-The Great-
Outdoors
Experience the Cool Mountain Breeze
The Philippines uniquely wonderful geology and geography has given us
stunning environments to explore and admire. With the Philippines’ mountainous landscapes, hiking and camping are the highlight activities to be done
on these places. These activities should be a nice change of pace over the city
life, giving us a sense of separation from the typical and the mundane.
Cordillera
Mountain Range
The Mountainous Terrains of
Mt. Pulag
Located between the borders of Benguet,
Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya, this is
the highest peak in Luzon. Mt.
Pulag is characterized best by it’s
blanket of clouds and the fantastical view of the Milky Way Galaxy
at the break of dawn.
Sierra Madre
Mountain Range
LUZON
Third Highest Mountain in the PH
2,922 m above
sea level
Mt. Daraitan
Easiest Trail to the Summit
The Ambangeg Trail
Located in the southern part of the
Sierra Madre Mountain Range,
Mt. Daraitan is the perfect climb for
city-dwellers and novices. With its
proximity to the city, it would be a great
day hike for anyone to have a short
break between their nine-to-fives.
Mt. Pulag Peak Seasons
February to May and
November to December
Feast your eyes with nature’s wonders
Caves, Tinipak River, and the
Sierra Madre Mt. Range
Time to reach Mt. Daraitan’s summit
3 to 4 Hour Hike
Principled Recreation
LEAVE NO TRACE
We need to minimize our impact when we are outdoors or doing recreational activities so
that we can let others enjoy what we enjoyed, and to keep the ecology of the place intact.
These principles can be applied anywhere that you go and any outside activity that you do.
These are some practices that you can follow when mountain climbing.
Plan Ahead
Any outdoor activity must require planning, even if it’s extremely
simple. Planning is important to minimize your impact and ensure
the safety of yourself or your group. Here are some tips on how you
can plan your next climb:
01
Research about the mountains that you would like to
climb, it’s most optimal routes, and the needed permits.
02
Create a route plan on which places in your climb you
would visit or use as resting/camping.
03
Gather your gear and supplies. Some of the most
important are toiletries and proper climbing attire.
04
Before you do your climb, recheck your gear and check
the weather to see if it’s suitable to climb or not.
Dispose your
Waste Properly
Hiking mountains gives us a chance for us to recreate and appreciate the beauty of nature, but the mountains didn’t need us and it
definitely doesn’t need our waste. To pay respect to the satisfaction
that climbing mountains give to you, please know how to take care
of the waste that you produce during your hike.
Most Common Forms of Wastes
Produced in Hiking
Leave What
you Find
In the same vein as keeping your wastes
in check, it’s paramount to keep the place
you stayed in your climb the same way you
found it before. By doing this, you allow
others to have the same sense of discovery that you had in your hike. Principled
recreation means paying it forward, that is
why leaving the places the same way you
had it is an essential tenet of being a good
traveler, and a good human being.
Philippine
Brown Deer
native to Mt. Daraitan and
Mt. Pulag
Nature’s other call
Stacking rocks is not
recommended, since hikers
might mistake it as trail
signs and lead them off trail
Luzon Pygmy
Fruit Bat
Human
Waste
After a hearty meal
Food
Waste
Pack it in and pack it out
Plastics &
Recyclables
In most locations, burying human waste correctly is
the most appropriate way of disposing.
01
Plan your meals to avoid making food waste. Packing
out kitchen waste is vital for the safety of the wildlife.
02
Plastic, paper, and recyclable wastes can be packed out
to be disposed on a different place.
03
native to Mt. Pulag
Be Mindful
of the Local
Wildlife
Northern
Rufous
Hornbill
native to Mt. Daraitan
Mountains contain wildlife and as fascinating as these creatures can be, they are
wild: they’re as much of a danger to you
as you are to them, so observe at wonder
from a distance.
Be Considerate
All of the practices given are intended, not only for the welfare of
the environment but for the sake of other visitors as well. Recreation gives us a chance to unwind and be more connected to nature,
so let’s not be selfish and keep these experiences to ourselves.
REFERENCES
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2000, August). Mt. Pulag National Park. Retrieved from faspselib.denr.
gov.ph: https://faspselib.denr.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Publication%20Files/Pulag%20GMP.pdf
Fernando, C. (2021, June). 8 Most Spectacular Spots for Hiking in the Philippines Perfect for Pros and Beginners. Retrieved
from Zenrooms: https://www.zenrooms.com/blog/post/hiking-in-philippines/
Klook. (2022). Mt. Daraitan Day Hike from Manila. Retrieved from klook.com: https://www.klook.com/en-PH/activity/11230-mount-daraitan-guided-day-hike-from-manila/
Leave No Trace Org. (2021). The & Principles. Retrieved from Leave No Trace: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
Muzones, G. (n.d.). 10 Best Mountains to Hike in the Philippines: Sea of Clouds, Beautiful Views, Bucket List Destinations.
Retrieved from Guide to the Philippines: https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/adventure-and-outdoors/best-philippines-mountains-hike
REI Co-op. (2022). How to Plan a Mountaineering Trip. Retrieved from rei.com: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/
how-to-plan-a-mountaineering-trip.html
Solatre, J., & Balcita, J. (2000, September). Mt. Pulag Profile. Retrieved from IAPAD.org: http://www.iapad.org/wp-content/
uploads/2015/09/profile_mt_pulag.pdf