Mt. Balingkilat/Traverse to Anawangin Cove (1,100+)

Mt. Balingkilat (1,100+)

BACKGROUND
An exciting new climb in Zambales, pioneered by the San Beda Mountaineering Society (SBMS) and the chosen Climb of the Month for January 2009, is a traverse from Mt. Balingkilat to Anawangin Cove, thereby connecting two famous destinations in the region, and creating a challenging two-day trek that combines elements of land and water. After a conventional trek Balingkilat, you will pass by the open, grassy highlands of Zambales – ridges that afford an excellent view of the coast – in the scenic Day 2 trek that will culminate in Anawangin Cove – in itself a sought-after destination for its unique landscape of volcanic white sands and pine trees.
From Anawangin, possibilities include Capones Island by boat or Mt. Pundaquit by foot – either way taking you to Brgy. Pundaquit in San Antonio.

The novelty of this climb, its ability to cover a lot of places and thus maximize a Zambales trip, and the beauty of the trail makes this climb a highly recommended trek in Central Luzon. For more information on Mt. Balingkilat and Anawangin Cove, check out their respective articles in PinoyMountaineer.

ITINERARY
San Beda Trail (2008)

Day 1
0300 Take Victory Liner bus from Pasay to Olongapo (P200+)
0600 ETA Olongapo City; breakfast.
0700 Take rented jeep to Sitio Cawag, Subic
0800 ETA jumpoff; secure guides
0830 Start trek
1230 Arrival at Kawayanan. Lunch.
1330 Resume trek
1700 Arrival at campsite; set-up camp
1800 Dinner / socials

Day 2
0430 wake up call/ bfast break camp
0600 Start trek
0615 Balingkilat summit
0630 Start traverse
0700 ETA St. Benedict’s Peak*
0745 ETA Pointed Peak
1000 ETA Emil’s Junction*
1100 ETA Mendiola Peak*
1230 Anawangin flat land; Lunch
0330 ETA Anawangin Cove. Beach / Unwind

*These are provisional names for landmarks as put forth by the SBMS.

From Anawangin Cove, you can have pumpboats to take you back to Brgy. Pundaquit late afternoon, or you can spend the night camping in the Cove, before heading back to Brgy. Pundaquit either by boat (passing by Capones Island) or by foot (traversing Mt. Pundaquit)

TRAVERSE TRAIL MAP

SPECIAL CONCERNS
The going to Balingkilat and going back from Anawangin part is easy (see “Special Concerns” sections of each article). The only uncertainty is the traverse. A GPS-guided trek is recommended until this trail is established.

MT. BALINGKILAT TRAVERSE TO ANAWANGIN PICTURES

The high peak at the background is Mt. Maubanan; Emil’s Junction is the fork between the path to this peak and the leftward, eastward continuation of the trail to Anawangin.

The open ridges towards Anawangin Cove face the coast and are very scenic.

The SBMS team with their banner during their pioneering climb in December 2008.

TRIVIA
The expedition that led to this itinerary was the Climb of the Month for January 2009.

The SBMS climbers who first did this climb are: John Buno, Lendl Layug, JR Yu, my good friend Coby Sarreal, Jose Victor Benedicto, Mike Arbues, Ace Borja, and John Vergara.

A parallel (though not geographically parallel) climb would be a Mt. Cinco Picos/Traverse to Silanguin Cove, and this has been described also in PinoyMountaineer.