Mountain News: Hikers welcome in “Make it Makiling” this Holy Week, but traverse not allowed until April 9

The annual Lenten “Make it Makiling” continues this year, this time with two entry points: the College of Forestry in Los Banos, Laguna, and Brgy. San Vicente in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. According to park authorities:

Make It Makiling! this April 1-8, 2012 and join us promoting responsible hiking and camping in Mount Makiling. Hike the Mariang Makiling Trail at U.P.Los Banos, Laguna side or the Sipit Trail at the Sto. Tomas, Batangas side.

From the UPLB Trail, one can reach Peak 2, and from the Sipit Trail, one can reach Peak 1. However, according to the Mt. Makiling Paark authorities, the “Maktrav” is closed during the Holy Week; so it is not possible to go from Peak 1 to Peak 2. To be more specific about it, only
the “Wild Boar” trail connecting Peak 1 and Peak 2 is closed.

Why is Maktrav closed? Probably to make it easier for the authorities to keep track of climbers, since they are expecting a lot this Holy Week. At any rate, the entire trail system will reopen on April 9.

Visit the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve Facebook page for more details!