Travel: Daraitan – Tinipak River and Cave (05/26/2013)

(This is the last part in a series of five entries for Tanay – Daraitan)

Tinipak River dissects the Sierra Madre mountain range and travels along the valley of Mount Daraitan and adjacent mountains. The river sources its water from rainfall that then flows through runoffs, or percolates and gushes at springs, streams and cave systems usually found at  higher elevations. It then ends it journey at the Pacific Ocean near Polillo Islands.

Tinipak River and Cliff Formations

Tinipak River and Cliff Formations

After reaching Tinipak River, we bought supplies for refreshment and for lunch at a sari-sari store. We then hiked another 15 minutes until we reached the camping spot along the banks of the river. A natural mineral spring for drinking water and cooking is also located near the camping spot. We were amazed with the limestone and marble formations along the sides of the river.

Tinipak River Cascades / Rapids

After swimming and bathing along the river, we got to view some local kids that are fond of cliff diving. One thing to note is that the river current is strong so it is advised to be careful in swimming near cascades or rapids. We then cooked and ate our lunch and proceeded with the caving activity.

Team Dips in the River

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Geof and I doing our School Pose

 

Tinipak Cave

Tinipak Cave is just some hundred meters away from where we camped at Tinipak River. We brought our head lamps and flash lights to help us navigate through the cave. We just finished our travel halfway through the cave as we have limited number of flashlights and it was already getting late in the afternoon. Nevertheless, spelunking was spooky fun. 

Cave Entrance

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Traversing the Cave

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Halfway Through – Point of Return

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Pitstop

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On Our Way Out

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Refreshing Dip after Spelunking

After spelunking, we then departed back to Daraitan Proper, hired a jeepney to bring us back to Tanay and then rode a van back to the Metro.

Expenses and Other Information

Cost: The entire cost of travel (guide fee, transportation, food and supplies) is less than 1000 pesos per person but it is advised to carry another thousand for emergency purposes

Information: You’ll have to register at the Daraitan Barangay Hall where you can hire guides during the entire climbing, hiking, spelunking trip. You can also ask for other tourist spots like waterfalls, canyoneering, rappelling at the said hall.

Tips: Tricycle cost from Tanay to Daraitan is around 300 – 500 per tricycle and should not go beyond this price point in the near future.

If you are travelling in a group of ten, I advise that you hire a jeepney instead of tricycles as it will be faster and less bumpy ride.

Food and Water: Bring quick, easy cook meals and trail food (soup, egg, salted egg, chocolate powder drink, nuts, candy or energy bars). As for water, bring about 2L – 3L per person. Also bring energy drinks as you will need lots and lots of ATP (energy).

Final words

Compared with Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Batangas, Mt. Romelo in Laguna and Osmena Peak in Cebu, this climb is probably the toughest but rewards you the most. Daraitan has river and cave systems which you can explore as side trips. The advantage of Romelo is the sheer number of beautiful waterfalls it has to offer (more than four waterfalls). Also, Romelo has buko / coconut juice refreshments available for 10 -20 pesos at essential stops along the way. As for Gulugod baboy, it is a fairly easy climb in which the peak offers a beautiful grassy terrain. During descent you can go directly to the beach to relax and enjoy. Osmena Peak is also a fairly easy 15-30 minutes climb but gives stunning views of adjacent ragged peaks and the Bohol Sea during clear weather.

Buruwisan Falls at Mt. Romelo, Famy, Laguna

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Osmena Peak at Dalaguete, Cebu

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Jump Jump Jump at Mt. Gulugod Baboy, Batangas. Credits – Marvin Bonifacio

 I wish that the local government check on the possibility of developing river kayaking, river tubing, and river rafting as an extreme sports activity.

River Kayaking at Tibiao, Antique

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Whitewater Rafting at Davao City

Mt. Daraitan – I will definitely return and hopefully visit your waterfalls next time.

Links:

Part 1: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/travel-tanay-calinawan-cave-05252013/

Part 2: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/travel-mt-daraitan-ascent-05252013/

Part 3: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/travel-mt-daraitan-sunrise-05262013/

Part 4: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/travel-mt-daraitan-descent-05262013-2/

Part 5: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/travel-daraitan-tinipak-river-and-cave-05262013/

Travel: Mt. Daraitan Descent (05/26/2013)

(This is the fourth part in a series of five entries for Tanay – Daraitan)

Slippery Descent

After we got our proper dose of sunlight and warmth, we prepared cups of chocolate drink or coffee and sandwiches to satisfy our bellies and get ready for the descent. After our breakfast, we cleared the camp and went down the mountain. We posed for a picture at one of the other peaks near the summit.

If you think that going down is a lot easier than climbing up, you are definitely, definitely wrong. The heavy rain that dumped so much water made the trail more muddy and slippery. Trekking down also placed a lot of pressure on our knees. It occasionally inflicted pain and induced cramps from time to time. Also, angle of descent is now 30 – 60 degrees. A couple of slips here and there, butt bumps on the ground, scratches and bruises and we finally reached the grasslands. Whew.

Buko Juice Pit stop

We walked another trail that leads to Tinipak River after the grasslands. Ground was loose and was rocky at the same time. Our water supplies were almost empty (except for my Gatorade). Luckily, our guide told us that he can get Coconut / Buko Juice along the way. Coconuts are also known as the “Tree of Life” – taught since primary school.  I think the one who coined the term for the tree is definitely correct. The juice, rich is electrolytes, energized and refreshed our bodies.

Hello Civilization

We stumbled upon a couple of houses and plantations of calamansi and mangoes along the trail. We also get the chance to meet and greet goats, horses and dogs along the way until we reached Tinipak River.

           

Hello Tinipak River!

