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Montalban Trilogy v2 360 - Dayhike

Date: October 07, 2018

Activities: Montalban Trilogy Version 2 - 360 loop - dayhike
Mountains:
     Mt. Parawagan (480MASL)
     Mt. Lagyo Peak 1 and Peak 2 (396MASL)
     Mt. Susong Dalaga (325MASL)
Side trips:
     Wawa Dam and Secret River

Note: Elevation  was referenced from pinoymountaineer.com

Planning:
     This was planned to happen last September pero dahil nag sunod-sunod na ang habagat at malalakas na bagyo ay na re-schedule ng October. Dahil na reschedule, natapat naman na hindi available ang iba kong ka-team kaya dalawa lang kami ni ReyM na natuloy.

Hike Day:
     Met with ReyM at the nearby 7-11 store then headed to Petron C5 para magpa gas and took our early breakfast. Around 5am when we left Petron Diego Silang heading Montalban, Rizal.

     Around 6:30AM ng makarating sa Sitio Wawa. Met wit our guide Ezra, register sa baranggay hall, prepare ourselves and buy some stuffs then start trek na heading our first mountain, Mt. Parawagan. Instead of doing the out and back trail to Parawagan summit, we opt to use the 3km assault trail to at least complete this version 2 trilogy with continuos 360 degrees loop.

     Medyo nabigla kami sa route na eto dahil from jump-off ay mga 200 meters na patag lang then straight ~3km assault na up to Parawagan grassland. Pero ganun pa man, na enjoy naman namin ang view ng mga karatig na bundok na naliliwanagan ng papataas na araw sa tuwing titingin ka sa iyong likuran. Hindi pa masyadong mahapdi sa balat dahil around 7:30am pa lamang and it's a perfect timing para salukin ang vitamin D na ibinibigay ng araw.

     Pasado alas-otso ng makarating sa summit ng Mt. Parawagan. Yung mohon na tinu-tungtungan namin ang nagsi-silbing marker ng summit ng Mt. Parawagan. Konting pictures at nag umpisa narin kaming bumaba para puntahan naman ang mas mababamg bundok na Mt. Lagyo  na syang pangalawang bundok sa aming listahan.

     Pababa ng Mt. Lagyo ay mas maluwag na ang daan at puro pababa na kaya mas madali na at nakaka lakad-takbo na kami na syang nagpabilis naman ng aming pacing.

     Rehydrate lang sa Jimmy store na nasa kanto ng Parawagan-Lagyo intersection at muling nagpatuloy.
     Around 10:30am ng makarating kami sa Lagyo Peak 1. Pagdating namin ay may mga hikers pa na nagpi picture sa magagandang rock formation ng Mt. Lagyo kaya sinamantala naman namin na makapag pahinga at konting picture din sa ibang angle na hindi kami makaka abala sa kanila.

     Then our turn comes to have our own version of different poses. Magagaling ang mga guide dito dahil kabisado rin nila yung magagandang angle kung saan ka dapat pumwesto at saan din sila or yung camera pu-pwesto. Patuloy na tumataas ang araw at unti unti ng nagiging masakit sa balat, nakaka uhaw at nakaka pagod pero halos hindi mo mapansin dahil sa ganda ng mga nakikita mo sa paligid at gusto mo na halos lahat ng spot ay makuhanan mo.

    Konting kalabit pa ng camera and after around 30mins ay nag decide na kaming lumipat sa kabilang spot kung saan magaganda din ang view, sa Mt. Lagyo Peak 2.   11:45am ng dumating kami sa area ng Lagyo Peak 2, pero dahil hapong-hapo na kami sa sobrang init ay nag 15mins break muna kami sa ilalim ng magka duktong na bato na parang kweba. Water break, energy drink at kinain ang aming baon na nilagang itlog para maka regain ng lakas.

     Masarap na ang pagkaka salampak sa bato na halos makaka idlip na kami ng biglang tinawag na kami ng aming guide. Eksakto alas dose pero tamang-tama na makulimlim ang langit kaya sinamantala namin na magpicture sa mga oras na eto para hindi masyadong mainit.

