-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
