From Maculot, we're now heading to Makiling. Mt. Makiling is named after the beautiful Lambana Maria Makiling who punishes mountaineers who leaves the camp dirty, she makes sure these mountaineers gets befuddled. Keep coming back and forth to the same place until they clean the campsite. So beware and be aware! :) From Batangas to Laguna, got lost of the time how long the travel was... rest assured it was a bit long ( I was asleep during the travel by the way) Their are several entry points to Makiling however the local tourism decided that from now on Sipit trail will be the official trail for hikers and mountaineers (other trails are still open though). It was my first time in Makiling and according to them Sipit trail is quite longer than the Palanggana Trail, so this will be a test of endurance because I was in full pack. A heavy backpack on my shoulder, long hours of trek..... and Limatik. From Jump off (San Felix) we meet the additional 13 participants (26 participants all in all) then hired a tricycle (PhP 65.00) heading to the registration area. Registration is free and we hired a guide which will guide us up to the trail were Sipit Trail and Palanggana Trail meets. Moving from Station 1 to Station 2 is a gradual "walk-along the-park" type and Station 2 offers good shade and a comfort room. Station 3 is a bit assault until a full assault going to Station 7, guided by ropes going up was a great help because the trail was muddy at that time. Our guide left us here (Sipit and Palanggana Trail meets) and Sir Arvin (our lead) knew the trail by heart, I know we're all safe. We reached Melkas Camp and stayed there for lunch, 4 participants got lost along the way and Sir Arvin went back to look for them while the rest of the team rested and ate lunch. By the way, limatiks were everywhere.... hehehe first time to see this little blood-sucker creature. Alcohol will help you repel them yet they will no die by it not even by squeezing them. From Melkas camp, we then headed to Peak 3. Reaching Peak 3, you'll be passing Haring Bato wherein an action-packed adventure awaits..... Ala Spiderman climb with rope guiding all the way up with limatik on the side. We stayed a few minutes at Peak 3 since we were the last group (5 out of 26) and we were on time constraint. Entering a dense forested area, few limatiks were experienced from this area (very much lucky). Peak 2 had 3 Cross installed on it and from here we met few other mountaineers trekking via Palanggana Trail. Meet and Greet then descend since its beginning to rain. Descend from Peak 2 was a challenged to me, not just because I was in fullpacked, the trail was muddy and the trees, shrubs were everywhere.... sumasabit ang aking backpack. We passed similar trail of Mt. Arayat..... descend was really long and tiring.... yet this is what I loved about my Makiling Climb.... the trail was a one hell of adventure. Gradual and very very long walk awaits after the dense forest... we stopped at the first store for some cola then headed to the second store. We chatted with some locals and found out that Habal-habal is on its way and we can rent it up to the exit point for wash up..... without hesitation, the four of us rented these single motors while Sir Arvin preferred to continue trekking. My body can no longer sustain what's left in me to pursue the trail..... and seeing the trail from the second store all the way to the exit point.... It was a good move to rent the habal habal or else.... Indeed Mt. Makiling is the best training ground for climbers/hikers who wishes to pursue major climbs because of its complex trails...... Indeed, "I shall return" to this mountain one day.... in light pack, more pictures and detailed climb logs.
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