In early 2023, I received an intriguing message from Dave. He was proposing a trip to the Philippines. With the knowledge that the Philippines boasts twenty-nine ultra-prominent peaks, my enthusiasm to agree was immediate. The allure was heightened by the fact that a significant number of these towering mountains also stand as island highpoints. Add…
Country: Philippines
Philippines – quicksight
Like most countries in Asia, the Philippines is a lively, vibrant, and fascinating place. I won’t attempt to give a comprehensive overview but rather share some photos and memories that I brought back with me. Food lovers would need a considerable amount of time to explore the endless culinary possibilities. Nature lovers could spend a…
Manila
Welcome to the delightful chaos of Manila, where the urban landscape is an exciting tapestry of sights, sounds, and a thousand smells. The shopping malls here are so vast they could probably host their own Olympic Games, complete with different climate zones for each event. Road traffic is like the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti,…
Mount Madjaas
Mount Madjaas is the highest point on the island, with a prominence of over two thousand meters, and is quite isolated. These factors make this Ultra peak very visible on our radar. An added bonus is that no peak baggers have reported reaching the summit. Initially, we are unsure whether we can reach Panay Island…
Mount Pulag
The highest point on the island of Luzon is Mount Pulag – 2922 meters, just 20 meters from the World Top 100 Prominence list. We find this hike very beautiful and interesting, especially because of the dwarf bamboo grasslands. The registration process is mostly boring but probably necessary due to the number of people trying…
Mount Tapulao
It is very surprising to see such a beautiful pine forest on this peak, as opposed to the usual jungle in the region. We all agree that this walk reminds us of the Alps in Europe, although there are some differences, such as the leeches we find along the way. Fortunately, I do not get…
Mount Labo
Mount Labo – an interesting and remote Ultra mountain – had no peakbagger reports and little information. So we got up early in Daet, met our trike driver, and drove almost an hour to the trailhead near the village of San Isidro. After formal registration, we were introduced to the local guide and soon began…
Mount Isarog
The most feasible route we identify from Davao to Naga involves flying through Cebu. While this option requires changing airlines and rechecking our luggage, the overall experience is reasonable. Thankfully, we don’t encounter significant delays and arrive on schedule. Upon our arrival at Naga airport, we are welcomed by sunny weather and high temperatures. Interestingly,…
Crocodile Hill
After successfully completing our morning ascent of Mount Matutum, we made our way back to Davao. En route, we consulted the map and identified a small hill with a road leading to its summit. Two aspects piqued our curiosity about this hill: firstly, it held a prominence of 100 meters, and secondly, it bore the…
Mount Matutum
The second ultra peak on our grand itinerary was Mount Matutum. Despite the park being closed and obtaining permission being a challenge, the trail was somewhat overgrown and obstructed, though still navigable. I began my GPS track at 2:57 am, indicating an early start to the day. Initially, we traversed farmland before descending slightly. Numerous…
Puting Bato
Mount Matutum is within close reach, and with the day stretching out ahead of us, we feel unhurried. Upon scrutinizing the map, our eyes quickly land on Samal Island, its pinnacle, and the delineated trail leading up. Albert’s affirmation about the ease of accessing the island and its zenith further bolsters our enthusiasm. Consequently, we…
Mount Apo
The highpoint of the Philippines is Mount Apo, located on Mindanao island. Naturally, it also claims the title of the island’s highest point. Globally, it ranks as the 99th most prominent mountain, boasting an altitude of 2,954 metres. There are several compelling reasons to ascend it. Apart from being an active stratovolcano, many local tribes…