Mt. Hamiguitan (1,620+)

MT. HAMIGUITAN
Davao Oriental
Major jump-off: Brgy. La Union, San Isidro, Davao Oriental
LLA: 6.745 N, 126.174 E, 1620 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 3 days / 11 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 3 (w/ river crossing)

BACKGROUND
Mt. Hamiguitan, Davao Oriental's captivating wonder, is home to the country's largest pygmy forest. Its impressive flora counts a total of 878 species, whereas its distinguished fauna include the Philippine Eagle. The vast, 600-hectare bonsai field is enchanting, and even more so the mysterious 'Tinagong Dagat' (Hidden Sea), a lake that is said to have high tide and low tide schedules - a phenomenon that awaits an explanation. A 3-trek to the 1620 MASL mountain will take you to this realm.

Blogger Edwin Gales shares his recent adventure to this mountain, and provides information for this article. In his post, the Hamiguitan has been described in these terms: " The climb can truly be hard, and the ravine can be the greatest scare of your life,but once on top, you're on for an experience of a lifetime, and experience a world of paradise."

The trek begins from Brgy. La Union in San Isidro, Davao Oriental. A whole-day trek to either Kapatagan Uno (first camp) or all the way to Kapatagan Dos (second campsite; near the summit) is typically done. The first two hours require river crossing, in a background of woodlands. followed by the second day which is mostly for exploring the beautiful pygmy forest, the summit, and the mysterious 'Tinagong Dagat'. Also, near the bonsai fields lie the narrow but high Twin Falls.

Before reaching Camp 3, a vantage point known as 'Lantawan' will be encountered - affording spectacular views of the Hamiguitan range as well as the southern seas, including Pujada bay. Pitcher plants and large ferns dominate the scene, as well as dense mossy patches.

On the third day, one may descend via the same route but there is the option of descending via Gov. Generoso town. Two other camps will be passed before reaching Sitio Badiang. Regardless of the route, when you leave Hamiguitan you cannot help but feel awed with the beauty of the mountain -- a beauty that must be preserved at all costs.

ITINERARY

Day 1
0300 At Davao's Ecoland terminal, take van to Tibanban, San Isidro (P85)
0700 ETA San Isidro; hire jeep going to Brgy. La union
0800 Arrive at La Union, arrange for porters and guides. Register.
0900 Start trek
0500 ETA first campsite / Set up camp
0600 Dinner / socials

Day 2
0600 Breakfast / break camp
0800 Resume ascent
1000 Arrive at Lantawan 1
1100 Arrive at Lantawan 2
1200 Arrive at second campsite (Near summit/ Bonsai Field). Set up camp
1300 Explore the summit, bonsai field, and the 'Tinagong Dagat'
1700 Return to campsite
1800 Dinner / socials

Day 3
0600 Breakfast / break camp
0800 Start descent via traverse to Gov. Generoso
1200 River crossing and trekking (difficult ascents / descents)
1230 Lunch on trail
1330 Start trekking going to "Camp 1"
1530 Arrive at "Camp 1"
1700 ETA Sitio Badiang
1730 Return to Poblacion (Tibanban, San Isidro)
1800 ETD for Davao City

SPECIAL CONCERNS
Guides are necessary for this climb even if trail is already established, with the municipal gov't requiring a guide per 5 climbers. Registration must likewise be done (P100). Guide fee costs 150 to 200 per day. Max, a local guide, may be reached at +639155702173. Local tourism officials can assist you in securing guides.

Water sources are abundant with plenty of streams. Cellphone signal is present even inside forest area.

An annual climb is organized by the local government every early May, with the last climb held on May 2-5, 2007. You can also contact mountaineering clubs in Davao such as the SANDAWA-APO.

TRIVIA
In July 2004 the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary was formally declared a protected area by the DENR. 11 endangered vertebrate species have been identified. In spite of attempts to protect the mountain, the entire Hamiguitan Range was covered with mining claims in 2005 and 80% of the land area of Gov. Generoso is under mining claims. New exploratory mineral explorations were also started on the northeast margins of the Mt. Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary in that year.

In April 2007, Mt. Hamiguitan was featured in the TV show "Rated K" as one of the best environmental spots in Mindanao. In Sept. of the same year, a radio station reported that medicinal plants that have the potential "to cure cancer" were discovered in the mountain.

