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posted on Tuesday, October 2, 2018
It was an out of the blue invitation climb Ling and I didn’t expect to push through during the last Sunday of September 2018. But when Jeff, a core member in our mountaineering group, Horizon Extreme Adventure Team or HEAT, agreed---it was all systems go for us four!
The plan was to finally conquer Mt. Oro and Mt. Sipit Ulang after several climb cancellations due to bad weather in the past 2 months. Assembly time was by 3 am in front of Farmer’s Plaza, where we rode a van bound for Rodriguez, Rizal. After alighting in Montalban’s junction, we were in for a long, bumpy tricycle ride going to Barangay Mascap with P150 fixed fare. Barangay registration fee is P50/person and we requested for Kuya Marcelino, the same local guide during our Mascap twin hike last June 2018. Guide fee is pegged at P500/mountain.
We started ascent of Mt. Oro by 5:30 am. Oro is a Spanish word that literally means ‘gold’. Kuya Marcelino didn’t mention any treasure hunting activities in the mountain though. It is considered a minor climb with 2 out of 9 level of difficulty and we managed to reach the summit in 45 minutes. We arrived in time to witness the golden sunrise over Mt. Oro’s peak. The 360-degree view of the Rizal and Sierra Madre mountain range were simply breathtaking.
It took us 45 minutes to descend Mt. Oro and we were off to our second mountain as early as 6:30 am. Instead of taking the banayad trail up Mt. Sipit Ulang which usually just takes around 30 minutes to the summit, we opted for the Paniki trail or super trail. After conquering Oro’s golden peak in stride, we’re open to a more challenging second climb.
Mt. Sipit Ulang is also a minor climb with a notch higher level of difficulty at 3 out of 9. The Paniki trail offers 3 view decks where hikers can opt to take their photos taken in style. Though quite accessible because of wooden ladders, be prepared, however, to scramble into caves and steep rock formations. Really felt super after conquering the super trail in 1 and a half hours. The highlight of the trek was no doubt Sipit Ulang’s iconic crab’s claw rock formation.
For Mascap climbs, you can contact Marcelino, our local guide: 0991-682-1554, 0907-418-9629.
See also our climb up Mt. Apo, Mt. Ayaas-Mt. Espadang Bato, Mt. Arayat, Wawa Trilogy 2, Wawa Trilogy 1, Laiban Trilogy, Maynuba Circuit, Mt. Batolusong, Mt. Binutasan, Nagpatong-Mt. Masungki, Mt. Balagbag and Mt. Tagapo.
Alfonso, Cavite
Alitagtag, Batangas
Anawangin, Zambales
Angat, Bulacan
Anilao Backpackers, Batangas
Anilao, Batangas
Anilao Boarding House, Batangas
Antipolo, Rizal
Mt.Sicapoo Apayao Trail
Asipulo, Ifugao
Baguio
Balai Resort, Batangas
Balai Tanay, Rizal
Barlig, Mt. Province: Mt. Amuyao
Bataan: Tarak Ridge
Batad, Banaue
Batanes
Batangas
Bay, Laguna
Bokod, Benguet: Mt. Purtagory Traverse
Borawan, Quezon
Bunker Dive Resort, Batangas
Cabuyao, Laguna
Cagsawa Ruins, Albay
Calaguas, Camarines Norte
Calatagan, Batangas
Cavinti, Laguna
Cavite
Clark, Pampanga
Coron, Palawan
Corregidor
Dive and Trek Resort, Batangas
El Nido, Palawan
El Nido, Palawan 2
Hundred Islands, Pangasinan
Hungduan, Ifugao: Mt. Napulauan
Ilocos
Kiangan, Ifugao
Kibungan Cross Country
Laiya, Batangas
Laiya, Batangas 2
Ligpo Island, Batangas
Mercedes, Camarines Norte
Mt. Batulao, Batangas
Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Batangas
Mt. Maculot, Batangas
Mt. Makiling
Mt. Pigingan, Benguet
Mt. Pinatubo
Mt. Pulag, Benguet
Mt. Pulag, Benguet 2
Mt. Pulag, Benguet 3
Mt. Tagapo, Rizal
Mt. Talamitam, Batangas
Mt. Timbak, Benguet
Mt. Ugo, Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet
Nasugbu, Batangas
Nagsasa, Zambales
Olongapo City
Palawan
Pampanga: Mt. Arayat
Pililla, Rizal
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Rodriguez, Rizal: Mascap Twin Hike
Rodriguez, Rizal: Mascap Twin Hike 2
Rodriguez, Rizal: Wawa Trilogy
Rodriguez, Rizal: Wawa Trilogy Version 2
Romblon Island, Romblon
Sabang, Puerto Galera
Sagada, Mountain Province
San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan: Mt. Balagbag
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
San Luis, Batangas
San Miguel, Bulacan: The Cabin
San Rafael, Bulacan: Mt. Secret
San Vicente, Palawan
San Vicente, Palawan 2
Sariaya, Quezon
Silang, Cavite
Subic, Olongapo
Taal, Batangas
Talisayen Cove, Zambales
Tanay, Rizal: Laiban Trilogy
Tanay, Rizal: Maynuba Circuit
Tanay, Rizal: Moolk Farm
Tanay, Rizal: Mt. Batolusong
Tanay, Rizal: Mt. Binutasan
Tanay, Rizal: Nagpatong-Mt. Masungki Twin Hike
Tanay, Rizal: Pili Paninap Farm
Tinglayan, Kalinga
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park 1
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park 2
Apo Island, Negros Oriental
Bacolod City
Bantayan, Cebu
Biri Island, Northern Samar
Bohol
Boracay, Aklan
Dauin, Negros Oriental
Iloilo
Leyte
Mactan, Cebu
Malapascua, Cebu
Moalboal, Cebu
Oslob, Cebu
Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte
Siquijor
Sumilon Island, Cebu
Cagayan De Oro
Camiguin
Davao
Davao City
Davao del sur: Mt.Apo
Maguindanao
Mantangale Dive Resort, Misamis Oriental
Marawi City
Zamboanga
Certified as a PADI rescue diver. Got my first compact camera in 2011. I was simply content then to just capture a glimpse of what I see during my dives. It was only last February 2014 that I fully maximized the use of manual macro settings.
My camera skills and knowledge are still a work in progress. Enjoy browsin’!
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