For those wanting to go off the beaten tracks without much effort to sagada may I suggest the following route:
1. Take the manila-tagudin -cervantes (Ilocos sur)- mankayan road up to abatan Bugias (Mt. Province), and then take the normal halsema highway route to sagada. This will effectively Bypass baguio and la trinidad daytime traffic hassles (which is getting worse and worse). The road from tagudin to cervantes to mankayan and up to abatan , bugias are already cemented. If you want to go to the highest road, its just less than 20 kms doubling back on the halsema highway after abatan.
The zigzag mountain road from suyo (after tagudin)to cervantes crossing the bessang pass is one fine and beautiful road and was amazed at how they were able to do it. I think its one the most virgin zigzag road in the country today. Not much road cuts, pavement cracks , landslide areas yet , and also very few traffic and very few houses as you go up. As you near the top of the mountain (bessang pass), the air gets cooler and the thin forest on the western side changes into thick pine forest as you reach the top. Then its colder than baguio if you are not standing under the sun.
What usually took a 4-5 hr trip to cervantes from tagudin is now less than 2 hrs.
The Cervantes- mankayan road meander along the abra river and i suspect the source of the abra river is just nearby the area.
2. the second option is a road trekkers delight. After cervantes , cross the abra river (the river crossing was knee deep last december, but by summer it will be considerably lower), then take the left fork up meandering up to the towns of tadian, bauko and sabangan where it joins the halsema highway very near the the junction going up to sagada. the road just after crossing the river is already being widened but still is a mud-dirt road but as you go higher, then the road becomes an all weather road with traces of asphalt and concrete up to Bauko, where afterwards it becomes a normal potholed road up to the halsema highway. Not much signboard, but just follow the traces of the main road and it will lead you to the halsema highway. We only needed the 4wheel drive low mode when we were crossing the river. the rest can be taken by any high clearance vehicle with out 4x4.
Hurry before it deteriorates!!!
bong
1. Take the manila-tagudin -cervantes (Ilocos sur)- mankayan road up to abatan Bugias (Mt. Province), and then take the normal halsema highway route to sagada. This will effectively Bypass baguio and la trinidad daytime traffic hassles (which is getting worse and worse). The road from tagudin to cervantes to mankayan and up to abatan , bugias are already cemented. If you want to go to the highest road, its just less than 20 kms doubling back on the halsema highway after abatan.
The zigzag mountain road from suyo (after tagudin)to cervantes crossing the bessang pass is one fine and beautiful road and was amazed at how they were able to do it. I think its one the most virgin zigzag road in the country today. Not much road cuts, pavement cracks , landslide areas yet , and also very few traffic and very few houses as you go up. As you near the top of the mountain (bessang pass), the air gets cooler and the thin forest on the western side changes into thick pine forest as you reach the top. Then its colder than baguio if you are not standing under the sun.
What usually took a 4-5 hr trip to cervantes from tagudin is now less than 2 hrs.
The Cervantes- mankayan road meander along the abra river and i suspect the source of the abra river is just nearby the area.
2. the second option is a road trekkers delight. After cervantes , cross the abra river (the river crossing was knee deep last december, but by summer it will be considerably lower), then take the left fork up meandering up to the towns of tadian, bauko and sabangan where it joins the halsema highway very near the the junction going up to sagada. the road just after crossing the river is already being widened but still is a mud-dirt road but as you go higher, then the road becomes an all weather road with traces of asphalt and concrete up to Bauko, where afterwards it becomes a normal potholed road up to the halsema highway. Not much signboard, but just follow the traces of the main road and it will lead you to the halsema highway. We only needed the 4wheel drive low mode when we were crossing the river. the rest can be taken by any high clearance vehicle with out 4x4.
Hurry before it deteriorates!!!
bong
Comment