2nd Summit : Mt. Balagbag

OVERVIEW 

MT. BALAGBAG

Rodriguez, Rizal

First jumpoff: Sitio Karahume, Brgy. Macabud, Rodriguez

second jumpoff: Sitio Balagbag, Brgy. San Isidro, Rodriguez

LLA: 777 MASL (unverified)

Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 1-2 hours

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-2

Credit: Pinoy Mountaineer

ABOUT MT. BALAGBAG

A hiking destination favored for its proximity to Metro Manila is Mt. Balagbag, located in Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal. This mountain is part of the Sierra Madre range as it transitions into the plains of Central and Southern Luzon. At over 700 MASL, it is of sufficient elevation to offer views of Ortigas and some parts of Metro Manila, as well as the Ipo Watershed.

The trail is very easy and wide, and Mt. Balagbag is also a favorite of mountain bikers. Although locals recall a past when the mountain was covered with trees, it is now barren, and hikers who will trek it summer will find sun exposure as the only difficulty in this trek. Hence, dimtrekking (hiking very early in the morning or late afternoon) is recommended. Credit: Pinoy Mountaineer

It's my 2nd mountain and 1st overnight hike so I bought a decent bag and tent.
Check Brown Trekker Outdoor Products page for affordable and high quality products. 
 

It was September 2015 when we planned to have our second mountain climbing. We searched for a mountain near the Metro with an easy trail to hike and over the suggested results we chose Mt. Balagbag. Mt Balagbag is a 2 hour ride from Manila and it's favored by many mountain climbing enthusiasts for its closeness to the city and low budget requirement. We prepare our itinerary, things to bring, and discuss the dos and don’ts, and what to expect during our hike. 

We rented a van that brought us to Barangay Licao Licao, it rained the whole night before the climb so we expected that the trail will be bloody muddy. The van cannot go further since the mud is so thick and we decided to walk our way to the jump-off site at Sitio Balagbag.

 

Half way to the jump-off you can see a sari-sari store,
we grab a quick breakfast and bought drinking water and some snacks.

They also offer restroom, parking and charging services.

CR  Rates   

Group photo before going back to trek. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Team Lagalag!

The registration site is situated up in the hills

and could be reached after a 30-minute

hike from the drop off point. 

We started the ascent at 8 AM and we were joined by two local guides. The first kilometre of the trail is quite easy. The trail is wide, established and uncomplicated so there’s no chance to get lost. The trail was a gradual ascent and the sceneries are absolutely stunning. We continued to walk the stretch of the trail leading to the summit, passing by local houses. One thing that will encourage you to keep going is none other than its locals. We were greeted by the locals with their brightest smile! 

Trekking up to the summit, or some call it “helipad” is actually easy but due to the lack of trees along the trail the mountain is considered also as one of the hottest places to trek. Mt Balagbag is part of the Sierra Madre range so expect a very spectacular view when you reach the summit. 

The mesmerizing view of surrounding mountains.

What a view!

Halfway to the summit, we reached a crossroad and the second registration area. We grab a light snack and rested for couple of minutes. 

2nd Registration Area : Php 20.00/pax

Who would've thought that you will be able to see a tub and a backhoe halfway to the summit. 

We then continued our trek, after an hour or so we finally reached the summit and saw some group of campers in the helipad. We didn’t miss our chance to simply stare and appreciate the Metro Manila skyline.

We spent the next couple of minutes taking photos, videos and appreciating the spectacular view. We then stayed at the helipad for a while and have our lunch in a hut nearby. It's just amazing that after a long tiring hike we still have the energy to laugh and share stories that happened to us on the trail. Mt. Balagbag is my second mountain climbing experience and I must say it’s worth it. 

Presenting some legendary jumpshot of Lagalag!

The original plan is to trek and have an overnight stay in Mt. Balagbag but guess what the guide recommended to try Mt. Maranat. It's just around 1 PM when we finished our lunch so everybody agree to traverse Mt Maranat and stay there overnight. What a challenge!

For my Mt Maranat adventure click 3rd Climb : Mt Maranat - Facing the Unexpected. 

SAMPLE ITINERARY 

0430     ETD Alabang 

0630     ETA Barangay Licao-Licao

0700     Breakfast 

0730     Registration Barangay Balagbag

0800     Start Trek  

1000     Assault Summit

1100     Summit

1200     Lunch. Rest. 

1300     Head to Mt. Maranat 

Note: We rented a van for this trip. If you want a detail itinerary with commute option visit this page Pinoy Mountaineer.

BUDGET 

Van Rent - Php 200.00

Registration Fee 1 - Php 20.00

Registration Fee 2 - Php 20.00

Food - Php 200.00

Guide Fee - Php 100.00 

Total - Php 540.00

THINGS TO BRING

2L Water

1 Bottle Gatorade

Trail Snacks (Jelly, Chocolate or Nuts)

Toiletries

First Aid Kit

Extra Clothes

Garbage Bag

That's all for now. See you around!