MOUNT AMFUNGOTNGOR CLIMB: THE THIRD OF MALIGCONG PENTACLIMB SERIES

Location:  Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines
Jump-off Point:  Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province
Alternate Jump-off Point: Sitio Fang-orao, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province
Exit point: Sitio Fang-orao, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province (Hexa climb traverse)
Alternate exit point:  Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province (Backtrail)
Elevation: Approximately 1,775 MASL (5,823 feet)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day/ 3 hours (via Mounts Angtungfao, Kupapey & Chumanegcheg)
Specs: Major Climb, 4/9, Trail Class 1

Features:  It is the highest peak of all the mountains in Maligcong.  It passes 6 major assaults (2 before Mount Angtungfao, 1 before Mount Kupapey, one leading to Mount Chumanegcheg summit and 2 leading to its summit.  The trail offers magnificent pine forest and it has established trail till Mount Kupapey. The trail connecting from Mount Chumanegcheg is a long trek and the trail is no longer established.   It has a long and expansive summit grown with a mossy forest. From its Maligcong side are deep ravines.  It has highly varied flora species and usually with thicker mist even at high noon or early afternoon.  Trails has no rocks along it.

While at the mossy forest summit of Mount Amfungotngor

This climb was third in one day starting with Mount Kupapey and followed by Mount Chumanegcheg.  Compared to the two first mountains, this one has a dense forest and mostly a mossy forest.  This is a part of my Maligcong Pentaclimb.

The misty trail of Mount Amfungotngor

Mount Amfungotngor is the considered as the highest mountain in Maligcong mountains at 1,775 MASL or 5,823 feet above sea level.  Rooted deeply in local oral history, it is celebrated as the sacred ground where the sister from the legendary foundational couple of Maligcong originated.  According to the locals, the descendants of the ancestral figures Fangan and Fukhan descended from Mount Amfungotngor to establish the earlies local settlements.   Unlike the more commercialized, open-ridge beginner hikes nearby, the upper elevations of Mount Amfungotngor remain heavily forested and less-travelled by mainstream tourism.

Some of the trails are not established

Since this mountain is not really climbed by most of the climbers, some of its trails are not established yet.  In few cases, David would clear the trail through cutting thick bushes.

There are times that there is no trail at all

It took us longer to take on our trek here as David has to instruct me to wait at a certain point, so he can figure it out on which direction we were heading to.

Waiting at times for instruction of David to follow him and proceed

Most of the time, my half body was submerged in high grass and I was scared thinking that there were snakes to bite my legs.  Thus, I oftentimes brushed against the tall grass thinking it might scare away snakes if they are really there.

This vegetation made the trees looked bigger and thicker

Indeed, this mountain defines the truest sense of a forest.  I became more alert to look at the thick leaves and grasses that mostly cover the trail for my safety.  What I have seen here are like Epiphytic mosses which are soft, velvety mats clinging to the bark of trees and decaying logs.

Trekking through a steep ascent

After the thick bushes and high grasses, there was like a clearing leading to an steep ascent.  The air became crisp.  This time, my breath felt light, clean and cold in my nose and lungs.  I just felt fresh and sharp compared to the misty trail I had earlier.

Indeed a dense forest where sunlight is blocked to penetrate

This mountain is a closed-canopy one and visibly the area has old-growth jungle.  Their top branches touch each other, where they block almost all sunlight from reaching the ground.

A forest with endemic diverse highland flora, brush and shrubs

Wild ferns and mosses thriving under the shaded and humid forest

Heading towards the summit

My calm, cautious and slow movement behavior

As I navigated in this deep and mossy forest, I moved slowly to avoid slipping on damp ground or getting lost.  At times, I stopped and closely on what I see  to inspect their uniqueness endemic to this habitat.  I also keep my voice low to hear wildlife, and leave all plants, rocks, and creatures undisturbed to protect the fragile ecosystem I was in.

Privately prayerful and thankful of witnessing this splendid creation

While I was at the summit, I silently prayed to thank the Almighty Creator of the magnificent beauty that I witnessed.  I believed that not all has the opportunity to enjoy and witness this marvelous experience.

Trying to search for a traversing to Mount Lakipan

According to my guide, we need to look for a possible trail to traverse to Mount Lakipan.  From there, there is a trail which will connect to Mount Matuon exiting to Sitio Favarey and finally to Sitio Fang-orao, the jump-off point at the other end.   As you know, Sitio Fang-oral can be an alternative jump-off point.  My jump-off point for this climb was Sitio Favuyan.

Giant ferns along the trail

We already trekked for another 30 minutes but all we've got were deep ravines and trees housing beehives.  Thus, we need to go back to where we started before we entered the deep and extremely dense forest.

Still another try to search for another trail but to no avail

Our third attempt was even worst as we cannot even see the forest ground.   The thickly covered forest ground had holes whose testing done by my guide, gave him an idea that indeed those holes were deep and with wide radius.

We were convinced that it was a dead-end trail

According to my guide, there was a local team who traversed from Mount Amfungotngor  to Mount Lakipan and they were successful then.  But, he really was not able to figure out how to do it and so, despite being disappointed, we did a back trail.  Besides, according to him, after that team expedition, no climb yet has been organized passing thru this traversed route.

Back to Mount Amfungotngor for backtrail

With almost a drained mobile phone battery and a dead spot network area, we both decided not to search anymore for another trail for traversing to the other end.  The area was already showing too much hostility darkened by thick forest and I was more concerned of our safety.  Thus, we trekked back to Mount Amfunghotngor, then to Mount Chumanegcheg, then to the junction point for Mount Kupapey and down to Sitio Favuyan jump-off point.   It was already 2:10 P.M. when we reached my accommodation and rested well overnight as the following day will be a continuation of my Maligcong Penta Climb Series.  Read the fourth mountain of the climbing series of Mount Matuon Climb.

ACCOMMODATION,  MEAL RATES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEE

The accommodation at Chen's Homestay is P500 or US$8.11 per person for a day, while kids is charged at half or P250 or US$4.05 per person.  Meal per order is P250 or US$4.05.  However, the guests can cooked their food and they charge P500 or US$8.11 per day using all the cooking, dining wares and all cutlery items.  Coffee is free.  There is an environmental fee of P60 or US$0.97 per head.

GUIDING FEE 

The guide fee is charged per destination or mountain for P500 or US$8.11 for a ratio of 1 guide to 5 persons.  So, a penta climb costs P2,500 or US$40.54, regardless if it was held only for one day or more.  David Rome Chumacog is a highly recommended guide who can be contacted at his mobile number at 09066243602.

HOW TO GO TO BONTOC AND CHEN'S HOMESTAY (PUBLIC TRANSPORT)

1. Take a Coda Bus Liner from Cubao (Quezon City of Metro Manila) to Bontoc of Mountain Province for a fare which varies from P900 or US$14.69 to P1,200 or US$19.59 one way with a travel duration of 10-11 hours.  The final destination of this bus is to Sagada, but you need to alight in Bontoc town proper.
2. From Bontoc Commercial Center, usually parked along Capital Road behind the public market or in front of Pines Kitchenette and Inn, take a jeepney to Maligcong where your drop-off point is Favuyan (the lower/main area near most homestays) for P50 or US$0.81.  The travel time is roughly 30 to 45 minutes along scenic, uphill road.   Jeepneys leave when full, with standard intervals typically scheduled around 8:00 AM, 12:00 NN, 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM.

THANKS FOR READING!