Mt. Apo Information

LOCATION : Davao City, Davao Del Sur, North Cotabato
ELEVATION : 3,144 meters above sea level
LEVEL : Major Climb, Level III, Strenuous
JUMP OFF POINTS : Davao City, Kapatagan Davao Del Sur, Kidapawan Magpet and Makilala North Cotabato
AVERAGE DAYS REQUIRED : 3 Days (including travel time from Davao)
MINIMUM DAYS REQUIRED : 2 Days (including travel time from Davao)
DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS : Higest Point in the Philippines, Lake Venado, Sulfuric Vents, Cold and Hot Springs, Spectacular Views

INFORMATION
Conquer Mt. Apo, the grandfather of all Philippine Mountains measuring 3,144 meters above sea level. The mountain range extends from Cotabato, Davao Del Sur and Davao City to Agusan and Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao covering 72,769 hectares. Mt. Apo is an in-active volcano and is part of the Mt. Apo National Park.

Nowadays, thousands of people from all walks of life scale the mountains especially during Holy Week. The first recorded attempt by the Spanish governor Don Jose Uyanguren in 1859 to reach the summit proved to be fatal wherein 20 of the 27 members of the expedition perished. The first recorded successful ascent was by Don Joaquin Rajal in October 11, 1880 wherein it took six days of trekking. But local tribes have been frequenting the peak since prehistoric times. They give their offerings to their tribal gods in a place with an outcrop rock called Sandawa Altar.

Natural wonders lure outdoor enthusiasts to trek through this tribal god’s domain and conquer its towering peak. Starting from the first camp at blue lake Agco, trekkers will see along the way exotic display of nature at it’s best – lush tropical forest dotted with hot and cold springs, crystal clear and boiling blue mountain lakes, hidden waterfalls cascading with thunderous roar, sulfuric craters, orchids, pitcher plants and other wild flowers. Truly this is an exceptional display of nature in its primeval state. Hidden in the mountain’s vastness, about 2,438 meters above sea level is Lake Venado- a crystal clear and ice-cold expanse of fresh water that mirrors the majestic Twin Peaks of Mt. Apo. Beside the lake is a 15 hectare camping ground that resembles a golf course with greens of wild bermuda grass. On the eastern side, just some few hundred meters below the peak, sweet wild berries and brillant sulfur rocks are found along the crater area. Volcanic vents continiously spew sulfuric fumes with jet-like rumbles. Temperature goes down as low as 3 degrees Celsius. From Lake Venado, start downward trek to the jump-off point at Lake Agco campsite which passes through the same winding, knee-deep and swift flowing Marbel River. Hugging the rocks and the boulders, jumping from stone to stone,making a total of 13 exciting crossings for a single river brings you to the first camp. These alone are total adventure and “communing with nature” experience.

LEGENDS
There are several legends concerning Mt. Apo but one of the most popular is that of a noble man named Apong. Apong has a beautiful daughter named Saribu who was admired throughout the land. Two of her advid suitors were warriors Maranaw and Maisug. Saribu however gave her heart to Maisug. Maranaw demanded for a duel between him and Maisug since it is the law of the land eventhough Saribu opted for Maisug. The duel last for hours when Maranaw, a screwed eveil man as he is, threw sand in the eyes of Maisug. When he was about to thrust his spear to Maisug’s heart, Apong demanded to stop the fighting and went in between the warring warriors. Maranaw didn’t heeded and struck Apong in the heart. Before dying, he chanted a curse to Maranaw. Saribu burried her dead father at the same spot where he was killed. The next morning, a mountain grew from that same spot. They called it Apong in hononr of the dead man, which later was shortened to Apo. One day, Mt. Apo errupted and buried Maranaw and his people with lavawhich is now the present day Cotabato Valley.

Related posts:

1. Information about Acne!