     Ganun muli, konting pictures at nag umpisa na uli kaming bumaba patungo naman sa aming ikatlong bundok, ang Mt. Susong Dalaga.

    Ang makulimlim na ulap pala na yon ay isang buhos ng ulan na hindi na nga napigilang ibagsak habang binabagtas namin ang masukal na daan pababa ng Susong Dalaga. Mabuti narin at nakababa na kami galing sa batuhan ng Lagyo dahil kung hindi ay mas mahihirapan kaming bumaba. Pagdating ng summit ng Susong Dalaga ay patuloy parin ang pagbuhos ng ulan kaya hindi kami makapaglabas ng gadget para mag picture. Nag antay pa ng konti at maya maya ay humina narin ang ulan. Konting picture lang as our prof at binagtas na namin ang matarik at madulas na daan pabalik sa jump-off.

Mt. Susong Dalaga on the left

     Around 2:15pm ng matapos ang 360 loop at makabalik kami sa jump-off. Medyo may maha-habang pahinga kami bago mag proceed sa sidetrip. Perfect timing naman para sa aming late lunch. Alas tres ng hapon ng mag umpisa kaming mag lakad-lakad patungo sa aming side trip, ang Wawa Dam and Secret River.

Wawa Dam

Mt. Binacayan on the left and Mt. Pamitinan on the right

      From Wawa Dam, we rode a 10mins boat ride up the river to reach secret river.

     Picture taking and enjoyed dipping in cold stream water and we ended the day.

The Montalban Trilogy Version 2 - 360 Route

Our Itinerary:

4:30am - Meet up ang early breakfast

5am - ETD from Taguig heading Rodriguez, Rizal

6:15am - ETA at Wawa. Register and buy stuff.

6:45am - Start trek via 3km assault trail

7:45am - ETA Parawagan grassland

8am - ETA Parawagan summit

9am - ETA Parawagan/Lagyo trail intersection

10:30am - ETA Lagyo Peak 1

12nn - ETA Lagyo Peak 2

1pm - ETA Mt. Susong Dalaga summit

2:15pm - ETA jump-off

3pm - ETA Wawa Dam

3:30pm - ETA Secret River

5pm - back at jump-off

6pm - ETD heading back to Taguig

8pm - ETA Taguig

Our Expenses (per person)

Breakfast - P120

Registration - P50

Drinks along the trail - P100

Lunch - P90

Boat ride - 120/2= P60

Guide Fee - 1500/2= P750

Certificate - P45

Total Expenses per Person = P1,215

How do we get there:

     Since we are only 2, we used our motorcycle as our mean of transportation.

   From Petron Diego Silang, straight the C5 northbound then turn right towards riverbank avenue. Head north then turn left at JP Rizal Ave. Go straight in JP Rizal and turn right to MH Del Pilar then straight ahead up to Sitio Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal

Shared route:

https://goo.gl/maps/MgQPbsFM4T52

Suggested route from Taguig using public transport:

1. Ride jeep from PDS to Guadalupe

2. Ride bus from Guadalupe to Cubao

3. Ride van from Cubao going to Rodriguez Rizal and ask the driver to drop you off Montalban station.

4. Ride trike going sitio Wawa, Baranggay Hall

Contact:

Our guide Ezra - +63 950 2639906

500km Virtual Run Finisher

Konting kwento behind this little accomplishment:

Nag register ako sa 500km in 3months challenge thinking na madali lang eto using 200km-100km-200km pattern. Kaya lang pumetiks ako ng first month at 100km lang ang natapos ko. Ok lang tuloy lang, on track parin naman. Kaya lang pag dating ng 2nd month nag umpisa ng mag uulan at sunod sunod na bagyo kaya 100+km din lang ang natapos ko.

So I started my 3rd month with 290+kms remaining. Ok parin nman, on track pa, kaya pa. I just need to run at least 73+kms per week. Kaya lang, eto naman at nagka sakit naman ako kaya hindi maka hataw ng husto.

