San Jose Circuit - Tramping Advisory (Permit to Climb)

Mountaineers/Climbers/Hikers wishing to climb the mountains in the town of San Jose, Tarlac (San Jose Circuit) are now required to secure a permit from the Municipal Tourism Office. This policy has been enforced due to the untoward incident that happened last 2015 to a group of hikers that went on an Outreach Mission in Sitio Baag.

Mt. Tangisan

Mt. Matalaubaba

For more details, you may contact Engr. Ramil E. De Vera, the Municipal Tourism Officer / Municipal Engineer of San Jose at +63 908 881 9789. You may likewise send an email to him at redevera33@gmail.com


Should you wish to personally drop by the Municipal Tourism Office, it is located at the Municipal Hall Complex in Brgy. Villa Aglipay, San Jose, Tarlac.

Climbing Mt. Kawayan

Skookum Jump....with Mt. Ngile and the San Pedro River Valley in the background

***As I decided to go back to the San Jose Circuit for a dayhike up Mt. Tangisan last March 30, I was informed at the Registration Area that climbers / hikers are now mandated to secure a permit from the Municipal Tourism Office. Hence, I rushed back to the Municipal Hall and was so fortunate to have been permitted to climb despite the short notice. But I would recommend that you secure the permit or at least coordinate with the Municipal Tourism Office prior to the actual date of the climb.




Tramping Advisory 014

003.030.016

San Jose Circuit / San Jose Tarlac (Climbing Permit)

Pico de Loro / Mt. Palay-Palay - Tramping Advisory (Temporary closure of the Monolith)

***Please note that there are claims (still unverified) that the Monolith is still open since it is supposedly outside the jurisdiction of Cavite, and that one only needs to sign a waiver in case a hiker/climber wishes to scale the Monolith (as of March 23, 2016).




Pico de Loro is one of the most popular climbs in the entire Philippines. Aside from the challenging trails and magnificent views at the summit, it's Monolith is really one of a kind attraction. As such, climbing the Monolith has become a personal rite of passage to the daring.

The Monolith on the left....the Summit on the Right.

On the other hand, this popularity has likewise become Pico de Loro's curse. As the number of climbers scaling it has dramatically increased in recent years, considerable changes along the trail leading to its Summit, much less, the trail leading to the Monolith became more and more obvious.

The Monolith taken from the Summit

In this regard, the DENR-PENRO in Cavite issued an order temporarily barring mountaineers / hikers / climbers from climbing the Pico de Loro's Monolith starting March 15, 2016. The DENR-PENRo Cavite cited the supposed erosion of land and loss of vegetation at the base of the Monolith in issuing the directive.


Mountaineers / hikers / climbers, please be advised accordingly. Let us help the mountain heal itself.

***credits to the owner of this photo that I got from the net

Tramping Advisory 013

003.016.016

Pico de Loro / Mt. Palay-Palay (Temporary Closure of Monolith)

Manabu Peak - Mataas na Bundok

"He that plants trees loves others besides himself."
- Thomas Fuller -

Manabu Peak is one of the more popular minor climbs that is relevantly close to Metro Manila. Most enjoy its dense forest cover, the interesting flora and fauna within its range, and the wonderful views that it offers. Of course, who would ever forget the free civet coffee of Mang Tino and Mang Pirying. There are really a lot of reasons that climbers continue to flock and climb Manabu.


Arriving at the trail head, we changed gears and prepared to climb. Holding the seedling that we purchased at the registration area in one, we were so eager to trailblaze again.

Engr's seedling

The initial part of the trail is similar to the approach in Mt. Sembrano and Mt. Romelo. Subsequent to the preliminary plunge and ascent, we passed by agricultural  crops and some orchards as we slowly went deeper into the forest and reach the Stations of the Manabu Loop (Yes, the trail is a loop that is comprised by a number of Stations).

The rolling terrain went on until we finally arrived at Station 3 where we briefly stopped for some photo ops. Here, we also had to cross the brook. As the forest in the Malipunyo Range (where Manabu is located) is really one of the more impressive ones in the entire Philippines, it is not surprising that the flora and fauna in the area is really remarkable.

