Mt. Pamitinan and Wawa dam experience at Rodriguez, Rizal

So this photo was taken on the cliff of Mt. Pamitinan at Montalban, Rizal, officially my first "hike" (excluding going up on our Batangas land) with my badminton friends last October 2017. This was the start of something new for me since then. I was hesitant at first to join them since it was my first time and so much things came to mind like "What if I can't go any further?", "Man, climbing a mountain may need a lot of things and maybe you have to psyche yourself up before doing it" or "What training and preparations do I need to do to at least be not a burden to the group?", etc.. cutting some story short, I took the leap of faith (leap of faith talaga haha!) of taking the challenge and experiencing it with only a few research on the internet on how was the experiences of others climbing it. Stress in work (woot! woot!) and this being a fitness activity was pluses on making me say "Yes." because I badly need a break on my routine then and well, I rarely do cardio exercises so this one can be an alternative.

Mt. Pamitinan cliff

And so getting into our expedition for the search of the Yamashita treasure (lol).. Our journey begins at Mcdonalds, Concepcion as our meet-up place. Our meet-up time was around 1:30 AM and since we were assumingly all excited for our newly-formed hiking group's adventure, we departed around 2:00 AM which was quite early as expected anticipating the regular "Filipino-time". So the group of 5 was namely Eivin (Luis), Patrick, Eric, Myself, and Van. Pwedeng pang "F4" with "Sanchai" haha!

We are targeting to get there as early as possible so we can experience the sunrise on its peak which was according to Luis, our group leader, is a must! With Eric's auto, we arrived there at the jump-off point which was a multi-purpose / barangay hall around 3:00 AM with still time to spare before the start of the climb (4:00 AM is the earliest time groups can start climbing). We asked for a local guide there on-site, registered and paid some minimal fees around P100 (per head) as their pre-hike procedures.. Prayer is also done before all hikes there headed by the assigned guide which was pretty cool with all of the risks involved. And thus we started climbing!

Van & Luis trekking Mt. Pamitinan

It was DARK & WET! Making it exponentially harder to climb every. single. step. Since it was my first time, I wore a pair of semi-new red shoes which is one of my mistakes! No one said to me that I must wear ready-to-be-teared shoes when climbing!! Well, charge it to experience, at the least my shoes were photogenic haha! And! Don't forget to bring headlights or flashlights. There is NO WAY for you to start hiking around that early without them. Climbing with a bit of rainfall is a compliment. Why? Yes, it may be harder to climb but the chance of experiencing the elusive sea of clouds increases. Aside from the sunrise experience, the sea of clouds experience tops it due to its rarity, requiring conditions that must happen all at the same time at a given time.

Mt. Pamitinan rocky parts

And so as we go along the trail, it is normal to feel tired at first.. But once you overcome that and push yourself up, the next one will be easier.

For me, adrenaline kicked in and was excited to see the things to come. Well, I felt tired at some point but once we reached the high points and saw some parts of the mountain covered with fog, I forgot what exhaustion means. I was like "Uy! Ganda!", "Owwwwwww.. Gandaaa.." So guys, akyat na rin kayo, marami kayong makikitang maganda sa taas!! Haha! #AlamNa This is also where "Picturan mo ako dito" at "Picturan mo ako dyan" starts. I really recommend you guys to climb with photographer friends or friends with passion to take pictures because it is literally a haven for them. One good spot there can be captured in a gazillion ways depending on the angle it is taken or how the photographer imagines it. Trust me, it takes one to know one.. Haha! Sa semi-challenged lang naman po ako to take great shots at siyempre hindi sa professional. Hehe.

Mt. Pamitinan rest spots - Hi Eric

Though if you are really really tired and need some rest, there are certain spots where it is  designated to rest for a while.. Just like this spot right here (which is not one of them lol), the view is just perfect. Yung puwesto na ayaw mo nang umalis pa. And basing it from our experience since the trail is very slippery, most of us slipped, did splits and fell so "hugot" jokes occurred. Some of them are "Oh, ang bilis mo naman ma-fall" and "Buti pa sa kanya may sumalo, sakin wala" and tons more that will surely make your day! You will also learn a lot of things there if you are already having a hard time climbing like the acronym "U.P.S." which stands for "Upo para safe" and if all else fails.. You do "G.P.S." which stands for "Gapang na para talagang safe"! Kuya guide also shared to us that a lot of couples who climbed, went down single. What a trivia right?! Most of them are girls requiring a special amount of assistance/attention from their partners which are just too much. Or on the other hand, the boy cannot keep up with the girl which surprised the girl. Stories which are if you think too shallow but actually happens. Such stories make the climb a little more interesting eh? 

Pat's turn - Mt. Pamitinan edges

In climbing Mt. Pamitinan, some parts are advisable to have hand protection or gloves due to the sharp rocks present there. They are specifically located when you reach near or before the peak. Again, I was so privileged to bring none that time so I have to endure every grip I make. It hurts especially when you need to do it frequently and you have no choice but to do so. It came a time that I need to rest it for a while because I thought my hands has holes already! So it was a lesson for me. By the way, you can buy gloves at the jump-off point at around P50 only. So make sure you have one before climbing.

When it comes to food a.k.a called "trail food" when climbing, I recommend you to bring just the right amount of chocolates, candies or any alternatives for a good source of energy and maybe a liter to a liter and a half of water. You don't want climbing carrying your whole refrigerator with you. Climb as light as possible. And another thing, there is a big chance that there is no signal on most parts of your hike so you better turn your phones off or if you really can't, make it on airplane mode to save battery as it will use more energy trying to search for signals. Make this kind of trip a rest to technology and embrace nature as it will refresh you in a great way to recharge you naturally (Ano daw? Haha! Basta gets mo na yun!).

