Playing in Pantingan Peak, Mt Mariveles, Bataan

I think this is Maculiat Peak, not really the Pantingan Peak of Mt Mariveles, Bataan. This was taken from Tarak Peak.

Actual itinerary:

Day 1

0930 Start trek

0945 ETA River

1045 ETA Nursery

1120 Enter grasslands or "Marlboro Country". Lunch.

1320 ETA Danny's Gate

1630 Arrival at Camp 2

1800 Dinner / socials

Day 2

0500 Wake up call / Caffeine fix

0630 Start of Assault to Pantingan Peak

0800 Arrival at Pantingan Peak

0830 Head back to campsite

0900 ETA Campsite. Brunch / break camp.

1100 Start descent

1130 Back at Danny's Gate

1200 Swimming at the River

1500 Back at Sitio Gabon jump-off. Wash-up.

The mini-bus to Bagac Poblacion. First trip from Balanga to Bagac is at 0500H and stationed at Burger Junction, not in the Balanga Central Terminal. Photo credits: Senen Tancio, Arjay Escondo and Argean Guiaya.

At the Sitio Gabon jump-off point. The guide, Mr Rey Jimenez, lives here. Please contact him prior to climbing Pantingan Peak to ensure your guide. If he is not available, he can ask others to be the guide. Standard guide fee is 1000pesos for the whole itinerary. Photo credits: Senen Tancio.

This gets extremely muddy during the rainy months. Photo credits: Senen Tancio.

The first encounter with the river. It is clear but it has lots of algae. The upper portion is good for dipping and swimming.

 

Mr Rey Jimenez, the guide.

The first stop-over of the group amidst the scorching heat of the sun. Thanks to the Gmelina arborea tree for the shade.

A bug's life on my hand.

The grassland portion where everything gets hot.

The group's second stop-over where we had lunch. At this point, everyone was already tired, clamouring for a nap.

Danny's Gate, named after the caretaker of the nursery that was here before.

The Subuangan campsite.

A violet inflorescence, inflorescence of hanopol and Asplenium nidus (Pakpak-lawin / Bird's nest fern).

The magnificent inflorescence of Medinilla sp.

The scary yet interesting Solanum quitoense. Look at its thorns on the abaxial and adaxial sides of the leaves.

The red inflorescence of Leea sp.

This is where you need to turn to the right for the summit.

At the right side of this portion of the trail is a cliff.

In focus: El Saco Peak.

The group at the summit.