Location: Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines
Jump-off point: College of Forestry (Station 1) inside the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) campus in Los Banos, Laguna
Alternate jump-off point: Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Elevation: 1,110 MASL (Peak 2) or 3,642 meters
Days Required / Hours to Summit: 1 day/ 3 - 4 hours
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 3 with roped segments
Features: It has dense and enchanting mossy forest covered in ferns, rare orchids, and large diptecarp trees; with a summit so small in area, relatively flat grassy clearing surrounded by thick bushes, tall grass, and moss-laden trees with limited distant views due the surrounding enclosure of trees and bushes. It has challenging terrain involving steep ascents, muddy and narrow trails, tree roots, and technical roped segments (notably near the upper stations).
While at the summit identified as Station 30
This was my fourth climb in this mountain with two other recorded climbs as narrated below.
July 25, 1998 was my first climb in PNB Mountaineering Club as an Initiate and the third in my mountain climbing portfolio. It happened when a PNB Mountaineer member and officemate, Pablito “Apple” Ongleo and Philnabank Director Rolando “Rolly” Villanueva and one of the directors of Philippine National Bank Mountaineering Club (PNB MC), convinced me to join the said club. I finally filed for membership on July 20, 1998. I attended the Club’s Basic Mountaineering Course on October 17, 1998. I was an Initiate then in this club and was required to complete some minor and major climbs to qualify as a regular member. We were nine then consisting of four regular members and five initiates. The regular members were: (1)Elmer C. Daus -Expidition Leader (EL), (2) Agnes “Chika” F. Vite – Sweeper of PNB Institute of Banking; (3) Romeo “Jun” B. Galang of PNB IT Group; (4) Sandy A. Alhambra and the initiates were: (1) Noemi Amador; (2) Jenny Ferrer; (3) Janet T. Lazarte of PNB GSD-Accounting; (4) Roy Pison, (5)Jaime “Bogs” Estanilla Jr. of PNB Special and Global Accounts Department and (6) I.
Another workout and minor climb was on May 29, 1999 which was a day-hike climb. We joined with 10 initiates and 5 members of PNB Mountaineering Club. With me was my favorite Jenny Ferrer and we were not able to join the group in the assembly area. With this, we were left and we took a separate trip going to UP Los Banos. Unfortunately, Jenny and I were not able to meet them in the jump-off point and so we had a separate assault towards the peak. When we were about to reach the peak, we met the group but we decided to go on with the assault. They agreed that, they will just wait for us in the jump-off point.
The entry point to Mount Makiling
The trip to Los Banos starts with a bus trip fromk Pasay City to Olivarez Plaza (commonly referred to as "Crossing") in Los Banos for P153 or US$2.45. From Olivarez Plaza to UPLB Campus, there is a jeepney heading to the university campus for P13 fare or US$0.21.
The start of the trek to the registration area
The forestry jeeps loop extend further past the main academic area straight up toward the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Science (CFNR) and upper campus areas and returns back to the main gate and to the Olivarez Plaza. Thus, from this point, the climbers has to trek along a concrete road heading to the registration area.
Still a part of the vast university campus
The trek heading to the registration site is quite scenic and is worth like a tourist attraction with all those lush towering trees. It is so shady and still a concrete road.
University campus trail posts
Inside the campus, the climbers or visitors will not be lost as elsewhere in the campus, signs and trail posts are available to safely navigate desired areas.
The registration site equipped with clean comfort rooms
This is where climbers pay the entrance or registration fee for P60 per person or US$0.96, but there is discounted rate for students, senior citizens and PWDs. There is already a mandatory guide fee of P1,200 or US$19.25 per group which has a ratio of 1 is to 5 hikers.
The towering trees along the paved access road heading to Agila Base
From the registration site, the climbers has the option either to walk or to board a single motorcycle locally known as "habal-habal" along paved access road to the Agila Base where rates starts around P100 or US$1.60 per head, though prices may vary depending on current local agreements or fuel costs. Private or hired vehicles are typically restricted past certain designated stations along the mountain's mixed concrete and dirt pathways, so drivers usually take hikers part of the way up before you continue on foot.
The Agila Base at Station 11
The registration site is identified as Station 1 and the Agila Base is Station 11 is the point where habal-habal rides can operate for hikers who wanted to board a transport arrangement. It is the point that real mountain climbing starts along non-paved access road. The trail here is narrow and muddy.
A clearing which serves as a view deck
From the Agila Base, dense forest starts to be evident and in some points become hostile with steep ascents and assaults. In some cases, one has to trek over big roots. Limatiks celebrate when climbers are many as they take turns to suck blood.
Reaching the densely forested Station 25
While at the summit after 3 1/2 hours trek
You may also want to read my blog post of the Summary of My 100 Plus Climbing Portfolio and the detailed blog post of my Asia Trilogy Climbs of Mount Fuji Climb (Japan), Yushan Climb (Taiwan) and Mount Kinabalu Climb (Malaysia).
