Yearend Mt. Ugo Climb

Just right after Christmas on December 25, three LOGSACs flew all the way to Luzon for a yearend climb to Mt. Ugo in Benguet. Noel Bartolome (a.k.a. Pawiks), Irvhin Joy Alcoriza and Danrev Broñola successfully scaled one of Cordillera’s major climb destination via the Itogon trail in Benguet on December 26-28, 2011. Although much better if traversed, the group opted for a back track to cater to some equally interesting adventure side trips which included a Baguio tour and an overnight stay at Pangasinan hundred islands.

According to Pawiks, Mt. Ugo trail is highlighted by an open trail featuring endemic pine trees. They spent their two nights at Lusod community, a small village where their stay was catered in one of the resident’s shed. They reached Mt. Ugo summit on the second day and headed back to Lusod before traveling back to Baguio on the third day.

Mt. Ugo measures 2,130 MASL and is considered one of the ideal climbing destinations in Northern Luzon. The concept to make it an eco-tourism site was coined after a tragic airline crash in year 1987 when rescue operatives discovered its potentials for mountaineering activity.

The initial plan for this yearend climb was supposedly Mt. Tabayoc considering the group’s desire to scale mountains belonging to the country’s list of highest peaks. Mt. Tabayoc is recorded as the 5th highest in the Philippines. However, the last minute decision favored Mt. Ugo due to its very good summit features including wide ranges of visions of the entire Cordillera region.

To Pawiks, Papong and Joyjoy…..congrats.