Mount San Cristobal, a picturesque peak in Laguna standing tall at 1,470 meters, is a beginner hiker’s dream with its easy 2/10 trail difficulty. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, you might’ve considered climbing its peak before. But Mt. Cristobal’s reputation might give some hikers pause — it’s also known by the chilling moniker—the Devil’s Mountain. Here’s why.

The Devil’s Mountain

In Filipino folklore, Mt. Cristobal is considered the dark twin of the “Holy Mountain,” Mt. Banahaw. While Banahaw represents life, creation, and positivity, its neighbor, Mt. Cristobal, is believed to harbor negative energy.

Local legends speak of a creature called the “Tumao” roaming the mountain’s slopes, adding to its mystique. This enigmatic being, similar to the Western Bigfoot, further fuels the mountain’s reputation as a place of beauty and the uncanny.

Mt. Cristobal stories: Hikers get lost in the woods

MT. CRISTOBAL – THE DEVIL’S MOUNTAIN
byu/unclejoints inPHikingAndBackpacking

Maybe it’s the mountain’s ominous reputation, but hikers have long whispered of haunted forests on Mt. Cristobal. The internet is rife with chilling tales of climbers encountering the supernatural on their hikes. On Reddit, many have told stories of hair-raising experiences that leave one questioning the line between reality and the paranormal.

One recurring theme in these stories is the disorienting nature of the mountain’s trails. Even with a clear path, hikers often find themselves lost in eerie, unfamiliar parts of the forest. The combination of an unsettling atmosphere and a deafening silence amplifies their fear. Is there someone watching from the shadows? Is something lurking behind the trees?

One particularly chilling Reddit story recounts the terrifying ordeal of two women who lost their way on Mt. Cristobal. As they desperately searched for a way back, they heard whispers, a disembodied voice calling their names. The experience left them shaken and convinced that they had encountered something otherworldly on the Devil’s Mountain.

“Sa loob ko, gusto ko na umiyak at sumigaw,” wrote the Redditor. “Sobrang iba na yung pakiramdam, para kaming binabantayan at kakaiba yung naririnig namin, naghahalo yung ingay ng puno, ibon, at katahimikan na ang sakit na na sa tenga.”

The Redditor’s chilling tale continues: they stumbled upon a lone man standing silently in the middle of the trail. Despite their unease, they followed him to a fork in the road, and miraculously, found their way back to civilization.

This encounter, however, is just one of many spine-tingling stories associated with Mt. Cristobal. The mountain’s reputation for the supernatural continues to grow, fueled by countless tales of hikers experiencing the unexplained.

Hikers recall supernatural encounters at Mt. Cristobal

@sarkisalytvyt Mt. Cristobal Devil’s Mountain #horror #horrortok #mtcristobal #devilsmountain #mountain ♬ original sound – SarkisHike – Sarkis Aly TV

If you thought the eerie feelings were the extent of Mt. Cristobal’s mysteries, think again. Campers have reported hearing heavy footfalls outside their tents, adding another layer of unease to the mountain’s already spooky reputation.

One Reddit user shared a particularly unsettling experience. After a long day of hiking, their exhausted group settled in for the night. But one of the hikers, Ben, couldn’t rest. He kept complaining that someone was knocking on his tent, yet every time he checked, no one was there.

The Redditor wrote, “During that time, kami ni tentmate, di rin makatulog kasi ang lakas nung yabag ng mga paa nila. Sa tantya namin, mga 15 to 20 yung dumaan. Nagreklamo pa kami kasi ang ingay nila maglakad.”

They assumed it was a group of late hikers, but the next day, the tour admin revealed a chilling truth: they were the only group on the mountain that night. No one else had hiked up after them.

The Redditor concluded, “Until now, pag napapagkwentuhan yon, kinikilabutan pa rin kami.”

The mountain even has its own KMJS episode

In 2022, TV show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) did an episode featuring Mt. Cristobal and the horror stories allegedly experienced by those who hiked it.

The stories were similar to those who came before: the hikers got disoriented, their tents moved even without wind, and they heard heavy footsteps around them. The short episode also included footage of hikers seeing something seemingly akin to glowing eyes in the dark while their tents were pitched at the summit. Even more unsettling, a mountain guide claimed to have seen an entity standing beside one of the cameramen during an interview.

These stories, passed around like campfire tales, add to the mystique of Mt. Cristobal. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, it’s hard to deny the unsettling allure of the Devil’s Mountain.

So, is Mt. Cristobal haunted?

Whether Mt. Cristobal harbors the supernatural remains a mystery. Many hikers embrace the chilling tales to add a thrill to their adventures, a cautionary folklore to remind them to tread carefully on the mountain’s slopes. Maybe the fear itself serves as a form of protection, keeping them alert and aware during their climb.

For some, the stories are more than just campfire tales. They believe a sinister presence lurks within the mountain’s depths, waiting to prey on those who become complacent or disrespectful. But whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, Mt. Cristobal’s reputation as the Devil’s Mountain adds an undeniable layer of intrigue to its natural beauty.

Have you ever climbed Mt. Cristobal?

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