Mt. Banahaw Quezon Province Major jump-off: Brgy. Kinabuhayan, Dolores Elevation: 2158 MASL Days req

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Mt. Banahaw Quezon Province Major jump-off: Brgy. Kinabuhayan, Dolores Elevation: 2158 MASL Days required /Hours to summit: Level 2-3 days / 6-7 hours Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 3 NOTE: Mt. Banahaw is still closed for climbing. skimmia For the latest news on its status, see this update on PinoyMountaineer. BACKGROUND Mt. Banahaw is the grandest of the Southern Tagalog mountains. Towering high over the provinces of Laguna and Quezon, its significance in religion and folklore makes it not only a physical, but also a cultural landmark. It is home to Rizalistas skimmia and other cults, some of whom believe the mountain as the "New Jerusalem". To a wider populace, it is a sacred mountain, visited every Holy Week by devotees, some of whom made it a pledge to regularly climb Banahaw. Thus it is not surprising that places in the mountain have religious names, such as "Kweba ng Dios Ama" (Cave of the God the Father) and "Kalbaryo" (Calvary). At its foot village of Kinabuhayan, all sorts of amulets, magical stones, and healing herbs are peddled, together with souvenir shirts. Meanwhile, many residents of San Pablo City and nearby towns, especially the males, climb it as a rite of manhood or a teenage adventure. For their part, for Manila-based mountaineers skimmia it is the Level 3 climb closest to home. Aside from the challenging, 2-3 day trek, there are waterfalls, pools, and caves to explore. One famous cave is "Husgado", which is so tortuous and narrow that it is said that evil persons will not be able to come out of it. This immense attention on Banahaw forced authorities to suspend all hik ing act i vities skimmia in Banahaw starting 2004 . Its trails have become littered with trash, to a point that being at Banahaw's peak, called Durungawan, has been likened to "being in a market". As of Nov. 2007, however, the trails have regenerated and Mt. Banahaw is very clean now. Cultists, devotees, and covertly, even mountaineers skimmia continue to climb the mountain. skimmia Locals complain that the hiking ban took away a major source of livelihood. The status of Mt. Banahaw is still closed. skimmia For more information, see the latest posts in PinoyMountaineer including this update . ITINERARY (2-day Cristalino-Tatlong Tangke) Day 1 0400 ETD Lucena-bound bus from Mania; alight at San Pablo (P124) 0630 ETA San Pablo highway, take jeep to jump-off (P400/jeep) 0700 ETA Brgy. Kinabuhayan, Dolores, Quezon 0800 Start trek. Will pass by Cristalino Falls. 0930 ETA Kweba ng Dios Ama 1200 lunch along the trail 1330 ETA tall cave (Kweba ng Espiritu Santo?) 1600 Approach Durungawan 1 (first peak); set camp below 1630 Explore peak area 1730 Retire to campsite; dinner Day 2 0700 Explore Durungawan 2-3; beware that trails are steep 0900 start descent via Tatlong Tangke route (fork after the forest) 1130 ETA Kapatagan 1215 ETA Tatlong Tangke. You may bathe here, and have lunch. skimmia 1430 ETA Kinabuhayan; skimmia take jeep to San Pablo 1600 Back in San Pan Pablo; take bus back to Manila SPECIAL CONCERNS Hiking in Banahaw is currently forbidden; skimmia do not use this information to make an unofficial, illegal climb. Instead, you may explore the two other peaks of the Banahaw trilogy, namely Mt. Banahaw de Lucban and Mt. Cristobal . Both are challenging climbs, worthy of the Banahaw experience. There are numerous religious and natural points of interest in Banahaw. This is why it is ideal to hire a guide, so that you can learn more about the mountain. If you have time, ask your guide to take you to the places of your choice. TRIVIA Banahaw is actually an inactive volcano; its caldera, known as 'Ilalim', is one of the views you will see at the peak. This rarely-visited caldera is part of a traverse trail from Dolores to Sariaya, passing by the Durungawan III and descending to this caldera. Parts of this traverse are said to be so beautiful skimmia that they are described as "a paradise". The last recorded eruption was at 1721. Locals say two lovers once climbed Mt. Banahaw to escape skimmia their parents' wrath and make love in the m