WEATHER OUTLOOK: SAN ISIDRO, DAVAO ORIENTAL

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar

Many thanks to Sir Edwin Gales for sharing his experiences in Mt. Hamiguitan. Cover photo courtesy of Ma'am Nenette Bundalian.

New system of classifying mountains

PinoyMountaineer.com classification system, version 1
by Gideon Lasco

To address the need for a more precise classification, PinoyMountaineer is adopting a new system which will enable the classification and characterization not just of mountains but of all outdoor destinations in the Philippines.

The old 'fact sheet' we used consisted of (1) elevation; (2) level; and (3) days required. Among these three, only 'Level' gives an idea of difficulty. Elevation is useless because what is more important is altitude gain. Furthermore, the old system do not have an idea of how long it takes an average climber to reach the summit, which is considered by many as an important gauge to assess a climb. Finally, a three-level system does not distinguish between DIFFICULT and VERY DIFFUCULT or EASY and VERY EASY.

Thus, we are adopting a new difficulty scale, of 9 grades. This system is RELATIVE scale that is used to compare one mountain with another. Mt. Guiting-Guiting, Mt. Halcon, and Mt. Patukan are considered 9/9 and the minor waterfalls trips are 1/9. Length of the hike, preparations required, including the travel time from the nearest major city (i.e. Manila, Baguio, Davao), as well as extremes of environment are considered. The most commonly used trail is considered for each mountain; articles featuring a particular trail will have their own classification apart from the mountain itself: Akiki Trail is 7/9 whereas Ambangeg is 5/9. This system is primarily for local mountaineers who have experienced climbing the mountains themselves.

Major/Minor classification: This has been used by local mountaineers, but we are making the distinction more exact: Destinations that can be negotiated within 5 hours (i.e. can be daytripped) without extraordinary effort are considered MINOR; the rest are considered MAJOR. The label "climb" is avoided as outdoor destinations may be likewise classified. The Level I-IV system is abolished.

Another addition is "Trail class". It is an internationally-recognizable, ABSOLUTE scale:

1 - Walking (easy stroll)
2 - Hiking along a path/rugged terrain
3 - Scrambling (using hands for balance)
4 - Climbing easy cliffs but with enough drop off- beginners should be roped.
5 - Using free hands as climbing method
6 - very difficult and need to use artificial method

Since most climbs involve different trail classes, the most predominant class is put first, with other legs put in parenthesis. Required maneuvers, such as river crossing, rappelling, or swimming will also be included. We are including this so that foreign visitors will have an idea what a particular mountain would entail in terms of preparations. There are other international scales; others include the amount of energy (calories) a climber would use but these systems are still impractical for our setting.

These three, (1) Difficulty scale; (2) Major/minor classification; and (3) Trail class form the "Specs" of each outdoor destination. We have a basic Major/Minor classification, adopted from the old itineraries; we also have a relative scale as well as an absolute scale. Finally, the "Specs" can be applied universally and can be understood universally also.

Here are examples of the proposed "Specs":

Taytay Falls: Minor, Difficulty 1/9, Trail Class 1
Mt. Maculot: Minor, Difficulty 2/9, Trail Class 2-3
Mt. Batulao: Minor, Difficulty 3/9, Trail Class 2-3
Tarak Ridge: Major, Difficulty 4/9, Trail Class 2-3
Mt. Pulag via Ambangeg: Major, Difficulty 5/9, Trail Class 2
Mt. Tapulao: Major, Difficulty 6/9, Trail Class 2
Mt. Apo via Kidapawan: Major, Difficulty 7/9, Trail Class 2-4
Mt. Dulang-Dulang: Major, Difficulty 8/9, Trail Class 2-4
Mt. Patukan: Major, Difficulty 9/9, Trail Class 2 with rappelling, river crossing

In addition, "hours to summit" and "days required" will be included in the primary information parameters included in each article. These, however, are admittedly subjective, and serves only as a guide. Finally, instead of just mentioning altitude, LLA (latitude, longitude, alitude) is given, together with altitude gain.

These specs will be used in future articles, and past entries will soon be edited to adopt this system. Feedback from blog readers is highly encouraged to further enhance this system.

