Pinoy Mountaineer

SUBIC, ZAMBALES - Exactly two weeks after reaching the summit of Mt. Elbrus, I am glad to hit the Philippine trails again today with a traverse of Mt. Natib from Orani to Morong, Bataan. It's been three years since I first hiked this peak (see Hiking matters #77) so it was great to be back especially with the opportunity to take the Morong Trail - in what would essentially be east to west traverse of the mountain.

The trip was organized by Ivan Lakwatsero. We took the Genesis Liner bus to Orani, Bataan (187 pesos; 2.5 hours) and waited at the junction for the tricycle that took us to the Brgy. Tala jumpoff (P200 per trip). There, guide Wilnor (09186139628) was waiting for us. We started trekking at around 0520H.

The trail up to Mt. Natib summit i.e. the regular Mt. Natib trail from Orani can be divided into two parts. The first is a gradual ascent leading to the campsite at the foot of Natib's peak, which took us 2.5 hours; the second is a rather steep ascent to the peak itself, which took us 45 minutes. The first part is quite pleasant, alternating between woodland and occasional grassland - and at times with nice views of surrounding mountains. The second part is forested, sometimes with rattan and other 'specs' akin to the assault of Pantingan Peak.

As expected, there were limatik in Mt. Natib and they gave us a warm welcome. But honestly I don't really mind them too much. For all their slime and blood, limatik are largely harmless, leaving no trace of their bites in a matter of hours or days. They are overrated creatures, feeding on our blood less than feeding our imagination.

We had a partial clearing at the summit, allowing a glimpse of Mt. Samat and its white cross, as well as a blurry Mt. Mariveles. We couldn't see Arayat and the rest of the Central Luzon repertoire of mountains, but we were thankful enough that we had non-rainy weather! We stayed at the peak for a good 30 minutes or more.

The traverse of Mt. Natib is not through the peak, and we had to return to the campsite, then headed west towards Morong. This trail is beautiful; park-like in some parts, with lots of forested ridges featuring a variety of trees that would have delighted many a botanist and tree-lover. The descent was very gradual - a mere 100 meters per hour on the average!

Along the way we met Tatay Rolly, who offered us some kamote which I gladly accepted. He has a small hut and a vast plantation of all the Bahay Kubo vegetables and a variety of fruits. Don't miss a chance to talk to this jolly old fellow!

Eventually, we reached sections of Morong River, which we had to cross eight times. The knee-deep water was easy enough to pass through, but I was also thankful that there was so sudden rainstorm that would have complicated the final hour of the trek. After the river, just as we began to think that it was all over, there was a not-so-final ascent to a tiny village, and then a descent to a final section of the river, and then a truly final ascent to the Aeta village that serves as exit point: Sitio Kanawan.

What a long hike it was! It took just over 3 hours to reach the summit, but over 7 hours to reach the exit point in Morong! I would give an approximation of 12-14 kilometers for the descent alone; the sheer length makes for an exciting dayhike! From Morong we headed to Subic, where we are having a postclimb dinner; from here we will head back to Manila via Olongapo. Thanks to Ivan for organizing the hike and to the rest of the team!

“When sleeping women wake, mountains move.” – Chinese Proverb

An 'All Women's Climb' organized by the MFPI and its partners in Cebu will be held in Osmeña Peak, traversing from Dalaguete to Badian, Cebu. Participants can "expect to enjoy this sport with our fellow female mountaineering enthusiasts, indulging ourselves in the culture of Cebuanos and be awed with the beauty of Nature and see the place popularly known as the “Vegetable Basket of Cebu” as well as the highest peak of the island and the scenic Kawasan Falls."

So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets and secure your registration! Limited slots only with 20 slots for Cebu-based participants and 30 slots for non-Cebu-based participants.

Brought to you by the Mountaineering Federation of the Phils. (MFPI-Inc.), Cebu Outdoor Adventure Team (COAT-Inc.), Cebu Mountaineering Society (CeMS), University of San Carlos Mountaineers (USC-M) and KAMP-Cebu.

For more details, you can contact these numbers: 0915-1142627, 0932-3863767

The missing hikers were last seen on Sunday morning heading up to Tarak Peak
and possibly on their way to attempt a traverse. (courtesy of R. Robillos)

UPDATED 3:42 PM, 08/13/13 - Nine hikers, seven male and two female, were reported missing in Mt. Mariveles, Bataan from Sunday, August 11, 2013 until noontime today (August 13) when they were found by rescuers and accompanied on the way down. The group started the hike of Tarak Ridge on Saturday and were supposed to have returned the following day. Corroborating accounts indicate that they camped in Tarak Ridge on Saturday night and headed up to Tarak Peak the following day, possibly en route to Paniquian River for a Tarak Traverse.

An official report from Region III RDRRMC lists the rescued hikers' names as: Andrew Olivia, Michael Reyes, Vincent Lopez, Kevin Desiderio, Jerry Suwala, Bernard Bautista, Lester Comana, Mary Joy Coagin and Aleh Eteran.

Rescue operations were mounted Monday and resumed today (Tuesday) until the mountaineers were located at around 1130H. Fortunately, the missing hikers were in touch by cellphone, which enabled rescuers to narrow down their possible location. As relayed by Bryan Ronquillo, one of the SMS from the group seem to suggest that they have reached some rivers, hinting at the possibility that they reached the traverse trail: "Andito Kami halos sa tuktok ng pang apat na bundok mula sa mt.tarak. pang apat na ilog po."

As of 1400H today, the group is still on the way down and we do not have information yet regarding the hikers' physical conditions. Nonetheless, the mountaineering community reacted with relief with the news that the nine have been found. Bhadz Badillo, a friend of one of the missing hikers, tweeted (@BhadzontheGo): ""Maraming salamat po sa mga concern at prayers. Nakita na daw po ang friend ko at mga kasama nya sa Mt. Tarak. They are just waiting for other group of rescuer spara maibaba na sila. Thanks po ulit sa lahat ng tumulong!"

Some reports and reactions referenced Typhoon Labuyo in connection to this incident. However, based on testimonies of other mountaineers who were in Tarak Ridge over the weekend, the weather 'was not bad' from Saturday until Sunday afternoon though it could very well have turned for the worse in the evening with the landfall of the typhoon.

BUTUAN CITY - I've always wanted to see Butuan Bay, Agusan River, and the city of Butuan from a distance, if only to imagine what it was like to be in the Kingdom of Butuan a millennium ago, when the maritime civilization reached its apex; and our archipelago was far more sophisticated than our colonial heritage has inscribed in us. These musings of an anthropologist aside, the obvious choice - one I would have chosen anyway as a mountaineer - was Mt. Mayapay, which rises to 675 MASL at the southwest of the city.