At the Station 3

Onwards, we passed by farmlands and even had to stoop down at one point in order to get pass by steel wires that resemble a clothesline, which I supposed is being used by the locals as a trellis for their vegetable crops.We decided to have our first rest stop at Station 4. This is where the loop trail merges. The trail on the left leads directly to the Grotto (Station 8) and is relatively an easier ascent towards the summit. On the other hand, while the conventional trail on the right is the steeper assault, it nonetheless leads to Station 5, where Mang Tino and Mang Pirying shall gamely offer a free taste of civet coffee to hikers.

Mt. Pulag - Tramping Advisory (Akiki Trail temporarily closed for hikers)

It was announced by the Mt. Pulag National Park administration that the Akiki Trail in Mt. Pulag is currently closed due to the loose rocks that were caused by the forest fire that recently affected the area.


For further updates on the matter, you may seek for updates at Facebook Page of the Mt-Pulag-National-Park-Bulletin or directly contact them: 09291668864 or 09103010423. You may likewise click on this link.


Tramping Advisory 012

002.025.016

Mt. Pulag - Akiki Trail (Temporary Closure)

#MtPulag #SeaofClouds

Mt. Pulag - Tramping Advisory (20 hikers per group)

The Mt. Pulag National Park has imposed a limitation on the number of hikers that a specific coordinator/organizer shall be allowed to include in a group. Now, the maximum members allowed for each group shall be twenty (20) and only those who comply with this requirement shall be allowed to leave for the Ranger Station.



In line with this, all organizers with more than 20 participants are advised to reduce the members of their respective teams. Those who have previous reservations are given the chance to enter the park but from now on, the management will now start imposing the 20 pax per team to give chances for other climbers to trek the park.

Also, the DENR has qualified that the suspension of reservations for 2017 covers the Babadak Trail on Saturdays only. Trekkers below 10 members per team could however be accommodated to provide social assistance to the community guides and porters.

And lastly, since the park management has not increased its fees since 2000. It was also announced that there shall be an increase in the Entrance Free from P100 per head to P175.00/head pursuant to the Resolution of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) in 2015. .

Link to the post: Mt. Pulag - 20 members in a team

Tramping Advisory 011

002.010.016

Mt. Pulag - Members per team; Suspension of Resevations

#MtPulag #SeaofClouds

Mt. Pulag - Tramping Advisory (Marking of Hikers; Suspension of Reservations for all weekends in 2017)

The management of the Mt. Pulag National Park has mandated the marking of the hands of all trekkers at the Visitors' Center, after it has been verified that the hikers involved have reservations and that they have undergone the orientation before entering the park. As such, trekkers with no seal from the Visitors' Center/Protected Area Office shall not be allowed entry. Hence, trekkers with no reservations are hereby advised not to proceed directly to the Babadak Ranger Station.

 

Organizers who usher hikers more than what were actually indicated in their reservations are also advised to just visit the mountain lakes located at the northern part of Mt. Pulag so that they may have an alternative activity.

Lastly, it has also been resolved that reservations for all weekends of 2017 are suspended until further notice.

Visit the post here: Mt. Pulag

Tramping Advisory 010

002.010.016

Mt. Pulag - Marking of Hikers; Suspension of Resevations

#MtPulag #SeaofClouds

Mt. Mamara: a newly-opened mountain in Daraitan

“You don't need to climb a mountain to know that it's high.” 

                                                                            ― Paulo Coelho, Aleph

Nestled within a river valley in the Southern Sierra Madre is a paradise known as Barangay Daraitan, which lies within the boundaries of Tanay, Rizal. What was previously a haven for illegal loggers, has now become a sanctuary for mountaineers, hikers, weekend warriors, and casual tourists that ceaselessly flock to the place especially during holidays and weekends. So, as our first hike for 2016, we finally decided to hike in Daraitan.

Mt. Mamara...taken somewhere along the Tinipak River

Mt. Mamara...as seen a few meters from the jump off point

Fly high...Skookum jump

As our plan to hire a van did not materialize, we decided to just meet at the designated stop for jeepneys bound for Tanay opposite the Shangri-la Plaza Mall along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City. It was already 0445H when we boarded a jeepney, hoping that we are still within the 300 hikers to summit in a day quota that was recently imposed in Barangay Daraitan. We ultimately arrived at the Tanay Public Market at 0610H together with at least 12 hikers that flagged the jeepney somewhere in Cainta and Pasig.