Here is now the most challenging part. Last 9 days, kulang pa ako ng 125kms. Meaning I need to run at least 14kms per day for 9 consecutive days. Madali lang takbuhin ang 14kms pero para gawin ko yun ng sunod sunod na siyam na araw, yun ang part na mahirap sa akin. Given na I am 20kgs heavier now, and 10yrs older compare sa mga panahon na ang lakas ko ay nasa peak pa. Added pa na 1 month na akong pinahihirapan ng ubo't sipon ko. No choice, pero cge try lang.

Last 4 days, 56kms remaining. Konti nalang, pero masakit na talaga ang katawan ko. Masakit na hita, tuhod, ankle at talampakan. Ramdam na ng tuhod ko ang bawat bagsak ng 85kgs na katawan ko lalo na sa palusong. Pati shoulder ko masakit na, ultimo ngipin ko masakit na kapag nagba-vibrate sa bawat hakbang. Gusto ko ng umayaw. Naisip ko narin na ipatakbo ko nalang ang relo ko sa kaybigan ko na tumatakbo. Pero hindi, hindi ako quiter at sayang ang mga nauna ko ng pagod kung at this point pa ako aayaw. Sa lahat ng endurance challenges na sinalihan ko, mabagal lang ako pero lahat tinapos ko kahit beyond cut-off. At hindi ko rin dadayain ang sarili ko. Kaya kahit mabigat na ang paa lalo na dun sa last 2 days, na makatakbo lang ako ng 3kms ay nag ka-cramps na ako ay tyaga lang. Lakad takbo at pakonti konti, right just in time before ending the cutoff day ay na submit ko ang last 12kms ko. Thanks God at kahit mabigat sa katawan ay natapos ko ng safe.

Lessons Learned:
1) Kung kaya ng gawin ngayon, gawin na, wag unahin ang petiks dahil hindi mo alam ang sitwasyon bukas kung papabor parin ba sayo.
2) Kahit ayaw na ng katawan mo, pag gusto pa ng utak mo, kaya parin mag push kahit konti.

#VirtualRun #500KmFinisher #ThePunisher

Mt. Makiling: with side trip to Dampalit Falls

Date: May 29 - 30, 2016

Activity: Mt. Makiling Traverse Hike / Relaxing side trip at Dampalit Falls

Location: MakTrav Sto. Tomas to UPLB / Brgy. Dampalit, Los Baños, Laguna

Highest Elevation: 1090+ MASL (info from pinoymountaineer.com)

Difficulty: 5/9 (based from pinoymountaineer.com)

Planning:

     Mt. Makiling is only around 60 to 70kms away from Metro Manila. This is actually one of the nearest mountains in the metro having high technical difficulty but it took the team 3 years of back and forth planning to complete the traverse  due to fear of “limatik” (mountain leech). Then finally, on 1^st week of May the team decided to complete this pending task on our bucket before the rainy season comes, because limatik are more active during rainy season. I thought we have a longer summer this year because of the El Niño that’s why we scheduled it May 29th, but seems unfortunate because PAGASA declared rainy season on May 24^th. We observed that weather is already changing and it is raining every afternoon resulting for the other team member to back-out. But me, and ReyM are already decided to do this even with rain or more rain. As we’ve said, “let’s conquer our fear”.

Day 1, May 29: Makiling Traverse Day Hike

       And the long awaited day comes. Me and ReyM met at C5 then went to Buendia to catch the bus heading San Felix, Sto. Tomas Batangas.

     We asked the bus conductor to drop us at 7-11 San Felix but we found that they dropped us at 7-11 in kilometer 69 which is around 5kms away from the correct drop-off. So lesson learned, it is best to tell the conductor to drop you off at Sea Oil in San Felix instead of 7-11. After finding the correct way, we took our breakfast first in nearby “carinderia” (eatery), bought our pack lunch and then rode trike heading Sitio Jordan. Registered, got the required guide and then start trek at around 7AM.

The Traverse:

     Trail is wide at the start and after around 2kms after Makban Geothermal Plant, it became single trail.