I was joined by medical student Terence Kua who was traveling around Mindanao. After lunch of sinuglaw, we took a multicab and then habal-habals to the trailhead at the 'Tower' in Brgy. Bonbon, past the Delta Discovery Park which boasts of Asia's longest zipline (I'm not a big fan of ziplines or theme parks; I prefer the raw mountains). We told our habal-habal drivers to wait for us by the Tower; while we walked our way towards the mountain.

The first part of the trail was actually an overgrown rough road that very gradually meanders its way to the mountain - at an altitude of around 300 meters above sea level. As you approach Mayapay, its distinctive tabletop shape looms ahead as a majestic presence. There were at least two forks in the trail and the correct turns proved to be the left ones.

The challenge begins on the second part of the trail, which was surprisingly steep and challenging. Initially wooded, this ribbon-marked trail goes up on eroded soil with loose rocks, and you have to crawl your way up the grass and the shrubs for a good couple of hundred meters before finally reaching the summit!

The trek up just took us a bit over two hours, but it was really a nice and fulfilling adventure! At the summit, true enough, was Butuan City facing Butuan Bay, to which Agusan River empties itself; and behind them stood the majestic Mt. Hilong-Hilong and its contiguous mountains. There, atop that mountain whose christening dates back to those kingdoms of old, I could imagine the balangays of old afloat in the bay, and celebrate the legacy of Butuan - one of the reasons we should be proud of our past!

The way down was quite challenging, too, but it took us much faster - an hour or less - to get back to the trailhead, where the habal-habal drivers were waiting for us. Back in Butuan, we rewarded ourselves with kinilaw na malasugi and panga - two of my favorite dishes! It turned out to be a nice first day in Caraga! And with Mt. Mayapay comes a personal record which I realized just now: I have now climbed a mountain in each of the regions in the Philippines! Except NCR, of course. Still, there are many mountains to climb in Caraga and I hope I can come back for some of them!

A WEEKEND IN CARAGA
Hiking matters #362: Mt. Mayapay in Butuan, Agusan del Norte
Hiking matters #363: Tinuy-an Falls and Hinatuan River, Surigao del Sur

One day after our Mt. Mayapay hike (see Hiking matters #362), we proceeded to Surigao del Sur to visit two of its most famous attractions: Tinuy-an Falls and Hinatuan River. Had I known that it was along the way, I would have dedicated half a day to Mt. Magdiwata in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, but it's too late for regrets and I will just have to come back for Magdiwata.

Actually Bislig is quite far from Butuan - a good five hours by bus. But we anticipated the long travel times and delays, so we left Butuan even when it was still dark. By 0930H we were at Tinuy-an Falls, and it was really majestic and worth the effort of getting there! There's an opportunity to swim and head up to the higher levels of the falls, which have their unique beauty.

About forty kilometers away from Tinuy-an is the Hinatuan Enchanted River, which is really a gorgeous river with has a crystalline blue-green array of colors, and a wealth of fish that dwell in its waters. Swimming on it is one of the highlights of my short Caraga trip. The waters were clear and pleasant and I could have gone on swimming the entire afternoon, if not for the need to get back to Butuan!

I'm sure there will be travel blogs that will give detailed instructions to these places; I found Gael's blog very informative. My purpose for writing this is to add another voice to the chorus that says Caraga is worth visiting, and to entice mountaineers to explore this region which holds many more enchantments, not the least of which is one of my dream mountains in Mindanao: Mt. Hilong-Hilong.

PS: I'm no longer using my poor three-year old Nikon D3000, which has received considerable abuse from all my outdoor adventures - having fallen off a ridge in Kalatungan, having been soaked by rainwater in Manabu, and many other mishaps. Most of my pictures now are taken with my iPhone 5 which comes with a Lifeproof case, and a Nikon AW 110 which I bought for the Elbrus climb. I'm not too happy with it right now because the photos aren't clear but I'm still hoping that it will improve!

A WEEKEND IN CARAGA

Hiking matters #362: Mt. Mayapay in Butuan, Agusan del Norte

Hiking matters #363: Tinuy-an Falls and Hinatuan River, Surigao del Sur

The team (L-R): Koi Grey, Daryl Comagon, Sky Biscocho, and myself

In a DENR-approved climb (Permit 2013-052), Sky Biscocho, the trailblazer himself, led me and my Halcon buddies Koi Grey and Daryl Comagon to a wonderful traverse of Mt. Banahaw, from Brgy. Bucal, Nagcarlan, Laguna to Brgy. Kinabuhayan, Dolores, Quezon in an action-packed dayhike on August 15, 2013. I sought the permission of DENR-PASU for this hike, since Banahaw is one of the destinations I'm writing about in my ongoing book project. Moreover, we were to make an assessment of the Nagcarlan Trail and make a report to the PAMB, just like in 2011 when I last climbed the mountain.

I would never have climbed Banahaw without this!

We headed to Nagcarlan early in the morning. Brgy. Bucal is like the twin sister of Brgy. Kinabuhayan, because they have more or less the same elevation and both of them are nestled between Banahaw and Cristobal! Bucal itself is kinda far from Nagcarlan itself and it was already 0700H when we managed to start our trek of Mt. Banahaw, from 650 MASL.

The 'Horse Trail' from the Nagcarlan side

The first part of the trail - for a good hour or so - is the 'Horse Trail', or what Sky dubs the 'Cave Trail' because the trail has gotten so deep and it seems as if you were trekking between columns of soil. It is followed by a long, relatively steep section of forest - all the way to the summit! The entire trail calls for an altitude gain of 1500 meters, from 650 to around 2150m!

Climbing the 'Wall' of roots, branches, ferns, and moss

Two features of the trail are worth mentioning. The first is the 'Bivoac' campsite at 1800 MASL, which has at least a couple of flat spaces for several tents (but no water source). Then, to make things more exciting, there is a ten-meter 'wall' which requires holding on to roots and branches - this was around 1900 MASL and thus less than an hour from Ikatlong Dungaw.

Descending from Ikalwang Dungaw (Durungawan II)

We reached Ikatlong Dungaw at around 1200H, or after 5 hours of trekking. We had lunch there before proceeding to Ikalwang Dungaw and Unang Dungaw - this part of the trail passes through the crater rim as well as the summit (i.e. highest point). There is a roped segment from Ikalwang Dungaw going down. We took another break at Unang Dungaw where there was surprisingly strong 3G signal and thus I was able to post pictures. It is also the most scenic part of the trail!

Welcome back, Sky!

Dungaw dungaw din pag may time :)

From Unang Dungaw, we took the Tatlong Tangke Trail which is very straightforward and easier than the Nagcarlan trail, taking us 3 hours to descend. It was nice to revisit sights like Kapatagan (the campsite; 1700 MASL) and Tatlong Tangke with its rocks and pools of water (water source; 1000 MASL).

Final rest stop: Tatlong Tangke

By 1630H we had reached Brgy. Kinabuhayan (550 MASL) and thus finished our trek. What an enjoyable traverse! Thank you, Sky, Koi, and Daryl for the great company; to DENR-PASU for allowing our trek; and to everyone for following our adventure! Of course, above all we thank God for giving us good weather!

