Mt. Halcon dayhike
Baco, Oriental Mindoro
Moving Time and Day(s): 20 hours | 1 Day
Jump off: Barangay Bayanan
May 31, 2015
The idea of climbing Mount Halcon in one day sounds crazy. One year ago, I told Sir Alvin Remo about my intension of completely hiking Mount Halcon in just one day. Sir Alvin, who I met and ran with in ultra-trail races, is an ultra-trail runner and an experienced mountaineer. I chose him as my buddy because I think he got the experience, guts, determination; and he will to do anything if worse comes to worst. True to my thoughts; he didn’t fail me and he agreed to come with me in my crazy plan. But our main problem was Mount Halcon remained closed since 2006. We didn’t push our plan until this year.
Early this year, Baco tourism office released a new set of rules and regulation for climbing Mount Halcon. Mount Halcon is open for climbing from February 1 to May 31 of each year. The re-opening of Mount Halcon opened our most-awaited window. Finally, this was my chance to hike the elusive Sialdang, as other would call it. It was April when I called again Sir Alvin. This time we agreed to hike on May 31st so that we can still have at least a month of preparation. Iwas surprised when Sir Alvin, upon learning about the news, went directly to Baco (Oriental Mindoro) and arranged our climb (later on I learned why).
Tips and requirements for climbing Mount Halcon:
- Book your preferred date ahead of time. Please contact Baco tourism office or go directly to Baco.
- Medical certificate
- Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) certificate or any climb certificate (e.g. Mt. Guiting-guiting climb certificate, Pulag, etc.)
- Tourism fee/ Climb fee/ Permit fee: 350.00 per head
- Logging in at Police station
- Submit 1 copy of your climb permit to Barangay official
- There are 2 entry point/ jump off: Barangay Lantuyan and Barangay Bayanan
- Guide and porter fee is 500 per day + food and shelter. Max load is 15kg.
Day 0 - May 30, 2015
Together with Sir Alvin Remo, Allan Ordaniel, and Rjek Perez embarked to an unusual journey. None of us ever climb Mount Halcon. We’re just hoping the weather will cooperate and have a safe climb. We had settled all the requirements in Baco municipal tourism prior to climb. Chartered tricycle brought us first in Barangay Mayabig where Sir Alvin’s girlfriend is residing. From there we saw the mighty mountain just waiting for us. Then, we dropped by in Maybinig River, and took some refreshment while looking at Mount Halcon. We met our guide at Barangay Bayanan where we also spent our night.
Day 1 - May 31, 2015
At 0230H, we started our hike armed with assault pack loaded of 3-4kg essentials. Our guide was also provided of assault pack with trail food, sports drinks, meals, headlamp and raincoat.
Note: Always pamper your guide and treat him the best way you can do because he’s one of the reasons for your success.
Barangay Bayanan jump off is below 80 meters above sea level (MASL). It was a long and steep climb passing by two Mangyan villages, crossing several streams, thick forest and narrow trail infested by blood sucking limatik. The first highest peak reaches for about 1700+ masl. At that point sightings of limatik had been diminished. After short descent we had been rewarded of beautiful view of Mount Halcon. Aplaya campsite is also visible few hundred meters from us. At 0640H, we have reached the campsite and took our breakfast there. The half way battle to summit had been started by 0720H. We arrived at Dulangan River after twenty minutes of descent. Dulangan River was crystal clear, freezing cold, beautiful and indeed inviting.
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| Mt. Halcon |
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| Aplaya Campsite |
Potable water is not a problem when hiking Mount Halcon. Most of the streams along the trail are drinkable. However, these streams sometimes become a river and serene river become a monster. When raining too hard or continuous for several hours, you might encounter flashfloods without a warning and/or stranded for a day until the water subside.
After Dulangan River, the trail is relatively easy and mostly flat with few short steep ascend and several stream crossing. In the last water crossing, the steepest climb starts until you reach the top of the ridge. The forest was undeniably and unsurprisingly magnificent. We took 30 minutes hike over the ridge or what so-called “Knife edge”. We have reached the summit at around 1230H.
We were blessed with perfect weather but it might change at any time. We started our descent by 1400H. Clouds started building up with some thunders. It might rain and make the river impassable. I was relieved after crossing the Dulangan River. We took some refreshing moment at the river before the final stretch of ascend. Darkness loomed and clouds shrouded mount Halcon when we reached the Aplaya campsite.
I didn’t notice how far we had been from Bayanan to Aplaya. I just felt it when we headed back to Bayanan. The limatik was also double the number and much aggressive. Both Allan and Arjek claimed the most limatik bites of our hike.
I’m with our guide most of the time catching up with his pace. Behind me was Sir Allan Ordaniel, also an ultra-trail runner, he just finished the Mt. PULAG 100km (P1) trail run a week before the hike. Sir Arjek and Allan teamed up at the tail.
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| CARBS Mountaineers - Sir Alvin, Rjek and Allan |
We we’re patiently waited and greeted by the locals at the jump off. It was a successful and safe climb after all.
