MOUNT KUPAPEY CLIMB: CAN BE A TWIN-PEAK DAY CLIMB WITH MOUNT FATO

Location: Barangay Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines
Jump-off Point: Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province

Elevation: 1,647 MASL (5,403.54 feet)

Days Required / Hours to Summit: 1 day / 1 - 1/2 hours

Specs:  Minor Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail Class 1

Features: Trail covered with pine forest where its first 30 minutes is a continuous but gradual assault; the first 15 minutes cuts through a few village houses along rice terraces; it passes through the summit of Mount Angtungfao; and it is overlooking the century-old wonder of Maligcong Rice Terraces.

Maligcong Rice Terraces as captured from Mount Kupapey summit

This post is the continuation of my Mount Fato Climb tour package, since it is a twin-peak climb tour package with John Lester Belardo and Kristine Capistrano as our tour provider.  This serves as the Day 2 of this trip.

My clean, warm and comfortable bed at Chen's Homestay (upper deck)

Our group had a wake-up call at 3:30 A.M., since we need to prepare for our climb and take hot beverage to warm our bodies from freezing cold.   We started our trek at 4:15 A.M. equipped with headlight, thermal outfit, enough bottled water and trail food.  It was really dark then and the only path visible to us is the light coming from our headlight.  As far as I can recall, we have been continuously ascending gradually. In the midst of pitch black and freezing cold dawn, I can only hear the very loud, distinct buzzling, clicking or whirring sound of the cicadas.

Arriving at the summit at 5:25 A.M.

Our pacing was so slow, since some has to take a rest every few minutes of trek.  Maybe, they have not conditioned themselves before they climb.   The other day climb at Mount Fato was not at all strenuous with no assaults.  It was already 5:25 A.M when we arrived at the summit, but it was still dark.

Everybody was excitedly waiting for the clearing of clouds

This time for Day 2, our guide was still David Rome Chumacog.  He was busy keeping the bonfire light up and boiled water for the morning tea drink from local wild tea plant.   At this point in time, it was still dark and the terraces were not as grand as they are when viewed with the rays of the sun.

Still waiting for the clearing at 5:45 AM

While at the summit marker

While there was no complete clearing yet, most of us were seated at the slope facing the rice terraces patiently waiting for the best view to unfold.

The terraces as captured at 5:56 AM

Gathering around the warm bonfire at the summit

With an approximate climbers of 250, few of us except for the tour provider knew each other well.  We came from different tour providers as joiners.  But the good thing for climbers, everybody seems to be polite, nice and welcoming.  Our common goal is to witness the beauty that awaits our eager eyes.

We started to grind our cameras as second by second the majestic view unfold

While others were busy capturing the view, others were totally in spell bound, but with wide eyes open in complete amazement.  I learned that some of those who were here have been here for more than once.  They just simply wanted to witness again the beauty of the scenery.

The scene at at 6:23 A.M.

The sun was up already at 6:23 AM and with this, the sun's rays defined well the contrasting line of colors of the terraces became more visible and vibrant.  Despite others having captured so much of the scenery, they still remained not wanting to leave.

Not even me wanted to leave

A drone shot of our group

Our group was the last to leave the summit, since we wanted to have an exclusive drone shot.  One of our joiners,  Jhaytom Altobar Pineda had the drone, which we also used in our drone shots in our previous day Mount Fato Climb.

Another drone shot of the summit

Finally, leaving the summit

The above picture is still a part of the summit.  The summit has such a magical view and good for pictorials like the prenup wedding.  The slopes on the other side is even more magnificent densely grown with pine trees.

David Samson Perio Palubon

The above picture was just one of those who had pictorials at the summit using high powered camera and I grabbed this with his permission just to show how spectacular is the view of the summit.

My pictorials at the summit

The descent from the summit

From the summit, we descended trekking to another route.  It was not the same trail that we trekked at dawn.  This time, we are going to walk on the rice terraces, with this, the distance will be longer.

The trail heading to the rice terraces

Most of the trail heading to the terraces is gradual descents and flat.  It was like walking at the mall.  The trail is quite established.

The clearing of Mount Angtungfao Peak

According to our guide, this part here is another mountain halfday called by the locals Mount Angtungfao with an elevation of 1,493 MASL or 4,898.29 feet above sea level.

Approaching the rice terraces

After 15 minutes of trek from Mount Angtungfao, we descended to a slope leading to the rice terraces.  It was a sharp drop, but the view was really rewarding.

Intimately close to the rice terraces

At this point, I am almost at the rice terraces, compared when I was at the summit that I was only capturing an overlooking view of the terraces.

Finally, setting foot at the rice terraces

Then, walking on the rice terraces

At a distance, one will see the rice terraces as small stairs, but when we were already walking on it, I have witnessed that they are massive and each terrace is even taller than the height of an average person and the terrace walls are hand-carved mountain slopes, sturdy stacked stone walls with intricate irrigation channels.

Walking thru the narrow terraces

Me, being dwarfed with the size of the terraces

I arranged with the guide that we trekked fast so that we will be at the lead pack and there will be no distractions while taking pictures and videos.

With the company of climbing buddies

A group drone picture while on the terraces

Another drone picture of the expansive rice terraces

Still another drone picture

Last drone picture heading to the regular trail

Back to the jump-off point

We arrived in our accommodation at 9:35 AM.  We had time to clean up and took our lunch.  The check-out time is 11:00 AM, but the check-in time is any time.

TOUR GUIDE RATE

The guide is P500 per destination for a ratio of 1 is to 5 pax.  So, if for one day, there are 3 destinations visited, then, it will be P1,500.

ACCOMMODATION,  MEAL RATES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEE

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

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.

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