Mt. Timbak/Singakalsa (2,717+)

MT. TIMBAK/ MT. SINGAKALSA (2,717+)
Atok, Benguet
Jump-off point: KM 55, Atok, Benguet
Elevation: 2717 MASL (#9)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-3 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 3

BACKGROUND
Thus far PinoyMountaineer.com has covered the major climbing destinations in the Cordilleras. It is time to feature lesser known-places sharing the similar charm of the highlands, but having their own unique characteristics. One such mountain is Mt. Timbak in Benguet. Considered by reliable sources, as well as PinoyMountaineer.com research, to be the third highest point in Luzon after its eastern neighbors Mts. Pulag and Tabayoc, it is accessible from the Halsema highroad, which links Benguet and Mt. Province. Other sources also call this mountain 'Singakalsa'.

Outdoorsman Adonis Lloren, source of information for this article, considers Mt. Timbak as his favorite retreat. "The locals are an unbelievably nice and friendly people," he says, adding that the they are even willing to accommodate mountaineers in their houses, if there are only a few of you. In this case it would be nice if you'll have a gift prepared for your host family. At the summit, which is just 2 hours away, there are three crosses in what is dubbed as 'mini-Calvary'. Seas of clouds form, and you can view Pulag (ESE) and Tabayoc (E), as well as the Halsema highroad snaking through the town of Atok.

A sidetrip, 30 minutes away from the Elementary School, is the Timbak mummies. For those looking for a greater adventure, however, one may inquire about and discover the trail that leads to a hidden waterfall on the southeast slope of Timbak. Even more challenging is a traverse to Kabayan Barrio-- "an arduous trek at par with the AKiki trail". It takes 4-6 hours to descend from this trail. Sir Lloren describes the barrio: "There runs a tributary of the Agno river lined with a long high stone wall along one of its sides. The wall's color is comparable to that of the grand canyon. You can have a cool dip here. Some locals say that the water's warm during the early morning but we never experienced that. just across the river is the huge Tinongchol burial rock. The stone, they say, houses three chambers of mummified ancestors of the kabayan natives." Truly the rewards of this difficult trek are abundant.

In sum, it is the highland villages and the people that make Mt. Timbak a great experience. The great views and enchanting landscapes of the Cordilleras are best appreciated in Mt. Pulag or Mt. Amuyao, but for its rich culture and colorful peoples, Mt. Timbak is a wonderful choice -- either as a sidetrip or a destination in itself.

ITINERARY

KM. 55: DAYTRIP FROM BAGUIO
0600 From Baguio City, take bus bound for Sagada or Bontoc (P70)
0900 ETA KM. 55, start trek
1030 Arrival at Timbak Elementary School. Head for summit
1100 Arrival at summit, talk with locals, early lunch
1130 Back at Timbak Elementary School. Proceed to visit the Timbak mummies
1200 ETA Burial Rock keeper's house; take pictures. Nice view deck.
1230 Head back to Timbak Elementary School
1300 From school, start descent
1430 Back at KM. 55; visit Highest Point in highway then/or await Baguio-bound bus
1700 Back at Baguio City

SPECIAL CONCERNS
The staging-off point to Mt. Timbak is Baguio City. From there, you can take buses plying the Baguio-Bontoc or Baguio-Sagada route. Options include the Rising Sun bus liner, which has hourly trips, the Lizardo bus lines or other buses from Dangwa terminal. The bus conductor would know either KM. 54 or KM. 55 -- these are actually two different jump-off points but KM. 55 is the usual trail taken, it is both shorter and easier. KM. 54 however has a more 'natural feel' having very few houses along the way. Either way, however, Mt. Timbak is a relatively easy climb. The trail being also the village road makes it well-established and there are locals to ask for directions.

No permits are necessary to climb this mountain; and no guides are needed unless you want to have someone to talk to about the culture. Cellphone signal is present throughout the trail and there is even a sari-sari store in the village. There are camping grounds but if you wish to request for a stay at the locals' huts, you respectfully do so -- you can also contact PinoyMountaineer for cellphone numbers of locals if need further assistance.

Of course being a high mountain the temperature is cold in Mt. Timbak, so prepare accordingly.

TRIVIA
The Halsema highroad point near the jump-off is the highest point in the Philippine Highway System, officially at 2250 MASL.

The Kabayan mummies rank among the greatest cultural treasures of the country even though they continue to be largely unknown. Discovering Archaeology (a US magazine) featured the mummies in 2000 -- and they have cited by Monument Watch as one of the Top 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world.

