
There are moments in life that feel too full for words โ when joy, awe, and gratitude all rush in at once and your heart can barely contain them. Standing on the highest peak of Luzon on December 14 was exactly one of those moments.
I chose Mt. Pulag as my year-ender hike, and it turned out to be the most fitting way to close a chapter. As the final weeks of the year wound down, I was winding up โ literally โ through mossy forests, mist-laden trails, and crisp mountain air that filled my lungs with something that felt a lot like perspective. Every step upward was a quiet reminder that persistence is beautiful, and that nature has a way of restoring what the busyness of life slowly wears away.
The Playground of the Gods
Mt. Pulag is known by many names, but perhaps the most evocative is its indigenous title: Playground of the Gods. The Ibaloi people, who have called these highlands home for centuries, considered the mountain sacred โ a place where their ancestors’ spirits reside. When you finally witness it for yourself, it’s hard to argue with that reverence.
The reward that greeted me at the summit was a sea of clouds stretching endlessly in every direction โ soft, rolling, impossibly white โ with the peaks of nearby mountains emerging like islands in a dream. I stood there in quiet disbelief, whispering a prayer of thanksgiving. Lord, you truly outdid yourself on this one.
“Through misty trails, moss-covered forests and crisp mountain air was a reminder of the beauty of persistence and the gift of nature.”






A Little About Mt. Pulag
Before you lace up your boots and hit the trail, here are some things worth knowing about this magnificent mountain:

The mountain sits at the heart of the Cordillera mountain range and is recognized as one of the most biodiverse areas in the country. The summit plateau is blanketed in dwarf bamboo โ a rare high-altitude grassland ecosystem found in only a handful of places in Southeast Asia. It’s not just a hike; it’s a walk through a living, breathing, sacred landscape.
The Trail: What to Expect
Most hikers, myself included, take the Ambangeg Trail โ the most accessible route that begins in Kabayan, Benguet. While it’s labeled the “easiest” among Pulag’s trails, don’t let that fool you into packing light on preparation. The cold is real (temperatures can dip well below 10ยฐC near the summit), and altitude sickness is a genuine concern as you ascend above 2,000 meters.
The trail takes you through three distinct ecosystems: the mossy forest, the mossy-pine forest transition zone, and finally the open grassland summit. Each zone has its own personality โ the mossy forest in particular feels utterly enchanting, dripping with hanging lichens and ferns, as if you’ve stepped into another world.
Tips If You’re Planning to Go
- Start your summit push at 2โ3 AM to catch the sunrise and the sea of clouds at their most magical.
- Layer up seriously. Cold, wind, and fog can all hit simultaneously near the top.
- Stay on the trail. The dwarf bamboo ecosystem at the summit is fragile and protected.
- Bring your own water and snacks โ there are no stores along the trail.
- Practice Leave No Trace: every piece of waste you carry in, carry out.
- Go with a guide or a registered mountaineering group, especially on your first attempt.
Carrying the Mountains into the New Year
As I made my way back down, legs tired and heart full, I thought about what it means to end a year on a summit. There’s something quietly profound about choosing to climb โ to do the hard, beautiful thing โ as a way of marking time. The sea of clouds doesn’t care what year it is. The mountain doesn’t keep score. And yet, somehow, standing there at the top felt like the perfect answer to everything the year had asked of me.
Mt. Pulag, you filled my heart with memories I will carry into the new year and beyond. You reminded me that the most meaningful moments are rarely the comfortable ones โ they’re the ones you work for, step by cold, misty, magnificent step.
May I continue to seek more adventures, live more awe-inspiring moments, and keep a heart that never stops being grateful. ๐







































































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