A Hiking Guide to Assembly Areas (and why we should install cameras on them)

If you've been hiking for a while now, and you've been added to one of the big facebook pages about Philippines' mountaineering scene, you probably know that it's not as uncommon as it used to be. If we compare the number of hikers like batch of graduates in a university, counting every person who started climbing per year, the class of 2011-2015 would probably outnumber every other class combined. That's how much social media , and pinoymountaineer.com had made it relatively easy to participate and even organize you're own climbing event.

A Facebook Search of Mt. Patukan. One of the most Technical climb in the country that has rappeling sections. Also one of the Most Secluded mountains that requires a 12-14hour bus ride, and an additional 6-8 hour ride on a 4x4 truck just to reach a jumpoff. and i can participate if i click the "Join" Tab. 

And while we're on the topic of facebook groups, there's practically a weekly update via photos of how crowded it is on Mt. Batulao and Mt. Pico de Loro, making them the top contenders for hiker's population contests near manila, although the Montalban mountains are quickly catching up. Mt. Pulag on the other hand has a league of its own when we categorize the mountains in Cordillerra, that even the supposedly restriction for number of hikers allowed are just a suggestion rather than an actual policy.

Photos showing what looks like an arms-forward flag ceremony scenario along the trail of Mt. Batulao gave me an idea for a better barrometer of the increase of hikers in metro manila area: Simultaneous survailance of the most common assembly areas.

Like if you are doing a thesis on the sudden popularity and increase of hikers in the philippines, install cameras in the following terminals, and foodchains or better yet go there for yourself to see these army of technical packs, leggings and armsleeves to see how many we really are (if this is indeed your thesis, i cant imagine what you're studying in school).

So where are these assembly areas? Well the obvious choices are the terminals of buses, jeepneys, and PUVs. Among the bus companies, Victory liner is probably the top benificiary of the climbing demographic. It's our top choice when we travel to Baguio, where we transfer to our rented monster jeeps, or to terminals leading to different destinations in Benguet, and the only instance i rode another bus label is because there are no longer available seats in Victory. Their terminals in Cubao and Pasay are the assembly areas of hikes such as Purgatory, Kibungan, Bakun, Timbak, Tabayok and ofcourse the afformentioned Mt. Pulag. While the one in Kamias offers routes to Nueva Viscaya especially for those who want to climb Mt. Ugo. You can find hikers here every friday night, or on thursday if it's a long weekend at around 7pm to 11pm.

Stop over at Baguio on our way to Kibungan where we were greeted by more than a dozen monster jeeps and two busses, waiting for their passengers which they will take to different mountains in Benguet, mostly in Pulag.

Banaue, like Baguio, is also an entry point when climbing mountains in Ifugao and Mountain province. Unlike Baguio where you arrive at around 3am in the morning for the standard itinerary, you will arrive in Banaue between 6am to 8am, which means stores and the public market would be open and you will have the oppurtunity to buy your supplies. Mt. Amuyao, Mt. Napuluan, and Mt. Kalawitan are the Big three mountains that are accessed here, all of which are among the Top 11 highest mountains in the country. Ohayami Bus Terminal in Samploc along Lacson Ave is the go to bus label when you travel to Banaue, although Florida bus also has trips there, but it will cost you 80php more. The ideal schedule to pick here are from 9pm to 10pm.

Climbers in Zambales who wish to summit the likes of Balingkilat, Sinco Picos, Dayungan and even in Tapulao, are also clients of Victory liner Pasay and Cubao, that has buses that goes as far as Iba, or you can just take the Olongapo trips and transfer from there, while the Caloocan terminal is the best option if you want to start your hike earlier because they have a later last trip schedule. The wee hours from 1am to 4am is when most of hikers gather here while the last trip in Caloocan is around 1130pm.

Across Edsa in front of Victory Terminal in Cubao, are the terminals of Five star and Genesis where they compete for hikers going to Central Luzon. Mt. Manalmon and Gola in Bulacan; Mt. Arayat in Pampanga; Mt. Damas and San Jose Mountains in Tarlac; the Mariveles Mountain Ranges that includes the Peaks of Pantingan and Tarak, as well as Mt. Natib in Orani Bataan are the usual suspects of trekkers plying this route. Dayhike aspirants gather here as early as 1am while those who are doing an overnight camping would choose to assemble at around 8am on a saturday morning. (It is also note mentioning that Pasay terminals also have trips to Bataan as early as 1am.)

