Mt. Arayat/Traverse (1,030+)

Mt. ARAYAT (MAGALANG-ARAYAT TRAVERSE)
Arayat and Magalang, Pampanga
Entry point: Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
Exit point: Brgy. Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga
LLA: 15.2067N, 120.7441E, 1030 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 5 hours (NP) 8 hours (SP)
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-4 (10kms)
Features: Tropical forest, scenic views of Central Luzon

BACKGROUND
The popularity of traverses has not abated. As a trivia, there are even traverses for the three most difficult mountains in the country. A Mt. Guiting-Guiting Traverse has been done by at least three Filipino groups including that of Romi Garduce; A Mt. Halcon Traverse is said to be once a favorite of the AMCI; and a Mt. Mantalingajan traverse – virtually crossing the width of southern Palawan from Brooke’s Point to Rizal – has been reportedly done by a Japanese mountaineer a few years ago. Of course, one of our country’s great mountaineering feats was the Mt. Everest traverse done by Noelle Wenceslao, Janet Belarmino, and Karina Dayondon in 2007.

Closer to home we have a traverse of Mt. Makiling from Sto. Tomas to Los Banos. Its northern counterpart is a traverse of Mt. Arayat from Magalang, Pampanga to the more popular trail down Arayat Ecological Park in Arayat town. This traverse, with its difficulty comparable with that of a Maktrav, takes you to the two peaks of Mt. Arayat: North Peak (Peak 1; 1030 MASL) and South Peak (Peak 2; 1008 MASL). Between these peaks is a ridgeline where much of the difficulty of the traverse lies. After 3 hours, its back to the familiar, forested Peak 2 of Mt. Arayat.

At the North Peak, which serves as the campsite of an overnight traverse, the view is 270 degrees, and encompasses the Central provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Bataan. The landmark here is the police outpost / tower. On the other hand, there is a viewdeck near the South Peak where a more southern view may be seen. Between these two peaks stand the major geographic feature of the mountain – the ‘White Rock’ which is visible from Magalang and other towns in Pampanga. Legend has it that this stone was hurled by the mythical personification of Mt. Pinatubo.

For more information on Mt. Arayat, visit the Mt. Arayat (Arayat Trail) page.

ITINERARY
Traverse from Magalang to Arayat

DAYHIKE

0400 Take bus from Manila (Cubao) to San Fernando, Pampanga

TRAIL AND NAVIGATION MAP
Click on the image to see the full-size map. Note that some of the data are approximates and the map is only meant to be a fairly-reliable overview of the trail and topography.

MT. ARAYAT PICTURES

The trail is characterised by rocky, well-established trails surrounded by a spacious forest graced with mighty dipterocarps with wide buttresses. 

The South Peak as viewed from the North Peak. Take note of the ridge where the traverse trail passes through.

The North Peak as seen from the South Peak viewpoint. You can also see the ridge where the traverse trail passes through.

There are some steep portions on the traverse

At the South Peak, with Pampanga River on the background, during a Mt. Arayat Traverse dayhike on March 2015.

TRIVIA
Change in convention: To avoid confusion, PinoyMountaineer naming the peaks according to their position; hence in this itinerary they are officially called “North Peak (Peak 1)” and South Peak (Peak 2)”.

The blogger has hiked Mt. Arayat thrice, the first in 2007 (before the blog was started), the second in 2009 as a traverse (Hiking matters #49: A dayhike traverse of Mt. Arayat) and the third as another traverse, in March 2015 (Hiking matters #450).