Mt. Pulag/Akiki Trail (2,922+)

This article focuses on the Akiki Trail of Mt. Pulag. For a more general overview of the mountain and a discussion of its basic trail, the Ambangeg, please visit this page in PinoyMountaineer.

LATEST UPDATES
Please visit the Mountain News (02/21/13) released on PinoyMountaineer.com for the latest on Mt. Pulag.

BACKGROUND
The Akiki trail is a more challenging route to Mt. Pulag, dubbed as the “Killer Trail” by mountaineers because of its steep slopes. It requires 10-11 hours to reach the summit from this trail, whose up-and-down paths pass by Eddet River (2 hours) where one can camp, rest, and bathe, and continuing across steep, scenic pine-covered slopes to what is dubbed as Marlboro Country (4-hours), so-called because its brown, wide landscapes evoke those seen in the cigarette commercials. Just like the other trails to Pulag, this trail would then pass by the montane forest (3 hours) until reach the grassland area. After the challenging trek, the summit views are rewarding, and the saddle campsite affords a closer access to the summit, being just 15 minutes away.

The name of the trail is onomatopeiac in origin, derived from the small brids whose high-pitched chirped sounds like “Aki-ki-ki…”. It is unsurprising that this trail would be named after a bird call, because Mt. Pulag is a bird sanctuary, home to 143 species of birds. Rare species include the whiskered pitta (Pitta koctri) and the Luzon water-redstart (Rhyacomis bicolor).

For more background about Mt. Pulag, refer to the other Mt. Pulag articles in Pinoy Mountaineer.

ITINERARY
(Akiki-Ambangeg with rented jeepney)

Day 0
2300 Bus from Manila to Baguio City

Day 1
0500 ETA Baguio City. Breakfast then proceed to jeepney terminal/chartered jeep.
0700 Take chartered jeepney to Akiki, Kabayan. Early lunch at any stopover.
1200 Arrival at Akiki jump-off; commence trek on steep trail.
1300 ETA Ranger Station. Register. Secure guides.
1330 Start 2-hour trek to Eddet River
1630 ETA Eddet River; set up camp.
1800 Dinner / socials

Day 2
0400 Wake up call. Prepare breakfast.
0430 Breakfast
0530 Break camp
0700 Start 3-4 hr trek to Marlboro Country
1100 Have early lunch at Marlboro country (water source)
1200 Commence 3-hour trek through montane forest.
1430 End of forest line (2600 MASL); Reach Grassland.
1600 ETA Saddle campsite; set up camp.
1730 Assault to summit. Sunset.
1900 Dinner / socials

Day 3
0530 Early morning trek to summit
0545 Arrival at summit just in time for sunrise
0630 Back at campsite; breakfast
0730 Break camp
0800 Start descent via Ambangeg trail
0900 From Camp 2, resume descent to Babadak Ranger Station
1130 ETA Ranger Stn; Settle guide fees; jeepney descent
1230 At DENR-PAO; tidy up and log out.
1400 Head back to Baguio City
1700 ETA Baguio City. Buy return tickets. Dinner.
1900 Head back to Manila

*With improved road conditions, it is now easier to do a two-day Akiki-Ambangeg Traverse of Mt. Pulag. Leave early from Baguio City and simply follow the itinerary, continuing all the way to the saddle campsite on Day 1. Day 2 would feature the summit and the descent down Ambangeg Trail.