Bridge to cliff of Mt. Pamitinan edge

So reaching near the peak after hiking for roughly 2- 3 hours of cardio and upper body will give you rewarding sights that are just breathtaking [Roughly 6:30 to 7:00 in the morning]. Mt. Pamitinan is known for this unique land formation on top where a giant rocky part of it is forwarded forming a cliff. No wonder that it captures the attention of many people especially on the internet because it is full of opportunity to take that next profile picture in your social media.

Traversing Mt. Pamitinan edges

I know, you are going to wonder how in the world did we got these kinds of shots even without some harness or safety gears. Well, first of all, is it risky and really dangerous? The answer is a big YES. If you slipped there, surely you are in big big trouble. But the photo magnifies everything - even the beauty of it which makes it controversial. Don't misunderstand me but for these kinds of photos, it is easier done than it looks, really. You just have to make sure that your grips are firm and you are confident enough to do it. The guide actually assesses you and will recommend you to not do it if he knows that you'll have problems in the way but in situations that you really are eager to get to do it, he can thoroughly guide you to get there.

Hanging at Mt. Pamitinan cliff

You will just be awed with the view on top. My favorite part there is going on the tip of the cliff and sit there for minutes where the wind blows continuously. There is even a sight there which is a narrow portion of the mountain where the morning fog passes through so you'll see how it traverses it like a river and it creates a thin howl. How cool is that! It is purely a relaxing moment that will take over you. No problems, no worries, no stress or anything, JUST NATURE - God's creations and you. Feel the wind, appreciate the view, see how near you are to the clouds, how wide the sky stretches, how little you are compared to the things around you (sigh), w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l. I can sit there for hours, really. And what makes it even nicer is we were the first group to reach the top. So no pressure on taking your photos with your preferred shots and no need to stop and make way for other groups (or you make way for them) to pass by. As far as I remember, we actually went there on a Saturday morning and there were a number of groups behind us. It is better to schedule on a weekday so either only a few groups will be hiking with you or there is a chance that you will be the only group hiking which starts the 4:00 AM mark. There is also a number of trails depending on your guide's preference unless you know the options and tell him to use a different route. 

Group photo at Mt. Pamitinan cliff while drizzling

This is actually not the highest part of the mountain. There is still a part where we need to use a rope to get there but our guide told us that its too risky to be there with the current weather so that gave me a reason to go back (lol). There is what they call here the 90 degrees part which is a shorter route but harder to traverse. We took that option and that is where most of the falling and slipping parts happened. 

Going down Mt. Pamitinan

If you will ask other people who are experienced climbers, they will tell you that going down is harder and have more risks than going up (which we only realized when we were in the shoes already). You have to be careful about the weight you put to your knees as it can be torn down once abused and once your knees give in, it will be one of the worst situations to be in. There are higher chances of slipping also when going down since it is more difficult to balance your usual self with your whole weight or even more with you. So again when unsure, do the UPS and GPS suggestion. It is better to be safe than sorry - it is always safety first up there.

One of the automatic topics of going down a mountain is to talk about food. Haha! One restaurant emerges as the top of the mind by most Manileños and that is "Mang Inasal". With its unlimited rice feature, a generous serving of smoked chicken and chicken oil, it definitely tops the list. There is only a single route going to Wawa area and you will be passing by SM San Mateo which has Mang Inasal. FYI. We ate there, after! We appreciated it more since we were dead tired at that time and when you are hungry everything is delicious! Rawr!

Wawa River

And before reaching back to the jump-off point, we took the opportunity to wander around Wawa dam and river since most of us were first-timers there. It was for FREE! So why not! we were astonished by the views it catered - just when I thought we were finished but man, they got a lot of scenery great for movies like the Jurassic and Anaconda franchise! I cannot wait for the future of this place.

Giant rocks at Wawa River

So before we depart for the Mang Inasal lunch [around 10:00 AM already], we washed and changed clothes before settling our accounts to our local guide which was the last official bill for the experience (exclude the minimal payment for the changing / bathing area that ranges from P5 for changing of clothes to P20 for a full bath depending on what you'll do). It was P500 for a group of 5 per guide and you guys decide for the amount of tip you'll give. The barangay residing around the area is quite decent already so there are many food stores present. There are also fruit sellers on the sides to complete your provincial vibe. And for the last surprise, there is an uncompleted Olympic size swimming pool there. I mean what happened to it? Why there? But I just imagined when its fully functional, what a sight! A giant swimming area surrounded by mountains! Why not? I do hope they finish it at least so the money spent was not wasted, er.
  

Wawa Dam

With this complete experience, you can actually do it with less than P500 or less! Totally worth your money. Just bring your changing clothes wearing your regular sports attire (and gloves!). Don't forget the lights if you will be hiking early or dark. Bring your preferred trail foods with you. And of course your cash.

 You have 3 options to go there:

1. Using your private cars, totally waze-able (convenient when available)
2. Through car-sharing apps like Grab (convenient but will cost more)
3. Do your homework via commuting (many factors to consider but totally affordable)
     - Key points are PUVs going to Montalban or Eastwood then take the trike going up Rodriguez
     - Going back to the Metro will require you to ride a local tricycle then either a jeep/van after

If you are planning a DIY trip, it is totally possible. Local guides there are always present on-site which will be assigned once you get there and don't forget that the earliest possible climb starts at 4:00 AM. Haven't tried climbing starting at night but if you do, let me know then!

One of my hikes at Mt. Pamitinan (Different group)

If you cannot see the video above, click HERE for it

Related climbs: (All can be done on the same jump-off point)

version 1:
1. Mt. Pamitinan - THIS
2. Mt. Binacayan
3. Mt. Hapunan Banoi

version 2:
4. Mt. Lagyo
5. Mt. Susong Dalaga
6. Mt. Parawagan