MT. BANAHAW

(QUEZON'S PRIDE)

www.akamug.com

By: McMike_Angel@akamug.com

The Pride of Quezon. Bounded by Dolores, Sariaya and Lucban Quezon. It is one of the most sacred mountain in Luzon.

A lot of believers come here every Holy Week to pray and ask for help to their respective patrons.

The climb was scheduled after the Holy Week for it is the most convenient time for everybody. We also invited several mountaineers from other groups to join our climb. Many seasoned mountaineers had already climbed Mt. Banahaw several times. They just keep on coming back. I don't know why, maybe there is something unique about this mountain. It's time to find out.

Our group was divided into two. One coming from Gumaca and the other from Manila. The two groups will rendezvous @ Tamae's Place located @ the City of Sn. Pablo. The plan is to sleep at Tamae's place the night before the climb proper in order to start the trek as early as possible. Our group (Gumaca) came first because it is our responsibility to arrange the accommodation and prepare additional equipments necessary for the climb. @ 18:00 everything was set. Prepared. Equipped and Ready to go.

We sleep early that night because we must be on the road @ 0500. This is crucial because our IT suggested that Mt. Banahaw is a Level - III -- Major Climb and would take 6-8 hours of trekking.

We arrived @ Kinabuhayan around 0900, just in time, and started the trek soon after. The first hour was a gradual climb. Passing several landmarks. The plan is to take Crystalino Route going up and Tatlong Tangke route for the descend. 3 hours had past. Huh! It's time to take lunch. Adobong Baboy in Mt. Banahaw? Why not....early that morning, our "cooky monster", Sir Xela cooked adobo.

We resumed the trek after an hour. Crystalino trail, much like other Banahaw trails is very steep. It's a never ending assault up to the summit. I strongly recommended that should you plan to climb bring "Pinagong Sariaya" or "Monay" with you..or else gutom is the name of the game. :-) After 6 hours here comes the summit. Lots of cogon grass. We pitched our tent @ the first viewing site or "Durungawan I". Had some pics during sunset, awesome site. No social that evening. Pure sleep. Cold.....Arggg..Wait a minute! Do you smell something? Eeww! It's horrible! what's that? Ahhh..just two guys (Sir Allen and Sir Marvs) sneaking into the dark. What are they doing in there? maybe just cherishing the lovely night. Gudlack Guys!

The morning breeze woke us up. It's time to explore. The crater is so majestic. It's Great!. I mean, where else can I see such a beauty. I feel like a dust in the wind. Ready to be blown off. You can also see several Laguna lakes, Mt. Crystobal, Quezon lowlands, and parts of batangas province.

We started the descend @ 1000 and arrived in Kinabuhayan around 1500. Hired a jeep for 400 box and arrived @ Tamae's Place @ 1800. That's it. But surely we'll be back again next climbing season.