Kiltepan: Sagada’s East of Eden

Two days to go before 2013, and it was also our last day in Sagada. Wouldn’t it be nice to symbolically embrace a new beginning by watching the sunrise in the Cordilleras, as the golden rays gradually touch the mountains while the clouds embrace the earth? The place to be? It is Kiltepan view point.

Located a few kilometers away from Sagada’s town center, Kiltepan is a known campsite in the eastern edge of the town’s plateau While it reminds me of Mines View or Tagaytay Ridge, this place is highly recommended by the Sagadans themselves as to where to see the sun rise. The view point overlooks a valley with rice terraces, communities, and mountains of Cordillera that loom over the horizon.

You’re watching the sun come up of course, so you better wake up early. Temperatures in Sagada drop to as much as a single digit degree celcius in some days…jackets still needed. Going there doesn’t need training. If you have arranged for a service ride at Information Center in Sagada earlier, then you’ll have an easy ride all the way to the view point.

For the adventurous and health buff though, going to Kiltepen would take you an hour or so under the pine forests.

It was Rizal Day sunrise for us. A lot of tourists by that time flocked Kiltepan. As early as 5AM, the ridge was full. Some stood, while others roamed. It was dark yet the flicker of lights of camphones, tablets, and cameras linger like fireflies.

As the horizon brightens up, the people took photos of it. Others would just like to appreciate its beauty.

Then the mountains up north turned reddish then golden. Sol has touched their faces. On the valley, the clouds embrace the hillsides. Then we got a view of Sagada’s northeastern rice terraces. Slowly, the rays of Sol touches the valley—golden, azure, reddish, blue and green. Surreal, as my good friend has said.

Then as the sun rises higher, the tourists gradually leave Kiltepan. For my companions, they were preparing for their assault for Sumaguing Cave. As for me, I prefer lying down in the inn for a while, hehe!

On certain occasions the valley below Kiltepan is shrouded with low clouds, as if you are in heaven and mountain peaks are like islands in the sky.

What a good way to start a day!

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