Mt. Kitanglad: The hike that made me lose faith in signage

Hello, Hive!

How's the first 10 days of January holding up for you? I hope all is working out (literally and figuratively). I have a lot of to-dos this month, and the first on my list is to finally get this MLD2K series done.

So, without furthere ado, here's a recount of my very first major day hike.

This Mt. Kitanglad hike marked the culmination of our five-day commune in the mountains of Bukidnon. As I've shared before, the original plan was to traverse the entire KD2LM (Kitanglad/Dulang-dulang/Langkayugan/Maagnaw) at once. But due to unforseen circumstances, we had to rework our itinerary and book a different event organizer for Mt. Kitanglad.

Luckily, we were saved by the bell by Taong Bukid and, in coordination with Jayboy of Team Semilayas, we reserved the slot. Fresh with the afterglow of our Mt. Dulang-dulang climb, the group headed to Valencia City where we had our celebratory feast. Except for Daean and John who decided to go back to Davao City that night, the rest of us stayed at an inn afterwards.

The next day, we geared ourselves for our final adventure. France, April, Gio, James and I traveled to Impasug-ong to meet our event organizer. Meanwhile, Kate, who cannot join the Mt. Kitanglad climb, went to Cagayan.

The event we booked was only good for a day — meaning we will not be staying overnight in the bunkhouses at the summit. The advantage is that we don't have to bring our heavy backpacks throughout the hike, making it easier and faster for us to move. The disadvantage is we don't get to have second chances with the view at the top. We will have to accept and leave with whatever awaits us, be it a sea of cloud, thick fog, or clear panoramas.

But the latter was the least of our concern this time. Our mind's all set on completing our MLD2K climb. So off to Sitio Intavas we go. (Special shoutout to the kind people who let us hitchhike!)

The Higaonon Tribe of Mt. Kitanglad

Higaonons are one of the indigenous people residing within the Kitanglad Mountain Range. Like the Talaandig tribe that we met in the foothills of Mt. Maagnaw, Higaonons also believe in mountain deities or diwata. They believe that spirits dwell in our surroundings and must be shown respect in every way. That is why whenever the locals need something from nature, they ask the deities first by performing rituals. Such is also the case when climbing Mt. Kitanglad.

It was already past 3 PM when we arrived at Sitio Intavas. Once settled in our homestay, we unpacked our bags and hang the some of our damp clothes and tent tarps to dry. By 7:30 PM, we were introduced to Datu Mansumalak and Datu Ngisaw-ngisaw who were wearing traditional clothes depicting their culture.

The group presented different offerings for the ritual: three chickens, coins, cigarettes, and a glass of vino. As explained by Datu Mansumalak, the sacrifice of three chickens plays a vital role in the success of our climb. The first chicken is killed at the entrance of the house as way to ward off bad spirits. The second is for the cleansing of our souls. A little of its blood is then smudged on each of our coins as a form of identification for the spirits to know us. The third is offered to the spirits to help Datu's prayers be heard. Once the prayer is done, the chickens are cooked and must be eaten a sign of communion with the deities. This last part of the ritual is called panampulot.

Mt. Kitanglad, its not-so-dreadful stairs and maddening signages

Mt. Kitanglad is the namesake of Kitanglad Mountain Range. At 2,899 MASL, it is the fourth highest mountain in the Philippines and holds a difficulty level of 6/9.

From Sitio Intavas, hikers may opt to ride a motorcyle or walk the three-kilomoter unpaved road to the Mt. Kitanglad post marker. Luckily, the other group that we were climbing with had their own car and we were able to hitch another ride.

It was quarter to 3 AM when we reached the pitch-dark base and our guide had us refill our water bottles ahead since water source was scarce. Once done, we headed on the trail which was a mix of mountain footpaths and steel staircases.

My first impression of Mt. Kitanglad was actually good. It held true to its moderate difficulty level but, contrary to most reviews I've read prior to our climb, the staircases were not that bad. I find it a relief whenever we see one instead. It gave me a breather with its easy foothold and convenient handrails. There were several sections where the stairs wobble and sometimes squeaked though. But you just have to be mindful of your steps and balance.

As for the rugged terrain, it somewhat reminded France, James, Gio and I of the trail to Mt. Madja-as's bonsai forest. Although a little easier (yes, Mt. Madja-as still takes the top traumatic spot), Mt. Kitanglad's unlimited steep ascent still elicit a lot of grunts and groans from its unknowing climbers.

What I did not like about Mt. Kitanglad was its signage, hence, this post's title. You know that feeling when your hope is soaring only to find it was all for nought? Assumptions are dangerous things — I learned this the hard way. I focused to much on the numbers on the signage, thinking that the path were trudging on was straight. It was not. The trail winded around the mountain, ascending, descending then ascending again. With every turn, my expectations rose then fell. In the long run, I became annoyed and angry and tired. HAHA! As our inside joke would put it, I was on full brenda mode. Do not believe that 1 kilometer marker!

The only saving grace throughout the hike was sight of sunrise. I knew I wouldn't be able to see the break of dawn from the summit but I was glad we were able to catch a glimpse along the trail. It was beautiful despite the clouds.

Finally, we reached the summit past 6 AM. By this time, the sun was high up bathing the surrounding in golden honey. Gio, who arrived way earlier, met us shivering and covered in jacket. It was when we got to the view deck that I understood why. It was freezing cold!

Personally, I think there's nothing too special when you're at Mt. Kitanglad's summit. There's not much space to roam around because of the several bunkhouses installed to provide shelter for workers, guard volunteers, and visitors alike. Plus, instead of trees, you are dwarfed by several telecommunication towers.

What is looked forward by many when climbing Mt. Kitanglad is the glimpse of sunrise over a sea of clouds. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see the sea of clouds this time but we were blessed with a beautiful day. We got the see the clear view of distant mountain peaks against a matte blue sky instead.

After eating breakfast and sipping the much-needed coffee, we lazed around and just stared at the endless panoramas before our eyes. Gio also had a mini concert singing along the entire album of Oh! Caraga. Meanwhile, France, who has a very low tolerance for cold, was wrapped in an emergency blanket while taking a power nap.

At 8:30 AM, we decided to head back on the trail. The hike going down was a lot easier now, with the path and stairs in full view. We also had a closer view of the neighboring Mt. Tuminungan along the way. Is it possible to traverse it from Mt. Kitanglad? Who knows!

What was a four-hour ascent was trimmed down to 2 1/2-hour descent. Our pacing this time was faster, perhaps driven by hunger or the need to take a bath. France, Gio and April were even trailblazing, running and jumping along as if they haven't been hiking for four days.

Overall, our Mt. Kitanglad climb was successful one. Being my first major day hike, it will be a great experience I will always remember. Here's to more mountains to scale with fv-photography! 🥳☺️

_{Maria is a hopeless romantic who travels in pages and places. She is an INFP who loves sunrises and moonlight nights and reading books in between. On weekdays, she works for a self-publishing company as a copywriter. On weekends, she lives her life as a poet or hiker. She hopes to share her love for words and the world with you here on HIVE.}

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