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Hungduan, Ifugao: Mt. Napulauan
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.
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About Mona
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’!
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