     Gradual ascend from geothermal plant up to station 4. The last water source is at station 4 so make sure to replenish your bottle at this point as the next possible water source is in Agila Base after the traverse.

     After station 4, the trail will then followed with continuous steep ascend that will make you heart pump hard. We took this ascend slowly to avoid our leg muscle to get tired early until we reach the resting point at station 7 after 1 hour and 45 minutes from the drop-off point.

     Ten minutes rest just to catch our breath and we continue trekking again. After another 10mins, we've reached this big rock that serves like a view deck and I thought that this is the “Haring Bato”, but our guide told us that it isn’t. They called it “Turing Bato”.

     From here, we were warned by our guide that the trail in front of us is already a “limatik” infested area. So it’s time for us prepare our counter “limatik” weapons. We found that off-lotion is very effective “limatik” deterrent while alcohol is a good reactive weapon to remove “limatik” without holding it.

     Roping segment in between station 10 and station 12:

     From station 12, the forest vegetation is getting thicker and thicker…..

     Until those crawling creatures started to stick on our clothes, pants and arms. I am from Mindoro and I know “limatik” but I’m still afraid of it and it’s giving me creepy feeling every time I felt or I see it crawling on my skin….ihhhh…..

     While getting deeper into the forest, the vegetation is getting thicker that the sunlight can’t even penetrate that keeps the area wet, and this is the type of environment that “limatik” really love. We have very few pictures at this point of the hike as we don’t want to stop which will become a steady target of these blood sucking creatures.

     Around 10:30AM when we reached station 15 which is a known resting point. I was really tired because of the continuous walking in past pace from station 10 to 15. I’m about to take a sit on a log for a rest when I noticed that on this area, there are more “limatik” compare to other area. You can see them in groups anywhere you look, anywhere you go. Just waiting for their victims to come nearer and they will stick into your skin. Ihhh…. really creepy!!! It’s giving me goose bumps while I’m writing this story.

     Because of my fear of being their early lunch, I’ve called to continue trek even without a rest. And to my surprise, the next section is a continuous technical ascend heading Melka’s Ridge. That is the reason why station 15 is a good resting point for you to catch your breath and energy before the technical ascend.

     And due to lack of training and the continuous past pace ascend without a rest from station 10, my muscles gave-in too early. My calf, hamstring and quads are started to cramp. But my buddy ReyM didn’t failed to assist me. He helped me stretched and massaged my legs just to relax a little bit and continue moving forward. Slowly, inch-by-inch and we successfully survived the technical part of Haring Bato and Melka’s Ridge up to Peak 3, safely.

Sto. Tomas as seen from Melka’s Ridge

Peak 3 is the 18^th station

     We took our lunch at Peak 3 as this is the best resting point according to our guide, as the next stage heading summit is again a limatik infested area.

     Approximately 30 minutes of rest then resume trekking again heading summit which is Peak 2.

     Past 1PM when we arrived at the summit. Makiling summit has thick vegetation thus there is no good clearing to have an overlooking view. So we just confined ourselves to enjoy our rest at the summit and have a souvenir picture on this tarp.

     Around 1:30PM when we start our descent heading Agila Base. No more pictures during the descent as the heavy rain started to pour and we need to secure our electronics from getting wet. Past 3PM when we arrived at Agila Base.

     Locals in Agila base are selling snacks, drinks, coconut juice and sodas. We had our light snacks while taking some rest. In going down to UPLB, you have an option to take the “habal-habal” (motorcycle taxi), but we opt to take a walk to enjoy more the sceneries and have the chance to drop by at the other side trips and one of them is the Mudspring which is known to be the crater of Mt. Makiling.

     After few pictures, we trek back to the main road and had our “lomi” break at an eatery near the Makiling Rainforest Park. 

     After the quick rest, continue trekking towards the UPLB gate entrance, rode jeep to National Highway then trike to look for place to stay. We found Andrews Inn to be the cheapest in the area and we ended the day.

