Before dawn, we prepared to tackle the hardest part of the adventure so far: a steep ascent to the summit, followed by a long and arduous trek along the mountainside trail. The trip was over nineteen kilometers long, and as we set off slightly before 5am, we were both excited and intimidated by the challenge ahead.
It is said that one must experience the sunrise at Mt. Ugo to fully appreciate the beauty this mountain is capable of giving its visitors. We were not disappointed one bit!
After a quick visit to the (crowded) summit, where campers were packing up, we set off towards the exit point which was still over six hours away. The trek down was relatively straightforward: not too steep but very, very far and somewhat exposed. Thankfully, we were reminded to bring sun protection!
Our team, the first to finish the traverse, arrived at the exit point at roughly half-past three in the afternoon, completing the nearly 11-hour Day 2 hike.
Mt. Ugo has a difficulty rating of 5/9, and is considered a major hike. It is suitable for experienced hikers alike, and for fit travelers. Please make sure you’re wearing proper clothes like technical or athletic shirt (no cotton tops and bottoms), adequate sun protection (hat and sleeves plus sunblock), proper shoes (trail runners are great here, but hiking shoes are even better), and of course, plenty of water and snacks. I highly recommend this hike for the views and the relatively healthy trails though do prepare for a long trek over two days.
Get in touch with Trail Adventours and book your first major hike with them at Mt. Ugo!
All photos by me. Follow my adventures at @jsncruz on Instagram!
License – CC: Attribution, non-commercial.
Philippine Hiking Destinations – Mt. Ugo with Trail Adventours
Transparency disclaimer:
This hike was generously sponsored by Trail Adventours.
