Mt. Tuminungan via Kitanglad cliffs-Inablayan Peak-Mt. Salimpukaw route (2,670+)

MT. TUMINUNGAN
Impasug-ong, Bukidnon
Major jumpoff: Sitio Kibanton, Impagsug-ong
LLA: 2670m (est)
Days required / Hours to summit: 3-4 days / 16 hours
Specs: Major, Exploratory Climb, Difficulty 9/9, Trail class 2-5
Features: Exploration, river crossing, ridge crossing, high biodiversity

BACKGROUND
The fourth highest mountain in the Kitanglad Range, following the three giants of Dulang-Dulang, Kitanglad, and Maagnaw, is the lofty and hitherto unexplored Mt. Tuminungan in Impagsug-ong, Bukidnon. Rising to an estimated 2760 MASL, it is likewise of the highest mountains in the Philippines. In August 16-20, 2006, the team of Mijan Pizarro and Johann Jangulan achieved the first ascent of Tuminungan, and it is through them that we are able to feature this mountain.

Mijan says of the mountain: "The Trail is very difficult since it is an exploration climb. No definite trail. Wild animals and flora are also in the area. [Within] Tuminungan Peak is A 50 METER SECRET GARDEN OF PITCHER PLANTS ABOVE SUMALSAG CLIFF WALL LEFT UNDISTURBED." Truly a very exciting prospect for exploration! As an exploratory climb, Mt. Tuminungan is assigned a level of Difficulty 9/9.

Indeed, the rich culture, biodiversity, and the appeal of exploration makes Tuminungan the next peak to conquer in Kitanglad range, which is getting more and more prestigious as more and more high mountains are added to its roster of illustrious climbing destinations.

ITINERARY 

Day 0 
Arrival, Secure Permits, Provisions, Rituals, Etc. and proceed to Sitio kibanton, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. Arrange Guides or Porters.

Day 1
0500 Wake up call, prepare breakfast and packed lunch
0600 Start trek to Kidugkaw
0800 ETA Datu Nabanlasan’s House (Kidugkaw)
0900 Atugan River Trail (Long River Trek)
1000 pass by series of Hidden Waterfalls along Mt. Kitanglad Cliffs
1200 Lunch on Trail
1300 Resume Trekking
1700 ETA Camp 1, Overnight

Day 2
0500 Wake up call, Break Camp, Prepare Breakfast and Packed Lunch
0600 Start Trekking to Inablayan Ridge
0800 ETA Inablayan Rigde
1200 Lunch on Trail
1300 Resume Trekking via Ninja Trail
1400 Sumalsag Cliff Wall
1500 Mt. Tuminungan North Shoulder (Summit Ridge)
1700 ETA Mt. Tuminungan Summit, Camp Overnight

Day 3
0500 Wake up call, Break Camp, Prepare Breakfast and Packed Lunch, Sight seeing.
0700 ETD Mt. Tuminungan Summit to Mt. Tuminungan South Soulder (Knife Ridge)
0800 ETA Mt. Salimpukaw Summit (2,648 masl), Rest, Sight Seeing.
0900 Resume Trekking Downhill via Kubayan Trail
1200 Lunch on Trail
1300 Resume Trekking
1400 Traverse Heroga-an Rigde of Mt. Sakat
1600 Traverse Back to Sitio Kibenton
1700 ETA Sitio Kibenton

Day 4
Head back to Cagayan de Oro or other points of origin.

SPECIAL CONCERNS
Transportation and preparations. From Cagayan de Oro take a Bus bound for Malaybalay City. Arrange Permits in the DENR Malaybalay City and right after buying provisions and Ritual Paraphernalias (3 native chickens, ¼ meter red and white cloth, mallorca wine) take a bus bound for Cagayan de Oro and stop over at Capitan Bayong. Take a Habal2x ride to Sitio Kibenton. The payment of the permit fee per head is 15 pesos.

