Mt. Manalmon
Sitio Madlum, San Miguel, BulacanDays required / Hours to summit: Half-day / 1 hour
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2
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| Of breathtaking, at the summit of Mt. Manalmon |
This is a summary of our short day hike to Mt. Manalmon’s summit and a cool refreshing dip in Madlum river. I’ve also included an overnight Itinerary and estimated expense below since I initially planned on doing an overnight trip for Mt. Manalmon. I heard that the stars look amazing there at night. I wasn’t able to validate the information I gathered for the overnight trip because of deadlines and commitments at work and conflicts in schedules. I was already giving up on my trip for July. But when I heard that July 29 will be considered as a holiday, I immediately surfed the net to find an event that I can join for that day. Luckily, The Extreme Outdoor Club with the Trail Master Edzel Herrera have a day hike event at Mt. Manalmon on the said date. And since I’ve already gathered enough information on Mt. Manalmon, I could tell that they offered it at a very reasonable price. Because of this and for the great and fun climb at Mt. Manalmon, I am recommending this group. You can join their group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/extremeoutdoorclub/. They are also one of the very few groups that offer Paragliding and Skydiving events besides the regular climbs and beach bumming on beautiful islands. They are very true to the name of their group, extreme indeed.
Actual day hike Itinerary with Extreme Outdoor Club
0300 Meet up at Caltex Station Trinoma
0400 ETD Caltex to San Miguel, Bulacan
0600 ETA Camias-Sibul Road, San Miguel, Bulacan. Breakfast near highway. There are many eateries in the area where you can have your coffee, breakfast and even buy your Pack Lunch.
0700 ETD Highway to Brgy. Madlum
0730 ETA Jump off point. There is now a Hanging bridge where before you can only go through the river using a Bamboo Raft or by crossing the Monkey Bridge.
0745 Cross Hanging Bridge.
0750 Registration. There are two stores here. They sell cup noodles, soft drinks, crackers. They serve hot coffee and hot Pancit Canton noodles. Had I known this, I wouldn't even bothered bringing a Pack Lunch. Anyhow, registration cost P5.00/head. Guides are necessary. Dayhike would cost you P300 for 10 people per guide and P600 for overnight.
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| Hanging Bridge with Desiree |
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| Madlum River view from the Bridge |
0750 Registration. There are two stores here. They sell cup noodles, soft drinks, crackers. They serve hot coffee and hot Pancit Canton noodles. Had I known this, I wouldn't even bothered bringing a Pack Lunch. Anyhow, registration cost P5.00/head. Guides are necessary. Dayhike would cost you P300 for 10 people per guide and P600 for overnight.
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| Registration Area |
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| Start Trek |
0815 Start trek. Just 5 minutes in the trail and you would already see how beautiful the surroundings at Madlum River is. You can breathe the freshness in the air. It's one of the nicest things about trekking near a river while being surrounded by trees, after summer, the air is always cool and fresh.
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| Madlum River |
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| Madlum River trail |
0830 River Crossing. Never ever under estimate a river. No matter how much you think you can simply cross a river, there are such things as flash flood. Always be safe and use secured ropes that runs through the entire river crossing. We do not climb mountains because we are dare devils or pure reckless. We climb because we love and respect the beauty and power of nature.
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| River Crossing |
0900 Part of the trail where you can see the summit of Mount Manalmon and Mount Gola... where a lone water buffalo guards the path.
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| Madlum guide and the Carabao |
It's a good thing we were with our guide. But the Carabao wasn't a wild one and was actually on a leash. It was just in the way. Our guide just dragged it away and placed it where it can't reach the trail. This sparked a conversation with our guide and he told us that there are rare occasions where you can still spot wild monkeys and even deers in the area.
0910 The first part of the trail can be easily followed without any sudden twists and turns. It's just a nice walk on soft earth under the shade of trees. When you reach the clearing, the shade would grow less and less and would be under the mercy of the sun and there are bits and pieces of assaults every here and there. It's just a short climb, or a walk in the park, so it should really just be fun especially with the beautiful views all around.
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| View of Madlum River |
0915 ETA large boulder beautifully overlooking Madlum River and Mount Nabio.
You can also find "Puno ng Mulawin" here or at least guides have informed us.
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| Mt. Nabio at the distance |
0930 ETA Summit. This is where you can find the magnificent view of Mount Gola towering the humble and winding Madlum River. I couldn't believe how beautiful the reward of this very short climb was. I would've climbed for hours and hours just to see something that resembles its beauty. We stayed for almost an hour enjoying this wonderful gift of nature.
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| The magnificent view at the top |
1000 Start descent.
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| Descent |
1030 ETA small fork. Going left would lead you back to the jump off. Going right would take you to the river. We went left and decided to cool off and enjoy the cold and refreshing waters of Madlum.
1100 Resume Trek
1230 Back to River Crossing
1245 ETA Registration Area. Rest. Lunch. They sell coffee, cup noodles and Pancit canton. Rest. Photo ops.
1330 Prepare to explore Bayukbok cave
1400 Start trek to cave
1430 ETA Cave entrance. To get inside the cave, you need to go down on a very slippery and steep descent. The guides and ropes would help you. It's just a short rappel but the rocks are sharp and slippery so be careful.
