Traversing
Makiling
We traversed Mt. Makiling from Sto. Tomas to Los Baņos in the company of able climbers TJ, Danny and Larry. It was a five-hour
trek on the first day highlighted by a tall wall, which we scaled against
strong typhoon winds overlooking a deep ravine right below. Right
across the wall is an open camp called Haring Bato at the edge of a cliff
good for 3-4 tents exposed to non-stop blowing winds. Estimated altitude
is 900 meters ASL. Visible below from the campsite is Gubatan where
a group of East Wing climbers were stationed for the night. With
my technical buddy, TJ, our shelter was adequately sufficient for the condition-tents
that can withstand the wind, reinforced with guylines and pegs. While
it may seem dangerous, it was a safe trek to cross over the wall which
a tin poster declared a 40 degrees inclination. There were about
4 to 5 sets of ropes securely placed in branches or roots of miniature
trees by good Samaritans in the last 30 minutes of the wall climb.
Watch out though for leeches and poison ivy, which were in abundance in
the forest at the foot of the wall. You can both bleed and itch to
death.
The full moon was intermittently visible, as fast moving clouds would
cover it. Danny and Larry tested their new stoves in that extreme
windy and cloudy setting. Stoves passed but burned more fuel
than expected due to the 18 degress C temperature and the strong gusty
winds. Next day trek was a 2-hour ascent to the traditional
Peak 2 Campsite. The crawling and the bending will humble you.
Completing the traverse was the usual 2 1/2 hour descent to the UP Campus.
Upon reaching the campsite, we were told that Barry Barcelo, Russel Aguinaldo, and Elmer Cabotage, senior members
of PAL Mountaineering Club did a day trek via Los Baņos just to stretch their muscles.
The weekend completion climb both for me and TJ was well documented
courtesy of Larry. Persistence of TJ paid off as we explored a new
adventurous world. Thanks to the encouragement of Regie Pablo of
MFPI who provided us with references to the traverse.
Each time I see the span of Mt. Makiling from the Skyway connecting
Katipunan Loyola to Katipunan Blue Ridge, I just stare and say to myself,
"we crossed that range stating from Batangas to Laguna simply out of passion for the outdoors and for the discovery." And we did that that stormy weekend simply because of the passion.
Keeping track:
1. Enter Sto. Tomas trek via the Barangay San Bartolome arch.
It's a P 10.00 tricycle ride.
2. The private resort of Almeda is your jump-off point.
3. You'll pass through a station of the cross ending in a grotto.
Another trail skips the grotto.
4. There's a hut surrounded by giant gabe leaves (root crops).
Area serves as the link between two ridges. Profile of Maculot visible.
Your last chance for water through a water pipe line.
5. You will cross two ridges in a dried up stream. After
the forest cover, it's cogon all the way. Sto. Tomas, MakBan Geothermal
plant and Malipunyo visible from this site. Climb, climb, climb.
6. Enter a forest cover, reach the viewing deck, ascend further
and descend at the foot of the wall. Expect poison ivy, leeches,
and snakes. Trail a bit moist. There are deck signage and ribbons
along the trail.
7. Rock climb in an open space.
8. Reach Haring Bato.
9. Crawl towards Peak 2.
10. After 1 1/2 hours of trek going up to 1000 meters ASL, you'll
smell stench and hear voices. You're nearing Peak 2.
11. It's a safe descent down to UP Los Baņos.
Chito 30-31 January 1999
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