MT. GUITING-GUITING: AN UNFORGIVING CLIMB (AUGUST 21-23, 2019)

Mt. Guiting-Guiting | Olango - Tampayan Trail | (2,058+ MASL)

Location: Sibuyan Island, Romblon

Specs: 9/9 Difficulty
Best season to climb: Summer

E.L.I.T.E MOUNTAINEERING SOCIETY

E.L.I.T.E MOUNTAINEERING SOCIETY successfully conquered Mt. Guiting-Guiting on August 21-23, 2019.

Full video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ7OqnUGf3I

That clear edges of death-dealing saw-toothed peaks were touched by a wave of clouds just showed up after we reached Tampayan River (our exit trail).

It was everyone's dream standing in front of a clear view knife edge, the so-called 90 degrees and all the mesmerising summits but the weather was so unforgiving. Tropical depression INENG came in. Everything was zero visibility coupled with strong winds and the furious rain but still, it was all worth it.

View upon reaching Tampayan River.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting is the highest mountain in the province of Romblon. Tooth shaped with 2,058+ meters above sea level and is at the heart of Sibuyan, one of the seven islands of Romblon Province. Guiting-Guiting, means jagged in the local dialect, which explains the name of the mountain.

@ Sir Remy's Place - Jumpoff (Elite tarp as background with Leunam's FAD too)

(TagLishBis Langauge) These faces after na excite, umakyat, nasaktan, na slide, naiwan, nang iwan, natugnawan :), nabuslotan, nagutman, namatayan (nang kuko), bumangon, nabuhayan at muling na excite. Hip hip hooray!!! We made it . .

DAY 0:

On board with these bunch of happy faces on plane, boat and a special warm welcome by Sir Remy of Sibuyan Island.

• Mactan Cebu Airport - Kalibu Airport - 30mins

• Kalibu Airport - Culasi Port, Roxas - 1hr

• Culasi Port, Roxas - Sibuyan Port - 6hrs
• Sibuyan Port - San Fernando Municipality - 1 hr

@ Sir Remy's place (jump off) where we stay our first night before the first day climb

Bought our food supplies at the market for our 3D2N climb with pork adobo and pork binagoongan from our sponsor Leunams Food and Delicacies. Then straight to DENR afterwards.

DAY 1:

A touch of thunder and heavy rain poured @ 1:00 AM while we enjoyed in bed thinking what will happen next few hours.

An exciting warm welcome upon heading Olango Trail.

@3:30 AM we were stranded for 1 hour since the water current was too bad for us to go through. We took an hour nap, enjoyed some trails foods, chitchat and a full force prayer that this mighty river will be kind to us.

Breakfast - an assault with slight rain showers before reaching Camp 1.

Yeyy! And everything was worth a smile after an hour of waiting for the river to let us pass. Prayer granted by the God of nature. Char!!

Camp 1:

Reaching CAMP 1 @ 8:00 am

Camp 2:

Reaching CAMP 2 @ 10:00 AM with a heads up high knowing that we're almost there. Almost there to camp 3, :) Lol.

Helipad: Taking a selfie while waiting for the others.

@ The Helipad

Why named Helipad? According to one oneof our guide Dan,told there was a history of rescuing a survivor of a crash way back 1990's and they landed in this small plain area which a only 1 chopper would fit. I guess you have to google it for the correct info, I might be wrong on this one.

View heading to Camp 3

Thick fog covers almost every peak in our trail but still we had these mesmerizing nature full of waterfalls like a lady mountain crying.

Camp 3:

Finally reached camp 3 at exactly 12:00 Noon

Hungry and feeling enough for trail foods. With chapped lips and hands,our tummy screaming for rice and adobo finally reached camp 3 where we pitched our tents. It's a bit muddy since the rain shower kept pouring but it's better than nothing at all. We took our lunch then everyone took a good rest.

