San Jose Circuit - Skookum Mountaineers (1st Anniversary Climb)

As we observe the 1st Anniversary of the Skookum Mountaineers, we Skookums chose to celebrate it in a place very close to our hearts. Where else but in Sitio San Pebro, Brgy. Iba, San Jose, Tarlac, where we also held our 1st Outreach Program (PaSkookum 2014) last December 2014. Since the San Jose Circuit (mainly composed of Mt. Caoayan, Mt. Bungkol Baka, and Mt. Tangisan) is known for its long circuitous trek under hellish conditions, we chose to have an open itinerary so as to maintain a relaxed pace along the trail. Among the participants of our 1st Anniversary Climb were Skookums Bogs, Gani, Allan, Oliver, Espi, Nelson, Bette, Charmm, and Jaime. Amy and Jhen participated as our guest climbers.

Mt. Caoayan...energy-sapping

Mt. Bungkol Baka...the mysterious

Mt. Tangisan...the elusive (so near yet so far)

We started to assemble at the McDonald’s located in Quezon Ave., cor. EDSA at 0100H. It was already 0200H when we left for Tarlac City aboard our service van. Everybody exuded the anticipation of having the chance to conquer one of Central Luzon’s hardest and most intense climbs, and more importantly, to again meet some of our old friends in Sitio San Pedro.

At 0415H, Skookums Allan, Bogs and Oliver alighted at the Tarlac City Public Market to do some marketing. While the others proceeded towards the McDonald’s opposite the Tarlac State University to have breakfast (we decided to just rendezvous with them there so that we can actually save some precious time).  It was already 0500H when the three of us arrived and ordered breakfast. It was already 0620H when we left for Sitio San Pedro in San Jose, Tarlac.

We finally arrived at the registration area in Sitio San Pedro at around 0715H, where we were warmly met by Kapitan Omeng together with a bunch of kiddos who were then playing by the roadside. We then repacked some of our things and prepared our gears. As we were already late by more than hour in our intended itinerary, we decided to hike on a moderate pace. Before we left the registration area, there were locals who sold us their fresh catch that morning. It was already 0830H when we left the registration area and started to again test the tramping grounds of the Abeling Tribe.

We proceeded on a leisurely pace and passed by the now concrete road leading to the gravel road towards Pangasaan Dam. With Mt. Tangisan as our witness, we bade farewell to Sitio San Pedro. We then had our first rest stop somewhere Pangasaan Lake. With the humidity of the surroundings, it is not surprising that the lake has almost dried up just before the onset of the summer season. From here, we formally entered the north east trail leading up Mt. Caoayan.

Good to go

"The Picture Group"

Ang mga bigatin sa buhatan...upper body strength.

Bungkol Baka as seen from the registration area

Circuit climbing mode...ON

Our next stop was at the Biak-na-Bato. Previously during our hike in November, this huge boulder is submerged in free flowing water. After spending some time for picture taking, we proceeded to the trailhead of the “Assault to Inferno”.

Hi there!

We are Skookum

The river...final rest stop before the Assault to Inferno (this also leads to Pangasaan Falls)

The lung-busting and knee-breaking Assault to Inferno is a pure assault up the plateau leading to Mt. Caoayan, and once you reach the top, the inferno-like conditions begin. It is actually one of the critical stages of the climb as time spent here would either make or break your climb. You spend more time here, and your hike up Mt. Caoayan and Bungkol Baka would surely feel like you are in the midst of a firestorm. Gladly, all of us survived this initial test. 

our guides say that they use ropes during the rainy season in this particular part of the circuit

pure assault...pure energy

Assault...with dusty, slippery and dry trail

finally...we have conquered the Assault to Inferno

From the initial assault, as we were informed that most of the water sources have now started to run dry, we decided to have a rest stop and have lunch at the house of one of the locals, which incidentally is located near one of the remaining water sources.Upon reaching the small creek, we turned right towards the house where we were gladly welcomed by the children we previously saw fishing at the lake. It was surprising that their hut practically had no walls, and yet these kids seem to be so happy that we visited their place.

Espi...at the SJC's Whimping Willow

There's the plateau and then the rolling terrain with mild ascents

Our guides prepared a special dish for us, “Sinampalukang Dalag na luto sa Kawayan”. It was really so delicious, the fact that we had a boodle fight made our lunch so enjoyable. How humble it may have been, but nothing beats a complete meal in the mountains. We Skookums always see to it that we have the best food in the mountains, you know (haahaa).

After some of us had a brief siesta, we followed the footpath towards the southern side of Mt. Caoayan. As the heat of the sun became more intense, we were forced to be on the lookout for shade along the way. We were so relieved to have reached the column of Paper Trees near the trailhead leading to the assault up Mt. Caoayan. After a brief chitchat, all of us pushed for the summit.

the heat is really unbearable

The eastern side of Mt. Caoayan

Finally...the ricefield/plateau...the base leading to the summit of Mt. Caoayan

only the paper trees at the back serve as shade from the sun

The surroundings up Mt. Caoayan seemed so different from our previous climbed late last year. It seemed that there was a bushfire that has practically levelled the thick cogon that practically covered the trail then. Nevertheless, there are more areas where we had our photops. As such, the 40 minute assault turned out to be 1 hour and 30 minutes. Even so, we were all so happy with all the jumpshots, videos, and buwis-buhay photos that we were able to capture. Team Relax and Team Picture were really on at that time. Thus, sorry if this post gets more flooded with pictures from hereon.

photo stop :)

Isn't this awesome?

