Hiking Adventures #18: Bakun Trio - Mts. Lobo, Tenglawan, Kabunian

There's something in the mountains of Bakun that is very inviting. When I saw a post taken in Bakun, it really gave me an urge to go and climb its famous peaks. Lucky I got a chance to grab a slot on an open climb of MMS or Metropolitan Mountaineering Society, and the 3 days, 3 mountains adventure begins.

Bakun Trio

I think this Bakun Trio open climb of MMS is the blockbuster among the others. There are 50 participants and I guess there are many others on the waiting list. Since we're many, the organizers hired a private bus that will bring us from Manila to Baguio and vice versa. Like a field trip indeed, very convenient.


We departed from Manila to Baguio at around 10pm. It should be 8:30pm but there are a lot of participants who got stuck on traffic because many commuters are going home for All Souls Day. I thought we're going to arrive late in Baguio, but we were on time after 5 hours of travel. After the bus ride, we are about to ride a jeep going to Bakun. I thought it will only take 3 hours just like in Pulag, but no, it was a 6-hour ride.

As we travel going to Bakun, I can't help myself to look outside to watch the mountains of Cordillera shines after dawn. It was a bumpy and shaky ride, but some of us managed to sleep though. When we reached the town of Kibungan, at least 3 more hours ride away from Bakun, we got off the jeep and ride over the top load. Our top load experience was not that long but we have an overlooking view of Kibungan mountains, and it was really amazing.

Rice Terraces at Kibungan 

Farms at Kibungan while heading to Bakun

Mt. Lobo (+2000 MASL)

As we reached Brgy. Poblacion, we took our things for our first dayhike which is in Mt. Lobo. We left the rest of our stuffs on the jeep and they will bring it in the Old Municipal Hall where we going to stay for 3 days and 2 nights. 

Note: For Day 1, make sure your dayhike essentials are ready before heading to Bakun to avoid long preparation once you got off the jeep.

Mt. Lobo is the easiest mountain among the other two of Bakun trio. Along the trail, you'll have an overlooking view of Mt. Gedgeday-yan also known as "The Crying Mountain". I always thought it was already the Mt. Kabunian until the guide corrected me. Mt. Kabunian is located at the back of it.

Mt. Lobo

View at Mt. Lobo Summit

Mt. Lobo

The final assault to Mt. Lobo summit is very steep, but it has railings that gave so much ease especially when going down. The view from the summit is surreal. Clouds between Mt. Gedgeday-yan and Mt. Tenglawan; overlooking view of community where we going to stay; 360 degree view of the Cordillera mountains.

We passed on different trail going down to Old Municipal hall, and it's a little bit harder. Some parts of the trail are very steep and slippery because of lose rocks and dry leaves. Expect that the trail is longer than going up. It was around 5pm when we arrived on the municipal hall.

Since this was the first time I joined on a open climb, I've met new and interesting people. Although, we have different personalities, we understand each other because we climb.

Bakun Old Municipal Hall

Mt. Tenglawan

On Day 2 of our Bakun Trio adventure, I conquered my most challenging and hardest dayhike yet, and it has the most difficult trail among the other two. The estimated duration of the climb is minimum of 12 hours depending on your pace.

We started to trek at around 5AM so it's important to bring lamps. The first part of the trail is a descent. Yes, you read it right, and since it's a backtrail, the last part going back would be a shitty assault.

Note: Please be more careful while going down during dark.

After the 30-minute descent, it's time to go up and you will gain what you've descended earlier. Don't forget to take a lot of photos on the view deck.

View Deck

Mt. Gedgeday-yan or The Crying Mountain as seen along the trail to Mt. Tenglawan

Pines along Mt. Tenglawan trail

The trail difficulty of Mt. Tenglawan was being compared with the Akiki trail of Mt. Pulag. The final assault going to the summit was one of the hardest parts. It was really steep. I stop every 3 to 5 steps because my legs are shaking so bad. Finally, I reached the summit and saw the famous Carrot Peak.

Carrot Peak, Mt. Tenglawan

Into the clouds

Before we went down, we decided to take a 20-minute power nap under the pine trees, and it was an excellent idea. So much tranquility sleeping under pines, trust me.

Going down is the very challenging part. I don't know what we got to push ourselves especially for the last assault. We really had a hard time going back to the base. Our legs are really shaking so bad, we were tired and hungry which makes it more difficult to push through.

It was around 7PM when we arrived at the Old Municipal Hall, but I went first in a store selling burgers and Mountain dew to recover.

Mt. Kabuninan

I forced myself to get up and prepare for the last mountain to complete the Bakun trio. Some of us have decided to skip the last part and stay on the municipal hall.

I thought Mt. Tenglawan is the highlight of Bakun trio, maybe because of the iconic Carrot Peak. But for me it was the Mt. Kabunian because of its very scenic trail and views.

We started to hike at around 6AM. The initial part of the trail is a long downstairs. Yes, just like in Mt. Tenglawan but this climb can take 7 to 8 hours only though the last part would be an assault again. Sucks!

You have to trek around Mt. Gedgeday-yan before you see Mt. Kabunian. I can't remember the image of Kabunian when I searched Bakun in the web. When I saw Mt. Kabunian, I was really amazed on its beauty, I can't help to stop and stare. I felt like I'm really off to somewhere far from the Philippines. We're also blessed for a good weather which adds to the awesomeness of this climb.

Mt. Tenglawan at the background

At the trail of Mt. Kabunian

Mt. Kabunian

There's a pretty hard part of the trail called "The Killer Trail". Please take extra care while dealing with that one. The view of the Killer trail from the top is very iconic. Staying on its summit is very cool. We once again sleep under pine trees since we have extra time to rest. The view at the summit is very stunning.

The Killer Trail

Cordillera mountains

Ms. An Lee Azul at Mt. Kabunian

View at Mt. Kabunian Summit. Mt. Tenglawan at the right side

After I successfully climbed the last mountain of Bakun trio, it's now time to go home. I will surely miss Bakun, its mountains and its people. I will miss my fellow hikers that turns out to be my new friends.

This adventure is the most challenging yet, but the struggles are all worth it because of Bakun's beauty. I shouldn't be able to join due to work, but I had decided to join even if I knew I could come late on my night shift for our deployment. And that's what happened, I came in the office 7 hours late. My boss was really upset to me and didn't allow me to file a VL (so LWOP). But it's okay, I accept the consequence. No regrets after all. I realized if I didn't join the climb and come on time for my shift, I shouldn't have interesting stories and experiences to tell, and for sure no one would mind what I've done at work.  But I will not going to do that again. Haha! Bakun really worth it all.


BAKUN TRIO - Mts. Lobo, Tenglawan, Kabunian (2000+)
Bakun, Benguet
Oct. 30 - Nov 2, 2015
Difficulty: 7/9

Contact Persons:

Mr. Arthur A. Tolito- 09212113687/ 09053172616- MTO
Miss Nenita Budas- 09183523722 – BTC President
Mr.Andrew L. Bagano- 09393843413- Tour Guide Coordinator (Mt.Kabunian)
Miss Mylene Toanen- 09098709002- Tour Guide Coordinator (Mt.Lobo and Nagasa Cave)
Mr. Rodnie Benny- 09128083649- Tour Guide Coordinator (Mt. Tenglawan)