Logistics. Guides are very necessary. Guide Fee 500/day, Porter Fee 350/day. They can be contacted at Sitio kibenton, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. The personnel in charge of the National Park has the following contact details: Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Office of the Protected Area Superintendent Capitol drive Compound, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon,Phils.8700 Telefax:(088)813-3453
Email: kitangladpamb@gmail.com. One, however, can contact the Mindanao explorer himself, Mijan Pizarro, at 0918-6352-729

Camping notes. Campsites in the area are big. Good for 4 tents. Water source is not problem at all since the first day is purely river trekking along Atugan River. The second day is summit camp and there is a small natural well in the shoulder of the summit. Cellphone signal is not a problem since the mountain is facing Mt. Kitanglad.

MT. TUMINUNGAN PICTURES

Views of the trail. Atugan River (upper right, counterclockwise), the explorers at the house of a local chieftain, the hidden falls at Kitanglad Cliffs, and the summit of Mt. Tuminungan with Mt. Dulang-Dulang at the background. 

Mt. Tuminungan as viewed from Mt. Kitanglad. 

Mijan Pizarro at the summit of Mt. Tuminungan, with Mt. Kitanglad at the background. The towers at the summit are very prominent features.

TRIVIA
In contrast to the other Kitanglad mountains where the Talaandig tribe predominate, Tuminungan is within the ancestral home to the Higaonon-Banwaon Tribe, the second largest cultural community in Bukidnon. Higaonon is derived from the native word “gaon” which means mountain. Literally, they are mountain people. Higaonon are somewhat nomadic, that is, they travel from one mountain village to another, looking for more fertile soil and better harvest. The enclosure of civilization made them settle their position to the confines of the area which they now claim as their ancestral domain; at the boundaries of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Sur.

The Higaonon people are of medium built with average height of about 5 feet and 2 inches, they are of lighter skin complexion compared to the other tribes in the province. Quiet a number of them have a very recognizable European features, aquiline nose, deep-set eyes and prominent cheeks, a legacy of the intermarriage between the natives and the Spanish conquiestadores. Generally, they are warm and friendly. They are one of THE FIERCEST WARRIORS when intimidated and one of the best organized and closely knitted as well.

PinoyMountaineer congratulates and thanks: Michael Jan P. Pizarro of the Bukidnon Mountaineering Club (BUMOC), Environmental Conservation Organization - Venture Club Inc.(ECO-VENTURE) and Johannes Jangulan of CARE –ILIGAN Mountaineers for the exploration and documentation of Mt. Tuminungan. 

Eastern Mountaineering Society BMC on March 6, 2010

Our friends from the Eastern Mountaineering Society of the Philippines wish to invite everyone to join their Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) this March 6, 2010.

Please visit the EMS website, www.emsph.com, for more details.

The 8th Mt. Ugo Summer Climb

Dear Friends,

You are all invited to the 8th Mt. Ugo Summer Climb on April 9-11, 2010.

Registration fee is P1400.00 inclusive of: T-shirt, ID, Certificate, Token, Yearbook, Barangay entrance fee, transpo from Baguio-Kayapa and Tinongdan-Baguio, 2 dinners and send-off lunch (3rd day), guide fee.

For your convenience, you may deposit your registration fee at any Banco de Oro (BDO) branch. Please text me at cp#s 09105482678; 09276186078; 09223745595 for account details

Please advise through e-mail or text if you have deposited the amount and please present your deposit slip during the assembly/registration day.

Come and join the fun.

Cordially,

Liza Diase

Mt. Pinatubo Dayhike Tour - March 13 and March 27, 2010

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We are pleased to announce the next schedules of the monthly Pinatubo trip: March 13 and March 27, 2010. The cost will remain P2,200/person (local rate).

INCLUSIONS

*Roundtrip Manila-Capas with Tour Coordinator onboard

*Private van or bus

*4x4 ride from Sta. Juliana

*Passage fee to use the Skyway 4x4 Trail

*Guide fees and all registration/entrance fees

*Optional sidetrip to Capas National Shrine (exclusive)

*Travel coordinator with email updates/consultations

ITINERARY

The itinerary is flexible, but this may serve as a guide:

0200am Assembly in Manila (exact place may be arranged)

0230am Departure from Manila to Capas, Tarlac via NLEX

0330am Stopover at NLEX after Malolos Exit (You may also eat breakfast here or buy your packed lunch for the trek)

0530am ETA jumpoff point

00600am Board 4x4 vehicles; adventure begins!

