Mt. Maagnaw || PH 8th Highest Mountain

Towering 2,742 meters above sea level. Mt. Maagnaw is known as one of the Philippine's Highest Mountains.

With more or less 16-17 trekking hours or an average of 2-3 days.

Trail Class: 3-5 class

Difficulty Level: 9/9

Specs: Major Climb

Mt. Maagnaw Peak from Langkayugan Ridge

Not a distinct mountain but is now becoming famous for nature lovers.

Mt. Maagnaw is PH's 8th Highest Mountain. The 3rd Highest amongst the mountain located in Kitanglad Range Natural Park next to Mt. Dulang-Dulang and Mt. Kitanglad.

It is one of the government's HIGHLY protected area. Hence, before climb (per SOP) you must have to secure a PERMIT TO CLIMB from Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) under the administration of DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO-Province of Bukidnon) with a corresponding permit fee of 250.00 per person AND a mandatory pre-climb orientation & debriefing a week before the scheduled climb for all the members of the team.

NO PERMIT. NO CLIMB.

Needless to say, the mountain is part of a tribal ancestral domain. That is why, your permit is very much highly requires. It will be your passport of entering the range.

March 11-12, 2017, when I and my friend Kim joined the journey to Mt. Maagnaw via Mt. Langkayugan together with some climbers from Malaybalay, Maramag and Davao.

The Team together with Datu and Datu's Wife

Me and Kim Before Climb

THE JOURNEY

3:00 of Saturday Morning (March 11) we started our travel from Malaybalay City to Municipality of Lantapan. And arrived at the drop off point: Brgy. Kibangay

Here's some detail:

🌎 Municipality of Lantapan, Bukidnon

🚌 Drop Off Point: Brgy. Kibangay

🚩 Jump Off Point: Sitio Maliwanag (1 hour walk from the brgy proper)

By arriving at Sitio Maliwanag, the group headed directly to Datu Boy Makapukaw's home for a MANDATORY ritual.

(Datu: a high rank Lumad leader, likewise a priest, a traditional healer, a spiritual adviser)

THE RITUAL

Ritual
(A prayer for a safe climb)

There are things you need to consider for the ritual:
1. Datu will check your permit.
2. You need to bring ritual needs
3. The ritual is required, this a common lumad custom and tradition
4. The ritual is sacred. So bawal epal.
5. No picture taking WHILE ritual is on going (Again it is a sacred PRAYER)
6. And you do have to pay for a ritual fee. We say this in our dialect as: Agi Pasalamat (Our way to Thank - for giving as the blessings) 💱 1,000-2,000 will do.

Datu's household, by courtesy, then offered us a hot cup of delicious coffee (bisaya style) after the ritual.
LOVE IT!!

Me with Datu Boy and His Daughter

Datu's Humble Abode with Kim and Joey picking out the cute window

Dream Catcher: A piece of art

Then we took our quick breakfast ala army style. Then we started our journey up, approximately 8:00 more or less.

THE CLIMB

First step into the woods 😊

Here is what to expect:
1. Assault
2. Assssaaaauuullt
3. A S S A U L T S
4. More Assault...... MORE
5. COGON grass
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

But surely, You will enjoy the view.

And aside from the 'ASSAULTNESS' (as I term it), (after the busy forest from range entrance) we passed hrough a heavy bush of tall Cogon grasses. Where you literally have to battle with the painful cogon leaves. (OUTCH!)

1st viewing area after the heavy bush: Resting Area
:( No clearing

Here's some rare plants from this area, I enjoy:

Wild Berries

Wild Berries

Pitcher Plant

Ahmmmn... Not so fast.

From the clearing area, there will be more tall cogon grasses to battle with and more assaults.

Then....

Come this mushy moist area with some trees, where you will meet
lots of unwelcoming small (but not cute) Leeches (Alimatik).

And since they are small. You'll notice them only once they are already doing some party on your shoes or (worst) is already stuck on your beautiful legs or toes
Waaahhhhh....

And worst, when it rained. Because they seems to multipy in number:

Lucky US: It DID rain. ☔

And they (our new friends:leeches) are more than just willing to join you up to Mt. Langkayugan (Camping Site)

MT. LANGKAYUGAN

Arrived ahead with the group around 2:40 pm at the camping site - Mt. Langkayugan.

Here - the group will spend the night, since camping at Mt. Maagnaw is NOT PERMITTED.
Reason: It is ONE holy ground for the Lumads.

One Beautiful View!!!!!

And from my stand.
I AM IN AWE!!

