Mt. Pulag - "Playground of the Gods"

Mt. Pulag (others call it Mt. Pulog or Peleg- a bible character from the descendants of Noah) is Luzon's highest peak at 2,922 meters above sea level, while considered also as the 2nd highest mountain in the Philippines. The borders between the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Viscaya meet at the mountain's peak. There has been 528 documented plant species that can be found in this Mossy Forest. It is the natural habitat of the endemic Dwarf Bamboo, the Benguet Pine, native wildlife like Philippine Deer, Giant Bushy - tailed cloud rat (“bowet”), the Long-Haired Fruit Bat and some 33 bird species.

Mt. Pulag is one of the highlights in a mountain climber's list. As they say, you may never  be called a real mountaineer if you haven't seen the "Sea of Clouds" yet.
 

                                                             Sunrise at Mt Pulag summit

It is also known as the "Playground of the Gods" for a solemn reason - Indigenous communities around the area considered it sacred, thus, boisterous talk or behavior is prohibited (ha ha!..). Legends says fairies of the Mossy Forest and the Gods wants to keep the place solemn, and if somebody disrespected the Gods, heavy rain will fall with gusty wind as if there's a storm going on above the clouds(is it even possible?). Campers actually testifies this story is true.


Day 0 - February 27, 2013

     Bound for Baguio - Victory liner, Pasay City at exactly 10:30pm. Exact Time of Arrival (ETA) - 4:35 am Baguio City. Fare is Php455 (one way). There at the Caltex gasoline station just in front of Victory Liner terminal, our Jeepney service was waiting for us with our event organizer - Ando Olaguera. We arrived at DENR Kabayan, (PAO) Protected Area Office for registration and orientation at around 9:30 am.

 

We also did a side trip to Ambuklao Dam just before going to the DENR office.

                         

More Mt. Pulag Adventure...