0700am Start trekking

0730am Estimated Time Arrival at the crater of Mt. Pinatubo. Swim/explore the crater

1000am Head back by foot then by 4x4 to jumpoff*

1200pm Lunch (lunch not included in the package)

0200pm ETD to Manila.

0530pm ETA Manila

RESERVATIONS

To reserve slots and get more information please email Roland at trekpinatubo@gmail.com. Limited slots available.

In Memoriam: "Manong" Lee Tansiongco of Mt. Guiting-Guiting

A friend of mountaineers: Manong Lee Tansiongco shown here with wife Angeling and Mayan Gutierrez and Jay Lorenzo of PALMC.

It is with much sorrow that we relay the sad news that Manong Lee of Mt. Guiting-Guiting died of heart attack last Saturday, February 20, 2010. A friend of the family texted us: "He died in the arms of Nono and wife and Auntie Angeling."

Ever gracious, Manong Lee opened his doors to mountaineers since the earliest expeditions in the 1980s. Generations of climbers have come to know him as well as his family, including his Nono, a leader of the guides who accompany climbers up G2. Indeed, a lot of mountaineers feel like "family friends" of the Tansiongcos. Even when the DENR welcome center was set up, a lot of veteran G2 hikers still consider Manong Lee's place as the definitive starting-off point of a G2 climb in Magdiwang.

PinoyMountaineer.com joins the rest of the mountaineering community in expressing condolences to the family and friends of this gracious man and patriarch of a hospitable family in Sibuyan Island, Romblon. We will Your legacy lives on with your children, and we will always remember you, even thought we are far away, and especially whenver we would be atop the jagged peaks of Mt. Guiting-Guiting.

Picture courtesy of Mayan Gutierrez, taken last April 2009.

Announcing the PinoyMountaineer Exploration Team!

I would like to announce the formation of the PinoyMountaineer Exploration Team, to help advance our stated objective of "exploring and documenting as many of the Philippine mountains and hiking destinations as possible".

I am inviting people with a genuine passion to climb mountains and go beyond the usual destinations to join the Exploration Team. I would like the Team to be a closely-knit group of climbers from all walks of life.

In line with the concept of being a "team" each member will receive a personalized shirt with his own number of choice (i.e. 37), as well as personalized email address (i.g. jacob@pinoymountaineer.com).  There will be monthly meetings in Manila to discuss exploration possibilities and other prospective climbing venues, and team members will have the opportunity to join various climbs around the country. Take note, however, that this is not a mountaineering club; you can have your mountaineering club and join the Exploration Team.

There is no fixed requirement for membership, but there are limited slots. Applicants will be selected on the basis of their mountaineering profile, attitude, and dedication to join.

Application for the team starts now. If you are highly interested, email team@pinoymountaineer.com with the following details:

COMPLETE NAME:
AGE AND SEX:
ADDRESS:
CONTACT NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
AFFILATION/S:
MOUNTAINEERING PROFILE:
HOBBIES/INTERESTS:
REASON FOR JOINING:

Destination Cam Norte: Mt. Labo on February 20-22

The slew of open climbs continues, this time in Mt. Labo in Camarines Norte, Bicol Region with "Destination Cam Norte: Mt. Labo / Outdoor Madness" scheduled from February 20-22 and organized by Tribu Guinobateno Mountaineering Club and Oryol Outdoor Group.

Registration Fee is only P150 (Inclusive of Souvenir I.D., Certificate, & Special Pinangat (laing bikol) or
Longanisa Guinobatan)

The itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 (February 20)
0700 Assembly / Orientation
0900 ETA at jumpoff
0930 Start trekking to Spillway (Old PNOC Road)
1200 Lunch at Spillway
1300 Start trekking to Campsite A
1800 ETA Campsite A / Set up camp
1900 Dinner / socials
.
Day 2 (February 21)
0600 Breakfast
0700 Start assault to Mt. Labo
1000 ETA summit of Mt. Labo
1030 Head back to Campsite A
1130 Lunch / Angelina Falls sidetrip
1500 Back to Campsite A
1800 Dinner / socials

Day 3 (February 22)
0600 Wake up call
0800 Start descent back to jumpoff
1200 Lunch at spillway
1500 Back at Km. 00; Prepare to board bus back to Manila

For interested Manila-based parties, contact Ken at O9394652000 or email chameleonprints@rocketmail.com.

