Mt. Pulag - Tramping Advisory (20 hikers per group)

The Mt. Pulag National Park has imposed a limitation on the number of hikers that a specific coordinator/organizer shall be allowed to include in a group. Now, the maximum members allowed for each group shall be twenty (20) and only those who comply with this requirement shall be allowed to leave for the Ranger Station.



In line with this, all organizers with more than 20 participants are advised to reduce the members of their respective teams. Those who have previous reservations are given the chance to enter the park but from now on, the management will now start imposing the 20 pax per team to give chances for other climbers to trek the park.

Also, the DENR has qualified that the suspension of reservations for 2017 covers the Babadak Trail on Saturdays only. Trekkers below 10 members per team could however be accommodated to provide social assistance to the community guides and porters.

And lastly, since the park management has not increased its fees since 2000. It was also announced that there shall be an increase in the Entrance Free from P100 per head to P175.00/head pursuant to the Resolution of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) in 2015. .

Link to the post: Mt. Pulag - 20 members in a team

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Mt. Pulag - Members per team; Suspension of Resevations

#MtPulag #SeaofClouds

Mt. Pulag - Tramping Advisory (Marking of Hikers; Suspension of Reservations for all weekends in 2017)

The management of the Mt. Pulag National Park has mandated the marking of the hands of all trekkers at the Visitors' Center, after it has been verified that the hikers involved have reservations and that they have undergone the orientation before entering the park. As such, trekkers with no seal from the Visitors' Center/Protected Area Office shall not be allowed entry. Hence, trekkers with no reservations are hereby advised not to proceed directly to the Babadak Ranger Station.

 

Organizers who usher hikers more than what were actually indicated in their reservations are also advised to just visit the mountain lakes located at the northern part of Mt. Pulag so that they may have an alternative activity.

Lastly, it has also been resolved that reservations for all weekends of 2017 are suspended until further notice.

Visit the post here: Mt. Pulag

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Mt. Pulag - Marking of Hikers; Suspension of Resevations

#MtPulag #SeaofClouds

Mt. Mamara: a newly-opened mountain in Daraitan

“You don't need to climb a mountain to know that it's high.” 

                                                                            ― Paulo Coelho, Aleph

Nestled within a river valley in the Southern Sierra Madre is a paradise known as Barangay Daraitan, which lies within the boundaries of Tanay, Rizal. What was previously a haven for illegal loggers, has now become a sanctuary for mountaineers, hikers, weekend warriors, and casual tourists that ceaselessly flock to the place especially during holidays and weekends. So, as our first hike for 2016, we finally decided to hike in Daraitan.

Mt. Mamara...taken somewhere along the Tinipak River

Mt. Mamara...as seen a few meters from the jump off point

Fly high...Skookum jump

As our plan to hire a van did not materialize, we decided to just meet at the designated stop for jeepneys bound for Tanay opposite the Shangri-la Plaza Mall along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City. It was already 0445H when we boarded a jeepney, hoping that we are still within the 300 hikers to summit in a day quota that was recently imposed in Barangay Daraitan. We ultimately arrived at the Tanay Public Market at 0610H together with at least 12 hikers that flagged the jeepney somewhere in Cainta and Pasig.

Mt. Daraitan - Tramping Advisory (300 hikers)

As part of the efforts in regulating the influx of mountaineers, occasional hikers, weekend warriors, and tourist, the local leaders of Brgy. Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal, have implemented the rule that starting  January 30, 2016, only 300 hikers per day shall be allowed access into the summit of Mt. Daraitan.

While this rule is also subject to certain adjustments, as chance summiteers may take the risk of waiting for the possibility of being allowed to proceed to the summit once the condition of the foot traffic there improves, there are other alternative activities that are available for those who will not be included in the daily quota. These include the Maytuntong Cave, enjoy the cool and clear waters of the Tinipak River, or hike up to the summit of the recently-opened Mt. Marara.

So in case you wish to go to the summit, make adjustments to your schedule and go there as early as possible.

Happy Hiking! Seize the trails!



