MT. NATIB
Orani, Bataan
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Tala, Orani
Minor jumpoff: Kanawan (Hanging Bridge), Morong
LLA: 14.7119 N; 120.3997 E; 1287 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 3.5-5 hours
Specs (Backtrail): Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-3
Specs (Traverse): Major climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Scenic views of Central Luzon; Woodlands; Tropical forests
*from Pinoy Mountaineer
Mt. Natib is another stunning destinations for hikers in Bataan. The major jump-off point location is in Brgy. Tala, Orani, Bataan. From the highway, you will drive up the hill going to the jump-off. There are resorts also in the area.
Those who are seeking a lot of adventures while fascinating in a rich ecosystem, Mt. Natib will surely never fail you. It offers a wonderful view of the provinces of Bataan, Zambales and Pampanga. At a distance, Mt. Tarak, Cinco Picos, Balingkilat and Arayat are also visible. Manila Bay and Subic Bay are also seen from a distance, as well as the West Philippine Sea.
As for the trail, a mix of easy and not so easy trails. The hike will take about 4-5hrs to the summit. More of the trail are easy long walk, the remaining ones are a bit challenging. With steep assault plus several roped segments, you will surely need your upper body strength to conquer this.
Itinerary:
June 11, 2017
11:00pm – Meet up at KFC Cubao
June 12, 2017
12:30am – Departure to Orani, Bataan
02:45am – Arrival at Brgy. Tala, Orani, Bataan: Jump-off point
03:30am – Start trek
04:00am – Arrival at the view deck, short rest at one cottage
04:45am – Arrival at water source, short rest
06:20am – Arrival at the campsite, start assault after few minutes
08:00am – Arrival at the summit, rest, breakfast, picture taking, bonding
10:00am – Start descend
01:15pm – Arrival at Jump-off point
05:00pm – Departure to Manila
08:00pm – Arrival in Manila
This is the first mountain climbing activity with my running friends. Serving as TEAM UCY reunion, one active hiker Wendell organizes this event. Only 13 of us join, as others are also busy with their individual schedules. When choosing the date, we see to it that everyone will be available and choose June 12, 2017.
The group is set to meet at KFC Cubao at 11pm on June 11, 2017. Everyone arrives within the meet up schedule except for our van service to arrive past 12mn. We leave Cubao at 12:30am and arrive in Brgy. Tala, Orani, Bataan at 2:45am; way way ahead of schedule. Originally, we intend to start our trek at 4am. Since we arrive early, we also start 30 minutes ahead of our schedule.
Seems exciting, as this is our first time (as a group) to do this kind of activity, a discipline different to that of running. We use to gather for a running activity only. It is also given that mountain climbing nowadays are getting familiar to everyone as more and more hiking activities are being organized every now and then. Most of us have already been to other mountains while some are first-timers too. Classifying Mt. Natib as a major climb, we all brace ourselves to conquer the challenges ahead.
Gears up, headlamps ON, we are good to go. The first part of a trail is a road. While walking the easy ascent, we all have the energy to walk all throughout until the viewing deck. Upon reaching the cottage at the viewing deck, cold wind blowing towards us also helps us relax a bit, regaining back our energy.
Just few minutes of rest, we continue our hike towards a smaller single pathway. The hike this time is going down, we can just imagine how it is later when hiking going back to the jump-off. Walking a single pile, we get to the water source after 30 minutes. There’s also a cottage where we take short rest, hydrating ourselves and eating some of our food.
It’s already 5am when we continue our hike and the sky is also getting brighter now. We no longer use our headlamps since the trail is now visible. Hiking is again back to an easy ascent. As the mountain is also visible to us, our guide is pointing to us our destination. We still have a long way to go.
Since it’s an ascend, we also have several rest stops. But we are not taking that long to stop since we also know that the trail and the mountain is also limatik abundant. Our guide is telling us that since there are plenty of climbers a day before ours; maybe the limatiks have already feasted on the other groups. However, along the way, our guide already catches two limatiks in his feet (he’s just wearing a slipper, though).
After an hour and 20 minutes, we arrive at the campsite. We find camper’s belongings still mounted at the campsite with one of the guides left to attend to their belongings. The campsite by the way is the start of the assault. At first, I am just thinking that the assault will just be easy and chill. We also know ahead that there are roped segments along the way, and what’s surprising is, according to our guide, we will be hurdling at least 10 of it.
Starting the assault, there is one small roped segment just to support climbers on the slippery trail. I also managed not to use it though. Walking along the trail, it’s a continuous assault ranging 40-60 degrees slope, well it’s manageable still. However, there are some steeper assaults of about 60-70 degrees slope that you will literally hold on to rocks and branches for you to climb the step. Most of the roped segments are also ranging from 60 to 70 degrees inclination and some of it is more than 10 meters long. That literally consumes our time, as we are not allowed to follow immediately until the person ahead of us reaches the end of the rope.
