Traversing Makiling 1999

Traversing Makiling in 1999

We traversed Mt. Makiling from Sto. Tomas to Los Baños in the company of able climbers TJ Farmer, Danny Balandra and Larry Hillboy Honoridez. 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 guy lines 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° 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 Baños just to stretch their muscles.

The weekend completion climbs both for me and TJ were well documented courtesy of Larry. The 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 pipeline.

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 are 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 Baños.

Chito 30-31 January 1999

Revisited 7 October 2024