Mt. Ayaas (627+) in Rodriguez, Rizal

MT. AYAAS
Rodriguez, Rizal
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal
Minor jumpoff: Brgy. Mascap, Rodriguez, Rizal
LLA: 14°45′3.38′′ N, 121°12′27.5′ 627 MASL (+570)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 3-4 hours
Specs: Minor, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3 with river trekking
Features: River trekking, scenic views, waterfalls
Article history: July 6, 2015
Author: Gideon Lasco

BACKGROUND
With the advent of the documentation of Mts. Pamitinan and Binacayan, Brgy. Wawa in Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), Rizal is fast becoming a haven for hikers. Just an hour away from Metro Manila, and offering dramatic views atop limestone formations, these mountains are truly worthy dayhikes.

Mt. Ayaas is a pleasant addition to the outdoor destinations of Rodriguez, Rizal. While Pamitinan, Binacayan, and Hapunang Banoi are practicality look-alikes, Mt. Ayaas is a mountain made distinctive by its river trekking and grassland slopes. Moreover, it is arguably the most challenging of the hikes in the area – even though all of them are relatively easy and are, as of July 2015, rated as Difficulty 3/9.

Just like the other mountains in the area, the hike up Mt. Ayaas originates from Brgy. Wawa proper. Passing through Wawa Dam and the magnificent gorge. The first half involves mostly river trekking, and the difficulty is highly weather-dependent, as the rocks are very slippery when wet – and the water level is high such that it is inevitable that you yourself will get wet.

Past the river trek, the trail becomes more inclined, passing through woodlands and a final assault up grassland slopes to reach the summit. At times, the trek is reminiscent of the Malipunyo Range and other Batangas mountains. At the top,  one is treated to a view of not just the Wawa mountains, but also Mt. Lubog (SE).

With its distinctive features, ease of access, and relatively challenging trails, Mt. Ayaas is truly another compelling reason to visit Montalban!

ITINERARIES

MT. AYAAS DAYHIKE

0400 Take van from Cubao to Eastwood, Rodriguez, Rizal
0530 ETA Rodriguez, Rizal; take trike or jeep to brgy. Wawa
0600 Arrival at Brgy. Wawa. Register at barangay hall / tourism office
0630 Start trek up Mt. Ayaas
0730 ETA waterfalls
0830 End of river trekking
0930 Arrival at transmission tower. Final assault
1030 ETA summit
1100 Start descent
1400 Back at Brgy. Wawa.  Tidy up then take outbound trike.
1630 Back in Manila.

MT. AYAAS TRAVERSE

0400 Take van from Cubao to Eastwood, Rodriguez, Rizal
0530 ETA Rodriguez, Rizal; take trike or jeep to brgy. Wawa
0600 Arrival at Brgy. Wawa. Register at barangay hall / tourism office
0630 Start trek up Mt. Ayaas
0730 ETA waterfalls
0830 End of river trekking
0930 Arrival at transmission tower. Final assault
1030 ETA summit
1100 Traverse to Mascap
1400 ETA Mascap, take trike to Montalban
1500 ETA Montalban,  Tidy up then take outbound trike.
1730 Back in Manila.

PRACTICALITIES: MT. AYAAS

Transportation	Public (1) Van, Cubao to Montalban (Eastwood) [P50; 1-1.5 hours] (2) Jeep or trike, Montalban (Eastwood) to Wawa [P7.50-P10; <30 mins]Alternatively, take any transport to Montalban (i.e. via Marikina) then take (2) Approximately 2-3 hours travel time because of various stops and delays. Private. Head out to Rodriguez, Rizal via Marikina and San Mateo, then follow the road to Wawa Dam. There is an entrance of P50 for private vehicles. Parking slots are available in front of the tourism office Approximately 1.5-2.5 hours travel time.
Registration	In order: (1) Logbook at the DENR station in Wawa. (2) Logbook at the Tourism Office in Wawa. (3) Logbook at the barangay hall P2 registration per person and donation of any amount
Guides	Available; assigned at the tourism office/ barangay hall. No fixed rates but P400/day is suggested (add more if twin dayhikes)
Contact numbers	+639493956589 (Emman, guide) +639473868778 (Ogie, guide) +639983266559 (Richard Salina, guide) +639295497211 (Joni – barangay) Please share more contact numbers if you have them. Better to call the contacts rather than text as they may always have load.
Campsites and waypoints	Possible at the summit and at the transmission tower area, among others, but usually done as a dayhikeWaypoints: (1) Bamboo Bridge 14°43′37.9′′ N, 121°11′36.2′′, 55 MASL (2) Waterfalls 14°44′8.11′′ N, 121°12′5.18′′, 203 MASL (3) Transmission Tower 14°44′46.8′′ N, 121°12′11.4′′, 435 MASL
Water sources	(+) abundant along the river system (-) summit
Cellphone signal	Sporadic along the trail and the summit
River crossings	Bamboo bridge-crossing near Wawa Dam River trekking for first half of the trail. Usually manageable but caution during the rainy season.
Roped segments	None
Limatik	None
Lipa	Some
Rattan	Some
Hiking notes	As mentioned above – be very cautious when hiking during the rainy season or during/after heavy rains
Sidetrips	Mts. Pamitinan and Binacayan Mt. Hapunang Banoi Rock climbing in Mt. Pamitinan Swimming by Wawa Dam
Alternate trails	Traverse to Brgy. Mascap (see above)
Dayhikable	Yes
Facilities at jumpoff	(+) Sari-sari stores (+) Carinderias / paluto (+) Wash-up / shower places (+) Cottages by Wawa DamThere are gloves available at the DENR office for P50 pesos each.
Estimated budget	500-700 (dayhike) 800-1000 (overnight)

MT. AYAAS PICTURES

The approach to Mt. Ayaas begins in Wawa Dam, against the backdrop of the scenic Montalban Gorge

Foggy view of the Wawa mountains: Mt. Binacayan, Mt. Pamitinan, and Hapunang Banoi

Descending along one of the waterfalls in the river trekking part of the trail

 

TRIVIA
Mt. Ayaas is the fifth mountain of Rodriguez, Rizal to have an itinerary in Pinoy Mountaineer (after Pamitinan, Binacayan, and Lubog). It is also the seventh Rizal mountain in a span of a year to be documented in the website (the Montalban mountains plus Irid and Daraitan). The thrust towards documenting and featuring mountains in the near-Sierra Madre is in line with our thrust of combating destructive mountain practices through ecotourism.

The blogger hiked Mt. Ayaas on July 4, 2015.

THE MOUNTAINS OF RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL
Mt. Ayaas

Mt, Lubog

Mts. Pamitinan and Binacayan

Mt. Hapunang Banoi / Hapunang Baboy
Mt. Sapang Uwak