Mt. Ayaas (627+) in Rodriguez, Rizal

MT. AYAAS
Rodriguez, Rizal
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal
Minor jumpoff: Brgy. Mascap, Rodriguez, Rizal
LLA: 14°45′3.38′′ N, 121°12′27.5′ 627 MASL (+570)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 3-4 hours
Specs: Minor, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3 with river trekking
Features: River trekking, scenic views, waterfalls
Article history: July 6, 2015
Author: Gideon Lasco

BACKGROUND
With the advent of the documentation of Mts. Pamitinan and Binacayan, Brgy. Wawa in Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal is fast becoming a haven for hikers. Just an hour away from Metro Manila, and offering dramatic views atop limestone formations, these mountains are truly worthy dayhikes.

Mt. Ayaas is a pleasant addition to the outdoor destinations of Rodriguez, Rizal. While Pamitinan, Binacayan, and Hapunang Banoi are practicality look-alikes, Mt. Ayaas is a mountain made distinctive by its river trekking and grassland slopes. Moreover, it is arguably the most challenging of the hikes in the area – even though all of them are relatively easy and are, as of July 2015, rated as Difficulty 3/9.

Just like the other mountains in the area, the hike up Mt. Ayaas originates from Brgy. Wawa proper. Passing through Wawa Dam and the magnificent gorge. The first half involves mostly river trekking, and the difficulty is highly weather-dependent, as the rocks are very slippery when wet – and the water level is high such that it is inevitable that you yourself will get wet.

Past the river trek, the trail becomes more inclined, passing through woodlands and a final assault up grassland slopes to reach the summit. At times, the trek is reminiscent of the Malipunyo Range and other Batangas mountains. At the top,  one is treated to a view of not just the Wawa mountains, but also Mt. Lubog (SE).

With its distinctive features, ease of access, and relatively challenging trails, Mt. Ayaas is truly another compelling reason to visit Montalban!

ITINERARIES

MT. AYAAS DAYHIKE

0400 Take van from Cubao to Eastwood, Rodriguez, Rizal
0530 ETA Rodriguez, Rizal; take trike or jeep to brgy. Wawa
0600 Arrival at Brgy. Wawa. Register at barangay hall / tourism office
0630 Start trek up Mt. Ayaas
0730 ETA waterfalls
0830 End of river trekking
0930 Arrival at transmission tower. Final assault
1030 ETA summit
1100 Start descent
1400 Back at Brgy. Wawa.  Tidy up then take outbound trike.
1630 Back in Manila.

MT. AYAAS TRAVERSE

0400 Take van from Cubao to Eastwood, Rodriguez, Rizal
0530 ETA Rodriguez, Rizal; take trike or jeep to brgy. Wawa
0600 Arrival at Brgy. Wawa. Register at barangay hall / tourism office
0630 Start trek up Mt. Ayaas
0730 ETA waterfalls
0830 End of river trekking
0930 Arrival at transmission tower. Final assault
1030 ETA summit
1100 Traverse to Mascap
1400 ETA Mascap, take trike to Montalban
1500 ETA Montalban,  Tidy up then take outbound trike.
1730 Back in Manila.

PRACTICALITIES: MT. AYAAS

Transportation
Public (1) Van, Cubao to Montalban (Eastwood) [P50; 1-1.5 hours]
(2) Jeep or trike, Montalban (Eastwood) to Wawa [P7.50-P10; <30 mins]Alternatively, take any transport to Montalban (i.e. via Marikina) then take (2)
Approximately 2-3 hours travel time because of various stops and delays. Private. Head out to Rodriguez, Rizal via Marikina and San Mateo, then follow the road to Wawa Dam. There is an entrance of P50 for private vehicles. Parking slots are available in front of the tourism office Approximately 1.5-2.5 hours travel time.

