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| Mount Pulag | |
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  Mount Pulag
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| Elevation | 2,922 m (9,587 ft) |
| Location |  Luzon, Philippines |
| Prominence | 2,954 m (9,692 ft) Ranked 106th |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| First ascent | Unknown |
| Easiest route | Hike |
| Listing | Ultra |
Mount Pulag (or sometimes Mount Pulog) is the third-highest mountain in the Philippines. It is Luzon’s highest peak at 2,922 meters above sea level. The borders between the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya meet at the mountain's peak.
Because of its high elevation, the climate on Mt. Pulag is temperate with rains predominating the whole year. Rainfall on the mountain averages 4,489 mm yearly with August being the wettest month with an average rainfall of 1,135 mm.
The mountain hosts 528 documented plant species. It is the natural habitat of the endemic dwarf bamboo, (Yushania niitakayamensis) and the Benguet pine (Pinus insularis). Among its native wildlife are 33 bird species and several threatened mammals such as Philippine deer, giant bushy-tailed cloud rat, “bowet,” and long-haired fruit bat. Mt. Pulag is the only place that hosts the 4 cloud rat species. It has one of the most diverse biodiversity of the Philippines, with the newly found (since 1896) 185 grams dwarf cloud rat, Carpomys melanurus, a rare breed (endemic to the Cordillera) and the Koch pitta bird among its endangered denizens.[1][2]
On February 20, 1987, a large part of the mountain was designated as a National Park with Proclamation No. 75. This act aims to preserve the environment around the mountain due to threats from increased development such as conversion to agricultural lands, timber production, hunting, and increased tourism.
The indigenous people of Benguet consider the mountain to be a sacred place.
Hiking activity
As the highest mountain in Luzon, Mt. Pulag attracts a lot of mountain climbers. Highlights of the climb include the montane forests and the grassland summit with its "sea of clouds" phenomenon. There are four major trails up the summit: the Ambangeg, Akiki, and Tawangan trails from Benguet and the Ambaguio trail from Nueva Vizcaya. These trails are managed by the Mt. Pulag National Park, under the Department of Environment and National Resources.
The national park is open throughout the year. A permit is necessary. Depending on the trail, a climb may take 1-4 days, with the easiest being the Ambangeg trail. The difficulty level of the climb ranges from 3 to 7 out of 9 in the local classification system. No special equipment is required for the climb. [3]
References
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