PinoyMountaineer prefers Mt. Timbak as the name of this mountain, since it is the one locals use. In equivocal names, priority belongs to the local name which is sufficiently known among outsiders. In the case of Mt. Iglit in Mindoro, the local name 'Mangibok' was not used because it is virtually unknown and would be inconvenient for readers of the blog. Etymology of mountain names has a special place in this blog, and a priority is also sometimes given to original names with cultural roots vs. popularized names, i.e. Magdapio vs. Pagsanjan falls. In the case of spellings, the more commonly used is given priority (i.e. Pulag vs. Pulog; Banahao de Lukban vs. Banahaw de Lucban).

PinoyMountaineer thanks outdoorsman Adonis Lloren for generously providing detailed infos on Mt. Timbak. The author would also like to thank Aling Edna of Timbak for giving directions during his solo climb on Dec. 27, 2007.

Magdapio Falls

MAGDAPIO (PAGSANJAN) FALLS VIA CAVINTI LAND ROUTE
Cavinti, Laguna
Major jump-off: Brgy. Tibatib, Cavinti
Height of waterfalls: 90 meters
Time to waterfalls / Days required: 60 mins / 1 day
Specs: Minor Climb, Difficulty 1/9, Trail Class 1 with soft rappelling involved

BACKGROUND
It cannot be denied that the Pagsanjan experience - the banca ride, the rafting trip to the falls, and the magnificent views of the gorges is still the best Magdapio falls treat. However, an exciting alternative has opened up in Feb. 24, 2007- a land route to the falls. The mayor of Cavinti developed a 'Cavinti Eco-Park' which sits at the origin of the falls, containing excellent facilities. It seems to be a well-developed site! A 15-minute trek down a cemented path will take you to the first waterfalls: the Nakulo Falls and the 'First Falls'. Then, after two great viewdecks seeing the majestic plummeting of waters of these falls, you will be asked to wear a harness and rappel down a 672-step steel staircase/ladder. After which, voila! You will be face to face with the famous waterfalls. Then a raft will take you through the falls into the cave -- all these for P150! (Nov. 2007) Then, for just P250, you can have your trip to Pagsanjan via the same river, thereby experiencing the whole treat in a cheaper and novel fashion.

The forested environment of the Cavinti Eco-Park is really nice. From the point of view of someone at the gorge, the waterfalls are really tantalizing. One could see monkeys loitering in the forest, or reptiles wading in the river. For the adventurous, other exciting possibilities include a visit to the Bayakan and Cavinti Falls, further into the east river system. Here, bats, snakes, and lizards are said to hide -- but they don't harm the human visitors. Still, keep your fingers crossed when this sidetrip becomes operational!

ITINERARY
0500 Take bus to Sta. Cruz (P123.50)
0730 ETA Sta. Cruz, take jeep to Cavinti (P15)
0830 At Cavinti, take tricycle to Cavinti Eco Park, Brgy. Tibatib (P40)
0900 ETA Eco Park, register (P150)
0930 Start trek to Nakulo Falls and viewdecks
1000 Proceed to steel ladder rappel
1030 ETA Madgapio Falls; proceed to raft through falls
1130 Proceed to Pagsanjan by boat (P250)
1215 ETA Pagsanjan / Lunch
1330 Head back to bus terminal in Sta. Cruz
1430 ETD Green Star bus for Buendia or HM Transport for Cubao
1500 Back in Manila

SPECIAL CONCERNS
A better deal is a "traverse" from Cavinti-Pagsanjan by combining the land and river routes for P400. A voluntary tip may be given for your guides although the staff of Cavinti Eco-Park seem more disciplined than the hecklers in Pagsanjan who still abound in spite of Mayor ER Ejercito's renovation of the image of Pagsanjan tourism ( i.e. pegging the boat ride at P660). Needless to say, waterproofing belongings is a must, and

Since the river swells with rainfall, be sure to follow the advice of your guide: there will be unfortunate times when rafting won't be allowed because of bad weather. For inquiries regarding weather and availability, Cavinti Eco-Park may be contacted through one of their guides at +639212930016.

TRIVIA
Other destinations in Cavinti include the man-made Caliraya Lake, Lake Lumot, as well as the Japanese Garden built by Imelda Marcos and Cavinti's Twin Falls within it.

