Mt. Pulag (Killer Trail)

Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.
Dec 11, 2017
4 min read

The Akiki Trail is one of the best and my favorite trail. You can choose two traverse, first is the Akiki-Ambangeg the one I took way back last 2016. The trek took 3 days and I've seen the beauty of this mountain beyond my expectations. The next one is Akiki-Tawangan, hopefully to climb this coming 2018.

Photo seems to be blurry, I don't have the raw file

Pulag composed of my favorite part of a mountain. First the pine trees, grassland and epic mossy forest. Because of the high elevation, I enjoyed trekking because sweat is minimal and doesn't have consume water that much. Frost is also common to this mountain due to the low temperature that is why I chose the month end of January until second week of February. I consider to hike between these months because of Amihan Season, thinking of dipping to sub freeze temperature knowing that this is the coldest part of the Philippines.

It hosts 500+ documented plant species and I am patiently looking for the legendary plant here, of course I failed. Over the popularity of the mountain this is also house of an endangered Dwarf Bamboo which is one of the plant I want to have.

The Expedition

I joined the team of "Sadeck" for this adventure to witness the Sea of Clouds (that I am confident enough for my safety because they are trained enough as "Wisar"). I have read so many articles before I joined the expedition. I prepared enough to conquer the "Killer Trail". I tried to increase my cardio and disciplined my diet, which was the hardest adjustment I've ever made in my life.

Stunning view

These are the pictures taken going to Eddet River.

Unexpected situation happened, first of all the original plan is to camp at Marlboro Country. The trail is too dark and we need to do an E-Camp just a kilometer away from the original camp site. Things might not happened as planned because a lot of things to consider like pacing, weather etc. Second, the porter who has the food and other equipment for cooking were gone missing it was 2000 before the porter showed himself. Given that all of us are hungry and some of us have our own food and carrying our own cooking tools, we decided to cook a food for all. We shared all the food we have and have a social for a bit. Third is one of our member had an accident and cannot carry the backpack anymore before we enter the mossy forest. We tried to push her to limit as she cannot carry anything and having a positive diagnoses of tuberculosis. I decided to carry a almost 35 kilos of her backpack from mossy forest until we finish the hike. We also experienced to trek while raining, and it was pretty

hard because it was like a storm already. This was after the mossy forest going to the second campsite which is the saddle. You can't predict the weather so better to be ready all the time.

The second day was successful and we've reached the saddle. We've set up the the tents for the others and some are busy cooking for dinner. It was 2100 that time and the temperature is dropping low, before I go to sleep it was 57.2 Fahrenheit. We woke up around 0400 with the wind is howling like a blizzard, the temperature was down to 26.6 Fahrenheit. We started to climb to check the sunrise and I was very amazed because of the natural beauty of it that I cannot compare to any gem or diamond in this world.

After an hour or two of watching the beautiful sunrise we decided to go back for breakfast and break camp. As much as possible I want to stay one more night but we have to go. As we are starting to descending via Ambangeg trail I tried to slowed down a little bit to enjoy the view. I truly amazed with the view specially the grassland, this might be the answer why I'm climbing mountains to witness the beauty of God's creation. There is also a "habal-habal" waiting for you if you're already tired, this is optional and I suggest to complete the trek.

ITINERARY (Akiki-Ambangeg with rented jeepney)

Day 0 2300 Bus from Manila to Baguio City

Day 1 0500 ETA Baguio City. Breakfast then proceed to jeepney terminal/chartered jeep. 0700 Take chartered jeepney to Akiki, Kabayan. Early lunch at any stopover. 1200 Arrival at Akiki jump-off; commence trek on steep trail. 1300 ETA Ranger Station. Register. Secure guides. 1330 Start 2-hour trek to Eddet River 1630 ETA Eddet River; set up camp. 1800 Dinner / socials

Day 2 0400 Wake up call. Prepare breakfast. 0430 Breakfast 0530 Break camp 0700 Start 3-4 hr trek to Marlboro Country 1100 Have early lunch at Marlboro country (water source) 1200 Commence 3-hour trek through montane forest. 1430 End of forest line (2600 MASL); Reach Grassland. 1600 ETA Saddle campsite; set up camp. 1730 Assault to summit. Sunset. 1900 Dinner / socials

Day 3 0530 Early morning trek to summit 0545 Arrival at summit just in time for sunrise 0630 Back at campsite; breakfast 0730 Break camp 0800 Start descent via Ambangeg trail 0900 From Camp 2, resume descent to Babadak Ranger Station 1130 ETA Ranger Stn; Settle guide fees; jeepney descent 1230 At DENR-PAO; tidy up and log out. 1400 Head back to Baguio City 1700 ETA Baguio City. Buy return tickets. Dinner. 1900 Head back to Manila

Note: This itinerary is just our guideline and it was not accurate because of the pacing and the weather condition. This is from pinoymountaineer.com since we lost the itinerary of our climb before.