Registration
In order:
(1) Logbook at the DENR station in Wawa.
(2) Logbook at the Tourism Office in Wawa.
(3) Logbook at the barangay hall
P2 registration per person and donation of any amount 
Available; assigned at the tourism office/ barangay hall. No fixed rates but P400/day is suggested (add more if twin dayhikes)
+639493956589 (Emman, guide)
+639473868778 (Ogie, guide)
+639983266559 (Richard Salina, guide)
+639295497211 (Joni – barangay)
Please share more contact numbers if you have them. Better to call the contacts rather than text as they may always have load.
Campsites and waypoints
Possible at the summit and at the transmission tower area, among others, but usually done as a dayhikeWaypoints:
(1) Bamboo Bridge 14°43′37.9′′ N, 121°11′36.2′′, 55 MASL
(2) Waterfalls 14°44′8.11′′ N, 121°12′5.18′′, 203 MASL
(3) Transmission Tower 14°44′46.8′′ N, 121°12′11.4′′, 435 MASL
Water sources
(+) abundant along the river system
(-) summit
Cellphone signal
Sporadic along the trail and the summit
River crossings
Bamboo bridge-crossing near Wawa Dam
River trekking for first half of the trail. Usually manageable but caution during the rainy season.
Roped segments
None
None
Some
Rattan
Some
Hiking notes
As mentioned above – be very cautious when hiking during the rainy season or during/after heavy rains
Sidetrips
Mts. Pamitinan and Binacayan
Mt. Hapunang Banoi
Rock climbing in Mt. Pamitinan
Swimming by Wawa Dam
Alternate trails
Traverse to Brgy. Mascap (see above)
Yes
Facilities at jumpoff
(+) Sari-sari stores
(+) Carinderias / paluto
(+) Wash-up / shower places
(+) Cottages by Wawa DamThere are gloves available at the DENR office for P50 pesos each.
500-700 (dayhike)
800-1000 (overnight)

MT. AYAAS PICTURES

The approach to Mt. Ayaas begins in Wawa Dam, against the backdrop
of the scenic Montalban Gorge
Foggy view of the Wawa mountains: Mt. Binacayan, Mt. Pamitinan, and
Hapunang Banoi
Descending along one of the waterfalls in the river trekking part of the trail

 

TRIVIA
Mt. Ayaas is the fifth mountain of Rodriguez, Rizal to have an itinerary in Pinoy Mountaineer (after Pamitinan, Binacayan, and Lubog). It is also the seventh Rizal mountain in a span of a year to be documented in the website (the Montalban mountains plus Irid and Daraitan). The thrust towards documenting and featuring mountains in the near-Sierra Madre is in line with our thrust of combating destructive mountain practices through ecotourism.

The blogger hiked Mt. Ayaas on July 4, 2015.

THE MOUNTAINS OF RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL
Mt. Ayaas

Mt. Hapunang Banoi / Hapunang Baboy
Mt. Sapang Uwak

Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply

2 Comments on "Mt. Ayaas (627+) in Rodriguez, Rizal"


Member
8 years 2 months ago

Good day sir,

Last January 11, 2016 we climbed Mt. Ayaas, we followed the this site’s day hike IT on Brgy. Wawa Jumpoff. We were advised by DENR personnel that they are not allowing hikers to climb Mt. Ayaas from Brgy. Wawa due to some “DISCUSSION and GUIDE issues”, so we headed back to “bayan” and proceeded to Brgy. Mascap thru tricycle. From Montalban Eastwood “bayan” tricycle fee is 150 pesos per 5 persons. Guide fee is 500 pesos for Mt. Ayaas and additional for sidetrips, falls etc. (in our case +400 pesos because we also climbed Mt. Sipit Ulang wew!). Also 50 pesos registration fee is required. Thanks Happy Hiking!

Guest
Alfredo Ventura
8 years 7 months ago

Hi Sir Gideon.
We climb Mt.Ayaas today, and as per Brgy. Wawa DENR, starting today there will be additional 50php per head when you climb Mt. Ayaas for Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape as entrance fee.