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Mt. Ulap; 1846 MASL in Itogon, Benguet
Topic Started: Apr 17 2017, 10:33 AM (219 Views)
emancampos
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Mt. Ulap

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MT. ULAP ECO-TRAIL

Itogon, Benguet
Entry point: Brgy. Ampucao, Itogon
Exit point: Brgy. Sta. Fe, Itogon
LLA: 16.2904 N, 120.6312 E, 1846 MASL (Mt. Ulap)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-3 hours
Specs: Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3,
Features: Grassland and pine ridges, scenic views of the Cordilleras, burial caves


A “mini-Mt. Ugo” which showcases the best of what the Cordilleras has to offer: Pine and grassland ridges with stunning views of the mountains, and even a glimpse of culture with villages, burial caves, and hanging bridges, the Mt. Ulap Eco-Trail in Itogon, Benguet is the perfect dayhike from Baguio City, only 40 minutes away from Burnham Park by public jeepney. Spanning around 8 kilometres through several peaks along the Ampucao-Sta. Fe Ridge (not to be confused with the Philex Ridge), it is easy enough to be completed from 4-6 hours, making it feasible as a dayhike or even a half-dayhike for hikers of all levels.

The trailhead starts along from the road to Philex in Brgy. Ampucao, but as of December 2015, hikers have to make a 10-minute detour to the barangay hall to register and secure guides (required). The trail goes up a ridgeline that is immediately surrounded by pines, and soon becomes scenic with views of Mt. Sto. Tomas and Baguio City; the perennially mist-covered Central Cordilleras from Ugo to Pulag; and to the south, even Mt. Arayat.

Reference: Pinoy Mountaineer

Forum Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/hikersph/

Mount Ulap is the best choice if you wanna try the hiking sites in Benguet as a beginner or novice climber or dayhiker.

You will enjoy the great view and the cool air.

Play with the clouds!

Bathe in the clouds!

Re-energize your body and mind with the beauty of nature!

Enjoy the side trip too in downtown Baguio City's Burnham Park, the Session Road, Mines View park, Camp John Hay, Botanical Garden, the view from SM Mall, and buy fresh veggies and fruits and pasalubong at the market .

Enjoy the great food at the famous Good Taste restaurant where the food tastes great, yet very very affordable.

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Gungal Rock

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3rd peak

BEST TIME TO CLIMB is around 6AM.

You need to go early and reach the peaks by 8am o 9am to get a good clearing of the view since the peaks become covered with clouds by 10AM.

You need this clearing to get a good photo op at the famous Gungal Rock and the summit.

You may stay at the peak, lie down, relax and enjoy the place until the clouds embrace the peaks.

Bathe in the clouds, play with clouds and more photo ops. Enjoy!

Then take your lunch as the nearby 7-11 store right near the summit. This is just around 200 meters from the summit.

Noodles, drinks, chocolates, chips, hot coffee and more. There are several tables to serve a hundred guests.


THINGS TO BRING

1. Hiking pole
2. Round hat
3. Arm warmer
4. Leg warmer
5. Scarf
6. round hat
7. 1 liter of water
8. trail snacks (jellies / chocolate bar / fruits)

The sun will surely cause sunburns but you wont notice while you are up there since the cool air will make you think the sun aint that hot. You will only realize you have sunburns when you get home. There's a slight pain whenever you touch parts of your skin that were exposed to the sun such as your face, shoulder, arm and the back of your neck.

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first stop

There are 3 peaks. This is the first one. Third peak is the summit. Actually, right beside it, just 50 meters away is the true summit.

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Homo Chimpanz, the modern monkeys! :D

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Last photo shows clouds begin to creep into Mount Ulap summit. The photo shows the 3rd peak and the true summit. The true summit appears here as the peak with no forest cover, not a single tree.

Best time to enjoy clearing is from 6am to 9am. Then again, stay long enough to play with the clouds too. :)


VIDEO Trek and sidetrip



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOjScLvApJ0
Edited by emancampos, Apr 21 2017, 02:16 AM.
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emancampos
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Preparation and start of trek

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meet up at Araneta Center in Cubao, QC. Our ETD was 11PM, ETA was 6AM

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peek at the view around the Baranggay hall.

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briefing and prayers at the Baranggay hall

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start of trek

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first marker at the end of the paved road

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forest trail

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first view area, giving the bird's eye view of the downtown Baguio City, the Sto. Tomas peak where the radio communication towers are nestled, Kennon Road, the plains of La Union, the peak of Mt. Ulap

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view of the downtown Baguio City

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the Sto. Tomas peak where the radio communication towers are nestled

PHOTO BELOW: By the way, there's no radar in Sto. Tomas. The giant dishes are relay antennas used by radio communications network in transferring signals from one station to another. These 2 giant dishes had served the US Air Force while they were still operating Clark Air Base in Pampanga and the Wallace Air Station in La Union. These are now inoperational. The tall towers on the other hand are the active ones. They serve the same purpose as the giant dishes. They have these dishes too but are much smaller in size. These towers are operated by commercial telephone networks such as PLDT and Globe as well as the gov't agencies. Why do most people call it 'radar'? Those who are not familiar with telecommunications technology simply believe that any giant round object is a radar. The word spread just like that.

