Mt. Arayat- first major day climb [traverse]

This marked the fenced military camp just along the North Peak. 

[View larger version here]
After a few photos, we had lunch here and rested a bit. We then proceeded to Haring Bato. 

[View larger version here]

Taking a few photos by Haring Bato with a view of the South Peak and viewing deck

We then proceeded to descend going to South Peak. This 90° boulder was just the start of many tricky portions. We weren't expecting the technicality of the next part of the trail. 

No more photos of the climb up South Peak since it was a series of deadly 85° to almost 90° slopes. 

One last group photo before descending!

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QUICK FACTS
Mt. ARAYAT (MAGALANG-ARAYAT TRAVERSE) 
(source)
Pampanga 
Entry point: Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga 
Exit point: Brgy. Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga 
LLA: 15.2067N, 120.7441E, 1,030 meters above seal level / 3,379 feet 
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 5 hours (North Peak) 8 hours (South Peak) 
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-4 (10kms)

ITINERARY (source) 0400 Assembly at Victory Liner Cubao EDSA south bound. Take bus passing San Fernando, Pampanga 0500 ETD terminal 0600 Alight at SM Pampanga 0630 Take jeep bound to Magalang 0730 ETA Magalang Jollibee, breakfast, take tricycle to Brgy. Ayala (jump off), register 0830 Commence trek 1200 ETA North Peak (summit), lunch 1300 Resume trek, head to South Peak via ridge 1400 ETA Haring Bato 1500 ETA South Peak 1530 Descent 1730 ETA Bgy. San Juan Baño, Arayat 1830 Take tricycle to bayan, then jeep to SM Pampanga 1900 ETA SM Pampanga, dinner/snacks/post-climb 2200 ETA Manila

EXPENSES
Bus: Cubao to San Fernando, Pampanga - P102
Jeep: San Fernando to Magalang - P35
Tricycle: Magalang to Bgy. Ayala registration desk (jump off) - 70/trip
Tricycle: Bgy. Juan Bano to bayan - P50/trip
Jeep: to SM Pampanga - P25
Bus: San Fernando to Manila - P102
Guide: he charged us P1,100- obviously overpriced for a group of 3!
(Piece of advice for hiring guides- agree to his fee before beginning your trek and haggle!) 

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Ayen, Jed and I were quite impulsive when we decided to head over to Mt. Arayat a few Saturdays ago. I just quickly read the itinerary and list of expenses. Jed didn't even confirm he was joining us until he showed up at the terminal. We knew this was a "major" day climb but we proceeded even if we all felt like we weren't as fit as we always were during our other climbs. 

I had a hard time especially since my ankles were hurting a lot, but we managed to reach the summit on schedule. The trail consisted of a lot of boulders and roots. It resembled most parts of the climb to Tarak. 

This was the most challenging mountain to date. Jed said he found it harder than our scary experience in Tarak, having our tents wrecked and not sleeping a wink since we were at the wall of the eye of the storm during Typhoon Gorio. This isn't the hardest mountain to climb but we were shocked at the "buwis-buhay" part which was, true enough, deadly, on the way to South Peak. We scrambled through 85°-90° slopes and was holding on for dear life just to advance. Ayen would signal me when to go and I would signal Jed just to make sure we weren't eating dust while going up. There were no roped segments and if you slipped, well.. goodbye. We had to make sure that each branch and root was sturdy enough for us to grab on to. We didn't take photos during this part (most of our afternoon) since "we were busy trying not to die" (Jed, LOL). 

Overall, we really appreciated the challenge. We loved it more than the beautiful view since we felt like it was the real deal! The other climbs we've done are chicken sh*t in comparison. Not that any of them were easy- you have to be fit to climb, you don't climb to get fit! This is a great mountain for those with a bit of experience since it takes 8-9 hours (traverse). Hire a guide if it's your first time since the landslides are constantly changing the trails. 

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Mt. Maculot day climb (traverse)

I'm livin on the edge!!! 

Check out Steph lounging on the rockies. Just check out that breathtaking view! 

YOLO 

With some new members of RMC! Clockwise from the back- Marco, Eslav, me, Steph, Miki, Ayen and Jovic. 

Posing with Steph cos they wanted to compare the inappropriate vs. appropriate climbing outfits. We actually just hated her cap. :)) 

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MT. MACULOT 
basic facts from Pinoy Mountaineer

major jumpoff: Mountaineer's Store, Brgy. 7 "Siete", Cuenca
exit point (traverse): Brgy 5 (to Grotto), Cuenca 
LLA: 13°55 N; 121°2 E; 706 MASL (Rockies) / 930 MASL (summit) 
days required / Hours to Rockies / summit : 1 day /  2-4 hr 
specs: Minor, Difficulty 4/9 (Traverse) Trail class 1-3. 
features: Scenic views of Taal Lake, rock formations, forests 

We finally got to climb another mountain last Saturday and we chose Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas. There was a tragic bus accident again the night before so we decided to take our own cars and just contribute to the gas/toll money. Usually buses are more convenient since we get really tired after each climb but we figured a 2.5-hour drive from the city to Batangas wasn't too bad.