Our friendly guide said that several celebrities have gone down the steel ladder, including Ethel Booba, whom he guided. "She had a great time," he adds - and I'm sure everyone gets a great time. Kudos to the LGU of Cavinti for putting up this new contribution to local tourism!

RELATED ARTICLES
See also the blog entry for the customary Shooting the Rapids falls trip

Tatlong Krus and Matabungka Falls

TATLONG KRUS AND MATABUNGKA FALLS
Paete, Laguna
Major jump-off: Brgy. Ilaya Norte, Paete
Height of waterfalls: 20-25 meters
Hours to summit / days required: 45 mins / half day
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 1/9, Trail Class 1

BACKGROUND
In the town of Paete, famous for its woodcrafts, is a hill called Tatlong Krus, with a refreshing Matabungka Falls cascading from its slopes. This hill is also identified as the Mt. Humarap of Paete since it faces the town as well as Laguna de Bay - but this label is disputed by some locals who say Mt. Humarap is elsewhere.

Likewise, locals simply call Matabungka Falls as 'Talon', the generic Tagalog term for waterfall. What is clear, however, that this place is another wonderful destination in Laguna's eastern side. Tatlong Krus is a local pilgrimage spot, frequented during Holy Week.

It is also a picnic place for the local youth. Basic facilities such as huts and comfort rooms have been installed. The three crosses themselves face north, fronting the town of Paete beneath, then Laguna de Bay, and finally Mt. Sembrano. The peak of Mt. Tagapo can also be identified.

To get to Tatlong Krus, you have to take a tricycle or walk from the town proper (i.e. Gitnang Bayan) of Paete to Brgy. Ilaya Norte. Beyond the village, a total of 300 steps will take you to the fork where you can either proceed up to the three crosses, or turn right to visit Matabungka Falls. Going up takes another 700 steps but the paths are usually shaded and the trail quite relaxing.

A visit to the waterfalls is of course a must. The cascade is steep as it is beautiful, measuring around 20-25 meters. A small catchbasin is large enough for a small group to swim. The water is still relatively clean.

ITINERARY
0500 Take bus to Sta. Cruz (P123.50)
0730 ETA Sta. Cruz, take jeep to Siniloan or Paete (P23)
0830 At Paete, walk or take trke to Brgy. Ilaya Norte
0900 ETA Ilaya Norte. Start trek
1000 At Tatlong Krus, take pictures
1030 Make turn to Matabungka Falls
1130 Start descent
1200 Back at jump-off; head back to town proper
1230 Souvenir shopping; Have lunch at Exotik Restaurant.
1330 Head back to bus terminal in Sta. Cruz
1430 ETD Green Star bus for Buendia or HM Transport for Cubao
1500 Back in Manila

SPECIAL CONCERNS
Fare from Sta. Cruz to Paete is around P23 (Nov. 2007). No permit is required to visit the hill or the falls. Atop the hill is a sari-sari store where you can buy basic foodstuffs. There are bamboo benches in parts of the trail. Cellphone signal is present throughout, and there are no significant hazards and concerns worth mentioning as this is a very easy climb.

With efficient use of time, this trip can actually be done in half a day; you may allot the afternoon for a trip to Twin Falls in Cavinti, the famous Magdapio Falls in Pagsanjan, or, if you have private transportation, even Taytay Falls in Majayjay.

TRIVIA
Famous for woodcrafts and lanzones fruit, the town of Paete is also rich in history, from the time when it was a village ruled by Gat Lacampauid to the present. The name is said to come from 'paet' which means chisel. The priest asked the name of the place but the villager thought he was asking the name of his tool. Although the christening is accidental, the name is very appropriate considering that Paete is the 'woodcarving capital of the Philippines'. Some accounts even say that the world-famous yo-yo had its origins in Paete!

An exciting side adventure would be dining at Exotik Resturant in the adjacent town of Kalayaan, Laguna. Just along the Higway (Longos), they serve truly exotic meals such as adobong palaka, sizziling sawa, afritadang bayawak, wild boar, etc. Budget is from P150-P250 per person. There is also a nearby 'Twin Falls' in Kalayaan, Laguna, with a swimming pool.

