Cuenca, Batangas
02 April 2017
It was our first climb in 2017 on a sunny and hot Sunday. We were three and excited to climb Mt. Maculot. I had my first climb on the mountain in 2011 and six (6) long years had past.
We assembled at Mc Donald's Valero at 0730H and after having light breakfast, we left Makati City towards Cuenca in Batangas. We took SLEX and then Star Toll all the way to Cuenca.
Cuenca is approximately 89 kilometers away from Makati and 1.75H drive on private vehicle considering the traffic conditions along the way, according to Google maps.
We reached the town of Cuenca at 0845H and decided to buy lunch before proceeding to the jump-off point. The weather was perfect for the climb.
At 0916H, we were at the registration area with many other climbers. Unlike before, there were already guides waiting at the registration office for climbers, which is good. Guides are now required when trekking Mt. Maculot.
We registered and paid P20 per head and then a guide was assigned to us. We were so happy to met sir Gerry Lopez who is also from Cuenca. From the registration area, we proceeded to the parking area where the trail leading to the Rockies begin.
We decided to do a "traverse" to see the entire trail of Mt. Maculot. A traverse hike will take pass through the Rockies, Camp Site, Summit and the Grotto.
We parked at Tita Intang's Eatery.
Mt. Maculot now is a very popular hiking destination near Manila and the volume of hikers swell especially on summer season. As a result, vendors were almost all over the trail from one segment to another selling foods and beverages to climbers which, in my opinion could be helpful to hikers but could also impact on the cleanliness and orderliness issues of the trail and the mountain as a whole.
According to our guide, these vendors are sometimes dubbed as "7-11" of Maculot.
Before going up the trail further, we had our first stop for a refreshment just near the jump-off point and then we proceeded through the inclined trail together with few other climbers.
It was raining the last time we hiked at Mt. Maculot and the trail was not yet as established as the present.
At 1053H, we reached an open area and we had a glimpse of the marvelous Taal lake.
I also noticed during the climb that several rope segments have been in placed along the trail to provide a grip for hikers and guides.
Along the trail going to the Rockies, I have noted at least four rest stations. These stations looked like camps that provide shade to hikers.
We reached the PHIVOLCS station at 1130H. This is the start of the trail leading to the Rockies.
As expected, hikers were all over the place. There was a long queue of hikers going up the Rockies and we had to wait for our turn and fall in line as the Rockies summit could only accommodate a few.
As expected, hikers were all over the place. There was a long queue of hikers going up the Rockies and we had to wait for our turn and fall in line as the Rockies summit could only accommodate a few.
We had our turn at the Rockies at 1159H but then again, there was another queue for photo-ops on the rock cliff spots on both sides.
We were at the Rockies at 1209H and had our photos taken at the rock cliff at 1258H. It was such as long wait.
We started our descent from the Rockies at 1317H back to the camp site for lunch before heading to the summit.
At 1354H, we started our assault to the summit. The weather was still in favor of the climb as it was windy and cold though there was clearing and the trail is generally covered with trees.
At 1437H, we were at the summit of Mt. Maculot standing 930M above sea level. We had no view of the city and the lake down below because it was cloudy.
We started our descent at 1448H passing through several rope segments.
At 1517H, we reached the "Vertical Rope Segment" and there was a queue. This was the short exciting part of the climb as it resembled a short rappelling on a vertical wall (wall climbing). There were two ropes installed one on both sides of the way going down.
Thankfully, there were experienced guides assisting every climbers as they took the rope and rappel all the way down the trail leading to the Grotto.
It took us at least ten (10) minutes to move to the trail that leads to the grotto from the vertical rope segment.
We were at the station near the grotto for a quick refreshment at 1601H.
At 1623H, we were at the Grotto overlooking the own of Cuenca. From there we started our descent at 1629H using the concrete stairs.
According to our guide, there are at least a thousand steps from the jump-off point to the Grotto. Along the way are the fourteen stations of the cross, suggesting that this place is a favorite pilgrim spot during Lenten season.
We were at the other end of the trail at 1644H. We took a tricycle going back to the parking area.
Finally, our journey on the trail ended at 1700H and we didn't leave the place without a taste of Lomi.
-o0o-