Some pictures courtesy of Daryl Comagon. PinoyMountaineer thanks our Ms. Sally Pangan, PASU, for her gracious assistance during the climb, as well as to the barangay officials of Brgy. Bucal.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Is Mt. Banahaw open?
Access to Mt. Banahaw is restricted, meaning, you have to have a DENR-PASU permit to climb the mountain. Not all requests are granted but it will help if you have a specific agenda on the mountain, such as a tree-planting activity, clean up, etc. The restricted access to Banahaw applies to all entry and exit points including Nagcarlan, Liliw, Sariaya, Dolores, etc.

2. How are the trails of Banahaw?
I am happy to report that the trails are very clean now especially those in the Dolores side. We did pick up a plastic-full of trash in Ikatlong Dungaw but Unang Dungaw was very clean. What a difference ten years make! I think Banahaw is ready for reopening in terms of the trails but of course the logistics and organization of guides, facilities, and permits is a totally different matter.

3. When will Banahaw officially reopen?
As of the latest DENR-PAMB meeting regarding this, the mountain is scheduled to reopen in 2015. PinoyMountaineer is in touch with the PASU and we will give updates as soon as we get them.

4. What is the difficulty of this traverse?
I would give it a rating of Difficulty 6/9, since the regular Tatlong Tangke is 5/9. The difficulty of both of the traverse and the regular trail coming from Nagcarlan is 6/9 since the diffiicult part of the trail is really the Nagcarlan side.

CLIMBS WITH SKY BISCOCHO

Hiking matters #187: Tarak Peak Traverse

Hiking matters #188: Skysam Peak Traverse Within a Traverse

Hiking matters #192: Malipunyo River Trekking Traverse
Hiking matters #364: Banahaw Traverse

MT. MAYAPAY
Butuan City, Agusan del Norte
Major jumpoff: Tower, Brgy. Bonbon, Butuan City
LLA: 675 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit 1 day / 3-4 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 1-4
Features: Views of Butuan City, Agusan River, Mt. Hilong-Hilong

BACKGROUND
The distinct, flat 'tabletop' summit of Mt. Mayapay has served as a landmark for Butuan City for more than a thousand years, dating back to the zenith of the Kingdom of Butuan, one of the earliest states that existed in the Philippines. Though its height of 675 meters pales in comparison with other Mindanao mountains, its unique position - on a wide plain between the Sumagaya range to the west and Mt. Hilong-Hilong and other Agusan mountains to the east - lend it a prominence and a strategic position from which one can view Agusan River empying into Butuan Bay through the city; and behind them, the mountains.

The mountain is not frequently climbed although it is well known among the hikers in the area. A major access point is Brgy. Bonbon, where there is a road that leads to a communications tower. While the first part of the trek is a very gradual walk through an overgrown rough road; the second part is a steep and challenging ascent through eroded soil with no handholds save for clumps of grass and some shrubs. This difficulty notwithstanding, the hike offers a very rewarding view of Butuan City and the summit is scenic and the winds are refreshing. It is a recommended dayhike for hikers visiting Butuan and Agusan del Norte.

ITINERARY

DAYHIKE FROM BUTUAN CITY

0630 From city proper. take multicab to Brgy. Bonbon junctione
0700 Take habal-habal to 'Tower 1'
0730 Start trekking
0900 ETA base of mountain. Rest.
0930 Start ascent of Mt. Mayapay
1130 ETA Mt. Mayapay summit. Lunch
1230 Start descent
1330 Back at base
1430 Back at trailhead. Head back to Brgy. Bonbon junction
1500 ETA junction. Take multicab back to city
1530 Back to city proper

PRACTICALITIES

Getting there. Take a multicab that passes by Brgy. Bonbon junction (i.e. R-2); it is also possible to take a tricycle to the same area, where motorcycles are parked. You can hire a motorcycle to take you to the trailhead for P100/way/ride (1 person per motorbike). You can also negotiate rates for a return trip. In our case, there were two of us and we paid P500 for two motorbikes that will bring us up and down -- this include the waiting time at the trailhead.

Registration and guides. There is no registration required; there are also no checkpoints or logbooks. You can just go in and climb the mountain. The trail is easy to follow and the second half is marked by ribbons. You can just ask around among the locals for a guide and give him a P300 for guiding.

Hiking notes. Be careful in the final ascent because the soil is eroded and can further erode anytime you're on the trail. Some of the shrubs have thorns so consider wearing light gloves or long-sleeved shirts to prevent abrasions or cuts. There are no water sources. Cellphone signal is present in most parts of the trail.

MT. MAYAPAY PICTURES

Heading up to the trailhead by motorbike

Mt. Mayapay as viewed from the first part of the trail

The second part of the trail involves climbing up sections of eroded soil

The summit offers views of Butuan City and Agusan Riiver

TRIVIA
The blogger's hike of Mt. Mayapay is recounted in Hiking matters #362.

"Is this mountain dayhikable?" -- This is one of the questions I always encounter, and our Mt. Marami dayhike yesterday reminded me that I should answer all those questions in one post, so here it is: a list of all the dayhikes in Luzon I've done from Manila, including variations (i.e. Makiling and Makiling Traverse are mentioned separately). I'm sure the list is much more than this but I am only including the dayhikes I have personally done -- a total of 51 as of the moment.

My definition of a dayhike from Manila is any climb that can be completed from sunrise to sundown, with travel from Manila by public transport doable within that same 24-hour day. The rationale for a dayhike can be found in Hiking matters #19: "There is a joy in doing overnight climbs; you get to camp and sleep hundreds of meters above sea level; the air is fresh and the company is good. But when time is limited, there is such a thing as a daytrip -- and most of the time I end up daytripping mountains that are actually supposed to be overnight climbs."

LIST OF DAYHIKABLE MOUNTAINS FROM MANILA
Anawangin Cove via Mt. Pundaquit
Arayat
Arayat Traverse (Magalang-Arayat)
Balagbag
Balingkilat
Banahaw
Banahaw Traverse (Nagcarlan-Dolores)
Banoi
Batolusong
Batulao
Bungkol Baka (as part of San Jose Circuit)
Buntis
Cinco Picos Traverse to Silanguin Cove
Cristobal
Cristoal Traverse (Dolores-Rizal)
Daguldol
Damas Traverse
Gulugod Baboy
Gulugod Baboy Traverse (Anilao-Mabini)
Kalisungan
Kalisungan-Atimla Traverse
Lobo
Mabilog
Mabilog Traverse (San Pablo-Nagcarlan)
Maculot
Maculot Traverse
Makiling via Los Banos
Makiling via Sto. Tomas
Makiling Traverse
Malinta Hill in Corregidor
Malipunyo Traverse (Talisay-San Pablo)
Manabu Peak
Manabu-Malipunyo Traverse
Manalmon
Marami
Natib
Natib Travese (Orani-Morong)
Palali
Pantingan Peak
Pico de Loro
Pico de Loro Traverse (Ternate-Nasugbu)
Pinatubo
Romelo
Sembrano
Taal
Tagapo
Talamitam
Tapulao
Tangisan (as part of San Jose Circuit)
Tarak Ridge
Tarak Traverse

THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS THAT CAN BE DAYHIKED FROM MANILA

1. Banahaw - 2158 m

2. Tapulao - 2037 m

3. Cristobal 1415 m

4. Pantingan Peak 1388 m

5. Mt. Natib 1287 m

6. Tarak Ridge 1130 m

7. Makiling 1080 m

8. Arayatt 1030 m

VERY LONG DAYHIKES (i.e. WALANG SINABI ANG MAKTRAV)

1. Tapulao

2. Natib Traverse from Orani to Morong

3. Damas Traverse

4. San Jose Circuit

5. Malipunyo Traverse to San Pablo
6. Banahaw Traverse from Nagcarlan to Dolores
7. Marami (Not really that different from Maktrav but feels much longer!)

VERY FAR DAYHIKES (i.e. SERYOSO? DAYHIKE?)
1. Palali (5 hours travel from Manila to Nueva Vizcaya)
2. Tapulao (4 hours travel from Manila)

I hope this article helps!

Ang maputik na maputik na daan ng Mt. Marami

Minsan lang 'to: Aking isasalaysay ang aming pag-akyat sa Bundok Marami sa wikang atin. Gaya ng alam ninyo, ngayon ay Buwan ng Wika at magandang sariwain ang ating pagmamahal sa ating wika sa pagsusulat. Noong huling taon, ako'y nagsulat ng dalawang sanaysay upang ipagdiwang din ang Buwan ng Wika - basahin dito. Maligayang pagbabasa!

Kahapon, umakyat ako sa Bundok Marami kasama ng aking mga kaibigan. Limang taon na noong huli kong akyatin ang bundok na ito (tingnan sa Hiking matters #19). Kakasimula pa lang ng PinoyMountaineer noon, at marami akong alaala sa akyat na 'yon. Hindi pa nga kami nakakapag-umpisang umakyat ay naligaw na kami at napaderetso ang dala naming sasakyan sa isang daang maputik. Lingid sa aming mga kaalaman, gayun din ang magiging tadhana namin sa pag-akyat!

At heto pa: Noong kami ay malapit na sa tuktok ng bundok, at walang makita dahil puro ulap, biglang may sumulpot na baka, lumapit sa akin, at dinilaan ang aking pisngi! Dahil hindi pa sikat ang Marami noong panahon na 'yon, hindi rin pala alam ng guide namina ng daan, at napilitan akong maghanap ng daan paakyat, buti na lang at natagpuan ko ito! At hindi rin namin malilimutan ang paglusong sa abot-baywang na tubig ng Ilog Bangkaan: Pinagpawisang maigi ang dalawa kong kasamang may mga dalang SLR!

Bakit ko nga ba naisipang bumalik sa Bundok Marami, lalo na't tag-ulan at siguradong magiging maputik? Sa totoo lang, 'di ko rin alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko. Siguro, para maiba naman. Matagal na rin ang lumipas, baka may mga pagbabago na sa bundok, at nakakasawa naman kung puro na lang Maktrav at Batulao na naman ang makikita ninyo sa website na ito.

Kaya kahapon, ako'y ginising ng maaga ng aking alarm clock at nagtungo sa Mt. Marami. Mula sa aking bahay sa Los Banos, dinaanan ko si Jan Pambid sa Calamba at aming tinagpo ang iba naming kasama sa Naic, Cavite bago kami dumeretso sa umpisahan ng akyat sa Maragondon. Kasama namin ang aking kababata na si Jenny, at ang aking mga kaibigang sila Coby, Ivan, Pam, at Elijah.

Hindi pala kami sa Brgy. Ramirez nag-umpisa. Bagkos, sinubukan namin yung daan mula sa Brgy. Talipusngo, na iminungkahi ni Ivan dahil konti lang daw ang ilog na madadaanan dito, at mas maiksi. (Huwag kayong mag-alala gagawa ako ng itinerary para dito). Malaki ang tiwala ko sa kanya dahil siya ay mas adik pa sa bundok kaysa akin! (basahin ang kanyang blog para maniwala kayo). Gaya ng inaasahan, ang daan ay maputik. At bawal din magmuni-muni habang naglakakad dahil baka maka-apak ng ebak!

Pero may hangganan din ang maputik na daan, at pagkatapos ng mahigit na dalawang oras ay kami'y nakarating sa Nuestra Senyora - isang maliit na simbahan at maaring ituring na kalagitnaan ng daan. Mula dito, kailangang tumawid ng dalawang beses sa Ilog Bangkaan, at mabuti na lamang at mababaw lamang ang tubig dito. Paglampas ng mga sapa ay kami'y nakarating din sa medyo magubat na bahagi ng daan, bagamat maputik parin.

Sa ika-4 na oras ng pag-akyat ay kami'y nakarating na sa talahiban - o damuhan. Kahit papaano, may nakita naman kaming tanawin at nasulyapan pa namin ang Bundok Makiling. Derederesto lang at narating din namin ang Kawayanan - isang maiksi at magubat na bahagi ng bundok na may umaagos na tubig na pwedeng magsilbing kuhanan ng tubig-inumin. At mula doon, sa wakas, makalipas ang halos limang oras ay narating namin ang tuktok ng Bundok Marami. Maulap parin pero presko at nakakapagbigay-sigla ang hangin. Doon narin kaming nananghalian, sa mga bato-bato.

Pagkatapos ng 30 minuto ay kami'y nag-umpisa nang pumanaog. Napakahabang lakaran muli. Parang Mt. Makiling, kapag pababa ka na mula sa isang Maktrav ay pakiramdam mo minsan ay walang hangganan ang lubak-lubak na daan papuntang UP College of Forestry. Inabot parin kami ng mga tatlong oras sa pagbaba. Malaki ang aming tuwa noong nakita na namin ang sementadong highway sa barangay!

Bakit nga Marami ang tawag sa Bundok Marami? Maraming putik? Maraming bato? Maraming ligaw? Anumang sa mga iyon, bawat akyat sa bundok na ito ay tiyak na magbibigay ng maraming alaala at maraming kuwento. Babalikan ko ba ang bundok na ito? Siguro...pero huwag muna sa tag-ulan!

At dito nagwawakas ang aking kuwentong Marami. Maraming salamat sa aking mga kasama at sa mga sumubaybay sa aming lakad! Sa uulitin!

Photo of Mt. Aconcagua courtesy of Daniel Gauer

Following our successful ascents of Kilimanjaro and Elbrus, I am pleased to announce that I will seek to climb Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, at 6962 MASL the highest mountain in South America, late next year. The PinoyMountaineer Mt. Aconcagua 2014 Expedition is scheduled for December 2014, and is expected to take 24 days including sidetrips in South America.

