Mt. Guiting - Guiting, My First Knife's Edge
I heard of Mt. Guiting - Guiting back when I just started climbing in 2011 and how it is one of the hardest mountains to climb in the Philippines. Because of the need for that sense of accomplishment and pride I became very interested in climbing it but doubted my capability at the same time. Thankfully, desires and intentions change, last Holy Week (April 17-21) I was able to hike up Mt. Guiting-Guiting not for proving anything but just for the love of the mountains and wanting to experience and see something unique and different. I did at the same time found the courage to do it.
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| On board, Sibuyan bound. |
It was a short hike, but a very long trip. Not that the trail was short, it was like one of the longest walks of my life (second to Mt. Kota Kinabalu), but considering we hiked for only two days and travelled to get to the foot of the mountain (and back) for almost three days does the math. If you want to climb this mountain time (or should I say days) is a big factor to consider.
We left on Thursday at 17:00 from Batanggas port but we were already in the port at around 13:00. That means we left Manila (considering you are from the metro) sometime around 9:00 or 10:00, and waited for another 4 hours at the pier just to not miss the trip. Queues were unusually long for Buses bound to anywhere in Luzon that day so we had to leave early, better to wait at the port than be left by the boat.
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| Sunset on our way to Romblon. |
It was my first overnight sea travel and thank God I wasn't a bit afraid. While the boat is leaving Batanggas we took pictures, and just took the moment to look at the vast nothingness of the ocean realizing that the day we have waited has come. Soon, it was sunset and I must say it was one of the perfect sunsets I've seen, the orange sun in its big round shape touching the sea in between two mountains – picture perfect! After that Ems, my climb buddy and I decided it’s sleeping time so we ate dinner and took off to dreamland.
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| Ems at the town Hall near the carenderia. |
At around 4:00, Friday, we arrived at Romblon, you’d know because you will hear voices selling something for breakfast like siopao, coffee and empanada and they’ll be walking around your sleeping quarters to make sure you’d wake up. I actually thought we have arrived so I packed all my things, it turns out we have to stay because after almost an hour the boat will leave for Sibuyan where we are headed. After another 2-3 hours we arrived, this time for real and we met Kuya Remy who told us that we have to take the tricycle because there was no jeep available, I was at first disappointed but then I thought who cares I’m closer to G2 now and it was all that matters. I have been asking for breakfast while we were still at the boat and I was just happy that there was a Carenderia open (it was good Friday) that offers a delicious healthy meal at just 30php, something we can never have in the Metro, forget the tricycle ride for another whole day.
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| Ems with Kuya Remy at the DENR |
After the breakfast we went straight to the DENR to sign those papers, there’s a lot of them, I’m sure they were waivers but I just asked where to sign and took pictures around. By the way, the caretakers said the Government, yes the Government have given them budget and they are looking at building a swimming pool there soon so in the future after the climb you can relax at this pool, but I prefer the river which is 30 minutes to 1 hour away from the DENR. They actually have lots of rivers, because after the DENR and a visit to the market Kuya Remy took us to a resort along what they said to be the cleanest river, they had zip lines as well and the tallest diving boards I have seen but I never tried any of those. I was feeling too cold to try swim in the river, plus I have had an experience with zip lines that would make this one boring and I will never jump off from a diving board that high. I have heard from one of the locals there though that the falls was much better, but as per Kuya Remy we were running out of time and we just can’t make it to the falls, oh well, I came there to climb G2 so maybe next time.
We prepared dinner, or should I say they prepared dinner, Kuya Albert was the chief that night and he was cooking for 22 hungry participants including our packed lunch for the next day. Thanks to them we had an early dinner and while they were socializing I went to sleep because I know I owe my body as I was awake for more then 24 hours before the boat ride on the first day.