Here.. Standing! Facing Mt. Kitanglad (far left peak) and Mt. Dulang-Dulang (right peak)
Standing Tall and Proud.

The Pride of my Native Land.

🌑 Night Shots:

I just Love the Moon that Night. Huge and Bright

⛺ Camping Area:

.....AND OUR MORNING VIEW 🌄

Sea of Clouds 😍

....SUNRISE: 

Whoooah!! I Love the View! SUPERB!!
It is very beautiful, INDEED!!

I am literally trilled and ecstatic waiting for Mr. Sun.
(Almost wanna cry)

MT. MAAGNAW

After taking our breakfast ala happy soldiers again. We have started moving to Mt. Maagnaw.

Mt. Maagnaw peak, view from Langkayugan Ridge

Here are some view going up:

Weird Lumot

Mt. Kitanglad

Unfortunately, as we started heading up.. clouds started covering our views.

It is about to rain. Again...

The team leader decided to cut short the climb so we can go start trekking down.

But...

Here is one pic. before we bid adios:

Everything feels so CLOSE

That is Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Dulangdulang behind me.

The famous KD2.

Without the clouds, from the other side we might have seen a view from Mt. Kalatungan (5th Highest) and from this side Mt. Sumagaya-Lumot peak.

END OF JOURNEY

Our journey ended with so much Happiness in our hearts.

Me especially.!! Of course.

It is one memorable journey - forever I will treasure in my heart.

Witnessing marvelous creation: The earth, the mountain, the forest, the trees, the bush, the flowers, the rain, everything... And meeting new people. New found friends. Finding good souls. Camaraderie and helping hands.

It is a journey that AGAIN reminded me of GOD'S GREATNESS and Of HIS UNFAILING LOVE.

Being my heart and soul close to nature and earth. I AM FOREVER IN AWE.

And I will not stop exploring Mother Nature. I will not stop witnessing God's wonderful creation.

The journey doesn't stop here. In fact it is just a BEGINNING of more.

NEW FOUND FRIENDS:

Cheza and Al : The Couple

Irene the Pro

TEAM DAVAO: Angelique, Kevin 1, Kaiser, Jann, Kevin 2, and Kevin 3

Nelson, Pokins & Renz

Me&Kim with Te Laling The Pro

Our SUPERMAN: Joey The Man and His Epic Proposal

Plus: Michael and His Girlfriend

IMPORTANT TO PARTAKE: MY SENTIMENTS

While making this blog, I want to give an EMPHASIS on the mountain etiquette.

As I have mentioned, Mt. Maagnaw is one of the protected area and an ancestral domain. It is one of the BUKIDNON's bounty.
It is the home of our fauna and flora.
It is where our main water source sprang from.
AND it is a home of our treasured tribal families.

Our mountains have been there even before us.
It has been there before civilization began.

As well as our Lumads. They had been here in BUKIDNON prior modernization.

The mountain land are a home, a pharmacy and a source of food of our many Lumads brothers and sisters.
This mountain is Half of their Life.
And of many wild animals habitat.

And as to the climbers: I Hope that we DO GIVE RESPECT to this, as much as WE RESPECT MOTHER NATURE.
You, Me, We... may have different beliefs and principles in life but we need to respect theirs and also the Mountain most especially.

So please, I beg. . .
Do not leave your trash up there. Do not exploit the mountain. Do not turn it into a rubbish.

PLEASE, be part of keeping OUR mountains natural beauty.
Keep it clean as you go.
Bring down what you have brought up.
Keep your trail clean.

SIMPLE.

It wont be that hard! 😊

''Take nothing but picture and memories, Leave nothing but footprints''

THANK YOU!

BIG THANKS TO OUR GUIDE-PORTERS:

💪Mr. Christopher Yam-oc and

💪Mr. Tillo Betcero

     💦The TRUE hero from our entire journey.

👑 Kring

✔Tips:
• Bring Gloves & Mask
• Wear long trekking pants and close shoes
• Be prepared for any sudden change of weather
• Or might as well, do a weather check
• Bring jackets & bonnets: COLD UP There
• Do not bring too much water (Water source near camp site)
• Bring something to keep you protected from moist inside tent
• Bring First Aid
• Bring medicines (Recommending: Salonpas Gel)

✔Recommendation for Guides:
• Al Tabamo - Facebook: Al Sanity
      #09359075772
• Jairo Manera - Facebook: Jairo Manera
      #09753261811

For your personal queries:
Contact me on my FB: Krstn Krstn