Antique Mountaineering Society presents Mt. Madjaas on March 26-29!

Our friends from Antique are inviting interested parties to join their much-anticipated climb of Mt. Madjaas from March 26-29, 2010. Mt. Madjaas is the highest mountain in Panay Island (although this is disputed by Mt. Nangtud) and the second highest mountain in the Visayas. It was also the final and most challenging mountain in the Visayan Voyage.

The itinerary for the open climb is as follows:

Day 0 (March 25)
1200 Assembly at Culasi, Antique
1800 Camp at Brgy. Flores

Day 1 (March 26)
0000 Wake-up call
0100 Start trek
0700 Arrival at watersource after banderahan; Rest
0900 Rsume trek
1200 Lunch on trail
1600 ETA Camp 2; Set up camp
1800 Dinner / socials

Day 2 (March 27)
0500 Wake up call
0700 Commence summit assault
1100 ETA summit; Lunch
1600 ETA Camp 3
1800 Dinner / socials

Day 3 (March 28)
0500 wake-up call
0700 Start trek via old trail
1100 ETA Bantang River/cook lunch and eat
1300 Resume trek
1600 Back in Brgy. Flores
1800 Burubuklod
1830 Dinner @ Arthur's place / Fellowship

Day 3 (March 29)
Head back to San Jose / Aklan / Iloilo en route Manila

For further information, pls. contact Haji Tandog of Antique Mountaineering Society at +639286878128.

YAPAK Mountaineers: Third Mt. Tagapo Friendship Climb on March 6-7

Our friends from Yapak Mountaineers, Inc. present their Third "Talim Apo" Climb at Mt. Tagapo in Talim Island from March 6-7, 2010. Registration fee is PHP600 [ID, shirt, transportation] and preclimb is scheduled on February 24 and March 3 ( both Wednesdays) 1900H at McDo EDSA Central.

The following is the itinerary:

Day 1 (March 6)
0700 Assembly at Jolibee Shaw Blvd
0900 ETA Binangonan Pier; Arrange for banca
1030 ETA Brgy. Janosa
1100 Start trek; Lunch on trail
0300 ETA Campsite; set up camp
1800 Dinner / socials

Day 2 (March 7)
0600 Wake up call
0630 Summit assault
1000 Break camp
1130 Back at jumpoff
1300 Awarding ceremony
1400 Start return trip to Manila
1630 ETA EDSA-Crossing

For more information, contact Kent-09178652577;  Kris - 09212334642 Jovi - 09283092112; Char -09272242274 or email yapakmountaineers@yahoo.com.

Hiking maters #79: Behold, Tirad Peak!

I am pleased to announce that the 2nd Annual Charity Climb on Tirad Pass also became the first major climb up the hitherto undocumented Tirad Peak, which we now know is 1388 MASL. On February 7, 2010 at around 0830H we reached the summit of the rocky peak, covered with golden grass, reminiscent of both Batulao and Pico de Loro, but far grander. A total of 38 climbers joined the assault.

This exploratory effort, made possible by the Municipality of Gregorio del Pilar whose tourism officers were very helpful, was the highlight of Day 2 of the 2nd Charity Climb. From the Tirad Pass Shrine where we had camped, we woke up very early to start the assault and nighttreked a substantial portion of the trail. It was, however, quite easy, with no significantly steep parts. But when the peak was finally at hand we were shocked by its suddenly imposing rise - a huge rock, pointing upwards, living up to its name 'Tirad', meaning sharp. Indeed this part of the trail was quite precarious: only 5-10 climbers at a time could ascend or descend from the very peak. And the ravines on both sides were deep.

