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While the most common damage dealt by brushfires is on vegatation both natural (forests) and man-made (agricultural), there is also the dangerous possibility of brushfires claiming human lives – brushfires can move as fast as 22 kilometers per hour in grasslands, engulfing hectares of mountain slopes quickly. Mountains at risk include, but are not limited to the following: Anawangin, Balingkilat, Tarak Ridge, Mt. Calavite, Mt. Iglit, Mt. Talamitam, Pico de Loro, Mt. Batulao, Mt. Sembrano, Mt. Pulag, Mt. Ugo, Mt. Tenglawan, and others with similar conditions – but even forested mountains like Mt. Apo and Mt. Kitanglad can catch fire in the dry season. Avoid cooking in fire-prone mountains and in any campsite keep flammable debris away from your cooking areas – these include dry leaves, twigs, and other easily-combustible materials. If you recognise that there is a fire ahead in the trail, gather more information and consider changing course based on the trajectory of the fire, the wind direction, and existence of trails and bodies of water where you can take refuge in/past.

I have very fond memories of Hibok-Hibok, having climbed it twice before: First in 2007 via Ardent Hot Spring after a D2K and before I started Pinoy Mountaineer; and second in 2012 – a traverse from Yumbing to Ardent to celebrate my birthday. It was great to be back recently as part of Climb Camiguin – an event organised by the Camiguin provincial tourism office and DOT – Region X. Looming tall nearby, moreover, was Mt. Timpoong, at 1630 MASL the highest mountain in Camiguin (I had previously thought it was just 100 meters taller than Hibok). Many thanks to Gov. Romualdo, the Camiguin provincial tourism office led by Candice Borromeo-Dael, DOT-X Regional Director May Salvana-Uncuhan and everyone who made the hike possible!

Because of its vastness and the fact that many of its peaks have a similar height, it is hard to determine which mountain is in fact the highest point in the Sierra Madre. Mt. Mingan is a worthy candidate but based on topographic maps and satellite images, the mountain with the strongest claim is Mt. Bintuod in Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya, located in the same cluster of Sierra Madre mountains as Aurora’s Mt. Pamazam-pazam (see Hiking matters #613). Occasionally, there were clear skies, offering the view of nearby mountains Nearby Mt. Guiwan looms to the northeast –  a mountain also located in Alfonso Castañeda and seems to be just a few meters lower than Bintuod. Even so we were greatly pleased with the success of reaching what is possibly Sierra Madre’s highest peak – all the more because the trail was really fascinating, the forest deep and lovely.

TELL THEM of the mountains that changed your life; Tell them of the rivers that crossed your heart; Tell them of how, as you walked the forested paths, you found peace in times of loneliness; strength in times of doubt, joy in times of sorrow. Sing to them of the unsung heroes you met along the way: The people who, despite having so little, gave you so much; the families who in the tiniest of hamlets opened their doors for you. The rangers who protect the forests that in turn protect us – despite receiving so little protection themselves. III: Of doing and loving IV: A difficult situation V: Wise words from an old man VI: The Philippines that I love VII: The calling VIII: The girl who climbs mountains IX: A mountaineer’s legacy X: What beginners can teach us XI: The friends inside your backpack XII: Unfollowing one’s self in social media XIII: Never let go of the mountains of your life XIV: Before you hike abroad XV: Tell them of the mountains