Mt. Arayat Traverse (Dayhike)
It was a Saturday morning when we schedule our hike to Mt Arayat. My last hike in Arayat was last November 2013 with Travel Tipid hosted by Ace Modar for 2 days but this time we will take the trail for a dayhike.
Facts: Mt. Arayat has a altitude of 1,026 masl.
Facts: Mt. Arayat has a altitude of 1,026 masl.
It started in Baliwag terminal where our call time is 0400H. We took a bus going to Bataan and left when we arrive at SM San Fernando Terminal and arrive at San Fernando around 0600H. We have to wait for Bree and Jassem since they will coming from Pasay terminal. Since we will conduct a dayhike, we have to pack light in order for us to move faster.
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| SM City San Fernando |
We took a short breakfast at the Ministop near Robinson and leave for Magalang around 0800H. We arrive at Magalang around 0840H using a jeepney, from Magalang municipal hall, we took a trike to the jump-off and arrived at the jump-off around 0900H. We start our trek around 0910H.
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| Team Arayat (left to right): Darwin, Jojo, Jassem, Jazz, Bree, Jullio |
Arayat trail in Magalang, Pampanga has 2 option, the new trail and the old trail. the old trail will pass some rock formation and will enter the forest while the new trail you have just to follow the electrical post (there is a camp at the north peak of Arayat where army or soldier stay). Also, in Magalang trail, you will pass by some station of the cross, they call the area the Holy Mountain (Another Holy mountain, maybe holy mountain of the north while Banahaw is the Holy mountain of the south).
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| Station of the cross in Magalang, Pampanga |
After the 5th Station of the cross, you will be passing the registration area, there is no fee in passing, just register at the house before crossing the gate.
After a quick rest and registration, we continue our trek to the north peak. Just follow the station of the cross until you reach this station. there is a trail on the left and trail on the right, the right trail is the right side and just follow the electrical post (the left trail will lead you to the next station of the cross).
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| Turn right when you see this station |
Around 1000H we reach the area where the new trail and old trail separates. The sign that you will choose the old trail or the new trail is the nipa hut. There is a trail at the left of the hut that will take you to the old trail while if you will choose the new trail, you will see the electrical post and just fellow them. We chose the old trail as our trail towards the north peak.
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| Nipa Hut, sign if you will take the old or new trail |
The old trail is nice compared to the new trail, since the old trail has a lots of trees and we do not almost feel the heat of the sun, compared to the new trail that is open and some grasses are your only option to hide under the sun.
You will encounter some bouldering along the old trail. Big rocks where you can take a picture of the rock formation, large trees along the trail.
After hours of walking we reach the north peak around 1150H. You will notice that there is a camp in the north peak where army are staying, also find the Philippine flag at the north peak. We took a quick snack at the north peak and leave around 1210H.
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| North peak |
We continue our trek towards the south peak, we will be passing the ridge of Arayat and will pass what they call the white rock where there is a 90 degree downhill. We arrive at the white rock around 1250H, but before we go down, we take the advantage to took some photos in the area.
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| Going down from white rock |
After some picture taking at the white rock, we continue our trek to the south peak where there is a overlooking of the Pampanga River. After some hour of uphill to the south peak, we arrive around 1350H at the south peak and we immediately go to the overlooking (of course to take some photos).
We leave around 1430H. Along the way we encounter some group of women going to the peak. We continue our traverse to Arayat, Pampanga and since it is downhill and we have a light pack we are quite fast going downhill, I thought we will be descending around 3hours but luckily we arrive at the end of the trail around 1630H. When we arrive at the end of the trail we are also lucky that we can enjoy a swimming at the Arayat National Park Swimming Pool. We take the advantage to go to swim until 1800H. After refreshing swimming at the park, we tidy up and eat at SM Pampanga before going home.
Itinerary:
0400 Meet up at Baliwag Transit in Cubao
0500 Leave for SM Pampanga
0600 ETA SM Pampanga
0730 ETD SM Pampanga to Magalang, Pampanga
0800 ETA Magalang, trike to jump off
0900 ETA jump-off (Station of the cross)/ register after Station 5
1000 ETA nipa hut, take the old trail
1150 ETA North peak, short break, resume trek
1250 ETA White Rock
1350 ETA South Peak, overlooking, lunch
1430 ETD South Peak to Arayat, Pampanga
1630 ETA Arayat National Park, swim, tidy up
1830 ETD Arayat NAtional Park to SM Pampanga
2000 ETA SM Pampanga/ dinner
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