Mt. Ugo – Great Hiking Destination in Nueva Vizcaya

MT. UGU / MT. UGO

This mountain found in the southern portion of the Cordillera is 2086 meters high. The discovery of this hidden beauty was rather accidental by the mountaineers who volunteered for the rescue operation in 1987 when a plane crashed on its slopes. Its proximity to Baguio City, the country’s summer capital makes the mountain an easy favorite among many mountain climbers. Trekking through a long, dusty and sun-drenched trails will prove worthy upon reaching the steep mountain trails overlooking cool valleys with thick pine forests. The summit will reveal the tall mountain tops of the Cordillera, the rolling pine hills of Nueva Vizcaya and the plains of Pangasinan, Level 3. Read More: islandsofthephilippines.com

Photo from: tripsiders.com

Mt. Ugo (sometimes Ugu) is a major destination in the Cordilleras. Although its elevation is low compared to the lofty heights of Mt. Pulag and Mt. Napulauan, it has stately pine forests and spectacular views similar to its higher counterparts. Also, the traverse connecting N. Vizcaya and Benguet is a challenging trail that serves as the southeast entrance to the Cordillera mountain chain – opening possibilities such as a traverse to Mt. Pulag.

This mountain was “discovered” in the aftermath of a PAL aircraft crash on June 26, 1987. Flight PR206, a Hawker Siddeley HS-748, bound for Baguio, crashed in the slopes of Mt. Ugo while attempting to land in a monsoon, killing all 50 people onboard. Rescuers, including mountaineers, found the wreckage five hours after the crash, 200 yards below the summit. Subsequent operations paved the way for trails, and soon, word spread about a new hiking destination. Today, hundreds of climbers climb Mt. Ugu yearly; there is an established guide system, and the mountain is one of the more popular hikes in the Cordilleras, together with Mt. Pulag, Mt. Amuyao, and Mt. Napulauan.

Another plane was said to have crashed in the mountain during the 1960’s…ghost stories are often attributed to the victims of these crashes. Long before the age of airplanes, however, Mt. Ugu has been associated with danger. Jovanie Claver, writing in the provincial website of Benguet, explains that the name “Ugo” was derived from the Ibaloi word “Ugoan” which means “to cut the neck”. Oral tradition has it that Mt. Ugo was the site where the invading Spaniards were killed, in the fashion in which the mountain was named. Although with a somewhat violent etymology, Mt. Ugo can be seen as a monument to the fierce determination of its people to defend their freedom and way of life. In many ways, they have succeeded: until now mountaineers can have the experience of interacting with the locals’ unique culture. The villagers are very hospitable. They would even offer food — including their delicacy, goat meat. Read More: pinoymountaineer.com

Photo from: flickr.com

Mt. Ugu is another proof that the Cordilleras is one of the richest hiking destinations in the country. It is a cross-country hike traversing several territories cutting across the provinces of Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya. It is a part of the “Cordillera Way” which is a series of trails crisscrossing the Cordillera Mountains. In fact you can create other exploration trips within this destination like a Napulauan-Ugu or Mt. Ugu-Pulag hikes. The Mt. Ugu hike itself is already visually rewarding physically challenging enough for you to reconsider the other routes. Nestled between the vast mountain lies the 2,150 high summit of Mt. Ugu. From the summit, you can catch a panoramic view of Mt. Pulag on the North and the Nueva Vizcaya Mountains on the South. It’s not only the experience of the Cordillera wilderness that is rewarding but as well as the cultural experience of interacting and passing by the remote villages of Itogon and Kayapa. Definitely Mt. Ugu is a better alternative to Mt. Pulag especially if you want to get away from the “beaten tracks”. Read More:philippineclimb.com

Photo from: johnbunoadventures.com