When i took 27 souls to plow the muddy trails of Tarak Ridge. I don't regret doing it by i won't organize a group of this size again.

Coastal Mall is probably the busiest terminal in Manila, and hikers are slowly taking away seats from actual people who live in Cavite and Batangas. The mountains of Batulao, Pico de loro, Talamitam, and Marami are easiest to access through Coastal Mall and there is no exact ideal time to gather here. It depends on the itenirary of different groups. From friday night to sunday morning, you can spot brightly colored dri-fits and bulky bags trying to board buses to Nasugbo Batangas or Naic Cavite.

The same can be said about the different terminals in Buendia Taft, where they also cater buses going to Nasugbo, but also to different parts of Batangas like Lipa and Batangas Pier, and almost all parts of Laguna and even trips to Lucena Quezon. So if youre climbing the Malarayat Ranges in Lipa; the Mountain Ranges in Lobo such as Tibig, Naguiling and Banoi; or mountains such as Makiling, Cristobal, Kalisungan, Mabilog and Banahaw found in Laguna, you'll probably be in Buendia at 2am to 5am on a weekend. But if you have upgraded to more difficult treks such as Iglit Baco and Halcon in Mindoro, you'll be at Buendia somewhere in the evening, boarding buses to Batangas pier to transfer to ferries going to Calapan Mindoro.

Shaw Boulevard has the biggest terminal going to Rizal, especially in Binangonan and Tanay where Sierra Madre has a lot of begginer friendly hike spots. Sembrano, Daraitan, and Tagapo are ussual destinations of hikers riding the PUVs, lined up at the front of Starmall in EDSA, that is witness to hikers who fall in line at the break of dawn or until mid morning.

And speaking of Sierra Madre, lets not forget the up-and-coming-new-kids-on-the-block which is the Mountains of Montalban. They grew prominence just earlier this year when just last year they were practically unheard of to hiking enthusiasts. Give credit to the brgy officials in Wawa dam for they're genuine concern to hikers, that they keep opening and adding new trails to hike in their vicinity. There are atleast four peaks now that can be accessed in Wawa Dam, (Pamitinan, Binacayan, Haponang Banoi and Ayaas) and another one in Brgy. Mascap (Sipit Ulang), That gave way to the 5-peaks dayhike itenerary, or the Pentathology (which can, according to Facebook, upgrade your status from newbie to "Harkor") a record here in Southern Luzon for most number of peaks in a dayhike. Mt Lubog is also in the vicinity, but would cost you as high as 1,000php to rent a tricycle to the jumpoff. Have you ever eaten in jolibee at the corner of Farmers Mall in Cubao under the MRT station? You might as well make it exclusive for hikers before dawn on weekends because this is where they flock at around 3am to 6am, for the terminal of FX and Vans going to Montalban is just in front of it.

No amount of sharp Rocks can deter a true Weekend Warrior. Pamitinan, Montalban, Rizal.

This Jolibee branch is among the many fast food chains that are favorite assembly areas in Metro Manila. They are ussual waiting areas because they are basically a landmark, you can buy your packed lunch there and there is ofcourse air conditioning. Included in this line-up are the MCDO branch in Buendia beside the Jac Liner Terminal and the Jolibee branch in Kamias. Even those without terminals beside it, are being staged as assembly areas for those with private vans like the Mcdo in Robinsons Forum in Boni, and another Mcdo along Quezon Avenue, corner Delta (KFC is obviously getting left behind).

So the next time you arrive at a certain assembly area, snap a photo of how little your group is compared to the mass of hikers gathered around you. Use #TherabezAssembly so that we can consolidate all these photos in real time, and probably have a rough idea of the population of active hikers in Metro Manila. Maybe we really are that many that we can finally stage a Mass rally in Edsa to stop the ridiculous guide requirement being imposed in Mt. Batulao, Talamitam and Maculot!!

Or Maybe, when our children asks us how these mountains lost its appeal and deteriorated at a significant pace, we can show them these snap shots of terminal and explain to them that all these people are hiking up a mountain, on a quest for a better profile pictures.

(Note: Araneta Cubao, and Pasay terminals are home to the buses going to bicol, but so far it's not yet a popular hiking destination, which, as a Bicolano myself, is probably a good thing.

Therabaz is just kidding about the use of the hashtag. I'm not that desperate to promote my blog. The rally though might be a good idea but Mining and Deforestation is significantly higher on the list of problems compared to mountaineer's qualms about unjustified guiding systems.)