Windy

Picture perfect

Stand

one Caoayan's rockies

dramatic actor

Selfie

jump shot

Picture perfect

Charm and Nelson

Hiyaa!

The views at the summit of Mt. Caoayan are really splendid. You would see the fertile plains of Tarlac on the East, the Zambales Mountain Range on the West, more mountains to the South where the ricefield below appears like an amphitheater, and the lake, Sitio San Pedro, and a faint view of the Monasterio to the North. Setting camp at the summit of Mt. Caoayan was one of our options but due to our limited water supply, and the nearby watersource has already dried up, we eventually decided to continue trekking.

The guava tree at the summit

The summit area...can also serve as campsite

Breathtaking view

Batong Indak...

TheSummit

Cleavage ni Espi hehe

Caoayan Scandal

Happy Hikers

Hellllooooooo!

We could have camped at the summit of Mt. Bungkol Baka also, but the news that there were more than 30 mountaineers who have settled at the Guava Campsite at that time made us decide to just continue tramping towards Mt. Tangisan. I asked one of our guides where could have all the cows at Bungkol Baka gone and he said that there were now driven back to the lowlands due to the lack of watersources in the mountains at this time of the year.

The tree on the edge

coming from the summit of Mt. Caoayan

Hi ho, Hi ho

Super Mountaineer

Doon pa ang pupuntahan natin :)

LoveyDovey

At the junction going to the Bayabas Camp Site

After we have reached the final ascent along the Caoyan Drift (the descent on the western slope of Mt. Caoayan), we took a long rest at the ulingan. There is hut at the ulingan, and it is actually the final ascent before the dreaded continuous descent at the Banana Slide. Climbers need to be extra careful in this area, because as the name implies, one could easily trip or slip along the Banana Slide. Yes, it can be treacherous even for the most experienced of hikers so everyone is advised to take extra caution.

Upon reaching the final descent at the Banana Slide, we turned right towards the final water source. From here, the river-trekking began. We followed the river going west and then took the loop going to Mt. Tangisan until we ultimately reached the lake where we decided to camp for the night. 

As everybody were all tired, drained, and weary from that hot, humid, dry, and long hike, we asked our guides to buy some soda and ice (that was actually their idea...).

As we pitched our tents, many of us were busy recalling the happy, and even the trying moments we had along the trail. This Anniversary Climb really ranks among the best climbs of the Skookum Mountaineers as we unceasingly had funny moments even after the actual climb. When our guides arrived (they were actually fast), they even made a bonfire where they cooked rice and chicken adobo for us. On the other hand, we cooked fried porkchops and adobong kambing as we went on with our socials even before we could actually have dinner.

The night went on with stories and laughter under the night sky and twinkling stars. At 2230H, we finally called it a night.

Thank you Skookums for this enjoyable and fun climb.

SJC - Skookumized!

Bette

Oliver

Charm

Gani

Allan



Bogs


San Jose Circuit

Espi

Jaime

Nelson

Jhen

Amy

Traipsing Chronicles 017
002.021.015

San Jose Circuit - Mt. Caoayan
Sitio San Pedro, Brgy. Iba, San Jose, Tarlac
Category: Major Climb
Highlights: rolling farmlands; unobstructed views of the nearby flatlands, Mt. Arayat and the Zambales Mountain Range;

Actual Itinerary

0100H   Assembly at McDonald's Quezon Ave.
0200H   Departure for Tarlac City
0415H   Do some Marketing at Tarlac City Public Market
0500H   Breakfast at McDonald's TSU
0620H   Departure for Sitio San Pedro, San Jose, Tarlac
0715H   Arrival at the Jumpoff - Sitio San Pedro
0830H   Commence hike
0900H   Arrival at Pangasaan Dam/Lake
0920H   Arrival at Biyak-na-Bato
0930H   Arrival at Trailhead - Assault to Inferno
0945H   Commence Hiking - Assault to Inferno
1020H   Arrival - Top of the Assault
1030H   Commence Hike
1045H   Arrival at the Creek - Proceed to the Water Source
1050H   Arrival at the House / Prepare Lunch
1230H   Lunch
1330H   Commence Hike
1420H   Arrival - Base of Mt. Caoayan / Break
1430H   Commence Assault to Summit - Mt. Caoayan
1600H   Arrival - Summit - Mt. Caoayan / Photo ops
1615H   Descend Summit - Mt. Caoayan
1640H   Arrival - Base of Mt. Caoayan
1705H   Arrival - Caoayan-Bungkol Baka Junction / Break
1720H   Commence Hike towards Caoayan Drift
1810H   Arrival - Charcoal Maker's Hut / Start of Banana Slide
1930H   Base of Banana Slide / Water Source / Start River Trek
2000H    Arrival - Mt. Tangisan Trailhead
2015H   Arrival Pangasaan Lake - Camp / Prepare Dinner
2100H   Dinner / Socials
2230H   Lights Out