Mt. Elbrus team members Farah Pasamonte, and Jacob Sarreal are expected to join the expedition. We are open to accepting participants who have experience in climbing mountains above 5000 meters above sea level, to compete a team of 5-8.

The estimated budget for the Mt. Aconcagua expedition including airfare from Manila is USD7000. Due to this high cost, I am also seeking sponsorships and support from interested parties. If you know anyone who can help us, please contact me at gideon@pinoymountaineer.com. Interested mountaineers are also invited to send me an email.

Hikers who climbed Pico de Loro recently tell us that the DENR station in Pico de Loro has increased the registration fee from 20 to 25 pesos. Moreover, the DENR people are telling hikers not to pay registration fee to the people in the 'basecamp', saying that the people there have no authority to collect any fee. On the other hand, the basecamp people are appealing for support and continued patronage of hikers, citing their sustained presence in the mountain and their efforts to maintain the trails.

@Vinci Berris, who climbed Pico last weekend, summarized the situation: "DENR and 1st basecamp conflict. Basecamp claiming that they should be the one collecting because they are the ones maintaining and giving services like lending a horse when there's an emergency."

The "double collection" situation in Pico de Loro has gone on for several years and many hikers have questioned the validity or legality of the fees. Thus this recent turn of events will likely be welcomed by many. On the other hand, some hikers are supportive of Kuya Rey, comparing him to Nanay Cording of Tarak Ridge. @Tahimik na Jim said on the PM Facebook page: "Wala pa hong buwaya sa jump off, kay Mang Rey na talaga nagbabayad. Same problem lang din to katulad kay "nanay" ng tarak ridge."

To put things to perspective, a P20 collection per individual can translate to 2000 per weekend, assuming there are 100 hikers. Thus monthly collections per registration point - whether in Pico de Loro or Batulao - can reach several thousands a month, and much more in the summer months. Understandably, registration fees are a source of conflict in many areas. We have also seen this happen in Mt. Talamitam several years ago.

PinoyMountaineer believes that mountaineers should be willing to pay registration fees as long as they are reasonable, legal, and are truly being used for the protection of the mountain and the maintenance of the trail. However we also understand that there are many informal institutions that ought to be respected especially those with a longstanding relationship with mountaineers. In cases of conflict, it is up to the local government to resolve it. Mountaineers should not have to get caught in predicaments like this.

Meanwhile, with the bus ban in Manila proper, public transportation to Pico de Loro (Ternate, Maragondon) is now via the southwest terminal in Coastal Mall, costing around 80-85 pesos one-way. These updates will be incorporated in the Pico de Loro page in PinoyMountaineer.com.

What do you think about the changes in Pico de Loro? Share your thoughts by commenting in this page.

Follow Gideon Lasco on Twitter (@gideonlasco) and Instagram (@gideonlasco)!

I am pleased to announce that I will be organizing two regional expeditions in 2014 that will be open to a limited number of participants: Jade Mountain (Yushan), the highest mountain in Taiwan in April 2-6, 2014 as well as Mt. Rinjani, one of the Indonesia's highest volcanoes, in May 2-5, 2014.

The Jade Mountain hike will be my 6th hiking trip and 16th separate hike in Taiwan after successful ascents of Holy Ridge, Snow Mountain, Cilai Ridge, and many others. On the other hand, Mt. Rinjani will be my 3rd hiking trip and 7th separate hike in Indonesia.

JADE MOUNTAIN ITINERARY
April 2-6, 2014

Day 1 - Arrival in Taipei
Day 2 -Travel to trailhead
Day 3 - Ascent to 3400 MASL lodge
Day 4 - Summit assault then descend; head back to Taipei
Day 5 - Return to Mania (or sidetrip to Taroko or Taipei)

MT. RINJANI ITINERARY
May 2-7, 2014

Day 1 - Travel to Lombok via Bali or Kuala Lumpur
Day 2 - Mataram to Sembalun Lawang village
Day 3 - Trek to the crater rim of Mt. Rinjani
Day 4 - Summit assault then descent to lake
Day 5 - Back to village then proceed to Mataram
Day 6 - Return to Manila (or sidetrip to Bali)

I will send the details to those who are seriously interested to join the climb. The budget for each climb has not been finalized yet but it will definitely be lower than the Mt. Kinabalu trips I organized before.

The hike is open to anyone interested in climbing mountains abroad with sufficient experience in multi-day hikes in the Philippines or abroad. To those who are seriously interested, please contact me at gideon@pinoymountaineer.com.

Stalls at the summit of Mt. Batulao, September 7, 2013

by Gideon Lasco

In the narrow confines of a tweet or a Facebook status message, it is difficult to articulate a position clear, comprehensive, and not prone to misinterpretation. An essay gives more breathing space for ideas, which is why it has remained my favorite avenue to voice my thoughts on particular issues, especially contentious ones. Even so, I am aware that whatever medium I choose, there will always be dissenting voices. So be it. My only hope is that inasmuch as I respect others' opinions, mine will merit the same respect.

In this short position paper, I would like to voice my view that mountaineers should not patronize stores on the summit or the trail. Before I present my arguments, I would like to make the disclaimer that I am not against the locals, and I am not against their merchandise. In fact, whenever there is an opportunity I try to buy products like fresh fruits and vegetables. We need to make the locals feel that we value them, and that we respect them. What I am against is the venue in which their merchandise is sold. I think the jumpoff, not the trail or the summit, is a better place for their livelihood to be lived out.

Here are my three arguments:

First, by patronizing them at the summit or the trail, we are encouraging the establishment of more stores, because that's the way it is: where there is demand, supply will follow. More stores will mean more people coming in to build, to maintain, and to operate those stores, which means more impact to the mountain and the ecosystem.

Second, we are encouraging a culture of convenience that runs contrary to the principles of mountaineering. Essentially, by depending on stores along the trail for drinks like Mountain Dew, we are subcontracting to them our responsibility to bring our own hydration. From this starting point, visitors can easily get caught in the process of "subcontracting" everything, from food (i.e. halo-halo), shelter (i.e. staying in huts instead of tents), and even entertainment (i.e. a videoke machine). Once again, this progression of more and more services will require more manpower, more movement, and more impact to the mountains. We have seen this happen in Mt. Romelo and Mt. Maculot.

Third, more stores will mean more trash in the mountains. Even with the locals' best efforts, this is the inevitable consequence of more products lying around, and more visitors coming to the mountain. Again we have seen this happen in several mountains.

The locals are not to blame in this situation. Actually, there is no point in pointing fingers. Moreover I am sure that they have no intention of harming the mountain. What is important isn't "who is to blame" for the problem but "what we can do" to be part of the solution. And I suggest that by not patronizing them in certain places like the summit and the trail, we will discourage this cycle of 'commercialization'.

