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MOUNT APO
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
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.
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