Along the way also, when making a stop, make sure to pay attention to creepy crawlies such as limatiks. I notice several of them along the trail; one has already in my shoes looking for a hole to penetrate my socks. Good thing, I managed to get rid of it. This time I am calmer than my first experience at Mt Malasimbo.
The trail along the way is fantastic. Most features are from these diverse floras, trails are forested and should I say, challenging. There are also presence of moss on the trees, wild orchids, wild berries and other plants indigenous to the place. Good thing that the mountain is also DENR protected, so they have preserved the ecosystem of Mt. Natib.
Battling the slopes and the challenging ropes, I reach the summit after an hour and half. We also found one group spending their night at the summit. They are already breaking their camps and are also preparing to descend. Also while waiting for our other companions, we simply eat our breakfast and chat with each other. Our group is complete after 30 minutes.
At the summit, as all other climbers are wanting, we also wait for the clearing to experience the view around us. Thick clouds are forming from afar; cold winds also are blowing towards us making it foggier. Patiently waiting for the clearing, we simply sat down the grasses, not minding the limatiks around, and just eat our food. Buffet of chips, chocolates, nuts and who will forget the beer of Artheus.
Finally, it starts to have a clearing on the other side of the mountain after an hour, the side facing Subic Bay. There is also one viewpoint there that offers a very good spot for photo opportunities. If the guide did not bring us to the spot, we may never have known it. The way going there is not that visible and there is no signage too.
Anyways, we all have our poses at the edge of the mountain. Most of us pose on the stone like we are hanging on the edge of the cliff. Karla, Wendell and I dare to do some “buwis-buhay” pose, while Dan surprises us with his heights fright. Karla also does her signature jump shot. Lovers Ilyn and Brian have their sweetest pose too. The very good thing a guide can do to his participants is to take them the wackiest and funniest group photo; we thank Kuya Will for capturing ours. That completes our Mt. Natib experience.
When all our poses been captured, we are set to start descent at 10am. The challenge now is how to go down safe knowing that there are slippery portions of the trail. I can’t help but think of my trekking pole, which I forget to bring. One advantage of going down is a much lighter load since we already have consumed some while staying at the summit.
If I have been careful when climbing up, now I am extra careful when going down. There is this fear of sliding down the trail. Thank God, I manage to reach the campsite safe and injury free though I already feel my knees are shaking while stepping down the steep slopes. It is already given that a descent is usually a lot faster than the ascent that we manage to catch the second group along the trail while descending to the campsite.
Reaching the campsite, Lanz and I continue to walk towards the water source. From there, it’s still about an hour of walk along the single pathway. At the junction to the waterfalls, we again catch the first group; they stop there for lunch. It is then that I realized that it’s such a long walk from the campsite to the water source.
After few minutes of walking, the water source is there. A quick stop to clean and freshen up a bit. Hungry as I am since it’s already 12 noon, I eat my last chicken sandwich. While in the middle of my meal, Artheus and Doc Dessy surfaces, they let me finish my stuff while Doc is having his delightful meditation (number 2) at the back of the cottage. When done, we all agree to walk back to the jump off.
Just one rest stop at the view deck, then we continue to walk down the road to the jump-off. Finally, at 1:15pm all four of us reach the store, then after a few minutes, Lea also arrive. We are excited for the Lomi. Actually, we don’t have a formal lunch. While resting, we have a quick chat. Lanz go first to freshen up followed by Lea. Doc and Art order their food while it’s now my turn to shower. This is the reason why we want to arrive the jump-off faster to avoid queue at the shower area. lol
Our group is complete at 3:30pm, just in time that the other two groups are also done refreshing. While resting, they order their food too. At one table, they eat their food while Doc Dessy and I also are drinking our red horse beer. Just in time to finish our drinks, all are also done refreshing. We leave Brgy. Tala at 5PM and arrives Manila at 8pm.
Overall, it’s such a remarkable climb. There are lots of fun and surprises along the way. Also a nice group bonding for all of us. This simply means, we are not just into running, we are also into trekking, though some of us were able to do trail running, maybe this climb will be an eye opener for us to do it too. We are very thankful for the success of our event, not one of us incurred injury and most importantly, we are all safe. Thanks to my Team UCY (U Can Yan) for making this possible. Shout out to Wendell for organizing this climb. To more climbs TEAM UCY!!!
With me:
- Artheus Genel Gaerlen
- Dessy Balla
- Chin Morabe
- Ilyn Osorio
- Brian Tan
- Joy Juan
- Cristina Rosales
- Karla Lasalita
- Lanz Sarmiento
- Dan Gerard Mistica
- Lea Dagdag
- Wendell Lustrado
Climb Date: June 12, 2017
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