You might argue, "Aren't the locals entitled to do what they want? They live in the mountain after all!" To this, I respond: I agree that the locals do have a right to the mountain! But those rights are not absolute. If they burn down the mountain, we cannot simply say that we have to respect them and watch the mountain go ablaze. Time and again, we have seen how the locals' interest and that of the environment do not always coincide. The mountains do not have a voice of their own and when the situation calls for it, we have to be their voice.

There will be a way to say this nicely, of course. When a local offers beverage, maybe we can say "Pwedeng sa baba na lang?" as sweetly as we can. Let us help the locals, but let the venue of helping them be a place that doesn't harm the mountain. This, I think, is a reasonable compromise.

The peaks of Batulao are now green with the season's rains

Mt. Batulaoin Nasugbu, Batangas is one of my favorite dayhikes. For the third time this year, I went there last Saturday, this time with my brods Kiev, Daniel, Josh, and Carlo.

More greenery as we walked up the New Trail

The initial leg was muddy, but we were delighted to see how green Batulao is at this time of the year, thanks to the rains that have come in the past few months!

This mini-forest detour from the New Trail is one of my favorite parts
of the trail

Aside from seeing stalls in the summit - something that I addressed in a separate essay, little has changed and it's still good old Batulao!

Blogs are made my fools like me, but only God can make a tree.

After the hike we went to Tagaytay for postclimb lunch and then I also updated the Mt. Batulao page to reflect the transportation changes. From Manila, the terminal is now at the Coastal Mall in Paranaque, and transportation costs P104 to Evercrest.

Thanks brods! AFTG!

Thanks to my brods Joshua, Daniel, Carlo, and Kiev for joining me in this relaxing hike!

PINOYMOUNTAINEER IN MT. BATULAO

HM #25: The new trail of Mt. Batulao (Aug 2008)

HM #31: Back to Batulao (Oct 2008)

The First Annual Amputee Climb (Nov 2009)

HM #154: Batulao afternoon hike with friends (Apr 2010)

HM #194: Talamitam and Batulao in one day (Sep 2011)

HM #234: A sunny day in Mt. Batulao (Feb 2012)
HM #265: After the fall (May 2012)
HM #324: It's Batulao time again! (Feb 2013)

HM #329: Yet again, Batulao (Mar 2013)
HM #366: Green Batulao (Sep 2013)

At the summit of Mt. Labo, 1544 MASL in Camarines Norte

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE - Bicol is one of my favorite regions for hiking, since 2009 when I first climbed Isarog via Panicuason (see Hiking matters #75). Memorably, I did seven Bicol hikes in 8 days in 2011 with Iron Lady (Asog, Mayon, Mayon again, Malinao, Pulog, Binanderahan, Masaraga) and I have since come back for Bulusan, Isarog via Patag-Patag, and the Catanduanes mountains.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to continue my appreciation for Bicol mountains with a dayhike of Mt. Labo in Camarines Norte. This province - the northernmost in the region - actually has at least four mountains - Mt. Labo, Mt. Cadeg, Mt. Bagacay, and Mt. Balagbag. I decided that I would try to go for Mt. Labo as the highest and 'most major' of the four, and come back for the rest next year.

Our group of four from Manila was accompanied by Kulot, a hiker from Daet, and we were guided by the affable Tiong Ani, also a member of the ORYOL Mountaineers. At first, he was skeptical abut the plan to do a Mt. Labo dayhike, saying it has never been done, but I told him: "Let's just see how far we reach. We will turn back at 1400H, summit or no summit." We started at 0800H from Brgy. San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz - Tiong Ani is actually a kagawad in that barangay.

Mt. Labo's trail can be divided into two parts: An overgrown rough road that used to be a path for geothermal explorations, and then a steep, forested ascent to the summit. The Mt. Labo campsite area divides the two parts of the trail. Usually, in a two-day itinerary, hikers head for the campsite on Day 1, assault the summit the next morning, and descend on the same day.

The rough road trail is estimated by Tiong Ani to run to 13 kilometers, and it is very long by any yardstick. It is wide and the altitude gain is very gradual. There are three crossings on streams that can swell and compromise the hike; fortunately we had good-enough weather. The trail will make you appreciate how vast Mt. Labo is, as you pass by peak after peak only to be told that Mt. Labo itself was way beyond them.

It took us 3.5 hours to reach the campsite, on a brisk pace. We took a 30-minute lunch break, and resumed the trek at noontime, in the hope of reaching the summit before my declared turn-back-time of 1400H. A dramatic shift of trail and environment ensued; suddenly we were trekking on a dense jungle, parts of which remind me of the Makiling Traverse trail, or Mt. Isarog. There were some interesting fauna around and I'm sure if we had more time I would have seen more.

As we went higher it became mossier, and I took a video at around 1400 MASL to document the beauty of it:
Finally, at 1350H, we reached the summit of Mt. Labo, 1544 MASL. There was no clearing, which was what I expected anyway. Had we hiked on sunnier day, however, we would have seen Mt. Banahaw, Mt. Isarog, Mt. Mayon, and probably even Mt. Guiting-Guiting. This ought to be an encouragement for those who are interested to climb this mountain! As for me, I was just so happy to reach the summit. Perching myself in one of the trees there, I was reminded of Mt. Makiling's Peak 2.

There was still the matter of going back, which was no joke. Driven to the summit by the momentum and excitement of reaching for the summit, we now had to drag ourselves back the same trail, draining much of our energy and taking almost as long as the ascent. It rained, but fortunately the rivers were passable and after finally reaching the jumpoff, we headed back to Daet where we spent the night. Today I am heading back home, thankful for the opportunity to climb Labo, and looking forward to the next Bicol hike!

PinoyMountaineer thanks Melvin Brinas for assisting us in our hike, and for Kulot and Tiong Ani for accompanying us! Dakulong salamat! Thanks also to Coby, Ivan, and Arvin for joining the hike.

In the past couple of weeks, there were two incidents that were brought to our attention by those who experienced them. Fortunately, these incidents never made it to the media - that is to say, nothing really serious happened to them and everyone involved is safe. But I think these two experiences are worth sharing to the mountaineering community as we can learn something from them:

Hunting trap injures guide in Mt. Batolusong

Mountaineer Ed Gan, of the Sinarubot Mountaineers, wrote to us about their hike in Mt. Batolusong, Rizalon September 7-8, 2013:

"Our guide triggered a wild boar trap set in the edge of the cogon grasslands about 15 minutes to Duhatan ridge along the Mapatag trail and just 8 meters away from the area with red earth. This trap made use of a shot gun shell released by a "sumpak" set up to fatally injure a wild boar which will then be easier to capture. 2 pellets hit our guide's left calf about 5-6 inches below the knee. One caused a gouging flesh wound and the other was a through-and-through. We were able to stop the bleeding. The other guide left us to take care of his friend while he ran to Brgy. San Andres to get help. He came back later with 8 men and with the help of a bamboo hammock, they brought the wounded guide down the mountain and to a hospital in Morong. They brought the "sumpak" down with them to show to their barangay leaders."

