Mt Cristobal Traverse Day Hike Video Itinerary

My first climb in Mt Cristobal (April 2008)

We started the expedition at Christian Zamora's Campsite in Pala-Pala, Dasmariñas, Cavite on the night of July 1st. We downed two bottles of rum and headed for Daniel Buyco's place in Bayan (Dasma) at around 1 am (July 2). Yep, not so much of a plan! The climb was supposed to be that way: guided by trust and luck! All three of us had climbed the Kinabuhayan side of Cristobal anyway! But what we did is not recommended for beginners. We didn't care where we would exit. Nobody researched about it. We just knew that there were two exit points: Nagcarlan and another one which we had not heard of. It turned out we were going to exit at that less popular exit point (Rizal, Laguna). We (Daniel, Kevin and I) commenced the trek at Kinabuhayan at 12:30 pm! We reached the Montelibanos' place at 1 pm. We ate our (Andok's) Dokito Fritos and resumed trek around 1:40pm.

We reached the crater lake around 3pm. It started to rain when I started filming. Should have asked permission from the spirits!

We reached the summit at around 3:30 pm. The view would have been breath-taking without the clouds that obscured the seven lakes. The steep descent is not friendly to toenails so cut them before the trek!

From the summit down to this point (Panuyuan @ 3:50pm), there is a clear slippery trail. I'm sorry, when I said kaliwa I was referring to my left. When you're trekking, where I'm standing should be on your right going up. When you reach the 'Sagingan' part, the trail becomes difficult to locate and follow. After the Sagingan, it gets even trickier when the talahib gets really tall as they cover the trail! Then when you've gone out the national park, you'll encounter isolated vegetable gardens that somehow hide the trail. 

This is the point where you're almost outside the national park area. The trail will at times be hidden on the sides of isolated vegetable gardens.

The hill which I'm referring to here is probably referred to as Ermita by the locals. The trail will be very clear at this point. The black volcanic trail will lead you through some houses and will be cemented even before reaching Brgy. Tala.

I consumed only one bottle of Cobra, 250ml of water, my packed lunch, a bar of Kitkat, and shared with my companions 2 packs of pineapple tidbits and the hopia. I replaced my lost electrolytes with 500ml of Pocari Sweat after the trek. I feel energized when I don't drink a lot water  on the trail. But it is always good to bring more water than you expect to consume. You never know when you'll have to call for an emergency camp.

I was carrying the following in my Columbia Mobex:

1.5L of water, two bottles of Cobra and another bottle for my Hydrite.

Andok's Dokito Frito + rice

A pair of sandals

Garmin C60x (GPS device)

A set of change of clothes
3 pouches of pineapple tidbits
A pack of Hopia (baboy flavor)
3 bars of chocolate
my headlamp
my camera
my mobile phone

Itinerary

Saturday July, 2, 2011

0900hrs: ETD @ Bayan, Dasmariñas, Cavite for Palapala

0930hrs: ETD @ Palapala for San Pablo

1100hrs: ETA San Pablo, Laguna

1115hrs: ETD for Kinabuhayan

1230hrs: ETA Kinabuhayan. Start Trek

1300hrs: ETA The Montelibanos’ place

1340hrs: Resume trek

1500hrs: ETA Crater Lake

1530hrs: ETA Summit

1550hrs: ETA Panuyuan station

1620hrs: ETA Sagingan area

1650hrs: ETA Talahiban

1820hrs: Ermita (hill with the cross)

1930hrs: Brgy Tala hall (before the bridge)

1950hrs: ETA Highway (Rizal, Laguna). Change clothes at another Brgy Hall. Take the jeepney bound for San Pablo.

2010hrs: ETA San Pablo, Laguna. Take the bus bound for Manila

2200hrs: ETA Manila

Expenses*

Bayan—Palapala	8
Palapala—San Pablo	125
San Pablo—Kinabuhayan	45
Rizal—San Pablo	17
San Pablo—Manila	127
Total	P322
Safe budget	P500

  

* If you’re coming from Manila, just head straight to San Pablo City. Get off at the bus stop (near the  medical center) and get a tricycle (P40/trip) to the market (tell the driver you’ll take the jeepney to Kinabuhayan).

We were able to avoid registration fees because of the unlikely times that we showed up at the entry and exit points.

Acknowledgment

Me, Daniel, Kevin and the two dogs having lunch at The Montelibanos'  place

Many thanks to my companions Daniel Buyco and Kevin Jauod for their trust, speed and strength.

Special thanks to Dennis Hisanan for a very helpful tip. I phoned him at the Saddle Campsite and ask for tips on the way down. That was the first time I heard of Brgy Tala in Rizal, Laguna.

my track logs

altitude profile (L-R: Kinabuhayan-Rizal)