Decided to start our journey through the grotto which was really a challenge for me. I felt like having an asthma attack throughout the 15 stations of the cross made of concrete stairs but I'm so glad I didn't! I just recovered from 3 days of having a fever, colds and cough so I was being really slow. None of us slept the night before as well. I'm just glad I made it through that without fainting. ALSO, I discovered my trekking shoes shrunk! I felt my right foot was a bit squished when I put them on at home and as I went through the hike I slowly felt my feet giving up on me. I shouldn't have given them to my sister's yaya after my last hike- letting them dry out under the sun shrinks the leather and that waterproof layer in between so you're supposed to go half a size up when getting new trekking shoes. Oops. It was the most painful climb ever so don't do what I did!

The trail wasn't bad at all. There were just too many burs along the way that kept sticking to my cotton leggings, headband and sleeves so I had to take them out every few minutes. There were two roped segments (that proved the rope wasn't too useful) and a lot of sections that required holding on to tree branches and roots just like most climbs. There are a few flat trails which makes it a level four climb, so it wasn't too easy nor too difficult.

The first part took us about 3.5 hours. After lunch and resting for an hour at the camp site, we proceeded to the rockies. The view was AMAZING! Pretty sure you can see just how thrilled we were in the photos. Those moments make the gruelling climbs really worth it! If we had planned to stay overnight I would've stayed on the rockies til sunset. I'm doing another Mt. Maculot trip for sure!

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Climbing Mt. Batulao [via iPhone]

"OMG we smell like fertilizer!!!"

I can't recall what we were overreacting about in this photo, but the caption suits it! Steph and I are total drama queens. 

I didn't even notice this sign, Dondi was able to capture it. Get a guide or you're sure to get lost! 

   

About 3 hours in we decided to have lunch and take some obligatory souvenir photos at Camp 1 

 

I always have this type of photo wherein a friend is assisting the elderly. 

approaching the summit 

Steph reminded me of a woman from Kosovo 

a rope was there to help us haul ourselves up in some parts  

I look decent in photo ops but in reality, it's a nose-flaring experience. 

Don't... look. down. 

Tryin to werq as we reached the summit! 

The most maarte group of mountaineers 

We came all the way here for some coconut juice! 

This stuff works. Shared this with the rest and only those who applied it were saved from looking like lechons. 

Ray-Ban caravan sunglasses + Folded & Hung top + Zara tank top + H&M leggings + the North Face backpack + Pacsafe belt bag + Nike trainers (I have yet to buy decent shoes) 

 

"We climbed those mountains?!"

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We took a chance and decided to head to Nasugbu, Batangas last Saturday even if the weather in Manila was horrible. We decided that we could always stay and chill in Tagaytay if the weather wouldn't permit us to climb that day. As we were nearing Batangas the skies were bright and clear so we asked some locals for directions (our unpreparedness for these trips deserves an award in itself). A few missed turns and we reached the starting point where we hired a young guide that agreed to a fee of Php 400 (read somewhere that these fees helped send them to school). This proved to be a good move since unlike our last hike (Mt. Pico de Loro), there weren't a lot of markings and there were so many diverging routes. 

The trek to the summit was about 3 hours long. We spent about 30 minutes at the peak, enjoying fresh buko juice and taking photos, before descending and reaching our starting point in 3 hours. It took us less than 7 hours to climb and get back to our car, and we were glad that despite arriving late (got there at 10:30 AM) we were able to drive back to Manila a few hours before sundown. 

Mountaineers' accounts online state that this was the same level as Pico, but throughout the hike & climb we kept commenting that it was slightly easier. It was Dondi's first time to climb and during the first 10 minutes he kept asking if the path was going to be as wide all throughout, but as we kept going he commented that they were indeed getting narrower. It got to a point where the paths were less than a foot across, and the ravines would make your knees shake once you stop to look at your side. 

Some challenges during this climb: 

• Steep portions that required you to use a rope to haul yourself up- it's just like any other climb requiring a rope, so you have to be able to lift yourself up 

• It's a bit harder to go down because of the loose rocks. It's important to wear the right shoes or have a trekking pole to assist you if you're not that accustomed to these things yet. 

• There aren't a lot of trees to serve as shade so wear a hat! My scalp is sunburnt since I forgot to bring one and an umbrella. 

Some more notes:

• You can buy buko juice / soda / beer / halo halo at most of the stops, but they don't have water! Bring a lot of water with you. 

• Registration fee is just Php 40 and you can also camp for a fee. 

• Pace yourself. Javy had a brilliant way to conserve his energy- he'd stop at the windy spots and then run to catch up when we were already far away from him. 

• Sunblock, salt (for cramps), first aid kit, water, scarf/hat, sunglasses.

• Some plants have sharp edges and we got cuts all over so it's better to wear something that can cover your legs and arms. There are lots of bugs, too! 

Overall it was a really fun climb and I am having climbing withdrawals, it's insane! I can't wait for the next trip! We learn a lot from each one since they're never the same, and you can never be too prepared. It's challenging psychologically as it is physically.

We do it for the view-- nothing beats a 360 from the summit!

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