MT PULAG (Ambangeg-Ambangeg)

MT PULAG (2922masl; ~9600fasl)

(Ambangeg-Ambangeg route)

Overview:

Mt Pulag is the highest mountain in Luzon and the third in the Philippines. The word pulog in that part of the Cordilleras means bald. And so is the summit of Mt Pulag!

The highlights of the climb are the mossy forests in the Ambangeg and Akiki trails, the dwarf bamboos at the summit and the majestic sea of clouds that blanket the surroundings of Mt Pulag from sunup ‘till noon.

Four trails lead to the summit—Tawangan (in Ballay), Ambangeg (in Bokod), Akiki (in Duacan) and Ambaguio in Nueva Vizcaya. Of the four, Akiki is the most feared earning the epithet ‘the killer trail’. Tawangan trail is thick in vegetation and infested with limatik (leeches). The Ambaguio trail which is probably just as long as the Tawangan trail will remind you of the Hobbiton in The Lord of the Rings! The Ambangeg trail, on the other hand is the easiest and attracts more visitors than the others!

The main threats in Mt Pulag are the near-freezing temperatures from December to February. Some first-timers also suffer from dizziness due to a change in altitude.

IT IS COMPULSORY THAT ALL VISITORS GO THROUGH ORIENTATION AND BRIEFING BY THE PARK SUPERINTENDENT Emerita Tamiray at the DENR Visitors’ Center in Bokod.

ITINERARY

Day 0 (Friday)
1000hrs	Assembly @ Victory Liner Terminal (Pasay); for cheaper fares, you may take Dagupan Transit in Cubao and Genesis in Pasay and Cubao (but check their schedules)
1055hrs	ETD for Baguio City
Day 1 (Saturday)
0430hrs	ETA Baguio City Breakfast: There are 7-Eleven convenience stores along Session Rd. and one right across from Victory Liner Terminal. I always have my Tapsilog @ 456 Restaurant (open 24-hrs) also along Session Rd. Good Taste Restaurant at Dangwa terminal offers hearty meals from P60-P100 24/7 but they have really slow service. If you think it’s a little too early, there are some stopovers on the way to Mt Pulag Visitors’ Center. One meal costs P60-P80. You may also do some grocery shopping. Although there are stores at the Mt Pulag Visitors’ Center. Meet the driver of the chartered monster jeep. Sometimes Ma’am Emerita Tamiray hitches a ride.
0530hrs	ETD for Visitors’ Center (Ambangeg)
0730hrs	ETA @ Visitors’ Center Register Orientation
0930hrs	ETD for Mt Pulag Park Ranger Station. This is where the chartered monster jeepney stops. This is also the pick-up point on the way back to Baguio City. Fill up trail water bottles.
1000hrs	Start trek
1045hrs	Camp 1
1200hrs	Camp 2 Lunch Fill up water bottles. This is the last water source. You may wish to camp here.
1400hrs	Resume trek
1530hrs	ETA Summit Pictures
1600hrs	Start descent to Saddle Camp site
1630hrs	ETA Saddle Camp site Pitch Tents
1700hrs	Head back to the summit or to Mini-Pulag for sunset pictures. Don’t forget to bring with you your headlamps!
1800hrs	Prepare Dinner Dinner Socials (minimize noise)
2200hrs	Lights out
Day 2 (Sunday)
0400hrs	Quick breakfast (noodles; coffee)
0430hrs	Head for the summit Wait for the sunrise Take pictures
0630hrs	Start descent to camp site
0700hrs	Prepare breakfast. Breakfast
0800hrs	Break camp
0830hrs	Start descent
1000hrs	Camp 2
1045hrs	Camp 1
1115hrs	Park Ranger Station Prepare Lunch Lunch Wash up
1300hrs	Board the monster jeep
1430hrs	Visitors’ Center Buy souvenir shirts Print certificate. (P35) Log out Some trekkers have their lunch and wash-up here.
1500hrs	ETD for Baguio City
1700hrs	ETA Baguio City
1800hrs	ETD for Manila

Expenses

Manila-Baguio v.v. (P455 x 2)	P910
Monster Jeep (16pax)      P8000 / 16pax (0919 816 9234) (0920 553 8758)	P500
Green fee + Entrance + Camping fee	P200
Guide fee  P500 / 1-5pax…+P100/ excess head	P100
Porter fee P300/day (15kg max)	*
Total	P1710
Safe budget Manila-Pulag-Manila	P2500

Please contact the Park Superintendent beforehand. The park could be fully-loaded at times and you could also verify up-to-date rates of fees with her!

Mt Pulag PaSu Emerita Tamiray 09196315402