The said guide, according to the hikers, was a first timer who accompanied another lead guide. The mountaineers contributed to the medical expenses, but according to them, the barangay officials demanded that they shoulder the all the medical expenses of the guide.

This unfortunate incident highlights the reality of hunting traps especially in unexplored areas. Just a few months ago, mountaineer Joey Vergara had a similar mishap in Mt. Malipunyo. Normally, the best recourse in hunting areas is to get local guides but as this incident demonstrates, sometimes not even the locals are aware about the location of these traps.

Another issue here is the question of who is responsible for the guide during the hike. If your guide gets injured while guiding you, is it your responsibility to shoulder all of his medical expenses? Because guiding in the Philippines is oftentimes an informal agreement, there is no definite answer to this question although others have pointed out that hikers have a responsibility by virtue by the legal concept of being 'captain of the ship'. Because guide injuries are very rare, there is little precedent for this.

13 hikers rescued in Mt. Makiling

At around 0200H on September 16, 2013, thirteen hikers were rescued in Mt. Makiling, including Ralph Rance, who wrote to us about their experience. The group had attempted a Makiling Traverse on the previous day but they were able to start at 1000H. They were accompanied by a guide only until Station 7 (where the Sipit and Palanggana Trail meets), and beyond that, they followed the trail on their own. Apparently, none of them have previously done Makiling Traverse before. On the other hand, they were allegedly assured by the guide that the "it is just a short distance from Station 7 up to the peak" and "it will only take them 2-3 hours to get down". Sir Erwin of Sto. Tomas MENRO, however, contradicted this account, saying that the guide wanted to accompany them all the way to UPLB, but they refused, saying they have already done it before.

By all accounts, however, it was not to be a smooth trek to Los Banos. Darkness came as they tried to make their way through the traverse trail. With only one headlamp, they group struggled, and the group spoke of limatik entering their eyes amid the heavy rains. Fortunately they were able to contact, through their friends, the rangers and police at UPLB who promptly rescued them and by early morning of Monday they were safely in Los Banos, Laguna.

The Mt. Makiling Traverse should not be attempted by first timers without being accompanied by hikers who have done it before or guides that will accompany them all the way. Moreover, any dayhike can turn into a nighttrek so this incident should remind all of us to bring headlamps and other emergency stuff like first aid kits, whistles, and fully-charged cellphones at all times Fortunately - in an ironic way - the UPLB rangers and police are experienced in rescue operations in Mt. Makiling, as several similar cases happen every year. Hopefully, we can avoid more of these incidents in the future.

MT. LABO
San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte
Jumpoff: Sitio Butan, Brgy. San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz
LLA: 14°0.79′ N, 122°47.3′ E, 1544 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 2-3 days / 8-10 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 1-3
Feartures: Tropical forest, waterfalls, river crossings, scenic views of Southern Luzon mountains, rafflesia
Last updated: September 19, 2013

BACKGROUND
Rising to an impressive height of 1544 meters above sea level, Mt. Labo in Camarines Norte is a haven of biodiversity whose roster of species include the rafflesia (Rafflesia manillana) as well as the rufous hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax). Hikers, for their part, can take delight in the challenging trails of the mountain system (it is too big to be called just a single mountain). Straddling three different municipalities, the possibilities for traverse trails are many.

This article describes the regular trail to Mt. Labo coming from Brgy. San Isidro, San Lorenzo Ruiz. This trail is based on previous geothermal prospecting done more than a decade ago. These efforts did not come to fruition, but in its aftermath, rough roads were left behind leading to the drilling site located 9 kilometers from the trailhead and around 800 meters above sea level. These rough roads - overgrown since - became the initial (and very long) part of the trail, while the site became the campsite.

From the campsite, over 700 meters of altitude have to be gained to reach the summit which is 1544 MASL. Here, the environment is different: the forest is central rather than peripheral to the trail, and the hiker can immerse in it, experiencing the beauty of the moss-covered trees, and at the summit, on a clear morning, Mt. Mayon, Mt. Isarog, and even Mt. Banahaw can be seen.

Meanwhile, from the campsite one can take a trail to the Angelina Falls (actually named after Tiong Ani himself) just thirty minutes away - it is a worthy sidetrip. Finally, during June or July, there is a week or two when the rafflesias are in bloom, making them a seasonal but very rewarding destination for hikers who have an interest in our unique tropical flora and fauna.

ITINERARY

Day 0
2100 From Pasay or Cubao, take bus to Daet

Day 1
0500 Arrival at Daet. Buy supplies at market / Breakfast
0700 Rent jeepney to jumpoff (Brgy. San Isidro, SLR)
0800 ETA jumpoff. Register with Tiong Ani and secure guide/s
0900 Start trekking
1200 Lunch along the way
1300 Resume trek
1600 Arrival at Campsite. *Optional sidetrip to Angelina Falls
1900 Dinner / socials

Day 2
0400 Wake up call
0430 Begin assault to summit
0700 ETA summit of Mt. Labo (1544 MASL)
0730 Start descent
0900 Back at campsite. Brunch / Break camp
1030 Start descent
1630 Back at jumpoff. Tidy up
1700 Take jeep back to Daet
1800 ETA Daet. Dinner
2000 Take bus back to Manila

*Note: Because the jeepney from Daet to the jumpoff is very irregular and will still require some walking to the trailhead, I decided not to make public transportation the default mode in this itinerary.

PRACTICALITIES

Transportation	(1) Pasay or Cubao to Daet – PhilTranco, DLTB, Superlines or Amihan bus – P550 (2) Daet to trailhead by rented jeepney - P1500 roundtrip or P800 one-way
Registration	Logbook at Brgy. San Isidro; no fee required
Guides	Available: Tiong Ani (+639104051851)
Campsites	One: around 800 MASL, 9 kilometers from trailhead
Water sources	Multiple; last water source ~500 meters from campsite
Cellphone signal	Present in most parts of the trail including summit (Globe > Smart)
River crossings	Three crossings before the campsite Beware of flashfloods
Roped segments	None
Limatik	Yes – mild to moderate
Lipa	Yes – minimal
Rattan	Yes – minimal
Sidetrips	Angelina Falls – 30 minutes away from campsite
Alternate trails	There are traverse routes but not very established as of 2013
Dayhikable	Yes (6 hours up, 6 hours down)

MT. LABO PICTURES

This part of the trail is called 'spillway' and is 2.2 kilometers away from
the trailhead.

The first part of the trail is a wide, overgrown rough road

At the summit of Mt. Labo, 1544 MASL

TRIVIA

This mountain was climbed as a dayhike by the blogger on September 14, 2013. See the account in Hiking matters #367.

