Mount Arayat Traverse (1,030+ MASL)
Mount Arayat Traverse :Entry point: Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
Exit point: Brgy. Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga
LLA: 15.2067N, 120.7441E, 1030 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 5 hours (NP) 8 hours (SP)
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-4 (10kms)
http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/09/mt-arayattraverse-1030.html
Mount Arayat is an extinct stratavolcano on Luzon Island, Philippines,
rising to a height of 1,026 metres (3,366 ft) There is no recorded
eruption of the volcano, and its last activity probably dates to the Holocene era.
The volcano is located in a flat agricultural region at 15°12′N 120°45'E. The southern half of the mountain lies within the municipality of Arayat, Pampanga, while the north half and the mountain summit lies within Magalang. Ten miles to the west of Mount Arayat is Angeles City and the former Clark Air Base. Mount Pinatubo is located a further 26 km (16 mi) west. The Volcano is a popular Tourist destination for people visiting the central plains. About 10 km (6 mi) to the north west is the "Angeles City flying club" that offers pilots education and sightseeing flights to Mount Arayat with ultralight airplanes. The territory is called "Woodland Air Park" and belongs to the city of Magalang.
The mountain is considered a mystical one, the legendary home of Aung/Aring Sinukuan/Sinkuan/Suku or the Fairy known as diwata Mariang Sinukuan depending on which version of the story the readers or listeners prefer, but in ancient Kapampangan folklore as well as the research known to have been gathered by Kapampangan students of Henry Otley Beyer, it was and is the abode of Apung/Aring Sinukuan, rival of Namalyari of Mount Pinatubo, who is in varying versions, the son of Cargon-Cargon who was mortally wounded in a fight with a giant from the Zambales Mountain Range which is said to be the home of Apu Namalyari.
The volcano is located in a flat agricultural region at 15°12′N 120°45'E. The southern half of the mountain lies within the municipality of Arayat, Pampanga, while the north half and the mountain summit lies within Magalang. Ten miles to the west of Mount Arayat is Angeles City and the former Clark Air Base. Mount Pinatubo is located a further 26 km (16 mi) west. The Volcano is a popular Tourist destination for people visiting the central plains. About 10 km (6 mi) to the north west is the "Angeles City flying club" that offers pilots education and sightseeing flights to Mount Arayat with ultralight airplanes. The territory is called "Woodland Air Park" and belongs to the city of Magalang.
The mountain is considered a mystical one, the legendary home of Aung/Aring Sinukuan/Sinkuan/Suku or the Fairy known as diwata Mariang Sinukuan depending on which version of the story the readers or listeners prefer, but in ancient Kapampangan folklore as well as the research known to have been gathered by Kapampangan students of Henry Otley Beyer, it was and is the abode of Apung/Aring Sinukuan, rival of Namalyari of Mount Pinatubo, who is in varying versions, the son of Cargon-Cargon who was mortally wounded in a fight with a giant from the Zambales Mountain Range which is said to be the home of Apu Namalyari.
I am
seeing Mount Arayat every working days. I can view it at the veranda of
our office in Mexico, Pampanga. I wanted to climb it but my friend
said that it is a very challenging mountain especially the traverse one. After reading negative
comments about this mountain, I am hesitant to pursue climbing... I
wanted to trek Arayat but it did not became my priority. It is only
after my tropa Alvin climbed it and said those asking for too
much fee for registration, guides and others are not true anymore. It
will only be just a donation at the Magalang side, registration fee of
Php20 at the DENR Juan Bano and entrance fee of Php50 at the Arayat
National Park where you can already bathe and clean up... It is also
where you can already get drinking water after the 2 exhausting days
trek.
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| the start of the very hot trek! |
From Cubao or Pasay,
make a way going to SM San Fernando, Pampanga (bus fare Php102). We negotiated with a jeepney driver on our
way to the jump-off. We are ten in a group and the driver charged us
Php100/person. We arrived at Brgy. Ayala at around 8:45am. We walked
for around 20 minutes and arrived at the registration area. The
barangay is just asking for donations and not a registration fee but
everyone who will trek the mountain needs to register.
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| with Janey, a first-timer mountaineer |
Passing the stations of the cross...
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| with hubby |
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| the honesty store... last chance to purchase supplies ... |
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| whattamen! |
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| mga astig na Caviteno |
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| view of White Rocks from below |
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| nakangiti pa ang mga beginner climbers =) |
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| munting pahingahan |
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| most of the trail are like this kaya masakit sa tuhod |
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| boulders |
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| groupie at big boulders |
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| a lot of these along the trail |
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| this is where cramps are beginning to be felt |
Arriving at the White Rocks ...
We reached White Rocks from the jump-off in 3 1/2 hours including unlimited rest. We have 2 beginner climbers with us. Our pacing became a little slower but safer.
