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posted on Monday, February 19, 2024
Mt. Napulauan has been in my bucketlist since forever. So our mid-February 2024 hike was long overdue. Historically, it is known as the last hiding place of Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita before surrendering in Kiangan on September 1945. It is a major hike soaring at 2,642 MASL, with a 7 out of 9 level of difficulty. Mt. Napulauan is the 15th highest mountain in the Philippines and its trail is considered as one of the most difficult.
Ling and I joined the Rabas Outdoors organizer for the fee of P4,800 per person. It is inclusive of private van transpo, registration, guide and environmental fees plus two meals. There were 12 of us in the group and we were off to the jumpoff past 10:00 pm.
Imagine being hours away from seeing one of my dream mountains and also bracing myself for its “cardiac trail.” The trailhead bearing the 5.5 kilometers signage to reach the summit was a welcoming AND a forbidding warning. We started ascent by 8:30 am. It was literally an endless assault. After the open trail comes the more challenging mossy forest. The towering trees, varieties of mosses and ferns, even the flora and fauna were simply enchanting. But beware of leeches. Limatiks abound!
It took us 7 hours to reach the summit and we had the campsite all to ourselves. We were also blessed with a surreal sea of clouds. Surrounding mountaintops were enveloped in white, not your usual cloud and fog cover. No wonder the mountain’s name has been derived from the Tuwale word pulaw, which means white in the Ifugao dialect. The view was beyond mystical---a dream come true.
The challenge, however, didn’t end after reaching the summit. Descending via back trail was pure torture. Haha Nonetheless, it was one of the most rewarding climbs I’ve had in this lifetime. Mt. Napulauan, finally.
Thank you, Bundokerong Pandak, for the drone shots. For joiner climbs, you can contact Rabas Outdoors thru Win Calleja: 0927-611-6844.
See also our climb up Mt. Apo, Kibungan Cross Country, Mt. Purgatory Traverse, Tarak Ridge, Mt. Ugo, Mt. Pulag via Ambaguio-Tawangan traverse, Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg Trail, Mt. Arayat, Mt. Balagbag, Mt. Amuyao, Mt. Pigingan, Mt. Pulag via Akiki Trail, and Mt. Timbak.
Alfonso, Cavite
Alitagtag, Batangas
Anawangin, Zambales
Angat, Bulacan
Anilao Backpackers, Batangas
Anilao, Batangas
Anilao Boarding House, Batangas
Antipolo, Rizal
Mt.Sicapoo Apayao Trail
Asipulo, Ifugao
Baguio
Balai Resort, Batangas
Balai Tanay, Rizal
Barlig, Mt. Province: Mt. Amuyao
Bataan: Tarak Ridge
Batad, Banaue
Batanes
Batangas
Bay, Laguna
Bokod, Benguet: Mt. Purtagory Traverse
Borawan, Quezon
Bunker Dive Resort, Batangas
Cabuyao, Laguna
Cagsawa Ruins, Albay
Calaguas, Camarines Norte
Calatagan, Batangas
Cavinti, Laguna
Cavite
Clark, Pampanga
Coron, Palawan
Corregidor
Dive and Trek Resort, Batangas
El Nido, Palawan
El Nido, Palawan 2
Hundred Islands, Pangasinan
Hungduan, Ifugao: Mt. Napulauan
Ilocos
Kiangan, Ifugao
Kibungan Cross Country
Laiya, Batangas
Laiya, Batangas 2
Ligpo Island, Batangas
Mercedes, Camarines Norte
Mt. Batulao, Batangas
Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Batangas
Mt. Maculot, Batangas
Mt. Makiling
Mt. Pigingan, Benguet
Mt. Pinatubo
Mt. Pulag, Benguet
Mt. Pulag, Benguet 2
Mt. Pulag, Benguet 3
Mt. Tagapo, Rizal
Mt. Talamitam, Batangas
Mt. Timbak, Benguet
Mt. Ugo, Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet
Nasugbu, Batangas
Nagsasa, Zambales
Olongapo City
Palawan
Pampanga: Mt. Arayat
Pililla, Rizal
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Rodriguez, Rizal: Mascap Twin Hike
Rodriguez, Rizal: Mascap Twin Hike 2
Rodriguez, Rizal: Wawa Trilogy
Rodriguez, Rizal: Wawa Trilogy Version 2
Romblon Island, Romblon
Sabang, Puerto Galera
Sagada, Mountain Province
San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan: Mt. Balagbag
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
San Luis, Batangas
San Miguel, Bulacan: The Cabin
San Rafael, Bulacan: Mt. Secret
San Vicente, Palawan
San Vicente, Palawan 2
Sariaya, Quezon
Silang, Cavite
Subic, Olongapo
Taal, Batangas
Talisayen Cove, Zambales
Tanay, Rizal: Laiban Trilogy
Tanay, Rizal: Maynuba Circuit
Tanay, Rizal: Moolk Farm
Tanay, Rizal: Mt. Batolusong
Tanay, Rizal: Mt. Binutasan
Tanay, Rizal: Nagpatong-Mt. Masungki Twin Hike
Tanay, Rizal: Pili Paninap Farm
Tinglayan, Kalinga
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park 1
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park 2
Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Bacolod City
Bantayan, Cebu
Biri Island, Northern Samar
Bohol
Boracay, Aklan
Dauin, Negros Oriental
Iloilo
Leyte
Mactan, Cebu
Malapascua, Cebu
Moalboal, Cebu
Oslob, Cebu
Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte
Siquijor
Sumilon Island, Cebu
Cagayan De Oro
Camiguin
Davao
Davao City
Davao del sur: Mt.Apo
Maguindanao
Mantangale Dive Resort, Misamis Oriental
Marawi City
Zamboanga
Certified as a PADI rescue diver. Got my first compact camera in 2011. I was simply content then to just capture a glimpse of what I see during my dives. It was only last February 2014 that I fully maximized the use of manual macro settings.
My camera skills and knowledge are still a work in progress. Enjoy browsin’!
Developed by: Brewhildah