     The Traverse Map:

-- End of Day 1 –

Day 2, May 30: Dampalit Falls and back to Manila

      We’ve included this falls as part of our side trip due to curiosity, as we’ve heard that this Dampalit Falls was mentioned in Rizal’s life where he met the first woman in his life named Julia.

      We started our day around 6AM. Prepared ourselves, had a quick breakfast at the nearby eatery, bought our pack lunch then ride jeep to Camp Eldridge near Lalakay Elementary School where the trailhead will start.

     Dampalit Falls is only approximately 1.5km from the highway but it took us more as we missed the fork going inside Dampalit Falls. The wrong fork led us to the wrong falls which the locals called it “Talun-talunan Falls”.

     The locals we met along the trail gave us the correct direction going to the falls that we are looking for and finally here it is. A mini falls, the Dampalit Falls.

     Had our shower at this looks to be a dripping faucet, had our rest and sleep, then took our lunch before heading back to Manila. Around 11:30 AM when we trek back to National Highway. Rode bus going back to Manila and we are home around 2 in the afternoon.

Our Itinerary:

Day 1: May 29, 2016 (Sunday)

03:00 – Meet-up at C5

03:30 – Taxi to Buendia

04:00 – ETD by bus heading San Felix, Sto. Tomas, Batangas

06:30 – ETA San Felix, took our breakfast and bought pack lunch

07:00 – ETA sitio Jordan, registered and secured the required guide

07:15 – Start trek via Sipit Trail

08:45 – ETA Station 7

11:00 – ETA Melkas Ridge (Haring Bato)

11:30 – early Lunch at Peak 3 (1020 MASL)

12:00 – resume trekking

13:00 – ETA Peak 2 (1090 MASL)

13:30 – Start descent

15:00 – ETA Agila Base, quick rest

15:30 – resume trek heading Mud Spring

16:15 – ETA Mud Spring

16:45 – Had a quick break at Makiling Rainforest Park

17:45 – ETA UPLB gate

18:15 – ETA Andrew’s Inn where we stayed overnight

19:00 onwards – socials

Day 2: May 30, 2016 (Monday)

06:00 – wake-up call

06:30 – breakfast

08:15 – ETA Dampalit Falls, picture taking, shower and lunch

11:30 – ETD heading back Manila

14:00 – ETA Taguig

Our Expenses:

Taxi ( C5 to Pasay Buendia ): P120

Bus  ( Buenda to San Felix, Batangas ): P235

Jeep ( 7 Eleven to 7 Eleven ): P14

Food ( breakfast and lunch ): P380

Tricycle ( 7 Eleven to Station 1 ): P70

Buko ( Agila Station  ): P90

Guide: P800

Merienda ( Station 8 ): P110

Registration ( UPLB ): P20

Jeep ( UPLB to Los Baños ): P14

Tricycle ( Los Baños to Andrews Inn ): P40

Room ( Andrews Inn ): P600

Tricycle ( Andrews Inn to Kainan ): P30

Dinner: P185

Water ( 7 Eleven ): P58

Tricycle ( Kainan to Andrews Inn ): P40

Breakfast : P110

Water and Shampoo: P40

Registration: P40

Bus ( Los Baños to Magallanes: P168.3

Jeep ( Magallanes to FTI ): P20

Tricycle ( FTI to Triump )                : P18

Total for 2 persons: P3202.3

Total Expenses per Person: P1,601.15

How do we get there:

Taguig to Santo Tomas Trailhead:

Taxi from C-5 to JAC Liner in Buendia

Bus ride from Buendia to San Felix, Santo Tomas, Batangas (ask the conductor to drop you off at Sea Oil in San Felix)

Tricycle ride from San Felix to Sito Jordan

UPLB to Dampalit Falls and back to Manila:

Jeepney ride from UPLB to Camp Eldridge

Bus ride from the National Highway to Mantrade

Contacts:

Just proceed to Sitio Jordan and secure the guide. Guides are required and they are available even during weekdays. Just a small note that traverse is not allowed both-ways during Holy Week.

    That's all for now, thank you for visiting this site and until next time!!!...

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