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| selfie at the White Rocks |
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| so saddened by trashes thrown by irresponsible mountaineers |
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| group picture at vandalized rock formations =( |
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| groupie again at the White Rocks viewdeck |
We resumed the trek at around 12 noon and reached the Tower (North Peak/Peak 1) at 3pm. It is also where you can camp for a night. It is beside the military camp so if you plan to spend the night here, silence and discipline is a must or else find another campsite.
Arriving at the Tower (North Peak/Peak 1) ... pero syempre photo ops muna...
From the jump-off to the North Peak is approximately 4.8 kilometers.
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| Congratulations sa beginners, grabe! Arayat agad! |
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| 4:30 na!!! Ang TV na!!! hahaha =) |
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| Bantog brothers |
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| syempre moment ko to =) |
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| groupie sa North Peak habang iniistorbo ang mga nagpipitch ng tent, hahaha =) |
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| descending to the South Peak |
After the unlimited photo ops and eating our rice meryenda, I pushed
them to continue trekking up to the South Peak though I can feel that some
of them are already hesitant to continue trekking. Anyway it is still
early to pitch tent since we came here as early as pass 3pm.
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| the almost 90 degree boulder rapeling |
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| the super thin rope sa buwis buhay na Arayat Traverse |
From North to South Peak is approximately 1.2 challenging kilometers. What makes the descend so difficult is the lack of ropes at the vertical areas of the mountain. Mount Makiling Traverse is similar to this but in Makiling they have provided bigger ropes at most of the vertical areas. We have also encountered my most challenging assault ever!!! It took us 3 hours to reach South Peak. There are a lot of misleading trails in the traverse side so it is safer to hire a guide. My friend, Alvin, has been here twice that's why we did'nt hire one. You can contact "Like" at celphone number 0926-7157756. The campsite is wider and the wind is extremely cold. Everyone was so tired. They just pitched their tents and sleep. My husband still cooked rice good for the ten of us though everyone seems that they're not interested anymore in eating, they just wanted to sleep. But still we wake them up to take their dinner.
Lights off at 10pm.
Lights off at 10pm.
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| Good morning Mount Arayat! |
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| our packed bags |
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| two amazing couples |
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| sunrise at the South Peak |
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| lovers in Mount Arayat |
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| with bff Janey |
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| the famous viewdeck of Mount Arayat |
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| groupie before the descend to Arayat jump-off |
I am thankful that we had pursued spending the night at the South Peak. The descend from North to South Peak under the scorching heat of the sun will be very difficult more especially for our beginner mountaineers. From South Peak to Arayat jump-off is another challenging 4 kilometers. It took us 2 1/2 to 3 hours descending to Arayat jump-off.
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| the challenging trails at the southern side of Mount Arayat |
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| congrats Janey and Ryan for completing the trek |
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| Forest Ranger Station at Juan Bano (with registration fee of Php20) |
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| finally reached Arayat National Park (entrance fee Php50) |
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| busog at fresh na! |
Itinerary :
Day 1
6:00AM to 7:30AM - Pasay/Cubao to SM San Fernando, Pampanga (bus fare Php102)
8:00AM to 8:45 AM - SM San Fernando, Pampanga to Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
8:45AM to 9:00 AM - Jump-off to Brgy. Ayala's Registration Area
9:00AM to 11:30AM - Brgy Registration Area to White Rocks
11:30AM to 12:00NN - lunch
12:00NN to 3:00 PM - White Rocks to Tower (North Peak/Peak 1)
3:00PM to 4:00PM - Stayed at North Peak (there's a wide campsite here)
You can already pitch your tents here, but because it is still early,
I insisted to proceed to South Peak which is 3 hours from the
North Peak
4:00PM to 7:00PM - North Peak to South Peak
prepare to rapel 90 degrees at the Haring Bato area
this is where I experienced the most difficult assault in my life!
7:00PM - arrival at South Peak
pitch tents, cook dinner
9:00PM - lights off!
Day 2
6:00AM to 7:00AM - very light breakfast
7:00AM - break camp!
7:00AM to 8:00AM - explore the wonderful view of South Peak, picture taking
8:00AM to 11:00AM - descend from South Peak to Arayat National Park
(entrance fee - Php50)
11:00AM to 2:00PM - lunch, enjoy the natural pool and shower
2:00PM - leave National Park
2:00PM to 2:30PM - National Park to SM Pampanga
2:30PM to 4:00PM - SM Pampanga to Pasay City
Thank you sa mga nakasama ko sa climb na 'to, Alvin, Raymart, Boss Andy, Mark, the dela Cruz couple, bunso Gilbert and Henz.
Thank You Gilbert Bueno for sharing your photos.
Till next climb =)
