The travel to Mt. Sembrano is the same as any way if you're heading to any mountain in Rizal. We took a jeepney in Ali-Mall, Cubao bound to Antipolo. We asked the driver to drop us off Puregold-Antipolo. In front of Puregold, we took a jeepney headed to Tanay Market (or the end of the jeepney route). From there, we took another jeepney ride going to Malaya's Barangay Hall, the jump off point headed to Mt. Sembrano.
The first attempt to conquer Mt. Sembrano was on February 2015. It was just me and my best friend. It was Arkiweek and I took that as an opportunity to travel and go on adventures before coming back to my stressful life with plates and schoolwork. It was a perfect morning. It was a good weather— not too hot, not too cold. A foggy view of Mt. Sembrano can be seen through the windows of the Barangay Hall. I was a little worried about the foggy hike we were gonna face. But we still pushed through with the hike.
What stopped us was the intense rain in the forest. The fog just a few meters above where we were standing would cover the trail if we continue the hike. The trail became slippery and the soil became softer. Every step must be taken with extra caution. Quite disappointed, we headed back to the campsite and just took a dip in the Manggahan Falls.
We still want to push through with the hike after almost an hour of waiting, though our guide insisted that we shouldn’t. So we just made a side trip to Tanay Church before heading back to Manila.
We took the same route, but unlike the past hike, we set foot on a more solid, mud-free trail.
At first, we encountered a rocky trail. Halfway up the trail, there was a campsite where we bought Halo-halo and buko, a little rest before the assault to the mountain. As we went on, a more challenging trail was waiting for us. No shade were available after the forest trail and there was nothing but grassland. Another hour of hike and we reached the third peak of Mt. Sembrano. After the intense heat along the trail, you wouldn't mind staying long along the top.
The 745MASL mountain holds an incredible view. From Peak 1, you will see Laguna de Bay, Talim Island with Mt. Tagapo and glimpses of Makati City. From Peak 2, various mountain ranges like Mt. Banahaw, The Holy Mountain, and Mt. San Cristobal, The Devil‘s Mountain.
Mt. Sembrano is considered by mountaineers as a mini-Mt. Pulag of Rizal. You can witness a sea of clouds. Spend the night here and you‘ll sleep under a sky full of stars.
THE SECOND CLIMB - MARCH 2015
I insisted that the team mustvisit Mt. Sembrano before choosing another mountain. This time, there were four of us: Dan, Mischa, Athena and me. Intense heat welcomed us to Pililia. Compare to what happened last time, I would gladly prefer this kind of weather than a chilly hike with muddy trail and slippery rocks. We arrived at the Barangay Hall around around 10 am— sweaty and hot hike for sure.
At first, we encountered a rocky trail. Halfway up the trail, there was a campsite where we bought Halo-halo and buko, a little rest before the assault to the mountain. As we went on, a more challenging trail was waiting for us. No shade were available after the forest trail and there was nothing but grassland. Another hour of hike and we reached the third peak of Mt. Sembrano. After the intense heat along the trail, you wouldn't mind staying long along the top.
The 745MASL mountain holds an incredible view. From Peak 1, you will see Laguna de Bay, Talim Island with Mt. Tagapo and glimpses of Makati City. From Peak 2, various mountain ranges like Mt. Banahaw, The Holy Mountain, and Mt. San Cristobal, The Devil‘s Mountain.
Mt. Sembrano is considered by mountaineers as a mini-Mt. Pulag of Rizal. You can witness a sea of clouds. Spend the night here and you‘ll sleep under a sky full of stars.
ITINERARY:
Cubao to Puregold, Antipolo: roughly 1.5 hours of travel thru jeepney | 70PHP
Puregold, Antipolo to Tanay Market: 2 hours via jeepney | 28PHP | The jeepneys going to Tanay pass right in front of Puregold.
Tanay Market to Pililia: 30 to 40 minutes via jeepney | 20PHP | Tanay Market is also Tanay’s Jeepney terminal. Ride a jeepney with a sign, “Malaya,” and tell the driver to drop you off the Barangay Hall. This is the jump off trail to Mt. Sembrano.
Registration fee: 40PHP | You will pay this as the Barangay Hall
Manggahan Campsite fee: 10PHP | You may opt to buy fresh buko for 15PHP
Guide fee: 500PHP | This depends on how many you are.
—
Pililia to Tanay Market: 30 to 40 minutes via jeepney | 20PHP | Same as going back.
Tanay to Antipolo: 2-3 hours via FX | 100PHP | We rode an fx at Tanay Market because we were headed to QC and it was more convenient than a jeepney ride. The fx is bound to Shaw.
*Prices may change and travel time may vary.
Watch our journey to Mt. Sembrano.
Directed, compiled and edited by Mischa De Guzman.
Directed, compiled and edited by Mischa De Guzman.
FOOTNOTES:
Credits to Mischa De Guzman, Athena Cruz & Dan Fugrad | Pililia, Rizal | February 2015RAESCAPE contains affiliate links in the website. By clicking and purchasing through this links, I get to earn a small commission to help me run this website without extra cost to you. Thank you for helping a fellow traveler and say yes to adventures!
Read about the Disclosure here.
Comments
Post a Comment