Tag: ultra

Roque de los Muchachos

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-04
hike
2428m
P2428m
i128.64km

After a successful and memorable climb to Gran Canaria’s true high point, El Morrón de la Agujereada we stop at a restaurant chosen by Aron. After enjoying great food, we head to the airport. Our flight to La Palma is on time, and all procedures go smoothly. It takes a few minutes to disembark and…

El Morrón de la Agujereada

North Atlantic Islands
2024-04-04
hike
1960m
P1960m
i96.69km

El Morrón de la Agujereada stands as the island’s highpoint—an ultra-prominent peak with nearly 100 km of isolation. It boasts an exposed climbing ‘trail’ that snakes its way to the true summit. This challenge is precisely why 99.99 percent of visitors park their cars, stop at the Pico de las Nieves (“touristic high point”) just…

Jiri-san

Taebaek Sanmae
2024-03-24
hike
1915m
P1695m
i245.14km

Embarking on our journey on March 24th, 2024, Ricard, Denise, and I set out on the adventure of ascending Jiri-san, locally known as Cheonwangbong. Because, really, what better way to spend a serene Sunday than challenging gravity and pushing our limits? Standing tall at 1915 meters, with a prominence of 1695 meters that dwarfs most,…

Xueshan

Taiwan
2024-03-19
hike
3885m
P1937m
i104.84km

Pairing Xueshan peak with another Taiwanese giant, Yushan, feels like an unwritten rule; skipping one just seems wrong. Naturally, we planned to summit both peaks. Xueshan, also known as Snow Mountain, welcomed us with some old hard snow on the trail close to the summit. Securing permits turned out smoother than expected, despite a labyrinth…

Yushan

Taiwan
2024-03-18
hike
3951m
P3951m
i1814.66km

Island highpoint, a top 100 prominence peak and one of the dozen ultra-prominent peaks starting with the letter Y, boasts over 1800km of isolation—a real monster peak for peak baggers. Here we are in Taiwan, at the Youshan trailhead, late afternoon, with reservations at the lower hut, teeming with friendly hikers eager to assist us…

Otgon Tenger Uul

Hangay Mountains
2023-06-25
hike
4010m
P2269m
i319.95km

Bidding farewell to the echoes of Jargalant Khairkhan, we diverted towards the mighty Otgon Tenger Uul, a beacon for adventurers. The quaint town of Otgon served as our gateway, leading us to a picturesque valley where the Buiant-gol River shimmered like a turquoise ribbon. Bustling with tourist activity, the area was a clear indicator of…

Jargalant Khairkhan

Altai
2023-06-22
hike
3796m
P2353m
i79.57km

Mud and sand became our unwelcome companions, forcing us to ditch our original plan and veer towards the imposing Jargalant Khairkhan. Its peak, oh-so-close yet twenty kilometers of mystery away, mocked us with its majestic presence. Satellite imagery, our sole guide, felt more like a cryptic treasure map than a reliable navigation tool. Kilometers bled…

Baatar Khairkhan

Altai
2023-06-20
hike
3984m
P1541m
i71.63km

From the majestic vista of Bumbag Khairkhan Uul, with its snow-capped peak beckoning, we set our sights south towards the quaint village of Tsetseg, where, in a display of unwavering tradition, we indulge in our daily ice cream fix. Post-village bliss, we hit a road that’s surprisingly decent until, of course, it decides to give…

Bumbag Khairkhan Uul

Altai
2023-06-18
hike
3470m
P1806m
i38.40km

Rob and I set off towards yet another mystery peak, armed with the summit’s coordinates but clueless about the base’s whereabouts. The maps hint at a bumpy twenty-kilometer detour off-road, the ease of which remains a coin toss. Slicing through the steppes, we aim straight for the base, but our initial pivot towards the ridge…

Hasgat Khairkhan Uul

Altai
2023-06-16
hike
3578m
P1749m
i146.92km

As the sun begins its descent, we inch closer to the base of the mountain, the road beneath us turning rougher, presenting a formidable challenge. Despite our eagerness to ascend, the lack of reliable internet service higher up compels us to backtrack slightly. Eventually, we discover an idyllic spot beside the now peaceful river, where…

Tergun Bogd

Altai
2023-06-13
hike
3957m
P1979m
i356.34km

Our third ultra-peak adventure looms in the distance, teasing us with its inaccessibility for a simple day hike. We ambitiously seek a path to its steeper inclines, guided by satellite images of elusive car tracks that play a frustrating game of now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t. As twilight descends, we push our vehicle to its limits until the…

Myangan Yamaat

Altai
2023-06-12
hike
3620m
P1745m
i106.84km

Yesterday’s failed attempt to summit Myangan Yamaat peak turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Retracing our steps, we stumbled upon a beacon of hope: a camp spotted on a map, merely 3.5 km west of our target, complete with a clear trail of car tracks visible from the heavens. Though we didn’t pop…

Myangan Yamaat – Attempt

Altai
2023-06-11
failed
3620m
P1745m
i106.84km

Just hours before sunset, we arrive at a valley on the east side, which, according to our map, should lead us directly to the summit. So, we believe following this valley or river, then tackling some slopes or ridges, should get us there. Yet, doubts linger, though hope stubbornly remains. We drive until the car…

Dund Sayhni Nuru

Gobi Desert Ranges
2023-06-09
hike
2830m
P1531m
i224.96km

Embarking from Ulaanbaatar towards Dalanzadgad, we encounter a mostly smooth road, marred only by occasional potholes across a hundred kilometers, which still permits rapid travel. Gathering supplies near the airport at dawn, we journey several hundred kilometers to Mandalgobi. Here, we enjoy a pleasant lunch in a quaint restaurant, unexpectedly operated by the owner’s timid…

Mount Madjaas

Central Philippines
2023-04-29
hike
2117m
P2117m
i149.93km

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

Luzon
2023-04-26
hike
2922m
P2922m
i666.67km

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

Luzon
2023-04-25
hike
2044m
P2022m
i105.54km

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

Luzon
2023-04-22
hike
1544m
P1524m
i73.55km

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

Luzon
2023-04-20
hike
2000m
P1951m
i55.92km

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,…

Mount Matutum

Mindanao
2023-04-18
hike
2286m
P1950m
i68.69km

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…