Mt. Arayat (Traverse) | It's Sweeter the Second Time Around

When Batang Lakwatsero gotta climb, he gotta climb.

It has been raining all over the country in the past 2 weeks, and because of that, I already postponed 2 scheduled Sunday hikes: Mt. Kalisungan (should be Jul. 29) and Makiling Traverse (should be yesterday, Aug. 5). I was even planning to join a friend's hike in Cinco Picos (should be Aug. 4) but it was also cancelled because of the uncooperative weather. Arghh, nandun na lagi yung excitement ko pero laging nauudlot.

Before the Climb - Saturday, August 4

I was feeling sick because of the consecutive postponement of my hikes and the only known cure for it is a leg-breaking major climb. My instinct told me to check my FB if there will be hikes that I can join (yup, I constantly do stalking in fb just to look for hiking buddies). Lo and behold, I saw a scheduled Mt. Arayat Traverse dayhike on Sunday, and they're pursuing it even if it rains, brave people huh. I asked them if I can join their hike, they said yes, hurrah!

My 2nd Arayat Experience - August 5, 2012

• Mt. Arayat Traverse is still a big challenge to me (Of all my dayhike experiences, it is the second most difficult; Mt. Damas Traverse is of course the first)

• The rain was pouring wild just like my first Arayat experience. I was chilling when we were passing the ridge.

North Peak, you'll notice that the flag marker is no longer there, it was blown down by strong winds few days before our climb.

South Peak as viewed from north peak, almost completely engulfed by clouds

• There was no clearing again at the South Peak viewdeck. Hindi ko pa rin nagawa yung dream photo op ko sa Mt. Arayat. So definitely there will be a third ArayTrav for me.

• The trail is a mosquito haven, a lot (as in SOBRA) is scattered throughout the traverse, but the greatest concentration of their number is located at the North Peak campsite (under the tower) and the South Peak campsite.

• There's a fallen tree (caused by a typhoon I guess) that blocks the descending trail to Brgy. Juan Baño. It's no simple tree though, its bark and branches are fully armored with sharp thorns, passing through it caused us headache.

konting pasilip ng view from the boulder.

fallen thorny trees blocked trail down to Brgy. Juan Baño

• We completed the traverse in 12 hours (an hour shorter than my first Araytrav), oh yeah.

• For the record, I only consumed about 250 mL of water in the entire traverse. yey

• Finally I was able to wash up at the Resort. P10 per ligo.

congrats to this group for completing their first Arayat traverse.

*Thanks to Arnel Palor for letting me join this Arayat traverse dayhike. I feel so alive again. 

You may check out my first Mt. Arayat traverse experience in this LINK.