Mt. Maculot – Rockies – Grotto Traverse

We already climbed the famous Rockies in Mount Maculot. We’ve done it by twin day hike; Rockies and Manabu Peak. Maculot has three destinations: 1) the Rockies, 2) Summit, and 3) Grotto. Most hikers are just stop at the Rockies only and few people will pursue the traverse. But, that’s my group is going to do. We will explore the forested side of the mountain.

The mountain is about 930 meters above sea level. The trail to the summit is easy and mostly forested. From the Rockies, it takes only an hour to reach the summit. And, at the summit, one can see the Rockies surrounded by waters of Taal Lake and Taal volcano is also visible here. However, there are some part of the trail that is overgrown, but don’t worry because it is not difficult to follow.

From the summit, we go down and follow the trail that leads to Grotto. This part is quite steep and there are some parts that one used rope on the descent. The forest ends where the Grotto appears and just follows the station of the cross to downward until reach the end of the trail. 

Overall, climbing Mt. Maculot traverse is a very easy and wonderful experience to share to your friends and co-hikers. The view is stunning especially if the cloud is so clear! It can be combined for a twin day hike with Manabu Peak. 

Itinerary

04:00AM – Meet up

05:30AM – Ride a bus bound to Cuenca, Batangas (signboard Lemery)

07:30AM – Arrived at Cuenca, ride a tricycle to jump-off, registration 

08:00AM – Start trek

09:45AM – Campsite

10:00AM – Rockies

11:00AM – Trek from Rockies to Summit

12:00NN – Summit

12:15PM – Trek to Grotto

02:00PM – Arrived Grotto (Our Lady of Lourdes)

02:30PM – Jump-off, rest, freshen up

03:00PM – Back to Lipa City

05:30PM – Manila bound

Expense:

147Php each – Bus

20Php each – Tricycle

334Php each – Guide Fee ( 1000Php for Traverse)

How to get there?

Take a bus (Cubao/Pasay) bound to Lemery, Batangas and drop off Cuenca. Then, ride a tricycle going to Registration booth and get a guide (required).

More photos, click >>> Here!

Happy Hiking!

Marco

Mt. Damas and the Ubod Falls

Three months of not indulging in any activities is kind a boring. I was burn-out! So, I decided to join my friend’s mountain climbing. And, this time we are heading to North Luzon. Our goal is to reach the peak of Mt. Damas.

So, let’s see what this mountain can offers…

Mt. Damas is 685 MASL, located in San Clemente, Tarlac. Sitio Dueg is the major jump-off, while the alternate jump-off is in Brgy. Papaac, Camiling, Tarlac. And, have difficulty of 6/9. As a matter of fact, this is very challenging especially when having a flash flood. This mountain is small, but more challenging because it requires you to river crossing, river trekking and rock climbing in order to reach the foot of Mt. Damas.

At the peak, the landscape is superb; one can experience a panoramic view of the Tarlac and neighbouring mountains.

view of Mt. Damas from Brgy. Papaac

At exactly six o’clock in the morning, our trek started. The trail is undoubtedly not so difficult, but when we finally get to the river the challenge has begun. It was a long river trek. According to our guide, it will take two hours before we reach to the foot of the mountain. This part of the trail was rocky. And, you have to climb the rock to descend on the falls going to the base. From the river, you can see the mountain already and yet it still requires more hours to reach the peak.

almost on the top...

The group just enjoys the trail, rock climbing, and river crossing. If I can still remember, we did a rock climbing five times. Then, we arrived at the foot of the mountain after two hours and just have a quick brunch.

Now, we enter the thick vegetation and thorny vines going up to the summit. From the foot of Mt. Damas, the trail is becoming steeper and steeper. I just trying to assist myself not to get cramps because it’s really an unending assault! It takes two hours to reach the summit. Another challenging part is to descend here.

From the base, trekking again going to the Si-El Falls and we will get jumped to the water, but the guide recommended the Ubod Falls because it’s bigger. So, we trekked our way to the Ubod Falls. And, again we need to climb mini falls to get to the Ubod Falls.

the highest point

We took photos first and then, getting ourselves ready to jump to the water to feel fresh and relax from very tiring descent! But, when the rain is heavily pouring we immediately pack up our things and leave the area to avoid the flash flood. We have difficulty in descending and climbing because the rock is slipper. However, we arrived safely!

Ubod Falls

It is another great experience in the north!

