(NOTE: This is an article published in my other blogging site (click here and here) and reposted here with some revisions. Check out for more here)

We used to hike to this place pre-pandemic but haven't done so since COVID hit. I'm not sure if this is open for hiking again.

Mt. Yangbew or Mt. Jumbo or Little Pulag

This is a quick climb locals and tourists want to go to. On top of this mountain you get a 360-degree view of La Trinidad and the surrounding mountains. #BaguioCity can also be seen from this vantage point. Depending on how fast you walk, you can reach the top in less than an hour. For us, we were able to do it in less than 30 minutes.

We call this mountain officially as Mt. Yangbew. Other names include Little Mt. Pulag or Mt. Jumbo. Bew or Beo is a Kankana-ey word meaning "fog." Just like in high altitude areas, fog settles here and that is where the reference came from. As such, this was agreed upon by local officials to name it Mt. Yangbew. Although Ibalois were the first settlers here in this province, they only settled in the plains and it was the Kankana-eys who occupied the mountains.

Fees are indicated on the billboard sign at the foot of the mountain. Before, it was free to visit this place. When enthusiasts kept increasing, the local government decided to impose fees. Not everybody who hikes or camps are that responsible. No matter how much fine you impose there will always be those undisciplined ones.

When you reach the top, there is a makeshift hut where you can register and pay fees. The fees are used to maintain the place. However, they are making a not so great effort keeping it clean. There were still garbage here and there. Probably it was the hikers' irresponsibility. The personnel who were in this hut also sells food and drinks. It's still best to bring your own.

Going up the mountain, there's an eroded or more likely dug out part to make way for a pathway or road. You will see interestingly shaped rocks exposed. They look like eggs of some prehistoric creatures. These "eggs" come in different sizes and shapes but mostly oblong. These are massive and huge! This particular one is as tall as me I think.

It was already late afternoon when we decided to take a hike. This was our third day hiking around our place and by then we were already feeling the muscle strain, aches and pains from the previous days of walking and hiking. This is also the last day of Christmas vacation. We were really maximizing our time and wanted to enjoy every moment of it.

Viewed from Mt. Yangbew is Mt. Kalugong. This is another good place to hike with a cafe at the top. Here you can enjoy coffee and meals while looking down to the valley.

We were hoping to catch the sunset but clouds have rolled in which was disappointing but still I enjoyed every moment of it.

My sister registered for us. Since we live in the area, the personnel was kind enough to not let the kids pay. Only us adults paid the said fee.

It is not always the same when every time we take a hike here. It awes me again and again how magnificent and beautiful it is. It gives you the feeling of being on top of the world and how small everything is from a distance. For me, the best time to take a hike here is during the cold months. The mountain is purely grassland so it is hot when during the dry months. However, you can still choose to hike during the cooler hours of the day.

It's Marlboro Country!

Horses have been a thing here in our mountains. These were brought by the Americans during their reign. They put up summer vacation houses here because of its cool temperature and bringing with them are horses. Baguio City is known for its horses and tourists get to ride them or have pictures with them when they visit the city.

Local horse owners took advantage of the number of hikers coming here in this mountain. They rent horses and let you ride horses for 30 minutes at PHP150.00 around USD3. Usually, these horses are available during the weekends only. I let my nephews rode one of the horses. They were delighted to do so and excited! They wanted to whip and/or kick like an expert horse rider will do but the horseman will not allow it of course.

While they were enjoying the horse ride, we roam around and took more pictures.

If the conditions are good, this is a great place for a sunrise/sunset. You get a clear view of every direction. The clouds may have blocked the sun but it was an exhilarating sight just the same. We were presented with sea of clouds!

I don't know if jump shot is still a thing but seeing these clouds, they just make one feel like walking on them and taking a jump. If only we can fly!

I believe from October to early December there are some Benguet lilies (Lilium philippinense) that grow around this place and some grow along the way. Before sunflowers were known to be the flowers of Benguet and Baguio, Benguet Lilies were first to be recognized because it is just endemic in this region. However, they seem to be forgotten.

Some trees grow but they are stunted. They will grow up to a point but then dies.

The night is falling fast so we took final photos and went down the mountain. It was cold also and our sweats have dried out.

While going down, we still met hikers going up even though it is dark. They probably will camp or spend a limited time in the mountain. Some even dared to drink. Those should be me monitored by the watchers.

We chose the wrong place for a sunset view but it was still beautiful.

Let me share this collage when me and brother decided to go for a hike. He needed to clear his head and I needed to destress. I guess we were both having too much in our mind that day so when he said he wanted to go hike, I said yes right away. Turned out this is the last time we were there and then pandemic hit.

Here is a short video of the place.

To get there, ride a jeepney plying Baguio to La Trinidad and vice versa. Ask to be dropped off Tiongsan La Trinidad. Enter the bridge going to Pines Park and ride again a jeepney going to Tawang. Ask the driver to drop you off Mt. Yangbew. You can always choose to take taxi and ask the driver to drop you off Mt. Yangbew.

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