Mt. Arayat Traverse (Magalang to Arayat Pampanga)

View form the North Peak 1 in Magalang Entry

MT. ARAYAT 
(MAGALANG-ARAYAT TRAVERSE) 1030+ MASL 

Entry point: Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga 

Exit point: Brgy. Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga 

Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9

"The Rope-less 90 degree assault"

We've been planning hiking the Mt.Arayat for a long time now. The 1st attempt was cancelled due to bad weather, the 2nd was cancelled too for the same reason. This time we had this mind set that Rain or Shine, Typhoon or Thunder Storm, We all Go! and so the day comes with a great weather, cloudy but no rain. We met at Victory Liner station in Edsa Cubao and we found out that the bus that will take the route to DAU will depart at 6oclock and the bus that will stop by to SM Pampanga is not available in that early. We left no choice but to ride the one heading to Olongapo via San Fernando route. We leave exactly at 4:00 am and arrived at 5:00 am, since we don't know the exact place to get off we passed the San Fernando Crossing and walk back 1km. (Serves as a warm up). We had our quick breakfast in Jollibee then we find this terminal near 7 Eleven going to Marquee Mall (why Marquee Mall and Not SM Pampanga? because in Marquee Mall the Jeepney going to Magalang starts as early as 4:00 am unlike in SM Pampanga, first trip starts at 9:00 am I think) so we ride Jeepney going to Marquee Mall then after 15min. we got off and ride again in Jeepney bound to Magalang. We got off at the Magalang Market proper and hired tricycle going to Brgy. Ayala, Banal na Bundok. We arrived at Banal na Bundok, Station 5 at 8:45 am, there we met our co-Hiker from Bulacan and our tour guide Kuya Lyke waiting for us in the Kubo Jump Off.

We commence our trek at 8:50 am, our first stop is the Registration Area not so far from the Jump Off. There's no Registration Fee just a donation box which is voluntary, after we log we resume our trek to Banal na Bundok until we reach the last station Station 14, we stayed there for 20 min. to rest and took some Groupies.

We resume our trek heading to the North Peak (Peak 1) but right before we reach the North Peak my colleague sprained his left leg then after a minute, his right leg sprained too, he almost can't walk got some pain killer and this incident caused us so much delays.

We trek in a slow phasing until we reach the North Peak where the Rangers are basing.

There we had our lunch, took some photos and resume our trek to traverse in South Peak. We stop by at Haring Bato, a large boulder of Rocks to rest and photo ops. Rappelling starts when we descend on this rocks to resume our trek to some rocky parts until we climbed in 90 degree without a rope, holding only to the Trunks and Roots of trees, I swear you wouldn't even dare to look down, you just continue climbing and climbing until you reach the top. But this climb doesn't wore me since I use to stop and rest a lot because of my injured colleague.

We reach the summit or Peak 2 passed 4 o'clock already, we took some photos and hurriedly descend for the fear that we might caught up by dark. I left my injured colleague to our Tour Guide then we trek ahead of them, we almost didn't stop.

Still dark caught us up and it's pretty scary because we're not prepared. We do not have a Head lamp nor Flashlight with us just the light of our Smart Phones. We've never had a Dayhike that took us almost night time, this is the first one and I almost step up a snake. It's dark, descending is full of hustle and feels like forever, took us 3 hrs. to get to the Cement Road Jump Off at 7:00 pm. While waiting for our injured colleague and Tour Guide they called my phone and ask us to call for help in the near Brgy. because my colleague is dehydrated already, they have no more water and he can't barely walk but the Brgy. Outpost near is already close. So we walk in the dark for 2 kilometer just to get to Brgy. Hall in San Juan Bano to ask for help and when we get there they send their Brgy. mobile patrol and few people to get them. The Brgy. people is kind enough, to offer us coffee while waiting for the two, they arrived at the Brgy. Hall at 9:00 pm safe. At that time there's no more tricycle or jeepney heading back to San Fernando. The Brgy. offered to send us in San Fernando and we agreed to pay their gas. We reach at San Fernando pass 10 o'clock no more Van or Busses heading to Bulacan so we all ride back to Cubao and those who live in Bulacan drop off to Baclaran and ride back in bus heading to Bulacan and this is where we all separated at 12 midnight.

From this experience we learned so much things, like when you do a DIY hike make sure you research thoroughly specially when you are commuting, there are some uninformative blogs too, better call the bus stations first regarding their first, last trip and routes because it can caused your trip delays and hassles. Always be prepared, you'll never know what's coming next or when the Dayhike becomes night so always bring your flash flights and head lights. Always bring emergency kit and Hydrite with you and lastly do not bring inexperienced/newbie hiker into a Major Hike it might not kill him/her but will kill your patience LOL ^_^

Actual Itinerary:

4:00am Meet Up Victory Liner Edsa
5:00 ETD to San Fernando via Olongapo route (P102/pax)
6:30 ETA San Fernando (breakfast at Jollibee)
7:00 ETD to Marquee Mall ride Jeepney (P30/pax)
7:15 ETA Marquee Mall
7: 20 ETD to Magalang ride Jeepney (P20/pax)
7:55 ETA Magalang Market ride tryk to Brgy. Ayala/Banal na Bundok (P50/pax)
8:35 ETA Banal na Bundok (Kubo Jump Off Station 5)
8;50 Start Trek
9:20 Station 14 (Photo Ops)
9:40 Resume Trek
12:55pm Arrival at the North Peak (Photo Ops, Lunch)
1:55 Resume Trek to 2nd Peak
2:55 Arrival at "Tatlong Haring Bato"
4:05 Arrival at the Peak 2 Summit Campsite (Photo Ops, Resume trek)
7:00 Jump Off at the Road Cement
7:50 Walk 2 km to Brgy. Hall
9:35 ETD to San Fernando via Brgy. Mobile
10:15 ETA San Fernando, Pampanga
10:45 ETD Bus to Cubao
12:05am CUBAO

Note: I suggest you take the Bataan Transit Bus/ any bus heading to DAU they will pass by to Marquee Mall. We choose to ride Magalang Jeepney in Marquee Mall instead in SM Pampanga because the the 1st trip to Magalang in SM Pampanga starts at 9:00am.

Contact Person:
Traverse Tour Guide Kuya Lyke - 0926-7157756

-"Life is more than just surviving!"

-til my next Journey

-Hasz