Misty trails, rolling hills, and breathtaking views—Mt. Ulap was an adventure that tested me and rewarded me in equal measure. Curious how it felt on the peak? Read my blog!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

Date of Hike: April 09, 2022

April 14,2022
Lipa, Batangas

The province of Itogon Benguet is home to the mighty Ulap Mountain. It features grassland, pine ridges, and a picturesque view of the mountains, all at an elevation of 1846 MASL (meters above sea level). Due to its cloud-like appearance from the summit, it is known as Mt. Ulap (cloud in English). It was once only accessible to trail runners, but has been opened up to hikers. It’s an easy and doable day trek that won’t take you more than four to six hours to finish.

BUDGET

I booked my Mt. Ulap hike with JessiClimb – owned by my fellow hikers – Jess and Eban. The hike cost Php1,850 inclusions of roundtrip van transfers, registration fees, guide fee, eco and coordinator fee. My overall budget for this hike is Php3,000.

RESTRICTIONS

Benguet is accepting leisure travelers provided that they follow the standard health protocol. No medical certificates, S-pass, RT-PCR test to be presented to some establishments or checkpoints. We only presented QTP to schedule a visit to Benguet, vaccination card and IDs in the barangay hall.

April 08
9:00pm Manila time
Mcdonald’s Alabang

The group gathered in Alabang, where I recognized one of the hikers from Kinabalu (KC) and was invited to join them on their ascent of Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines. I can’t wait until our October three-day hike!

Anyway, getting back on topic (haha), we left Alabang at 9 o’clock. It takes about 7 or 8 hours to drive from Alabang to Benguet. Since I always fall asleep on automobiles, I was wide awake by the time we arrived in Benguet at 4:30 on the morning of April 9.

April 09
4:30am Manila time

We’ve made it to Benguet. In order to hike up Mt. Ulap, we needed to first obtain registration and then hire guides. Adora was one of our two guides, and we set out for the summit at 5:30 a.m., when visibility is at its best. At only 23 degrees Celsius, it was really chilly. As I made my way up, I couldn’t help but get enamored with the grove of pine trees that surrounded me. Unfortunately, there were a lot of people out on the trails that day because it was the weekend and the area had recently gained in popularity. If I could choose when to hike here again, I’d pick a weekday.

At 10:00 a.m., we arrived at Gungol rock, Mt. Ulap’s most popular attraction and a lookout point with a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding mountains. When we got our pictures shot, the background was completely white. It looks like we’ll have to make a return visit.

We reached Gungol Rock around 12:30 p.m. and rested for an hour before continuing on to the peak. A pressed coffee and Kat’s cookies (oh my god, they were all so good) awaited us at the peak. Strawberry, chocolate, and butterfly pea cookies were on my plate. You have to try some of the treats she bakes when you visit her. haha Mountain hikes are perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee.

At around three in the afternoon, we began our descent, and it was an afternoon well spent. Even though it poured during the climb back down, I still had a blast. My only real concern was crossing the final two hanging bridges in barangay Sta. Fe. These bridges were the icing on the cake of our day at Mt. Ulap.

At 5:00 p.m., we finished our hike up Mt. Ulap and had a very chilly shower in the Php40.00 showers inside the paid restrooms. It was a chilly 19 degrees Celsius when we stopped in Baguio for dinner at Good Eats.

Good Eats
Otek St, Baguio, Benguet
Accepts Cash only
Php300-1,000

My brother, Lewdan, and I had previously visited Good Eats, and it did not fail to satisfy. I’m thrilled that the group decided to eat supper here; as always, I had a fantastic meal. It’s fresh, delicious, and plentiful without breaking the bank. Although there was a sizable line outside Good Eats when we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the service inside was just as excellent. I will undoubtedly return, and I think you should, too.

On April 10 I returned to Alabang, where I live, and got home about 1:30 in the morning. Being in the mountains was, of course, the nicest part of any vacation. It has been far too long since I went hiking, and I can’t wait to go again.:)

Love,
Maria, sometimes Niskie