Yet the rewards were truly grand, and the views unforgettable. I will write another blog post about the Charity Climb soon. In the meanwhile, let the pictures speak louder than my words. But before I end this post I would like to thank all the participants of this year's Charity Climb. See you all in the trails! TIrad Pass, TIrad Peak, and all of you have made this climb a very special one.

PS: 1st and 2nd Charity Climb participants, please join the Charity Climb group on Facebook! Pictures of  climbs and announcements will be posted there. Pictures in this post are courtesy of Lalaine Hablado and Sir Martin Cortes. Thanks!

Application Form for the Mt. Pulag Friendship Climb on April 17-18

The Climb Secretariat for the Mt. Pulag Friendship Climb on April 17-18, 2010 has asked me to post the application form for the Friendship Climb because they were having difficulties in sorting out the emails. Nonetheless, with the Charity Climb done and highly successful, we can now focus on organizing the Friendship Climb (and the Mt. Apo Summer Climb on May 1-3).

Please email the accomplished forms to friendshipclimb@gmail.com:

NAME:
AGE/SEX:
ADDRESS:
AFFILIATION:

MOUNTAINEERING EXPERIENCE:
OCCUPATION:
REASON FOR JOINING THE FRIENDSHIP CLIMB:
MOBILE NUMBER:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
MEDICAL CONCERNS, IF ANY:
CONTACT DETAILS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:

ARE YOU WILLING TO EXTEND FOR 1 MORE DAY FOR AKIKI TRAIL (Y/N)?

ARE YOU WILLING TO VOLUNTEER AS A GROUP LEADER (Y/N)?

Hiking matters #78: 2nd Charity Climb Day 1 - Tirad Pass

I just arrived in Manila and I couldn't contain the excitement and adventure that the just-concluded weekend had given. Even before the 2nd Charity Climb commenced the adventure had already begun with the jeepney ride that took us to Gregorio del Pilar town. After giving a free medical clinic at the town plaza, all 45 of us proceeded to climb the wide and highly historical trail of Tirad Pass, and found nice trails and views until we finally reached the Tirad Pass marker where we spent the night. Success! But we couldn't have anticipated the far grander adventure that was to face us the following day...

Many, many thanks to everyone who joined, organized, and supported the 2nd Charity Climb! A Facebook group will be formed soon where we can share pictures and relive the excitement of the climb. Will write about Day 2 later!

CLiMBapalooza! 2010: Romancing the Philippine trails

The Federation of Filipino Mountaineers (FIMO Inc.) will be organizing a nationwide valentine climb dubbed as “CLiMBapalooza! 2010”: (Romancing the Philippine Trails on February 25 to 28, 2010. Their goals are to conduct different environmental activities simultaneously such as follows:

Tree planting
Cleanup operation
Environmental awareness campaign
Promote responsible mountaineering
Promote synergism, unity & camaraderie in the mountaineering community
Celebrate valentines in high altitude
Preparatory climb to break the “Guinness Book of World Records” as the most number of mountaineers who climbed simultaneously.

This event will be attended by almost 2,500 which will really help in promoting our bid in breaking the “Guinness Book of World Records” by 2011 as the most number of mountaineers who climbed simultaneously & the biggest cleanup operation in the world. Mountaineers from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and some parts of Asia & America also willingly expressed their desire to participate in this event. Truly a momentous event in Philippine Mountaineering history, this will surely help in unifying different outdoor clubs in this authentic display of unity and synergism.

Mountaineers will also do some outreach programs of different magnitude depending on the community needs. FIMO inc. is leading the way through this event which also serves as a unifying cause for mountaineers to work together in promoting environmental awareness. Visit  climbapalooza.multiply.com for more details about this event.

