A VERY REWARDING MINOR CLIMB FOR BEGINNERS AT AN AFFORDABLE BUDGET

Location: Barangay Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal, Philippines

Jumpoff Point: Brgy. Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal
LLA (Pamitinan): 14°43′51.7′′N 121°11′29.2′′ E 426 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-3 hours
Specs: Minor, Difficulty 3/9 / Trail class 1-4
Features: Narrow rocky trails with sharp edges, limestone formations, scenic views of Sierra Madre mountain ranges

Braving the heights at Peak 3

From the DENR Office and heading to the barangay hall for registration, the next step is to head towards the jump-off point where it starts from the hanging bridge cutting through some houses of the local residents. The trail then on this part after the hanging bridge are concrete steps and at the some points are muddy when it is rainy season.

Scaling the narrow ridge of Peak 2

Compared to Mount Binacayan, its close neighbor mountain, Pamitinan has forested areas until you reach the junction. The trail going to this direction is all ascending. From the jump-off to this point is less than an hour approximately 40 minutes. Bamboo and wooden benches are inviting as you reach the junction with two store where you can buy drinks of few kinds and other variety of snacks and refreshments. Beyond the junction is the start of narrow and rocky trail but slowly as you continue to climb, majestic scenery of vast low lying plains and neighboring mountains of Binacayan, Ayaas and a few other mountains unfolds.

Peak 1: The easiest peak to climb

As to the budget, it has the same budget with that of Mount Binacayan as follows:

SN	Particulars	Amount
1.	Round Trip Van Fare from Farmer’s Cubao to Louver’s Montalban and vice versa	100.00
2.	Round Trip Tricycle fare from Louver’s to DENR Registration Site	40.00
3.	Share in guide for a maximum of 8 for a fee of P500	62.50
4.	DENR Registration Fee	2.00
5.	Donation to Barangay (Optional)	10.00
6.	Lunch in one of the Carenderias in the jump-off point	60.00
7.	Breakfast at Jollibees (Cubao Farmer’s) while waiting for the departure	95.00
8.	Budget for Trail food and Bottled Water	110.00
	TOTAL	479.50

SUGGESTED CLIMBING ITINERARY

05:00 Take van from Farmer’s Cubao (Cubao MRT Station) via Eastwood to Rodriguez, Rizal
06:30 ETA Louver’s, Montalban, take tricycle or jeepney to Brgy. Wawa
06:50 Arrival at DENR Office for Registration and in Barangay Hall at Barangay Wawa
07:30 Start trek
09:00 Peak 1
09:30 Peak 2
10:00 Peak 3
11:30 Start descent
12:30 Back at DENR Office Barangay Wawa and take lunch in nearby carenderias
01:30 Side trips at Pamitinan Cave and Wawa Dam
05:30 ETD DENR Office
07:00 Arrival at Farmer’s Cubao

It is to be noted that the distance of Peak 1 to Peak 2 is not more than 10 minutes to trek but normally trekkers spend more time for the picture taking considering that Peak 1's massive rock flatform is too narrow to accommodate a big group. Usually, in solo picture taking, it can only accommodate one person. While in Peak 2, it takes time to scale it since only one person can scale through a rope. It is more difficult to scale this peak. Peak 3, on the other hand, is just at the back of Peak 2 but it requires guts and courage to go there.

HOW TO GO THERE

If you are in a bigger group, you can arrange your van one day before on its Farmer’s Cubao Van Terminal where they will charge you for P70 one way from Farmer’s Cubao straight to DENR Office of Barangay Wawa where there is no need to take a tricycle or jeepney

You can also have an option to get the contact number of the van drivers so that they pick your group from DENR Office back straight to Farmer’s Cubao.

It is advisable that you have to book in advance for the guides because, these mountains in rodriguez like: Mounts Binacayan, Pamitinan, Ayaas and a couple others are now becoming the favorite mountains to climb more particularly during weekends and holidays.

GUIDES' CONTACT NUMBERS

Jerry Zata- 09101978417
JericDamas– 09108674990