Been planning this for 3 years now...
truth is... dapat kasabay sa trek ng climbing-buddy ko: http://nesaboing.multiply.com/photos/album/17/Mt._Ugo_climb_of_2006
Decided to set-in-stone last June...
gathered info from my close-knit friends...
This ride should have been made earlier if Ondoy didn’t hurl its wrath on the Philippines.
2-weeks before Christmas, Nelo and I agreed on a date… and the rest is history.
Day 1: December 26
With the usual logistics planning and travel, we arrived at the Nueva Vizcaya – Benguet Road Boundary before dawn.
This is also (from a VERY RELIABLE SOURCE ;) ) the start of the famous Yabnong Trail… Mount Yabnong is a prominent mountain peak that stands 2020Masl. It is the gateway to Umag-Aga Shontog (Mountain). This is the start of our ride…
With our guide, Alex Basilang
Entering the wonderful world of Yabnong
Guess what!
Our guide: Alex Basilang of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya
First glimpse of Umag-Aga Shontog after egressing Yabnong trail… towards Indupit village (Yabnong is still part of Indupit)
Waiting shed near Ansipsip/Indupit
Towards Dompolpos…
The loooong trail to Domolpos…
after the long ride to Domolpos...
time-check: a little after 1000hrs...
still early to call it quits for the day... we decided to push-thru with the ride...
reloading water before the push... Nelo ready to go!
the waiting shed of Domolpos...before the summit of Umag-Aga Shontog...
taking a break
lunch-break
push-on!
nearing the summit
Umag-Aga Shontog summit at last!
after the grassland descend...
rideable trail again...
trailride break...
text-break...
remnants of the old saw mill/tram (bringing timber out of the vicinity of Umag-Aga)
possible FR-bike park (if developed… NOT! BEST AS IS!!!)
nearing Lusod village...
Lusod village at last! end of Day-1...
feeling after the day's ride... captured image.
last look at Umag-Aga Shandong / Mount Ugo
welcome respite after the ride...
the kids of Lusod village
Day 2: December 27
0600hrs wake-up call... breakfast, pack-up, & gave our heartfelt thanks to our gracious host that took us for the night, the ex-kagawad of Tinongdan.
Posing before the ride… the oldest house in Lusod, built in 1928.
Commence 2nd day ride…
Towards Tinongdan…
nearing Tinongdan...
take 5...
continue on...
view of the mighty Agno river gorge...
Tinongdan at last!
we failed to meet Barangay Captain Norberto Pacio... they were at the Canao... nahiya kaming dumaan, baka mapakain & mapa-inom pa... baka new year na kami maka-uwi ng Manila...
The hanging bridge of Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet
towards Tinongdan Barangay Hall...
End of the ride!
kapeng barako muna... with some kick
mtb shoes death
Baguio-Benguet Mountainbikers circa 2005
after receiving our certificates & downing 3-cups of coffee each... it's time to head back to the real world.