Bangon-Bugtong Falls

BANGON-BUGTONG FALLS
Calbayog City, Samar
Height: 60 meters (estimate)
Jump-off point: Brgy. Bugtong, Calbayog City
Trail length: 20-30 minutes

Foremost among the wonders of Samar's "City of Waterfalls" is Bangon-Bugtong Falls. Travelling to this waterfall from Calbayog entails taking a 1hr 15 min ride to Brgy. Tinaplacan, and then a 3-km walk from the highway (which can also be habal-habal ride). Kinda far, but well worth it.

The waterfall is actually a system of cascades; to get to the main falls you have to walk on the cascades themselves. This ascending route will culminate in the main falls, which has a large, circular pool. Swimming, after the long ride, is refreshing. Just be careful because there are very slippery portions, just like any waterfall. Also, long habal-habal rides are quite expensive; so it is best to travel by groups or really prepare a budget. Although Calbayog is just one city, it is actually larger than the subprovince of Biliran Island!

Other nearby outdoor destinations include caves such as the Guinogo-an and Lungsod Caves in Brgy. Longsob, These destinations typically includes a 1-hr drive then a hike of less than an hour. It is best to combine proximate destinations in one trip for efficiency's sake. More waterfalls in the city include Tabokno Falls in Brgy. Caybago, with waters clean enough to be drank, Pan-as Falls with cascades so high that "the falling water becomes mere mist". Most of these destinations involve an hour or more of drive (the fastest public transport is by habal-habal, or modified motorcycles). Indeed, nature lovers with a particular interest will find Calbayog a very interesting place for exploration. It is said to have more than 20 waterfalls!

A few kilometers north of the jump-off to Bangon-Bugtong is a smaller waterfall called Veriato Falls. It's very close to the National Highway in San Isidro, Northern Samar, a few minutes from the Samar-Northern Samar boundary. You can easily ride a jeep or ask a habal-habal to take you there.

Mt. Banahaw de Lucban (1,875+)

MT. BANAHAW DE LUCBAN
Lucban, Quezon
Major Jump-off: Brgy. Ayuti, Lucban, Quezon
LLA: 14°04'N 121°30'E 1875 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days, 5-6 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 3

BACKGROUND
Mt. Banahaw de Lucban is one mountain where the challenge does not lie in the steepness or length of the trails, but in the flora and fauna thereof. Its misty forest has an immaculate quality when viewed in pictures, but it is actually a wild jungle: trees and views grow in an anarchic fashion, obstructing the trails and creating a obstacle course, decked with infinite thorns and spikes. Meanwhile, different species of blood leeches pose a constant menace: the green-striped leech (seen in photo) is known as bulalangwan and is notorious for attacking soft tissues. Wild boar, deer, and monkeys have been sighted in the forest; its rich biodiversity has gained scientific interest. This environment is uninterrupted from the basecamp to the summit; the trees obstruct not only movement but vision: there are no views atop this mountain, making it appreciable only to true enthusiasts who will enjoy the '4x4 trekking' in a less-frequented, pristine mountain trail.

This mountain is part of the Banahaw complex, together with Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal. Contrary to some reports, it is actually not covered by the DENR ban on climbing in Mt. Banahaw. From Los Baños and other towns, it is perfectly conical in shape, giving it a Mayon-like appearance. Although it does not have the rich culture and mysticism of its more popular counterparts, its abovementioned jungle gives it a unique and notable characteristic. Set in the highland town of Lucban, Quezon (525 MASL), it is bounded to the southwest by the town of Majayjay, Laguna, whose famed Taytay Falls has become part of the ideal Banahaw de Lucban itinerary, because of its proximity and accessibility from the trail.

The first part of the trek is a one hour walk from Brgy. Ayuti, Lucban to the ranger station of Southern Luzon Polytechnic University. The rough road here is spacious, and leads to the PLDT relay station with its towers. Beyond this is the ranger station, where you can spend the night before proceeding the next day to the summit. Here there is electricity and you can spend the night inside the station. Very early the next day, you can start the assault. With a light pack, it takes 4-5 hours to reach the summit; the trails are virtually unchanged except for a part where a river runs along an old magma flow uncovered by a landslide (~1100 MASL). This counts as a water source. Tree ferns, rattan-like vines and spiked palms dominate the scene throughout. Periodically, elevation markings can be seen posted in the trees.