Links:

Part 1: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/travel-tanay-calinawan-cave-05252013/

Part 2: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/travel-mt-daraitan-ascent-05252013/

Part 3: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/travel-mt-daraitan-sunrise-05262013/

Part 4: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/travel-mt-daraitan-descent-05262013-2/

Part 5: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/travel-daraitan-tinipak-river-and-cave-05262013/

Travel: Mt. Daraitan Sunrise (05/26/2013)

 (This is the third part in a series of five entries for Tanay – Daraitan)

The Moon

At the western side of the camp, while waiting for the Sun to come up, the Full Moon shines brightly and illuminates the other side of the mountain range. The moon also highlights the clouds covering the river valleys.

The Sun

One of my favorite activities when climbing mountains is waking up early and patiently waiting for the Sun to slowly brighten up the horizon and then cast its piercing rays to energize our body. It is like vividly watching a painter color the sky with hues of reds, oranges and yellows.

Enjoy the pictures below:

Links:

Part 1: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/travel-tanay-calinawan-cave-05252013/

Part 2: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/travel-mt-daraitan-ascent-05252013/

Part 3: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/travel-mt-daraitan-sunrise-05262013/

Part 4: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/travel-mt-daraitan-descent-05262013-2/

Part 5: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/travel-daraitan-tinipak-river-and-cave-05262013/

Travel: Mt. Daraitan Ascent (05/25/2013)

(This is the second part in a series of five entries for Tanay – Daraitan)

After our Calinawan cave traverse, we immediately took off for Daraitan proper and bypassed Daranak falls due to time limitations. Travel time from Calinawan to Daraitan Proper is about an hour. We still get to peek at Laguna de Bay once more before we arrive at Daraitan / Tinipak River crossing.

Laguna de Bay

Mt. Daraitan at a Glance

Mount Daraitan is a mountain in the boundaries of Tanay, Rizal and Quezon Province. Average height is around 400m above sea level.

Daraitan River Crossing

Daraitan Proper

Daraitan Proper is more of a Sitio / Barangay. It has a barangay hall, school, market at its center and is surrounded by the houses of the community. We headed to the Barangay Hall to register and get to hire two guides for the hike. We rested for a bit and enjoyed halo-halo for only twenty pesos. As an added bonus, we also get to know that we would be one of the first ten groups to reach the peak of Daraitan. (I am not sure if this is true though or the locals just made it up)

Halo halo Break

Team getting ready for the Climb

The first thirty minutes of our climb was grueling. The heat was intense, the sun was at its peak and the inclination of the soil was varying between 10 to 30 degrees and there are the occasional inclinations of greater than 30 degrees.

Hot and Humid

And then, for an hour, it rained hard. For me, it was a blessing that it rained because it made our climb less tiring. The catch is that it made the trail slippery and our backpack along with its contents wet. (Waterproofing is always advised during climbs) Nevertheless, I was happy hiking while raining (I don’t know about the others though. Hehe)

Grasslands – easy but tricky

The Grasslands

Upon reaching the famed grassland, the weather cooperated and the sky brightened. The scent of grass and the cold breeze was a pleasure to the senses. The trail is similar to Mt. Gulugod Baboy’s Summit trail though the grasses are taller and sharper. Take caution while navigating the grasslands as they can really inflict shallow wounds in which after some time the part of the skin touched by the grass becomes itchy. This is why it is advised to wear long sleeved shirts and trekking pants to avoid contact with the grasses. Along the trail, we also got the opportunity to view Daraitan’s peak.

Daraitan Peak from the Grasslands

Assault – hardest part of the climb

After 15 – 30 minutes of easy walking comes one of the toughest parts of the climb – the assault. Loose rock and soft soil make up a significant part of the trail so it is advised to make use of your four limbs. Inclination of the trail is mostly greater than 30 degrees with occasional angle of greater than 60 degrees. I really think that this is not a class 2 – 3 trail >_<. Also be observant as the trunks and bushes that you cling on to are sometimes sharp and thorny. We also came across a cave system along the way.

Assault!!!

Cave System along the Way

The camp at the summit

The camp was full of shrubs and bushes that’s why we had to clear the ground using a jungle bolo for us to set our tents. We also got a view of the Daraitan / Tinipak River in the western section of the peak and Polillo Islands on the eastern side. Two other groups accompany us as the peak of daraitan. The first one was a lovely couple in their twenties and the other was a group of Lasallian IT graduates.

Daraitan River at a Distance

Polillo Islands at a Distance

Dinner by Lester

If you are a mountaineer, I bet that you become thankful for every food served and every food served tastes more delicious and filling. I was happy that Lester came along the trip. I did not imagine in my wildest dreams that he will cook menudo / afritada (chicken with tomato sauce) atop the mountain.

Chicken Menudo / Afritada

Links:

Part 1: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/travel-tanay-calinawan-cave-05252013/

Part 2: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/travel-mt-daraitan-ascent-05252013/

Part 3: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/travel-mt-daraitan-sunrise-05262013/

Part 4: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/travel-mt-daraitan-descent-05262013-2/

Part 5: https://solersystem.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/travel-daraitan-tinipak-river-and-cave-05262013/

Sneak Peek for the Week: Tanay – Calinawan – Daraitan – Tinipak Adventure

Hello guys! For this coming week, we will re-visit Tanay. We will traverse the Calinawan cave, climb Mount Daraitan, view the Sun rise at its peak and take a dip at Tinipak River. This adventure takes us back to May 25 – 26, 2013 and comes in a five post mini series. For the meantime, enjoy these pictures below.

Part 1: Calinawan Cave Traverse

 

Part 2: Mt. Daraitan Ascent

 

Part 3: Mt. Daraitan Sunrise

 

Part 4: Mt. Daraitan Descent

Part 5: Tinipak River and Cave