1430 ETA Cave entrance. To get inside the cave, you need to go down on a very slippery and steep descent. The guides and ropes would help you. It's just a short rappel but the rocks are sharp and slippery so be careful.
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| Start rappel down to the cave |
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| Entrance of the cave viewed from below |
1500 Short tight downward crawl opening to a shaky wooden ladder supported by ropes on both sides.
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| Short tight downward crawl |
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| The many beautiful rock formations inside the cave |
1510 Short tight side squeeze
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| Short tight side squeeze |
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| It is really pretty inside |
1530 Short breather where you can see the light of the sun
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| Every little light affects the cave |
1540 Short tight upward crawl
1550 Short rock scrambling descent to the exit of the cave.
1600 Photo ops at the spiral vines
1630 Monkey Bridge
1730 Wash up. Pack up.
1830 ETD Brgy. Madlum to Quezon City
1930 Stop over for Dinner
2200 ETA Trinoma, Quezon City
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| Chillin' at Madlum River |
Summary day hike Itinerary of Extreme Outdoor Club
0300 Meet up at Caltex Station Trinoma
0400 ETD Caltex to San Miguel, Bulacan
0600 ETA Camias-Sibul Road, San Miguel, Bulacan. Breakfast near highway
0700 ETD Highway to Brgy. Madlum
0730 ETA Jump off point
0745 Cross Hanging Bridge. Registration
0815 Start trek
0830 River Crossing
0900 Part of the trail where you can see the summit of Mount Manalmon and Mount Gola
0915 ETA large boulder beautifully overlooking Mount Nabio and the Madlum River.
You can also find "Puno ng Mulawin" here or at least guides have informed us.
0930 ETA Summit. This is where you can find the magnificent view of Mount Gola towering the humble and winding Madlum River. We stayed for almost an hour enjoying this wonderful gift of nature.
1000 Start descent.
1030 ETA small fork. Going left would lead you back to the jump off. Going right would take you to the river where. We went left and decided to cool off and enjoy the cold and refreshing waters of Madlum.
1035 Swim. Rest
1100 Resume Trek
1230 Back to River Crossing
1245 ETA Registration Area. Rest. Lunch. They sell coffee, cup noodles and pancit canton.
1330 Prepare to explore Bayukbok cave
1400 Start trek to cave
1430 ETA Cave entrance. Start rappel down to the cave.
1500 Short tight downward crawl opening to a shaky wooden ladder supported by ropes on both sides.
1510 Short tight side squeeze
1530 Short breather where you can see the light of the sun
1540 Short tight upward crawl
1550 Short rock scrambling descent to the exit of the cave.
1600 Photo ops at the spiral vines
1630 Monkey Bridge
1700 Swim.
1730 Wash up. Pack up.
1830 ETD Brgy. Madlum to Quezon City
1930 Stop over for Dinner
2200 ETA Trinoma, Quezon City
Contacts
09195746470 - Carlito Carpio (Coordinator)
09207785723 - Dondie
Actual Expense in Peso
550 Extreme Outdoor Club (Van service, Guide Fees and Registrations)
45 Breakfast from Abe’s Lechon
45 Packed Lunch from Abe’s Lechon
15 Coffee at jump off point in Mt. Manalmon
35 Dinner somewhere in Bulacan
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690
Below is just the modified itinerary and estimated budget that I made before in case we decide to go overnight at Mt. Manalmon someday.
Overnight Itinerary
Day 1
0500 Assembly at Cubao ES Transport or Baliwag Bus Bus bound for Cabanatuan. Drop off at Kamias Road at San Miguel Bulacan.
0600 ETD San Miguel, Bulacan
0800 ETA San Miguel, Bulacan Terminal-camias Road
0830 Breakfast
0900 ETD to San Miguel, Bulacan (Madlum)
0930 ETA Jump off (Registration)
1000 River Crossing. Bamboo raft
1030 Start trek to summit
1200 ETA Summit. Set camp
1300 Lunch. Explore falls. Socials. Dinner
Day 2
0500 Wake up call. Sunrise at the summit.
0630 Back to camp. Breakfast
0800 Break Camp. Descend.
0900 Leave packs at training center
1000 Prepare to explore Bayukbok Cave
1130 Back to training center (cable crossing)
1200 Lunch
1300 Swimming time (balsa Ride going to lagoon)
1600 Wash up. Pack up.
1700 Tricycle. ETD. Sitio Madlum to Brgy Kamias
1730 Dinner
1800 Bus. ETD Brgy Kamias to Cubao
2030 ETA Cubao
Estimated Budget in Peso for DIY overnight climb
150 Food and Supplies
117-130 Bus. Baliuag Cubao to San Miguel, Bulacan
50 Breakfast
50-70 Tricycle - P200 (Brgy. Camias to Sitio Madlum) good for 3 pax
5 1st Registration - P5.00 per head
5 2nd Registration at Sitio Madlum - P5.00/head
600* Guide Fee Overnight 600 for 10 Persons
200* Spelunking 200 for first 5 Persons. 40/head additional
50-70 Tricycle - P240 (Sitio Madlum to Brgy. Camias) good for 4 pax
10 Wash up. 1 Gallon of water
117 -130 Bus. San Miguel, Bulacan to Cubao
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Around 700
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