For the third time this year, I found myself hiking Mt. Maculot's Rockies (706 MASL) in Cuenca, Batangas. In spite of the bad publicity surrounding the mountain in the aftermath of Victor Ayson's tragic death, I believe that this mountain is a very good introduction to hiking and the outdoors, offering trails that are easy enough for beginners and rewarding enough for longtime hikers to say: "Ang ganda parin ng Maculot!" ("Maculot is still beautiful!")

Joining me were Coby Sarreal and Koi Grey, Ryan Tuiza, John Paul Grande, as well as Sheena Halili, with whom I've been planning a hike for the past few months. We all met in Lipa City and then proceeded to Cuenca, Batangas, registered with the barangay outpost (the fee is now P20) and went to the trailhead of the Rockies.

We started trekking at 0830H and soon we were in the forested part of the trail, where there were no less than eight rest stops - some of which we made use of. It was going to be a relaxing weekday hike and save for the anxiety over the weather, I said we could take our time, even as I was quietly praying that we would have a clearing at the Rockies.

We reached the campsite at around 1000H and as we descended towards the short and narrow ridge that connected to the Rockies, we couldn't even see it! But as we scrambled up the rocks, we were amazed as the clouds gave way to a beautiful view of Taal Lake and the surrounding towns of Batangas. At times, we could even see parts of Mindoro! Whenever the clouds give way to blue skies, I am reminded of the parting of the Jordan River, and the One of whom it was said: "The winds and waves obey him."
We spent some time at the Rockies to enjoy the view and it is a welcome change for me to not be in a tight itinerary, as when Koi, Coby and I would go on our crazy dayhikes. We started to descend by 1130H, and two hours later we were having a very nice lunch in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Thank you God for the blessed weather that you gave us. Thank you Sheena and Japs for joining the hike and I look forward to seeing you in the trails again!

PINOYMOUNTAINEER IN MT. MACULOT

Jul 2008 HM #22: Same old Maculot
Jan 2009 HM #40: Maculot night trek

Jul 2010 HM #95: Mt. Maculot's Rockies with the OGKL

Nov 2011 HM #215: Maculot Trav and Manabu Peak in one day

Feb 2012 HM #233: Refreshing dayhike of Mt. Maculot's Rockies

Mar 2012 HM #246: Maculot's Rockies, yet again
Feb 2013 HM #328: Mt Maculot's New Trail
Apr 2013 HM #336: Mt. Maculot after a tragic accident

Sep 2013 HM: 368: Once again, the beautiful Rockies

Earlier this week I spent two days in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte and when I arrived at the city from Laguindingan airport, the first thing I did, together with my hiking buddy Coby Sarreal, was to do a dayhike of Mt. Agad-Agad. This mountain, which rises at a modest elevation of 490 MASL, is the highest point in the "City of Waterfalls".

I think it's nice for major Philippine cities to have at least one easily accessible, easily dayhikable mountain, to get more people to experience the outdoors in a friendly way, and to provide regular hikers with a place to exercise those legs. If Butuan has Mt. Mayapay and Baguio has Mt. Sto. Tomas, Iligan has Mt. Agad-Agad.

The trailhead is at Brgy. Pugaan which is accessible by a jeepney ride from the public market (P14). A hanging bridge marks the beginning of the trail, which initially passes through woodlands that at times become very green, as well as villages where friendly locals can point out directions, obviating the need for a guide.

Gradual at first, the trail becomes surprisingly steep, making the hike a worthy challenge even though it is actually quite short - I would estimate the trail length to be just around 4 kilometers.

It took us 1.5 hours to reach the campsite, which possesses views of Iligan City, the bay, as well as Mt. Malindang to the northwest. There are beautiful trees, benches, a couple of huts, and even a toilet, and I can imagine that being at the campsite at night would be a wonderful experience - we should have taken that option instead of getting a hotel room in the city!

From the campsite, the mahogany-covered summit is just 5-10 minutes away. We checked it out before doing a quick descent back to the trailhead where we waited for a return jeepney to Iligan City. A nice swim at the pools of Timoga completed the day's adventures, and we looked forward to visiting the major waterfalls the following day!

Continued from Hiking matters #369: On the second and final day of my quick Iligan trip, Coby and I went to visit the two major waterfalls of Iligan City: Tinago Falls and Maria Cristina Falls. Because I had an afternoon flight and the airport is quite far from the city, I couldn't do more than these two, but Coby went on to see a total of seven waterfalls -- but there were many more that he couldn't cover; there were simply too many of them in Iligan!

First we went to Tinago Falls, which is actually located in the border between Iligan City and Linamon, Lanao del Norte. We took a jeepney from the city proper to the highway in Linamon (P12), then a habal-habal (P40) to the trailhead. We arrived before 0800H on a weekday and amazingly, we had the waterfalls to ourselves, and I swam for over an hour!

From Tinago, we asked another habal-habal driver to take us to Maria Cristina Falls (P100/ride) which is located at the NPC complex in Brgy. Ma. Cristina, Iligan City. We couldn't come near it, but even from the viewdeck it was majestic, being the waterfalls with the tallest drop (98m) in the country. I used to see it only in elementary textbooks and it was great to finally see one of the symbols of our natural beauty.

After visiting these two waterfalls, I headed back to Iligan en route to Laguindingan airport. Though very short - just over 28 hours - my Iligan trip was a wonderful experience and I hope I can come back again to see more waterfalls! Tinago Falls deserves a return trip - and a special mention as one of the best waterfalls I've ever had!

Hiking matters #361: The other side of Mt. Natib - The traverse from Orani to Morong

[MFPI] All Women's Climb in Osmeña Peak, Cebu

Mountain News: Nine nissing mountaineeers rescued in Mt. Mariveles (Tarak Ridge), Bataan

Hiking matters #362: Hiking up Mt. Mayapay in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte

Hiking matters #363: Tinuy-an Falls and Hinatuan River, Surigao del Sur

Hiking matters #364: Banahaw Traverse Dayhike from Nagcarlan to Dolores

Mt. Mayapay (675+), Butuan City, Agusan del Norte

List of dayhikable mountains and hiking trails from Metro Manila

Hiking matters #365: Kwentong Marami

Announcing the PinoyMountaineer Mt. Aconcagua Expedition in December 2014

Mountain News: Change and conflict in Pico de Loro registration

PinoyMountaineer 2014 Expeditions: Jade Mountain (3952m) in Taiwan and Mt. Rinjani (3726m) in Indonesia

Viewpoint: Mountaineers should not patronize stores on the summit or the trail

Hiking matters #366: Green Batulao

Hiking matters #367: Hiking up Mt. Labo in Camarines Norte

Mountain News: Wild boar trap injures guide in Mt. Batolusong / 13 hikers rescued in Mt. Makiling

Mt. Labo, Camarines Norte (1,544+)

Hiking matters #368: The beautiful Rockies of Mt. Maculot

Hiking matters #369: Mt. Agad-Agad, a short and scenic hike in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte

Hiking matters #370: Tinago Falls and Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City