The Protected Forests of Mt. Palali in Nueva Vizcaya

MT. PALALI

Photo from: http://philippinevolcanoes.blogspot.com/2017/03/mt-palali-in-nueva-vizcaya.html

A little-known but very beautiful destination in Northern Luzon is Mt. Palali in Nueva Vizcaya. Once the hunting ground of the Bugkalots, Gaddangs, and Ifugaos, this majestic mountain offers a commanding view of the low-lying municipalities of the province.

Photo from: journeyingjames.com

The jump-off point is accessible through tricycles or jeeps less than 30 minutes from Solano. Getting guides, however, seem to be quite a challenge but the risk of going there without prior arrangement is a fair-enough risk, as Mt. Palali gets more and more popular as a climbing destination. The trail begins as a rough road, as in many mountains, and it gives way to a beautiful forest. This forest has recently been declared as a ‘protected area’ and should be respected as such. There are many avian species; indeed the forest is the closest most of us can get to the deep jungles of Palanan, farther east.

Photo from: vigattintourism.com

Several hours into the climb, huge boulders will appear, heralding the end of the first half of the trek. Afterwards, the landmark known as Haring Bato will be reached – the halfway point. Another account says this area is in the native tongue known as Dinar-awan. Here, and when the forest occasionally gives way to the cogon grassland which is the usual environment of Philippine peaks, the view is like that of Mt. Arayat: instead of Pampanga River, there is Magat River, sweeping across the plains as it commences from Vizcaya; and looming in the west are mountains such as Mt. Ugo, the saddle of Ambaguio, and on a clear day, Mt. Pulag itself, and northward, Mt. Napulauan, and a distant Mt. Amuyao. Meanwhile, equally alluring are the mountains of the east side: the Sierra Madre range, with its rarely-explored environs.

Photo from: karinacenidoza.wordpress.com

The summit, again like its Arayat and Makiling counterparts, is forested. Take time to observe the fauna and flora there – pitcher plants, creepers, and wild flowers create a Jurassic aura that caps off the climb to one of the more pristine places in the country.

Photo from: http://www.jovialwanderer.com/2013/03/mt-palali-day-hike.html