Itinerary

11:00 PM – meet up at Bus Terminal in Cubao

12:00 AM – ETD Cubao Terminal

03:00 AM – ETA Camiling, Tarlac

04:00 AM - early breakfast, the guide pick-up time (tricycle)

05:00 AM – arrived at Brgy. Papaac, preparation

06:00 AM – start trek

06:30 AM – river trek/crossing and rock climbing

08: 00 AM – arrived at the foot of the mountain

08:30 AM – start climb, assault

10:30 AM – summit

11:00 AM – descent

01:00 PM – arrived foot of the mountain, lunch

01:30 PM – explore water falls, Si-el Falls and Ubod Falls

02:30 PM – back to trail, river crossing, rock climbing

04:30 PM – Brgy. Papaac, clean up

05:00 PM – back to Camiling Tarlac, snacks

06:00 PM – ETD Manila

Important Notes

• Wear gloves to protect your hands because you hold on to thorny plants as the steep going to the river.
•  Bring skin protection because the sun protection from jump off to grassland may hit your skin.
• There are lots of water source, so one to two liters of water is safe.
•  There’s a flashflood when it rain; so bring a rope with you.
•  And the most important is ENJOY! 

   How to go to Mount Damas

      From Cubao, ride a bus (Solid North bus) bound to Camiling, Tarlac

      Ride a jeep/tricycle from Camiling going to Brgy. Papaac, meet the guide

  Contact Person:

     Emman – 0908 942 3592

  Expenses:

    Cubao to Camiling – 265 php

    Trike – 100 php each

    Guide Fee – 500 php

Mt. Ampacao Traverse to Lake Danum

On the third day of our Sagada Escapade, after quick lunch we immediately change our clothes and meet Joey, our guide. We are all tired from our activities earlier, but we still pursue our mission for that day.  We began to walk heading to the jump-off site of Mt. Ampacao. It’s in Ambasing Elementary School.

It is one of the must-visit tourist spots in Mountain, Province. It offers a superb view of Sagada and surrounding villages.

Background

The mountain is located in Sagada, Mountain Province; it is 1889 MASL, two hours to reach to the summit which offers a beautiful scene of Sagada. The jump-off is at Brgy. Ambasing.  There are two important landmarks of the mountain; the first one is ranch which some hikers mistakenly call it as the summit, and the second is the peak of mountain.

The first summit is the ranch where you can pitch tent here if you stay overnight. However, additional thirty minutes going up to the peak of Mt. Ampacao. It’s a concrete trail and there’s a part also that are rocky. Pine trees are everywhere throughout the trails which give common shade that helps hiker not feel the heat of the sun. The weather, obviously, is still cold which I truly like during the climb.

It’s around one to two hours trek depending on the pace and another twenty to thirty minutes from the ranch to the summit. It has a Smart Cell site at the peak of Mt. Ampacao, which is denoted that it is the highest point. You will see the panoramic view of the mountain at the summit. It is truly wonderful! It features the Mt. Sipsipitan, Mt. Polis, Bessang, and Mt. Tirad.

Then, we back to ranch and take the trail to Lake Danum to catch the sunset, but unfortunately we didn’t the catch sunset. Traversing to Lake Danum is another two hour trekking. Then, returning to town proper by foot.

Getting there

Ambasing Elementary School is the jump-off point of the mountain. It is easy to follow the trail that hiring a guide is an optional. But, if still need a guide, and then visit Saggas office near junction of Sagada in the two main roads of Sagada. For us, we hired a guide because we traverse from the summit to Lake danum.

First thirty minutes is on a concrete road and another thirty minutes of walk across the rough and rocky roads. Reaching to the summit is very easy though there are some part of the trail became steeper and steeper.

My heart is beating and I felt that I can't make it any longer on the grounds that the trail got to be steeper and steeper. Obviously, I can make it to achieve the summit! The views are really refreshing.

More photos here...

Itinerary

02:00 PM – Meet the guide

02:30 PM – start walk to the jump-off, Ambasing Elementary School

03:30 PM – arrived at the Ranch, taking photos

04:00 PM – arrived at the peak, take snacks

04:30 PM – back to Ranch, and then trail to Lake Danum

05:45 PM – arrived at Lake Danum

06:15 PM – back to town proper

Guide Fee: 600php

And this is my 13th conquered mountain! Hooray!

Happy climbing!

Marco