March 28- April 1, 2010 – Sibuyan Island, Romblon. The holy climb for this year, the Coup d’ Grace of Philippine mountaineering, the beautiful and ominous Mt. Guiting-guiting! Traverse!
To the Jump Off – The challenge already started even before the actual climb commenced. Getting to the jump-off point was as equally challenging (well for uscoming from Cebu), boarding the bus from NB Terminal to Bogo, Cebu1 trip per day only. A crowded marine vessel with no place to sleep, forced us to improvise, bivouac style on the ship floor, groundsheet and earth pad it gave us a bumpy sleep but a well worth rest. After a 6 hour ferry ride from Bogo we finally arrived at Cataingan, Masbate. 1st time I set foot here. Fast forward 3 hours of Bus and Vhire we arrived at Mandaon, Masbate. This is the last stop before going to Sibuyan island.
This 96 KM around- island is one of the remotest places I’ve ever been. Trips here are scarce, and you need to perfectly time your trips, so as my climb buddy Earl and I we got perfect timing or luck it is, but we were able board a pumpboat at half the regular price. 4 hours of battering waves and a broke down boat, we somehow reached Sibuyan Island. 1 hour Trike ride and we finally reach Mang Remy’s house, it took us 24 hours to get there. Exhausting!
The Climb - After 24 hours of travelling, a hefty meal, and final gear checks, it’s time to Climb! Mt. Guiting-guiting or G2 for some is dubbed as one of the hardest mountain to climb here in the Philippines. It’s doubly hard because we are doing the traverse trail(discovered by Remy Robiso). Guide for this climb is Mang Remy’s son, Twinkle Robiso, and our porter is Jun. We kicked of at around 6 am. My altimeter is reading at 20 MASL, oh I get it, this climb starts at sea level, not your usual halfway to the mountain climb. I somehow had a feeling that I’m gonna have my butt kicked. A few minutes and we were passing at the Olango River, got our trail water refilled and on to the assault trails. As I’ve predicted it’s kickin’ my ass, rest stops every after few minutes, my heart is beating 3 times faster, and my legs our starting to surrender. Halfway going to Camp 1, via an exposed trail, we got a glimpse of the ill-fated Princess of the Stars, it is amazingly close to the shore, dunno why so many people was not able to reach the safety of the shores. The trail to Camp 1 was brutal assault, but going to Camp 2 and 3 is a welcome rolling trail. We passed through the crash site with some parts still recognizable. They said the crash site wasn’t discovered after 2 years it happened, because of the extreme they had a hard time locating it. So after 8 hours of trekking we finally reached Camp 3, where we settled for the night.
The Summit Push – Night at Camp 3 was moderately cold but, the camp site was pelted with rain. Our tent got soaked and some of it seeped through our tent. The mountain streams started to drop, creating a mini-falls, it’s as if the mountain woke up as well. After a quick breakfast, gear check, and prayers, off to the summit, actually our target is Mayo’s Peak. Braving to the fogged out trail and wind-chill, not to mention the 18 degree cold, its is like a masochist recipe for the day. A few minutes from our camp “The Rockies” section started to present itself. Scrambling through these laid out wind-carved boulders was really astounding, there are parts of the boulders which are distinctly colored, like a lighted escape path, sure footing those weary climbers. 2 hours we passed by Rymvaldy’s Peak one of the high points on the mountain. Another 3 hours and 30 minutes of scrambling work we finally reach the coveted summit. Well expectedly it’s fogged out, reminds me of Mt. Hibok-hibok. It’s was very cold and the wind was blowing like hell. We we’re uncontrollably shaking, but the cold did not deter us from the photo op, although it was fogged out, it was still well worth it. We had a quick lunch and we had to get the hell out of the summit. A few minutes from the summit we reached the most treacherous part of the trail, the 90 degrees. This section is so intimidating that 1 slip, you’ll know what ‘s gonna happen to you. But upside to the fog, is you wont able to see the full dept of the section, our guide told us it’s scarier during a clear day. After an intense few minutes from the 90, we got to work our way our with long section of boulders, there was a quick over-hang and some rough ones as well. I was moving particularly slow, because I don’t really trust my balance, again slide show is not an option here, extra care is a must. Few more hours we passed by Mabel’s spring and it was flowing. A few more minutes we reached the famous “Kiss the Wall”, and kiss I did, as there is no other way around it. It’s not as scary when we passed because of all the fog. The mountain teasingly opens up for a few minutes from time to time, and we were quick to react for a photo op. heheh! More scrambling, crawling, and more scrambling and scrambling, then finally we reached the “Knife’s Edge” it is basically a ridge with high drops on both sides, it is ominous from a far, but when our on it, the trail is a bit wide, but again no complacency here. Moving slowly on the knifes edge then we finally got site of Mayo’s Peak, a few traditional route climbers are having there pictures taken there. 1++ hours from the knife’s edge we finally reach the Mayo’s Peak campsite, after 11 hours and 30 mins of trekking. We had dinner, and dozed off, my legs are craving for a much needed rest.