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Edited by emancampos, Apr 29 2017, 04:33 AM.
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emancampos
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Heading to the 1st Peak

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the 1st rock formation

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selfie at the 1st rock formation

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first peak

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1st peak

The 1st Camp Site is also located in the same area.

South of this point, just around 100 meters from this spot, is another hill where Rock Balancing or Rock Stacking artworks have covered the top.

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Heading to the Sphinx

While heading to this site, my peers noticed this lone tree to our right. Reminded them of that Lover's Tree in Mt. 387. And so, they played with it too. :)

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We found out that the area, Mt. Ulap included, is on private land. Nonetheless, the owner allows hikers to enjoy this eco-tourism site. I'm not sure if a part of the fee that you pay at the Baranggay hall covers access fee for the property owner.

There are cows scattered across the land. You'll see some along the trail.

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Edited by emancampos, Apr 20 2017, 09:14 AM.
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emancampos
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The SPHINX

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Did you notice the shape of the rock where the lady was standing on?

It resembles a head. This is why it is called Sphinx. In Greek mythology, it is a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. One famous example is the The Great Sphinx of Giza, with the Pyramid of Egypt.

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Edited by emancampos, Apr 20 2017, 09:35 AM.
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emancampos
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Gungal Rock

Heading to Gungal Rock;

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And here we are ................ right on Gungal Rock!

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Do you notice that forest below?

I believe this is a good birdwatching site!

I've was hearing a mix of bird sounds as if these were singing an orchestra. You could hear them even from this point loud and clear.

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Edited by emancampos, Apr 20 2017, 10:21 AM.
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emancampos
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3rd peak

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3rd peak of Mt. Ulap. The real summit is just around 200 meters away.

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being with the clouds is indeed an exciting experience. very relaxing too.

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Edited by emancampos, Apr 21 2017, 05:08 PM.
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emancampos
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The SUMMIT

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the summit as seen from the 3rd peak

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I was the first to arrive at the summit. The rest were busy taking their photo ops at the 3rd peak (background).

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photo here was shot from the summit

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groupie at the summit

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VIDEO: Summit of Mt. Ulap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7MMy3DoQ7w
Edited by emancampos, Apr 21 2017, 05:09 PM.
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emancampos
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Lunch and back to base camp

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711 store, open 24x7, right on Mt. Ulap

This is just a 5 minute walk from the summit. Yes, it's right at the foot of that peak.

This store offers noodles, bread, softdrinks, hot coffee, bananas and snack food. They even sel slippers and caps.

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There's electricity in this house. The owner installed solar panels that can power up several LED bulbs for a day.

There's a natural cooler too. A small cave acts as a natural cooler. This is one of the two. The other, not shown here, has a longer tunnel.

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There are several tables around the store that can accommodate a hundred guests.

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Back to base camp

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heading back to civilization, via the Sta Fe exit point.

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one of the 2 hanging bridges that we've passed through

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Edited by emancampos, Apr 20 2017, 10:20 AM.
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emancampos
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Baguio side trip and dinner at Good Taste resto


Burnham Park

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Careful when buying fruits from vendors. This photo below shows a vendor near Burnham Park selling strawberries at P120 a kilo. As per a store owner, this should only cost around P90 a kilo. Better buy right in the market or from the Pasalubong shops along Kennon Road since these vendors are offering their goods at a much higher price. It is also possible that the portable scales these vendors used weren't calibrated right.

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Amazing Dinner at GOOD TASTE Resto

There's a famous resto near Burnham park. This is just a 30-meter walk from the park.

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I too was surprised about how so many people flock to this resto. The resto covers the entire 1st floor with an area of around 1,000 square meters, which seems to be always full of customers.

Not only that. They cover the 4 floors. Wow!

I found out that the food really tastes good ..................... yet affordable.

I've ordered Beef Broccoli ...... but out of confusion I claimed the Beef Ampalaya instead when the waiter asked who's order was it, while holding the tray. (gutom na eh! yan na oh!) The Beef Broccoli came in a few minutes later. That was the time I realized that I ordered the one with a Broccoli. :D Sorry, Ren, I got confused.

I enjoyed the Beef Ampalaya nonetheless. Huge chunks of tasty beef and the sauce was great!

Really worth my P95.

Don't miss this one when you go to Baguio!

NOTE: Food really tastes great yet affordable. Slow service but it is understandable due to too many customers at any given time. So, consider time when you get there. ;)

Good Taste Restaurant
Carino Street, Corner Otek Street
2600 Baguio City
https://web.facebook.com/pages/Good-Taste-Restaurant-Baguio/271056436313989
Edited by emancampos, Apr 20 2017, 11:02 AM.
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emancampos
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Some shots with my DSLR

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Edited by emancampos, Apr 20 2017, 11:11 AM.
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