JH Mountaineer

MT. AMUYAO

Jump-off points: Sitio Macalana, Barlig, Mt. Province; Batad, Ifugao
LLA: 17°10N, 120°57E, 2702 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days / 5-7 hours
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 3

Rising at the northeastern edge of the Cordilleras is the highest point of Mountain Province, Mt. Amuyao. Unlike the famed mountains of the range such as Mt. Pulag and Mt. Napulauan which can only be viewed on high elevations, Mt. Amuyao stands prominently and can be spotted along the highway to Banaue.

Because of its prime location, it was chosen to be the site of two transmitters, that of the PT&T and ABS-CBN.

And because its summit area hosts these sites, the access to the mountain has been made easy, with stairways literally running all the way to the top.

This literal flight of stairs takes 4-7 hours to climb*. Exhauasting and steep, yes, but the trail is assuringly well-established and continuous.

Night trekking is a possibility.

Barlig itself is set in high ground, 1300-1400 MASL. From here you would see a mountainous prominence: this is not Mt. Amuyao but Mts. Polis and Alemmona. At the start of trek, you would climb up the Awa Rice Fields in Barlig, and then commence the stairways to two low, successive mountains: Mt. Alemmona (1800 MASL) and Mt. Polis (2000 MASL), around two hours total.

Here the refreshing views comprise of pine trees; in Mt. Polis a mossy forest ensues, leading to further areas locally known as Lifod / Lipod and Tokchor, respectively (these names are written on a map at the Tourism Office).

The difficult assault ot Monkelat trail will, after around 3-4 hours of trekking, take you to the Barlig Viewpoint (2400+ MASL, total of 4-5 hours from jump-off). Here you can take great shots, including that of the summit of Mt. Amuyao.

Not so far from here is a spring water source, and also a campsite known simply as Camp 1. The trails would eventually lead to a mossy forest again, this time grander, and culminate in a steep but manageable portion near the summit called the Amuyao Knife-Edge. From there, the summit area with its radio towers and relay stations are very near. From the viewpoint to the summit, allot an hour of trekking.

At the summit, a display of wild flora will greet you: there are pink flowers, highland grass, wild orchids, and other rarities. The scenery is breathtaking, encompassing the high mountains of the Cordilleras to the west, and the Sierra Madre to the east. Visible are the provinces of Benguet (W), Abra (WNW), Kalinga (N), Cagayan (NE), Isabela (E), and Ifugao (S). Both sunsets and sunrises have a magnificent character; more so the sea of clouds. ( Although we were not able to see that because of rain and bad weather condition )

Aside from the beautiful view its peak affords, Mt. Amuyao is also special for other reasons. In Igorot folklore, diluveal legends say that it is in this high mountain where the surviving man and woman, Bugan and Wigan, took refuge. This legend is very much like the Biblical tale of Noah, whose ark landed in Mt. Ararat. Hence, the mountain has a special place among the locals. Also, its bioversity has earned the notice of scientists. Salcedo and Calora of the Benguet State University (2006) reports that "A total of 280 vascular plant species belonging to 180 genera and 84 families were recorded from actual floristic surveys and vegetation analysis of the northern slope of Mt. Amuyao." They were further able to caterogize the mountain into zones: a tropical moist forest (1600-1800 MASL), tropical premontane wet forest (1801-2400 MASL) and tropical montane rainforest (2400-2702 MASL). The same report warns, however, of a bad prognosis regarding the denudation of the forest; hikers must be aware of these environment concerns and lend their hand whenever possible to avert them.

Below are other photos from the Mt. Amuyao expedition .

Fireplace