Trilogy Hike in Rodriguez, Rizal
MT. BINACAYAN, MT. HAPUNANG BANOI AND MT. PAMITINAN
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| Mt. Pamitinan |
OVERVIEW
MTS. PAMITINAN AND BINACAYAN
Rodriguez, Rizal
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal
LLA (Pamitinan): 14°43′51.7′′N 121°11′29.2′′ E 426 MASL
LLA (Binacayan): 14°43′30.5′′N 121°11′26.1′′ E 424 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 1.5-3 hours (P); 2-3 hours (B)
Specs: Minor, Difficulty 3/9 (P); 3/9 (B) / Trail class 1-4
Features: Limestone formations, scenic views of Sierra Madre and Rizal province
Credit : Pinoy Mountaineer
MT. HAPUNANG BANOI
Rodriguez, Rizal
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal
LLA: 14°44′25.3′′ N, 121°11′30.4′ 517 MASL (+460m)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-3.5 hours
Specs: Minor, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 1-4 with limestone scrambling
Features: Limestone formations, scenic views of Sierra Madre and Rizal province
Credit : Pinoy Mountaineer
BACKGROUND
Brgy. Wawa in Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal has long been known to outdoor enthusiasts for its beautiful Montalban Gorge and the various activities that can be done there: caving in Binacayan Cave and Bat Cave, mountain biking, swimming by the Wawa Dam,and rock climbing in the limestone cliffs in Mt. Binacayan. In addition to this, it is now being recognised as a hiking spot, with at least two of its small, rocky mountains – Mt. Pamitinan and Mt. Binacayan – offering refreshingly new trails with close proximity to Metro Manila. Both mountains can be done as half-day hikes and can be combined as a nice day of adventure.
Mt. Pamitinan
Mt. Pamitinan has a more established trail that takes roughly 1.5-2.5 hours going up. The first part is forested, passing through some attractions such as an ancient balete, the rock climbing. The rocks are surrounded with bamboo trunks, some of which have alternating sections of holdable green and thorny brown trunk segments. Wearing gloves is recommended to ensure a comfortable grip on the jagged edges of the rocks and keep your skin off thorns.
Mt. Binacayan
Mt. Binacayan, which is shorter than Mt. Pamitinan by just a few meters, has two different approaches, both of which feature a profile similar to Mt. Pamitinan. Credit: Pinoy Mountaineer
Mt. Hapunang Banoi
Mt. Hapunang Banoi, which is actually conjoined with Mt. Pamitinan. This ‘elder silbing’ of Pamitinan and Binacayan features the same limestone formations, but it is arguably a notch higher in terms of difficulty, altitude, and length. Banoi is the Tagalog word for eagle, and the name of the mountain comes from its folkloric seat as the ‘place where eagles come to dine’.
On my previous blog I narrated how I challenged myself to join a twin hike event with total strangers. It was fun and memorable experience and what I loved about that travel was that I learned so much from it.
I read a lot of blogs and posts about how some mountain enthusiasts enjoy climbing multiple mountains in a day which I got an idea for another challenge. It was that time when I wanted to know my limits. I tried to convince some of my workmates and friends to join me but they were not ready for multiple hikes.
Luckily, there's Facebook events for everyone. This time I wanted another challenge to test my limit so I joined a trilogy hike hosted by Tiangala Travel and Tours.
What I love about being a joiner is that I don't need to organize or I don't need to think of itinerary proposals. I just need to pay the worth of the tour, show up at the exact time agreed at the rendezvous and enjoy. Before the tour I just prepared a simple gift for other joiners.
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| Simple gift for other joiners. |
I was residing at Muntinlupa before and was worried not to be able to catch a ride going to the meet up place so I went there earlier. I arrived at Jollibee Cubao at around 12 midnight which was 3 hours earlier the scheduled time.
You're a certified joiner if you know that Jollibee Cubao is a haven for hikers. It is the meeting place for all kinds of event and travellers with different destinations.
I was expecting to be alone the entire time but luckily, Erick, which was one of the organizers of the event was already there. Their group was also hosting event going to Mt Ulap, Mt Batulao and other mountains in Rizal.
All of the participants arrived an hour early so we had a lot of time for meet and greet. We headed to Montalban at exactly 4 am. The travel was just an hour so I did not bother to sleep. It rained during our travel so we knew from the start that it’s gonna be a muddy hike.
We arrived at Montalban at 5 am then registered and a had short briefing with the guides. It was still raining that time so for everyone's safety we all decided to climb when it stop.
The rain subsided at around 6 am just in time for the sun rise. We started the climb with a short prayer and begin our ascent to Mt Binacayan. The trail going to the summit was challenging, it was rated as easy with 3/9 difficulty but since most of it was covered in mud the difficulty went up by like 9/9. No kidding!
The hike was not at all easy as it was a series of trails filled with limestone rocks. It was really a test of endurance for all of us. We took breathers as we scrambled along almost 90 degrees jagged limestone formations.
We had short breaks and reached Peak 1 by 7:00 in the morning.
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| Sea of clouds is such a calming sight. |
We reached the summit after an hour of endless painstaking ascent along the unforgiving limestone rocks. At the summit, the 360° view was overwhelming with sea of clouds. We stayed there for a while to rest and had a quick snack. 
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Group picture at the summit. |
We started our descent around 10:00 am and took a different route. The guide said that it was a shorter route but twice as hard than the trail we took in going up. The descent consisted mostly of scrambling along near-vertical rock formations. There were no ropes or branches to use as support on our way down. We just had to make our own diskarte just to prevent ourselves from falling. Sometimes we need to hold on some rocks just to keep our balance, good thing we had our gloves that protected our hands from sharp edges.