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Mt. Daraitan - 300 Hikers to Summit

Mt. Pulag - Tramping Advisory (Reservation Fees)

As the process of making prior reservations with the DENR has been abused by unscrupulous and insensitive organizers, the Mt. Pulag National Park Management has issued an advisory today mandating climb organizers with monthly and/or weekly reservations to pay the corresponding registration fees of all the slots they have reserved at the Visitors Center and Protected Area Office prior to the actual date of the supposed climbs / hikes.

Mt. Pulag's Summit is teeming with hikers and mountaineers every weekend.

Sea of Clouds

Failure to pay the aforementioned reservation fees shall forfeit the supposed slots reserved by the aforesaid climb organizers. Moreover, reservation shall be non-transferable and non-refundable.

With this, the Park Management aims to address the disadvantage and prejudice caused by the indiscriminate practice of some climb organizers to monopolize the limited slots allotted for weekend climbs in Mt. Pulag via the Ambangeg Trail.

Mt. Pulag is in everybody's mountaineering bucket list.

For more details and clarifications, you may contact any of these mobile phone numbers: 09291668864 or 09103010423. You may likewise click on this link Mt-Pulag-National-Park-Bulletin for further  details from the Facebook page of the Mt. Pulag National Park Management.

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Mt. Pulag - Reservation Fees

***It is emphasized that this declaration covers only climb organizers who have weekly and/or monthly scheduled climbs in Mt. Pulag. In other words, mountaineering groups and walk-in hikers are not covered by this directive.

#MtPulag #SeaofClouds

Mt. Timbac / Mt. Singkalsa - Hiking within the salad bowl of the Philippines + Highest Point of Philippine Highway System

“If you get the taste of the mountains once, you will always find the cities horribly tasteless!” 

                                                          ― Mehmet Murat ildan

Mt. Timbac, otherwise known as Mt. Singkalsa, is sacred among the tribes of the Cordillera. According to one account that I have read at the National Museum in Kabayan, Benguet, the local tribesmen lay their dead in Mt. Timbac believing that the souls of their departed loved ones shall join that of their ancestors in Mt. Pulag (located east of Mt. Timbac), hence its monicker "the playground of the gods".

Mt. Timbac / Mt. Singkalsa

Mt. Timbac / Mt. Singkalsa

Taken from the Akiki Trail jumpoff

Although touted as the third (3rd) highest mountain in Luzon (9th highest in the Philippines), the existing of the Halsema Highway (the highest highway system in the Philippines) within its confines has in a way made the trek up to the summit of Mt. Timbac a relatively easy one.

From the KM 55 (I am not really sure why they call it as KM. 55), look for the signage welcoming you to the Mt. Timbac Mummies. The road, although concrete, is a very steep and continuous ascent. At the fork, turn left and continue until you get past the school. From the school, continue straight until you see the junction on the right side of the road that would seem to make you do a sharp U-turn. For additional reference, consider that there a number of houses on the left side of the road.

PASKOokum 2015 Akiki Trail Sidetrip - Kabayan Mummies / National Museum and Opdas Cave

Still basking in euphoria after the successful and effectual Paskookum 2015, and while enjoying the cool climate and wonderful views in Kabayan, Benguet under the stars that seem to shine brighter up in the mountains, we finally mapped out our itinerary for the sidetrip that has become an integral part of every Paskookum.

NATIONAL MUSEUM - Kabayan Branch

Owing to the chilling weather, most of us woke up later than planned. Nevertheless, our e-camp at the school gradually grinded with activity as soon as we prepared breakfast. Some of the kids even returned to the school and gamely played with us. We felt appreciated, much less the kids’ gratitude as we bid our farewell to them.

It was already 1000H when we left the school for the DENR where we were met by Ms. Melody and some of the locals. We left some school supplies, raincoats, and rain boots for some students in a school in Poblacion.

Back on the road, we were surprised that the locals have prepared gifts for us in return. They gave us two boxes of fresh vegetables (We, the Skookum Mountaineers are thankful for this act of kindness that you have extended to us).