Reaching the Peak of Mt. Sembrano (745+)

Mt. Sembrano is 745 MASL and the trail is a bit challenging because there will be a rough road that leads to a rocky path. You might encounter locals that would offer to get  a fresh coconut juice for only 10 pesos. There are many Mango trees at the beginning of the trail. At the summit, the view is scenic, the view of Laguna Lake, Talim Island, Mt. Makiling are also seen while you are in the summit. 

Hiking, yes, is a challenge to yourself but  it is also a fulfillment to your life because  when you get into the peak of the mountain. It will make you say, SUCCESS! I DID IT! One of my hobby is mountaineering. I climb together
with my co-mountaineers yet I never tried major hiking but hoping that this year we will be having our major hike, crossed-fingers.

The last mountains we climbed was Mt. Talamitam and Mt. Batulao, on December 2012. We did a twin hike as we say goodbye 2012 and I climbed six mountain already for that year, not enough! After three months, finally, my first hike for this year happened and this is my official seventh mountaineering. 

On March 31, 2013 my group headed to the town of Rizal to conquer Mt. Sembrano. Of course, I am with my mountaineer friends Jeff and Ian. We also welcomed Art and Shan, and the three girls in our group; Kristel, Jane and Vienne.

The meeting place was at Starmall – Mandaluyong City, we supposed to met up at exactly five in the morning but the others are not on time. So, we left at six thirty in the morning bound to Tanay Market. It was two hours ride going to Tanay, Rizal. I have time to take a nap because I only have three hours of sleep that day. Arrived at Tanay Market around eight thirty in the morning, we immediately rode a jeep bound to Pililia, Rizal. We dropped off at Brgy. Hall of Malaya, Pililia, Rizal and registered our name and pay for 20 pesos for the registration fee.

South Peak, SUMMIT

We start trekking around ten in the morning and its already late. Our estimated time to start the trek was eight in the morning but since our trip is a bit long drive we just have to be patient and just enjoy while in the ride. We arrived at the campsite around ten-thirty in the morning. We rested in the campsite and a local young boy offered us a fresh coconut juice. Then, we begun to wander again going up to the North Peak or the so-called Low Peak – is the first high point. Thirty minutes away from North Peak, is the South Peak or the so-called Summit. 

Laguna Lake, from the summit of Mt. Sembrano

ITINERARY

6:00AM - Assembly, Starmall - Crossing

6:30AM – Take a jeep/van going to Tanay, Rizal

8:30AM – ETA Tanay Market (take a jeep bound to Malaya, Pililia)

9:30AM – ETA Brgy. Malaya, Pililia, Rizal (jump-off)

10:00AM – start trek

10:30AM – ETA Campsite

11:30AM – ETA North Peak (Low Peak)

12:00NN – SUMMIT, lunch

12:30PM – Start descent

02:00PM – Campsite, rest

03:30PM – back to jump-off, clean-up, then take a jeep back to Tanay/Manila

07:30PM – ETA Manila

And that made my official 7th conquered mountain! Hooray!

Happy climbing,
Marco