SI AYANG ANG ESKAPO : Mt. Makiling Traverse "MAKTRAV" via Sipit Trail. From Sto. Tomas Jump off to UPLB.

Mt. Makiling is one of the famous mountains in the Philippines. Since elementary days we have been hearing the name of this mountain because of the story of " Mariang Makiling". Its considered one of the mystical mountains of the Philippines because of hearsays about the elements in this mountain.

Mt. Makiling View from Turbina.

Makiling has two main "Jump Off", one is at University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Forestry and the Jump Off from the other side of Makiling at Barangay San Felix-Sitio Jordan (Basurahan) Santo Tomas Batangas. The "MAKTRAV" or Makiling Traverse is one of the favorite trekking path of many hardcore mountaineers. From Santo Tomas Batangas there are two trails that you can take, one is the Sipit Trail and the other one is the Palanggana Trail. Officially the "Palanggana Trail was closed already because its now part f the UPLB protected area. The Los Banos Trail was closed in 2007 because of the damaged it had during a strong typhoon that hit the Southern Luzon. There was an incident happened back in December 2012. There were two students of UPLB who died in "Flat Rocks" a water catch basin of Makiling near UPLB where you can swim. After the said incident the UPLB trail was closed again for mountaineers. This really made us to take the "MAKTRAV" July 2013.

ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS "TEAM MAKTRAV"

Before we climb, I had learned that this would be a tough climb for the group. I intended to invite only few of my members that i know has a great skills that can past the challenge of Mt. Makiling Traverse. I keep sending them updates and reminders before this climb. The month of June, July and August are lean months for the Philippines Mountaineering Community because this is the rainy season for us. I had been bugging my mentor Sir Jeff to allow me to organized this climb. Makiling is his home mountain and the group he is in- The Dahong Palay Mountaineers. So he knew hows the experience in Makiling Rain or Shine. Since for three days before the set date it did not rain that made us decided to push true this climb.

FROM BARANGAY TO THE FOOT OF MAKILING

OUR GUIDE'S REMINDERS BEFORE ENTERING THE MAKILING

OUR FIRST ESKAPO T-SHIRT

THE LAST GROUP PICTURE BEFORE ENTERING THE MAKILING

The first part of "Maktrav" is a grassland segment. Group was divided into two, each group consists of 6 ESKAPO MEMBERS and one guide. I was in the second which is the sweepers. The first stop was at CAMP 1 its like one hour walk from the entrance of Makiling.

BASE CAMP 1

Brian Tonua is one of my mentors and one of the first person that introduced the mountaineering to me. He is an experienced mountaineer. He has been to different mountains, minors or major climbs. But when we reached the Base Camp 1 he decided to back-out. It's not that he was afraid or whatsoever.Its because he was having a fever that morning. He came from work on night shift and he had no sleep and enough rest. I asked the group to rest for 20 to 30 minutes and until Brian would feel fine." Kasi baka nabigla lang daw ang katawan niya" sabi ni Brian. After 30 minutes, he was feeling the same way and he decided to go back to the Barangay with one of our guide. We dont want to risk his health and insist that he could make it. Like what i have learned from him"ANG BUNDOK AY ANDIYAN LANG" hindi mu kaya akyatin ngayon andiyan lang yan pwede mung balikan. This is the line that really marked on my mind. I also tell to this line to all of my members once the're feeling tired.

Brian and "AYANG"

AYANG'S Mentos Sir Bryce and Sir Jeff

We resumed the trekking after Sir Brian left us from Base Camp 1

As we take the Sipit trail we can feel that the trail is getting steeper. After 2 hours we reached the "Station 15 where we had lunch.

Kaen Bundukero's

Adobo, itlog,hotdog,tuna,longganisa,tocino etc.

Sir Jeff and Our Guides

AYANG at ang NANAY NG ESKAPO- Narielle David Group's Regsitered Nurse

After taking lunch was the assault to Melka's Peak

TO HARING BATO 80 degrees roped segment.

There was drizzle that made the trail so muddy and slippery.

Catching breathe.

A View before the "Haring Bato"

A different group behind us and they were watching us assaulting the "Haring Bato"

CONQUERING THE "HARING BATO"

The Famous "Haring Bato" Back in old days in Makiling this was totally 90 degrees and it was the most challenging part of Makiling Traverse.

Upfront of Haring Bato the Densed Forest of Makiling.

I tried to stand on the edge of Haring Bato but a strong blew towards me which made me moved. I immediately balanced my weight and moved cautiously. That was really close... Thank you Lord!! Wag na po gayahin.........

Good thing my co-sweeper Sir Raim were there to support me. Thanks

After the Melka's Peak we headed to Peak 3 (1020MASL) via wild boar trail. Getting to the Peaks of Makiling i would say is "technical". Aside from the limatiks encounter there are so many roped segments that you will pass along the trail, muddy and slippery trail since most of the time its raining on the peak, thorny plants that can wound you, there are some parts of the trail that trees are blocking your way and you have to climb on it and take a steep descend.

To Peak 3

Pitcher Plant.

Unfortunately ESKAPO Group 2 which was the group that I am with did not have camera to take photos so the following pictures were taken by ESKAPO Group 1.

ESKAPO GROUP 1 "Peak 3"

Trail to Peak 2. A downward trail and a sudden assault in the Rain Forest. The last wave of Limatiks and this is the last photo taken before the Group 1 and 2 part ways. My group had to stay to the Peak 3 because we needed to wait for a teammate who was struggling because of a muscle pain.

Peak 2- The highest point of Makiling 1090MASL

ESKAPO GROUP 1. The first group tried to wait for my team but for 30 minutes no one from my team arrived so they decided to resume the trekking. This group was doing good on the trail. They had a fast pacing trek. I cant blame my group because we had to slowdown our pacing since one of my member was having a muscle pain.

When my group reached the Peak 2 we were kinda " unhappy" with the view because it was so cloudy and there was no view at all since the Peak 2 is covered by tall grasses. But to passed the "Sipit Trail", conquered the fear of heights, the limatiks, thorny plants that made us wounded, the " two times slide" on the trail , stained clothes and unexplanable experience along the trail those things made me feel fulfilled.

AGILA BASE

At 4:00 pm the first group reached the Agila Base and since we were late of one hour we came around 5:30pm. It was a long trek from Peak 2 down to Agila Base, but trail from UPLB is more easier than the Sto. Tomas Trail. When I was settling the guide fee payment, It rained badly and we had to stay in Agila Base Kubo. Everyone was tired and hungry "kasabay pa ng sobrang lameg". I was worrying for the group and I gave each of them paracetamol and ascorbic acid to avoid fever since everyone was soaked and wet. When the rain toned-down we decided to head to UPLB College of Forestry we thought that there was tricycle waiting for us near the Agila Base but there was not any. The rain did not stop. There were "habal-habal that I tried to bargain with but the fare was too unreasonable and we did not trust it because it was so dark and so slippery on the trail. We just wanted to avoid accidents that might happen to us. So with no choice we had to walk from Agila Base to UPLB Jump off. It was another 2 1/2 hours walk on a wide rocky road on a rainy evening.

Of all the things that happened and experienced that we had....the "MAKTAV" Makiling Traverse is unforgettable.

Of course after all the pain and hard work it's time to pamper ourselves,

SUN CITY RESORT