February 2015
It is situated at Brgy. San Rafael, Wawa Dam, Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal with a coordinates of 14°43’52.67″N 121°11’29.60″E rising to 368 MASL based on google earth. In between those two mountain is the wawa river and its main contributor of water are coming from the Sierra Madre and Boso-boso in Antipolo as our guide told us.
An historically recognized place wherein Andres Bonifacio together with Katipuneros held assembly and officially declared their independence from the ruling of Spaniards. During the Japanese invasion, the japanese soldier took haven on this cave and mountain. According to folklore legend, Bernardo Carpio have separate the 2 mountains, on the left side is Mt Pamitinan and at the right is Mt Binacayan.
This mountain should not be underestimate and I dubbed it as small but terrible wherein a lot of challenge may encounter along the way in particular, the way going up to the summit. The summit can be reach in a matter of 1.5hrs-3hrs depending on hiking speed and the rewarding view at the top most wherein you can have 360 views of the surrounding. The views are the following, Mt Arayat of Pampanga, Mt Balagbag of San Jose Del monte, Eastwood Subdivision of Rodriguez and reclamation area, Mt Ayaas, Mt Puray, Mt Parawagan, Sierra Madre and the Tanay’s mountainous area on the far end. The hike is relatively short but safety precaution should be ensure first because there is a lot of danger in rocky portion.
The author have scaled both in dayhike but for the sake of my dear reader, I will create two narrative and link both. Twin dayhike is possible by having a light pack and travel in small group.
B. Suggested Itinerary and how to get here
One Destination only – Mt Pamitinan
4:30AM Take an FX ride with placard “Montalban” Eastwood, it is located before the Araneta Gateway, the next street after EDSA
4:50AM Departure (there is no definite time as long as the passenger seats are fully occupied
5:45AM Arrival at Eastwood Montalban, take tricycle
6AM Arrival at Brgy San Rafael, Wawa, Rodriguez
6:10AM Register at Tourism, proceed to hike
6:12AM Hanging wooden bridge
6:18AM Junction of Bat Cave and Pamitinan Cave
6:40AM Arrival at granite wall
7:10AM merging point to other mountain and Mt Pamitinan
7:35AM Viewdeck
7:40AM Resume trek
7:50AM Summit
8AM Descend
**Continuous descend entail 1hr back to jump off.
9AM Jump off. It is either you have swimming in wawa dam as sidetrip or visit Pamitinan Cave or challenge yourself to have another hike Mt Binacayan
12PM Take tricycle ride
12:15PM Arrival at Eastwood
2PM Arrival at Cubao
Twin Dayhike – Mt Binacayan and Mt Pamitinan
Mt Binacayan should be taken first because the ridge is directly expose to sunlight on its ridge that may slow down hiker and much harder, unlike Mt Pamitinan that there is some cover to rest.
4:30AM Take an FX ride with placard “Montalban” Eastwood, it is located before the Araneta Gateway, the next street after EDSA
4:50AM Departure (there is no definite time as long as the passenger seats are fully occupied
5:45AM Arrival at Eastwood Montalban, take tricycle
6AM Arrival at Brgy San Rafael, Wawa, Rodriguez
6:10AM Register at Tourism, proceed to hike
6:15AM Arrival infront of Iglesia ni Cristo
6:40AM Rock Bouldering
6:54AM 90 degrees rock wall
7:11AM the first viewpoint along the sharp rocky ridges of Mt Binacayan
7:26AM at the midpoint of the ridge and view of wawa river
8:00AM Mt Binacayan Summit
8:20AM Descend
10AM Arrival at the tourism jump off
10:10AM Resume trek
10:12AM Hanging Bridge
1018AM Junction of Bat Cave and Pamitinan Cave
10:40AM Arrival at granite wall
11:10AM merging point to other mountain and Mt Pamitinan
11:35AM Viewdeck
11:40AM Resume trek
12PM Summit
12:10PM Descend
1:15PM Arrival at Jump off (eat lunch and tidy up)
2:30PM Take tricycle
2:45PM Arrival at Eastwood, Montalban (wait for FX)
3PM Take an FX ride back to Manila
4:30PM Arrival at Cubao
C. Expenses
For unknown reason, there is disparity of fx fare in and outbound to Waw
D. Road Map
E. Mt Pamitinan and Mt Binacayan Map
F. Tips and Reminders:
– As of today, 7 guide are accredited by tourism and in rotation so beforehand, do some reservation specially on weekend. Guide is mandatory. Our guide is kuya Ogie
– There is no watersource but there is plenty of store near the market in wawa
– There is no feasible campsite except for the open space in front of the tourism office
– Better bring with you helmet and rope, it is optional but this may protect you for untoward accident
– Never wear thin shorts as the sharp rocks may bore hole and lacerate the clothings
– Avoid wearing sandals, you may realize the importance once you reach the rocky portion
– Bring gloves (very important)
– There is no globe signal, there is smart signal
G. Narration of the climb
Supposed to be I will be accompanied by my invitees on this 2 mountain however upon preparation of contact and tried to reach them, I was saddened that there is no available guides to assist us because of plenty of hikers are scheduled on that date. Immediately, I relayed the information them if they wish to participate without giving them assurance that we may allow to hike. I told them that I will proceed on my own and try my luck to hitch with somebody else.