LUZON
MT. PULAG – Bagumbuhay Mountaineers
MT. AMUYAO Biyaheng Kalikasan (Bakas-EDC)
MT. UGU – Dahong Palay Mountaineers (DPM)
MT. NAPULAUAN – Biyaheng Kalikasan (BAKAS-EDC)
MT. POLIS
MT. AMPACAO
MT. TABAYOC
BATAD TRAILS
SAGADA – Travel Factor
BACUN TRIO - Happy Campers Pilipinas / OSPI
MT. SANTO TOMAS
MT. PATUKAN - KMS
MT. CABUYAO
MT. TARAK – Sinag Mountaineering Society / TakipSilim Outdoor Group
MT. MACULOT
MT. KALISUNGAN - TakipSilim Outdoor Group (TSOG)
MT. DAGULDUL – Philippine National Mountaineering Society (PNMS)
MT. MANABU
MT. MAKILING - KIKKM
MT. PICO DE LORO
MT. BATULAO – Philippine National Mountaineering Society (PNMS)
MT. TAPULAO – Freelance Mountaineers (Accenture)
MT. ARAYAT – Barkadahan Adventure Recreation Outdoor Club (BAROC)
MT. CRISTOBAL - Balikatan
MT. ISAROG - Amorseko Outdoor Tribe
MT. IRID – Team Conquer / Tukad Adventure Club Inc. / NOMADS
MT. MALIPUNYO - Pawis Pinoy Mountaineers
MT. TALAMITAM
MT. CALAVITE
MT. MALASIMBO – Dahong Palay Mountaineers(DPM)
MT. TALIPANAN
MT. IRIGA
BATANES – Batanes Mountaineers

VISAYAS
ALTO PEAK
MT. NAPULAK
MT. KANLAON - Mountain Tiger Rescue
MT. PADHAN – Bohol Eagles Mountaineering Society, BEMS
MT. MAYANA - Bohol Eagles Mountaineering Society, BEMS
MT. MADJAAS

MINDANAO
MT. APO – LOGSAC / Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao.
MT DULANG-DULANG – LOGSAC / Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao.
MT KITANGLAD – LOGSAC / Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao.
MT. MATUTUM – Ateneo De Davao University Mountaineering Club, AMC
MT. HAMIGUITAN – LOGSAC / Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao
MT. HIBOK-HIBOK
MT. TALOMO - Ateneo De Davao University Mountaineering Club, AMC

INTERNATIONAL CLIMBS
MT. KINABALU (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia)
GUNUNG DATUK (Malaysia)
TAI MO SHAN (CHINA)
INDONESIA
CALIFORNIA, USA

This post was made upon the request of the Federation of Filipino Mountaineers Inc. (FIMO) and the information was taken from their Multiply site. Feel free to correct or update the information here by commenting. 

Red ribbons as trail signs for 2010

In mountains where the trails are not that established, properly placed and properly spaced ribbons are useful as guides. They have minimal environmental and visual impact, unlike cardboard signs bearing station numbers, and they are very easy to set up (LNT fanatics may still object to leaving something behind, but I think the benefit of preventing people from getting lost outweighs this minimal, almost philosophical violation of the Leave no Trave principle in these rare instances). Before the Climbing Season for 2010 starts, we suggest the use of red ribbons for this year so that we can estimate a date when a particular ribbon was placed based on the ribbon color. So for example, in the MakTrav trail where there are different colors used, the red ribbons would identify the most recent (and therefore more reliable) trail sign. Again, this is just for special situations where the use of the more preferred natural trail signs are insufficient.

Here are some suggested guidelines on the use of ribbons as trail signs. These are just suggestions, of course:

1. Ribbons as trail signs are only recommended in trails that are poorly-established, and where there is a strong history of people getting waylaid, such as Mt. Makiling and Mt. Malipunyo, as well as for exploratory destinations.
2. They must not be counted upon as the primary source. Use your best judgment still, only use the ribbons as aids in your decision.
3. They must be properly and regularly spaced -- an interval of 100-200 meters is recommended, or when there are forks in the trail.
4. They must be properly and securely placed -- Tie the ribbons in a square knot in thin but durable trees, and place them at the level of the climber's eyes.
5. Do not use ribbons on any area that is not part of the main trail system (i.e. the trail leading to the summit); it will confuse rather than help.
6. You may retrieve the ribbons if you think they were superfluous.
7. For the year 2010 we are recommending the use of red ribbons (and other colors thereafter) so that hikers can estimate the date when the ribbons were placed. There will be no need to add more ribbons if there are ribbons in place that are, regardless of any date.