I’ve always loved the Cordilleras, especially early in the morning when the mists haven’t totally lifted from the mountains and the morning sun still near the horizon. Everything is all beautiful and dramatic but never as spectacular at this point of the Halsema Highway, at 7,400 ft.
The Halsema Highway (or the Baguio-Bontoc Highway) is one of the oldest in the Cordilleras. Used to be called the Mountain Trail, it was expanded by the American, then Baguio Mayor Euseibus Julius Halsema and opened in 1930. This is one of the most important road that connects several towns in Benguet.
It’s just so awesome! So visually arresting that for several minutes I was just gazing into the distance while a wisp of cold air blew, a nice way to cap a Sagada vacation and just three days away from my birthday.
How to get here? From Baguio, ride a bus going to Atok, Benguet and just tell the driver to stop at this place. Better if you’re there early in the morning.
Yes Benguet is a wonder of nature, a perfect place to relax and be at one with nature. Been living in baguio for 4 months now and I’m loving it. Will definitely plan a tour in Atok with my friends.
Please do. The places outside Baguio are just spectacular!
Until I read your article, I have totally forgotten about the highest point in that highway. We stopped there briefly to look at the marker (nothing like what you have now) and the view from there (nothing to see,it was foggy) and head on our way. I was a freshman in college then on a field trip to some mines in Acoje, Balatoc and Lepanto.
This photos were even taken in 2005 and in some blogs I saw, the marker is smaller and different.