With little preparation, I woke up around 3:45AM and left our house by 4:25AM. Luckily I quickly spotted the places of fx van plying to Montalban and boarded on it. While on our trip, I observed that the 2 persons in front of me have hiking bag with bottle of water. I didn’t ask them because I was hesitant that they may go somewhere else. Around 4:50AM, when our van departed. The travel time seems so fast that it took only less than an hour because there is no traffic. We have unboard to the Montalban eastwood. I purchased bread that I will eat for breakfast and lunch while the 2 persons is waiting for a ride. I approached them and gladly to know that they will go on the mountain with the same goal, to have twin dayhike. I met new friends Sir Lem and Sir Jay. I told them that I wasn’t able to reserve and secure a guide. As I said, I will try my luck. Luckily, I found out that they have a guide and I seek their permission to allow me to join. They didn’t hesitate to let me in. From the Montalban Eastwood, they are many tricycle that ply by on San Rafael, Wawa or another option is to have jeep.
I don’t want to go through the details of twin dayhike so I will just describe the expectation towards the main topic on Mt Pamitinan.
From the welcome arch of San Rafael, Wawa, next to it is Brgy. Hall. We coordinated the guide and patiently waited Kuya Ogie. After 10 minutes when he arrived and proceeded to the tourism office which is just 2-3minutes walk from the barangay hall. We were asked to register, if you are planning to hike only then there is no registration fee but going to Pamitinan cave has a fee. The trekking start an elevation of 51 MASL with coordinates of 14°43’46.75″N 121°11’11.01″E.
Tourism
In front of tourism is an open lot or plaza with gigantic old tree. Next to it is the hanging wooden bridge to cross the river. This is the best place to capture the photos of this twin mountain. Beyond that point will let you pass on several local houses along the way.
Wooden bridge
After 18minutes you will reached the junction signboard, on your left is bat cave and the right is Pamitinan cave.
Landmark
Follow the upward path, varying from gradual with some small boulder rock until you reach the granite wall.
Fake post at granitic wall
This granite wall can be reach in 40minutes-1hr, sometimes rock climbing activity is withheld on this place because few anchors were embedded on the rock. From this point, you will turn left upward on semi steep trail. The next 15 minutes, will get on the rest stop and have a pleasant seat. This is the junction of another path that lead to other mountain and from here on you should now wear the gloves and helmet. This is also your reference that hiker is already halfway. Beyond that point is the rocky portion and gives you 180 degree view.
You will ascend on sharp edges wall but dont worry, you can grip and step on foothold. Be careful to avoid falling or slip your foot on crevasse. The rock is similar to rock on shoreline which is bombarded by strong wave along the coastline. I believe that the area was once a part of the sea. Our guide who has been in 5 years of guiding has been a victim that left him a long stretch of wound for about half ruler and half inch wide. Good thing that the people he had accompanied on that climb was a nurse who gave first aid to him.
Ascending on sharp rocks
Another 30minutes, hiker will arrive on the viewpoint or view deck which is the famous landmark picture connoting the Mt Pamitinan but this is not the true summit.
Mt Pamitinan view deck (behind is Mt Parawagan)
From the viewpoint you will have 180 degrees view unlike the summit is 360 views and free of obstruction. True summit is 5-10minutes away and almost ascending. The access to the summit is the most challenging as you will have rock scrambling over 5meters 90 degrees wall with deep crevasse in between.
Rock Climbing
In between the viewpoint and the summit is some rock bouldering and bamboo forest. After an hour of descend when we have safely returned to the tourism area.
The view beneath the summit
This mountain is not suitable for beginner but if ever they try then they should be assisted properly.
H. Other suggested hiking destination in Rizal
1. Mt Binacayan
2.Mt.SembranoDayhike3.Mt.Balagbag TraverseDayhike4.Mt.Batolusong Traverse + Kay-ibon FallsDayhike5.Mt. TagapoTraverse6.Mt. Tagapo via Janosa7. Mt. Daraitan Traverse8. Mt. Ayaas Traverse
