bokod for Php150. Things that you need to bring for the hike:
 
   > Flashlight/headlight
   > Trail foods
   > 1 Liter of water
   > Jacket/thermal
   > Bonnet/cap
   > Gloves/socks
   > Poncho/umbrella
 
You can check out the FB page of Lakbayan Pinas for more details.

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