General Disclaimer	Please read the Terms of Use for using information in this website.
Transportation	ENTRY Public (1) Bus, Cubao or Pasay to Baguio City [P460, 6-7 hours] (2) Rented jeep to Akiki trailhead [P8500 for up to 18 persons, 3-4 hours] or public bus in Dangwa, Baguio City i.e. A-Liner [P150/person, 5-6 hours]  EXIT Public (1) From Ambangeg Ranger Station, either walk down to Visitor’s Center, take habal-habal, or rented jeep; (2) Continue with rented jeep or take bus back to Baguio; (3) Baguio to Manila by bus. IMPORTANT: Take note that public bus schedules are very limited – usually just 1-2 trips per day Private: NLEX>SCTEX>TPLEX>Marcos Highway or Kennon Road>Baguio City then take road to Kabayan via Itogon then stop at the Akiki trailhead. Have your vehicle wait for you at the Ambangeg Ranger Station or the Visitor’s Center if you are exiting via Ambangeg.
Registration	Mandatory orientation and registration at the Visitor’s Center (even if doing Akiki), total fees P225/person plus another registration /  additional P50 at the Akiki Ranger Station
Guides	Guides are secured at the Akiki Ranger Station; a system is in place and no prior communication is required. The rate is P1800/guide for 1-8 persons for the whole trip. Porters may also be secured at P1500/for the whole trip.
Contact numbers	DENR-PASU (Mereng) – 09196315402 Note: The DENR-PASU has requested PinoyMountaineer not to post numbers of transportation contacts that are not accredited with them. Disclaimer: contact numbers are listed for information purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any services.
Campsites	Grassland campsite (Camp II) and Saddle campsite (Camp III)
Water sources	(1) Eddet River (2) Near Marlboro Country campsite – 20 meters up the trail
Cellphone signal	Present in most parts of the trail, sporadic but present in summit
River crossings	None; There is a hanging bridge over Eddet River
Roped segments	None
Limatik	None
Lipa	None
Rattan	None
Hiking notes	The temperature in Mt. Pulag can reach zero or subzero levels especially from December to February; hikers should be prepared for cold weather throughout the year.
Sidetrips	Mt. Tabayoc and the Four Lakes in the far side of the park, other Cordillera peaks.
Alternate trails	You do not have to descend via Ambangeg. Consider the Tawangan orAmbaguio trails as for your descent.
Dayhikable	Theoretically yes (7-9 hours to summit; 2-3 hours down via Ambangeg) but logistically difficult if coming from Baguio.
Estimated budget	DIY 2500-3000 Guided tours 4000 and up

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS

Miscellaneous. You can buy souvenir bonnets (P35) and shirts (P180) at the Protected Area Office. Also, you can leave your group or personal effects (i.e. IDs, pictures, posters) to join the memorabilia displayed at the office lobby. If you wish to have climb certificates, you can print them in advance, leave them before you climb, and pick it up upon signing out.

AKIKI TRAIL PICTURES

Shown here are the trails of Mt. Pulag, with Ambangeg as the main trail, and Akiki, Tawangan, and Ambaguio as the more challenging ones.

Eddet River is the first landmark that one would encounter during the trek. It also commonly serves as the first campsite.

Trekking amid pine trees is the defining character of the Akiki Trail.

Here the steep slope of the pine-surrounded trails can be better appreciated.

“Marlboro Country” is both a vantage point and open space that can serve as a campsite, with a nearby water source.

The reward of Mt. Pulag’s summit is hard-earned after a climb up the Akiki Trail (Picture courtesy of Quincy, one of the participants of the First Annual Charity Climb)

TRIVIA
There are two schools of thought as to the origin of Mt. Pulag’s name: Some say it is derived from the Ibaloi word ‘pulag’ means ‘to fall down’, reflecting its towering height. Others believe it is from the the Kalanguya word ‘napulogan’ which means bald – referring to its treeless grassland summit. Either way, it is a sacred ground to the locals of the region, to the locals of the region. Animism (worship of natural objects such as trees, animals) still exists in some areas in Benguet, and they believe that ancestral spirits roam in the mountain. This gives rise to Pulag’s being called the “Playground of the gods”.

For those seeking a greater challenge, it is possible to do a three-day Akiki-Ambaguio Traverse, combining the steepest (Akiki) and longest (Ambaguio) trails of Luzon’s highest mountain! This Pulag Crossover was done by the blogger in December 2010 and is narrated in Hiking matters 115-117. The blogger also did a two-day Akiki-Tawangan Traverse in 2012. 

WEATHER OUTLOOK: KABAYAN, BENGUET