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| First stop on our dirst day hike before the Outdoor Pilipinas Trail |
Saturday at 01:00 I heard voices asking everyone to get up and prepare, I stayed in bed when I realized it was only 01:00, I only rose up at around 2:00, packed my things, ate breakfast and I was all set before 3:00. Kuya Remy gave us the target places and timings, we prayed and then at around 3:15 we left. I’s a good thing there is 20-30 minute walk of flat land before you reach Olango River (told you there's a lot of rivers here) to warm you up before the never ending assault to the camp. When I say assault, I really do mean assault, so don’t complain that a porter is required, its for your good. We arrived at the camp at around 15:00, that was a 12-hour hike including lunch break and oh those 5 minute breaks that can go up to 15 minutes. We were blessed with a clearing and a sunset before we called it a day.
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| Sunset atop G2. |
Sunday, we had a later start, we woke up at 5:00 to prepare and we were again blessed with a sunrise that I was not able to witness because I was preparing breakfast and my knees were already aching, I just couldn’t get myself to climb and then be back at the camp and climb up again, yes, it was that painful. Anyway, to make the long story short we left the camp at 7:00 but we stayed at the summit for anther 30 minutes or so just taking pictures. We also had multiple stops along the way trying to capture the saw tooth because mr. sun was so generous to us that day it gave me sunburns, but I'm not complaining. :)
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| The group at Mayo's Peak campsite. |
Finally we reached Mayo's Peak where we took our lunch at around 12:30 and left at around 13:30. From the camp it would be lesser rock jumping, climbing and crawling but it was still a steep descent, at least we were already in the forested area and our skin could finally thank us. It was another 2 hours of downhill struggle before we reached the river ( Magdiwang River is the name I guess because it was along Magdiwang's trail) and took a plunge to to releive the heat and the weariness we were feeling. After about 30 minutes I felt the cold setting in so I asked if a few of us can go ahead while the rest are still enjoying the river as there is also only one trike we can ride so it needs to return for the second half of the group (take note, there's 20 of us so one trip has 10 pax). At around 17:00, the view of the DENR was unbelievable, I was just walking not expecting anything but knowing that at some point all the aching I felt would end and the sight of the DENR marks the end of it.
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| Magdiwang River with John, G2 is behind us. |
We stayed at a resort and left at around 8:00 on Monday only to find out that there was no ship from Romblon to Batanggas so instead of going to Romblon we changed destination to Odiongan to ride another ship from there bound to Batanggas. So we left at 10:00 from Ambolong Port in Maagdiwang and arrived at Romblon around 12:00, had a 30 minute stop-over before we left for San Agustin and arrived there at around 14:30. But wait, there's more, we were just arrived at San Agustin, we had to be at Odiongan which is on the other side of Tablas Island so we had to ride a jeep to get us to that other port and there's one on a daily basis. There was no option for us to bail, we had to race against all the passengers and make it or we would be stuck for another day, and most of us were already out of cash, so you get the idea.
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| Top-load like a boss. |
We were thankfully able to ride the jeep top-load style in the middle of a hot and sunny day but the view before us was well worth it, it was however just another obstacle we have to beat. Arriving at Odiongan Port we were told the ship fpr Batanggas was full, and Rox (our charming co-climber) begged and pleaded to let us ride the ship even without beds and thankfully they let us in! So, at 17:00 we left for Batanggas, laid our sleeping bags down because we are sleeping on the ship's deck, my climb-mates said it felt like we were participants of the Amazing Race.
Tuesday at 3:00 we heard these noise signaling we were back in Manila, well, Batanggas but you know what I mean. I would say God lighted up the sky for us during that trip, and I know He will be my hiding place there even if decided to let a storm rage. Mountains, hills, beaches, rivers, falls, cities - wherever it is we want to go I would suggest that we take a time to consider our intentions and I hope we travel simply for the love of travel and appreciation of this world.
Find the itinerary crafted by Kuya Gerry on the document link below:
G2 Itinerary
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| My favorite shot, courtesy of Tristan Pineda with a qoute from Your's Truly :P |
I have a few more photos here (I don't own all the photos here). :)
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| at the crash site with the air craft remains, before the sunshine, my smile is forced, I was too tired already. |
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| Descending Hillary's wall. |
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| On the way to Mayo's peak. with Edward, not the one from Twilight. :P |
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| A photo before we went our separate ways, home bound. |
I have a facebook page by the way:
https://www.facebook.com/timelessterry