There is a clearing at the summit that counts as a campsite. The atmosphere is similar with that of the crater campsite of Cristobal. A water source is available here. After returning to the basecamp, the trip to Taytay Falls in Majayjay requires another 2-3 hours. This waterfall has exceedingly clear waters, and is further discussed in a separate article.

It has become a local saying in Lucban that whenever somebody climbs Mt. Banahaw de Lucban, it rains in the mountain. When the author asked if this is true, one local quipped: "See for yourself!" And I say likewise!

ITINERARY
MT. BANAHAW DE LUCBAN + TAYTAY FALLS

Day 1
1800 ETD for Sta. Cruz, Laguna via Green Star bus in LRT-Buendia (P123.50)
2030 Take last jeepney trip Sta. Cruz-Lucban (P38)
2200 ETA Lucban (525 MASL), take tricycle to Brgy. Ayuti (P8)
2300 ETA Ranger Station (~800 MASL)

Day 2
0600 Wake up call / Breakfast
0800 Start trek to Banahaw de Lucban summit
0900 ETA Old Magma Flow (~1100 MASL)
1000 Major stop at Rest Area (~1400 MASL)
1100 ETA 'Mukha' (~1600 MASL)
1200 ETA summit of Banahaw de Lucban (1875 MASL). Exploration / Lunch.
1300 Start descent
1700 Back at Ranger Station
1800 Dinner / socials

Day 3
0700 Start descent to Taytay Falls
0930 ETA Taytay Falls; explore the system
1200 Lunch before departure
1300 Take jeep to Majayjay town (P12) then Sta. Cruz (P20)
1430 ETA Sta. Cruz
1500 Take bus bound for LRT-Buendia or Cubao
1800 Back in Manila

SPECIAL CONCERNS
The above itinerary can be done on a regular weekend, since Day 1 only eats up Friday night. The ranger station becomes a 'headquarters' from which you would launch the summit assault (Day 2) and the trip to Majayjay (Day 3). If properly coordinated with Sir Mario Nañola and the station is available, you can even do away with tents.

Sir Mario, being the caretaker of the mountain, is also the person to contact in securing permits and guide/s for the trek. He may be reached at +639194515472. There is an entrance fee of P50. Guide rates range from P500-600. Add a tip for the use of the station. Electricity is available so you can bring your chargers and gadgets.

Blood leeches (limatik) are a concern. Echoing the words of locals of Mt. Napulauan, the bulalangwan is said to be more dangerous, targeting the eyes, ears, nose, and other 'soft tissues'. Hence, body protection has a double purpose, the other being to help protect against the thorns. Minus these concerns the trail is actually benign.

TRIVIA
Although frequently referred to as such, the BDL-Taytay Falls trip is technically not a traverse. A climb route must cross mountain through its summit to be called a 'traverse'. Not even the Cristalino-Tatlong Tangke route of Mt. Banahaw (Dolores) can be called a traverese.
According to Long Henson, there are folktales that speak of a 'Princess Samantha' that dwells in the mountain in the same way that her reputed cousin, Maria, dwells in Makiling. My guide did not know of this legend but it is worth retelling. What was told me what that the airs of the mountain have a healing quality. An asthmatic who was brought to the summit was said to have been cured.

Geology notes: Mt. Banahaw de Lucban is actually a volcanic edifice (vent) of Banahaw. Scientists believe that BDL is the youngest volcano of the complex, forming from the old caldera. Although the last volcanic activities were recorded in 1721, 1743, 1843, and 1909 (Internet sources vary in dating the last volcanic eruption), Philvolcs continues to monitor BDL. In fact, there is a seismic station in Bgy. Ayuti -- along the trail to the Ranger Station.

Cultural notes: Lucban is famous for the Pahiyas Festival, held every May 15 in honor of San Isidro. The town's longganisa is a delicacy and a great pasalubong.

Mountaineering notes: Leo Oracion, the first Filipino to reach the summit of Mt. Everest (May 17, 2006), is a Lucbanin. Locals say that Sir Leo, as a young boy, used to climb Banahaw de Lucban frequently.

WEATHER OUTLOOK: LUCBAN, QUEZON

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CLIMBS IN THE BANAHAW COMPLEX
Mt. Banahaw
Mt. Banahaw de Lucban
Mt. Cristobal
Tayak Hill

Sir Mario's eldest son Marion guided me, together with other members of the UP Med Outdoor Society, on Nov. 30 - Dec. 1, 2007.