It was only a week when I saw the event so I immediately tried my best to tune-up myself before the climb. Doing a trilogy is an endurance test and for first timers, we had to make sure we are physically and mentally ready. I also did some research online and asked my officemate who have already conquered some of the summits in Rizal on some advice and tips. This helps as you will be 'theoretically-equipped' with what you will be expecting on your adventure.
Our group of 13 met up in Cubao as early as 3:00AM and left for Montalban at 4:00AM. We arrived at the jump-off point which is also the DENR Office about 5:00AM, signed at the registration and hired two guides.
Mt. Binacayan
Our first target was Mt. Binacayan at 424 meters above sea level(MASL) and a 5/9 mountain difficulty. It was dark since it was just past 5:30 when we began the trek. The trail was a mix of rock and terrain ascents with bamboo trees along side. We took a short break at one edge of the trail to watch the sunrise as well take pictures on one of the rock formations. Sea of Clouds are also a sight to behold.
The ascent to the summit was quite rocky which you have to take long steps from one limestone formation to another. We reached the summit at 7:30AM.
We descended Mt. Binacayan at about past 8:00AM and went back to jump-off point by 10AM to take a rest and prepare for our second and third summits.
Mt Pamitinan and Haponang Banoi share a junction past a forested area where there is a trail on the left towards Pamitinan Cave (which was closed for the meantime) and a rock climbing area. Our guides also advised us to leave our bags at the junction so we can move faster and easier for our next two mountains.
Mt. Pamitinan
Mt Pamitinan is higher than Binacayan at 426 MASL with a difficulty level of 4/9. The limestones here are sharper and more jagged as compared to Mt Binacayan so we have to wear our gloves. The trail is more rocky but there are still bamboo trees that you can hold on to for balance. We stopped over at the they so-called 'Buwis-Buhay' rock (a rock formation narrowing to the edge, just meters below the summit, overlooking the green, rocky forest).
Reaching the summit required rope climbing as it is a 90° inclination. It was like the famous monolith of Pico de Loro. Atop the summit is a beautiful 360° view of the neighboring mountains and forest area.
Haponang Banoi
At 517 MASL and a 4/9 difficulty, Haponang Banoi was the last target in our trilogy hike. The trail began with terrainial to rocky ascents and the way to the summit is more of scrambling through sharper rock formations, longer steps - leaps rather in between rock gaps. The boulders are quite larger and more jagged as compared with the first two mountains. Also, the fact that it was already getting dark added challenge to the trek as we have to move cautiously faster to reach the summit and descend before the sun sets.
We reached the summit at 4:00PM. It was a breathtaking view as the summit itself are composed of sharp rock formations with little or minimal flat spaces that you could step on to. Our guides continues to amaze us as they could easily leap from one rock to another just to shoot our pictures. Shortly afterwhile, we decided to scramble back down the mountain and reached the junction at dawn.
We traversed to Wawa River and took a little sightseeing at the Wawa Dam before heading back to the jump-off point, culminating the trilogy with a refreshing shower.
Overall, it was a very interesting and challenging climb. The three mountains offer different kinds of difficulties and it is up to you on how you will strategize your way up and down. It was also an advantage that the weather was favorable and both our guides, Kuya Rey and Kuya Rommel, were very equipped, very accomodating, and entertaining.
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