Final Descent – Completing the bloody part of the trail was a great achievement, so when the Sun started to rise, we were treated by the breath-taking landscape of Mt. Guiting-guiting. We were standing at Mayo’s Peak or Peak of Decision for some. hehe! This serves as the viewing deck for the might that is G2. This is were the traditional route climbers decide to push on or not, and this is where the horror of the “Knife’s Edge” and the arduous trail to the summit can be seen. One will be amaze on how quickly the misty fog engulfs the mountain (kinda reminds me of the Everest film, like a white out). After the photo op and greeting with other 29 climbers, we packed up our gear and head down. The trail this time is much reminiscent of a tropical mountain, mud and lots of plants, and alimatoks. After 5 hours passing by Bulod’s Spring, Camp 3 to 1, we finally reached the DENR office and got our certificates. My Columbia Pima shoes – my trusty shoes for all my climbs finally gave up and I decided to retire her and donated to our porter Jun. We stayed at Manong Remy’s house for the mingling with the other climbers preparing for their G2 adventure as well.
Going Home – Well the story is not complete yet. Going to the jump off and the climb was very challenging, we didn’t realize that going home was very challenging as well.. So here’s what happened.. as we were cash strapped for the climb and there are no regular trips from Sibuyan to Mandaon, no ATM’s as well, and a lot of trips got cancelled, we just had to improvise. So first goal, we need to get to an ATM so, where it is? Romblon! Yes, Romblon, Romblon. So we ferried our way to the Marble Capital romblon and surely the PNB ATM was a godsend or bank sent. Hehehe! So with money at our hands… but still no ride… we were forced to be a transient border at Romblon, Romblon. Friendly rombloners – told us that there would be a trip to Caticlan tomorrow, so that was our target. At around 2am we were awaken and on another pumpboat ride to Tablas, Romblon after 2 hours – we got on to a 30 min trike ride to Looc got our ticket for the trip to Caticlan. 10 am the boat departed for Caticlan and 2.5 hour trip to Caticlan, passing by the very busy Borcay Island – literally a side trip, can be seen from the side of the boat. From Caticlan we quickly boarded the bus for my home town Iloilo a 4 hours 45 min trip, as soon as we arrived, we arrange a trike to do a high-speed chase so that we can catch the ferry back to Cebu but our attempt was 5 mins late. huhu! Plan B – we decided to do a land trip – going to Bacolod by Roro then Bus to Cebu… After 48 tiring hours of commuting we finally arrived back at NBT Cebu.
Mt. Guiting-guiting was easily the hardest of the hard of all my climbs. Getting to the jump-off the Climb itself, going back home was a great challenge and adventure! The damage on my fingers, shoes, backpack cover, headlamp, was all worth it, and I think my ass is getting sharper of all the slide/rub to the rough boulders. Will I climb it again? Hmmm… maybe not… for this year…. Maybe next year! Hehehe! Special thanks to the Robiso Family for the hospitality! thanks! Enjoytheview! Ü