I was exhausted and slept for few hours after lunch and woke up already dark and some of us were done with their dinner. But they left food for us. Thank you guys :) . It's not an ordinary weather for all of us. Strong winds roaming around like dementors in Harry Potter :) . . Coffee and noodle soup were the best remedy for the so cold weather around.

DAY 2:

Dried fish and corned beef was enough to move forward on our 2nd day.

Breakfast, a bunch of selfie's and a prayer to strengthen our body and soul before the second day assault. The weather was good. All is well.

Start Trek:

At 9:00 we already started our assault which we pretty enjoyed and cherished all the view what the trail given to us. It was a wonderful start. We can barely see the other part of the mountain where the other trekkers ahead of us.

Reward:

This was a reward after all. This might not the summit yet but this was more than I expected. It was wonderful indeed. Nature will surely surprise you.

The Crash Site:

Debris scattered all over the area which protected by locals from anyone stealing it.

Way back 1990's, the aircraft hit in this part of the mountain after encountering a stormy weather. You can still see the debris and other parts of the aircraft in the area while heading to Trina's Peak.

Trinas Peak:

A quick re group, rest and a groupfie while enjoying a good clearing on this peak. Having some shots of KULAFO to move us forward and took some quick snacks too to make us warmer.

Boulders:

It's gonna be 90% boulders on this trail. And yeah! It was and you have to wear the best shoes you got. I mean "kato jung pinaka lig-on kay daghan jung mamatay nga koko aning dapita if nipis imong shoes". Lol :) Except for the locals, they're used to it though.

Kiss the Wall & Knife Edge:

Unfortunately, we don't have any photos taken from this trail "Kiss the Wall & Knife Edge", the weather didn't show any mercy. Even if the three of us got a gopro equipment. We tried to managed every edge of the deadly rocks just to be safe. Safety first. At least we still have a story to tell.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting Summit:

They really took off their shirts upon reaching the summit. But gosh, it's really cold. "Ayaw paatik, gitugnaw pod na sila, gi agwanta rana nila, promise!

Camp 2: 2nd Camp

Strong wind and heavy rain motivated us to reach the 2nd camp site around 5:00 PM. First 8 (Sabel, Jed, Andrew, Archie, Den, William, Zhet & Edward) got there at 5 pm then followed by the two strong couple (Ton2x and Ida) by 8 pm who struggled and indulged themselves with the darkness with out any glasses at all. Then early the next morning followed by the two (Rim & Bryan) who really showed their brotherhood.

Both (Rim & Bryan) decided to have an e-camp together with their guide since the weather was not that very welcoming though. With just water and biscuits for dinner, they did survived their crisis. They're all wet and exhausted, shared everything dry (from a hot chic stuff Sabel) that they had.

Sharing only 1 tent, they made themselves warm. Thanks to our walkie talkie, we had a way of updating everyone what's going on. It was risky. They could possibly succumb to hypothermia if they're not strong enough to fight off the sickness in the mountain.

Day 3:

Start Trek

A prayer before descend. 3rd day of our climb. Still the rain keep pouring.

Mayo's Peak:

@Mayo's Peak where few kilometers more going to our exit point at Tampayan.

Camp 1: Tampayan, Magdiwang Romblon(Exit Trail)

Some of us took our lunch here

Tampayan River:

At last we made it here to this river. Knife edge showed up, feels like they're smiling with us with what we've conquered. Feels like they congratulate us :)

Jump Off:

HAPPINESS - the only word I can tell after all the hardship.

@ Sir Remy's Rest House | REWARD

Everyone can't wait what's waiting for us at the jump off except all the muscle pain we brought. That bed temptation and delicious food craving. And of course sitting like a king/queen at a bathroom after all those struggles.

Participants, Estimated Expenses and Scheduled Boat Trip:

Sharing below our estimated expenses and bot trips.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting Climb Iterinary:

For any booking for this traverse that we had, you can contact our kind organizer and his team (with sir Remy's photo below)

Sir Remy Robiso: https://www.facebook.com/remy.robiso.50

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