Halfway to the jump-off the rain started to pour but we had no choice but to continue. It rained heavily and it soaked most of the clothes I'm wearing. I did not mind my belongings inside my bag since I was able to wrap all of it by a plastic bag. G! Never in my life have I longed for the sun with such intensity the way I did that day.
We reached the registration area after two hours. BTW it was the longest two hours of my entire life! We rested our soaked body and soul for an hour while discussing if we have to continue the trilogy or not. As the rain continues, we came up with the decision not to push the trilogy for everyone's safety.
Our guide just promised that they will bring us to Wawa River and Carugo falls when the rain stop so we can still have some fun. We had our lunch and took a nap while waiting for the rain to subside.
Wawa River
Wawa river lies in between Mt Pamitinan and Mt Binacayan. The two mountains form a scenic view that appears like a portal to the sky, hence the name wawa, the Dumagat term for “entrance.”
Legend has it that, in olden times, folk hero Bernardo Carpio, a demigod and giant of extraordinary strength (our version of Hercules or Atlas), was said to hold the two mountains apart with his mighty hands, to prevent them from colliding. His enemy, the enchanted king of the mountains of San Mateo (whom Bernardo defeated by in a wrestling match) had his revenge when he enticed Bernardo to enter Pamitinan Cave.
The king blocked the entrance with two gigantic boulders of rocks, and trapped him inside forever, thus shackling him to prolonged bondage. When an earthquake occurs every 100 years, it is said to be Bernardo breaking one of his chains.
It is said that when all his chains have been broken, he would then liberate all his countrymen from their own slavery. Jose Rizal was said to have made a pilgrimage to the area to pay homage to this versatile symbol of freedom. The riverbed is said to have a boulder with a hollow that forms what looks like a gigantic footprint, attributed by locals to Bernardo Carpio. Credit: Benjamin Layug
Wawa Dam
Wawa Dam is an 85 meter (279 feet) long and 12 meter (40 feet) high gravity dam constructed over the Marikina River. This slightly arched dam is situated in the 360-meter (1,180 feet) high Montalban Gorge or Wawa Gorge, a water gap in the Sierra Madre Mountains, east of Manila. Credit: Benjamin Layug
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| Rafts with seats and cogon roofing that were docked along the bank of the river. |
Carugo Falls
We ride a small boat to cross the river going to Carugo falls and it took us 15 minutes to reach the falls.
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| Trees along the trail going to the falls |
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| Shallow water beds leading to the falls. |
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| Carugo Falls |
We stayed at Carugo falls for an hour before we went back to the registration area. We then pack our things and went back to Manila at around 4:00 in the afternoon.
What had happened was not the initial plan but I enjoyed this trip so much. I initially joined this trip to test my limit physically on climbing three mountains in 1 day but the circumstances did not fit my plan instead it tested me in emotional and spiritual way.
What I learned about this trip was life is unpredictable. We can never really know what direction life will take us. When things didn't go as planned take a deep breath and tell yourself everything will be okay. Accept that you can never control everything and learn to adapt to the situation.
There is a reason for everything so try to understand and pick the positives out of the situation no matter how difficult or disappointing it may be. It is not easy but it can be done.
After the hike, take some time to give a review or rating to the event organizers. It will help them grow and improve their business.
Initial Itinerary
Event fee
Php 600.00
Other fee (optional)
Event shirt Pink 250.00
Event bag tag 50.00
Inclusion
VAN - Cubao to Montalban to Cubao
DENR FEE
Environmental Fee
Guide Fee
Toll Fee
Drivers Meal
ITINERARY:
0300: Meet up assembly @ Jollibee Farmers Cubao
0400: ETD to Montalban
0445: ETA Montalban, Start trek to Wawa Dam
0500: ETA DENR, Reg, Secure Guide, Briefing
0530: Start trek to Binacayan
0700: ETA Summit, Photo Ops, Relax, Snacks
0800: Start Descent to DENR
0900: DENR, Breakfast, Relax
1030: Start trek to Pamitinan
1200: ETA Summit Pamitinan, Photo Ops, Relax
1230: Start descent to junction
1330: Junction, Lunch, Relax, Prepare last assault
1430: Start trek to Hapunang Banoi
1530: Summit, Photo Ops, Relax
1600: Start Descent To Wawa Dam
1715: Wawa Dam, Swim All U Can, Tidy up, Relax, Snacks
1900: Back to DENR, Wowie's Place, Dinner
2030: Back to Reality
Actual Itinerary
0300: Meet up assembly @ Jollibee Farmers Cubao
0400: ETD to Montalban
0445: ETA Montalban
0500: ETA DENR, Reg, Secure Guide, Briefing
0600: Start trek to Binacayan
0700: ETA Peak 1
0800: ETA Summit, Photo Ops, Relax, Snacks
1000: Start Descent to DENR
1200: DENR, Lunch, Relax
1300: Trek to Wawa Dam
1330: Cross Wawa River
1345: ETA Carugo Falls
1400: Relax
1530: Back to DENR
1600: Back to Reality
THINGS TO BRING
2 Liters Water
Trail Snacks
Packed Lunch
First Aid Kit with personal medication
Extra Clothes
Gloves
Sunblock
Toiletries
Garbage Bag
TRAVEL TIPS
- Pack light. Bring only water and trailfoods.
- Hike during summer it's 10x difficult to hike during rainy season.
- Bring an extra set of clothes.
- Wear shoes and not sandals for ease of trekking through limestone rocks.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp edge rocks.
LEAVE NO TRACE.
If you want a detailed itinerary and information visit the following articles:
That's all for now. See you around!
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