Sunday, January 15, 2017

Mt. Yangbew in La Trinidad, Benguet Engulfed by a Sea of Clouds and Mist

It was a cloudy Sunday morning. Low-lying clouds and mists have descended into the La Trinidad valley. So I decided to climb Mt. Yangbew to see what it's like up there with the clouds rolling and dancing all over it. I wasn't disappointed. Visibility was very low. You stand at the peak and you can only see just several meters in front of you.

It was a weekend so there's a trickle of other hikers ascending the mountain. I met and conversed with a few of them. Most of them were a bit upset by the weather because the clouds have literally blocked the view of the valley and the surrounding Benguet mountains. On a clear day, you can almost see the entirety of the La Trinidad valley below. Far off in the distance would be mountain peaks belonging to the nearby towns of Tublay and Kapangan. From the west, you could see the peaks of Mt. Sto. Tomas.

And if you fancy a ride, there are horses atop Mt. Yangbew that you can rent for 150 pesos (good for 30 minutes). There are handlers who will guide you and the horse around the peak. If you don't want to ride but you need souvenir pictures, picture-taking is only worth 20 pesos. You can take as many pictures as you want for only 20 pesos.

For those planning to visit the mountain, here's how you can get there: Ride a jeep from Baguio City, get off along Km. 4 in Pines Park, ride a jeep that goes up to Lubas, and tell the driver to drop you off at the trail leading to the mountain. Always bring water and snacks with you. There's no water nor food at the top.