The complete idiot guide for Luzon 312

To be able to climb multiple peaks simultaneously is a great achievement for any hiker. Thus to be able to climb the 3 highest peak of luzon, Mt Pulag, Mt Tabayoc and Mt timbak brings great pride and sense of accomplishment to whoever successfuly climb these giants. 

However in the past few years, almost everybody are doing it. Climbing and Organizing Massive climb for what they have called Luzon 321. They start in Mt timbak to Mt tabayoc and ends up to the most prized of them all Mt pulag- the third highest peak in the Phillipines  and the home of the famous sea of clouds.

The Group at Mt Timbak Jump off

The organizers rented a jeep to pick them at Baguio then it will bring them to mongoto school and then they will start their hike up to MT Timbak, after that they will board again the monster jeep this time they will proceed to Lake tabeo in Ballay. The next morning they will hike up to Mt Tabayoc summit, go down , board the jeep again and proceed to tawangan where they going to camp for the night and there they will start their Mt Pulag entry. After camping in saddle campsite, they will exit in Ambangeg and once again they will board their rented jeep to take them to Baguio city.

You see, they save a lot of walking hours by renting the jeep and the challenge and difficulty of the climb is lessen, its become too convenient thats why everybody are doing it.

Now comes the twist, and we called it the Luzon 312.

Mt Timbak Summit

The plan was to finish the 3 mighty peaks without renting a jeep. and It will be a pure walkathon up to the end.

The plan was from Baguio board the bus to the Jump off of Mt Timbak, proceed by foot to kabayan central, walk all the way to the jump off of Mt Pulag. Ascend the peak via akiki trail then descend to tawangan

then walk uup to 6 hours to lake tabeo and camp there . The next morning that will be the start of ascend to Mt Tabayoc then before 12pm proceed to kabayan central by habal habal and ride the van to baguio.

This idea is much more difficult than the traditional Luzon 321.

I started to coordinate my plan to Madam mering, Ranger Heron of Akiki and Ranger Arlan of tabayoc and teddy - guide of Mt pulag to Tawangan trail.

From Mt Timbak to Kabayan Bario Trail

And I assemble a 7 man team for this journey. They were my friends and hiking buddy and they are strong climber as I must say.

However due to family emergency - and to my deepest regret , I was not able to participate to the climb that I designed.

Akiki Trail

Let me just share to you how it can be done.

Saddle Campsite

From Mt Timbak you can trek down to Kabayan Central - 4-6 hours depends on your pace

Kabayan Central to Akiki Jump Off  : 1-2 hours

Akiki to Saddle                : 7-8 hours

Saddle to Tawangan exit : 5-6 hours

Tawangan exit to Balay   : up to 6 hours - you can take habal habal to save time

Lake Tabeo to Mt Tabayoc Summit : 2-3 hours depends on your pace

Tawangan Trail Forest

Here are the projected expenses :

Manila to Baguio : P 450

Baguio to Km 55 : P 120

Reg fee mt Pulag: P 200

Guide fee akiki to Tawangan      : P3800 up to 7 hikers

Habal Habal Tawangan to Balay : P300

Guide fee : Tabayoc                 :P1000 up to 7 hikers

Habal Habal from Balay to kabayan central : P300

Kabayan central to Baguio                         : P220

Baguio to Manila                                      :  P450

If you want to save the P300 habal habal fare from Balay to Kabayan central, you need to spend another night in Balay in order for you to take the Bus to Baguio. Bus have only 2 trip a day. 7am and 10am.

Contacts :

Madam Mering               :  0919951316

Ranger Heron (akiki)       : 09087578319

Ranger Arlan  (tabayoc)  :09469528483

Teddy            (Guide)     : 09079873719


All picture courtesy of Randel Balio the last man standing to complete and finish

the Luzon 312 walkathon.

My Buddy at the view deck of Mt Tabayoc Summit

Due to insistent public demand, I will now include the draft itenary I created before the climb based on logistics provided by locals in Atok Benguet, Ranger Heron and Ranger Arlan, and the Guide in Akiki-tawangan trail.

Day 0  10PM etd cubao

 

Day 1

4am   : EtA Baguio, Walk to Dangwa
415am : ETA Dangwa,buy packed lunch and pack dinner. Take breakfast
6  am : ETD DAngwa to km 55
8  am : ETA timbak jump off. HIke
10 am : ETA Timbak Summit,photo ops,pic
11 am : Start Descent
01pm  : Lunch  on Trail
04pm  : Kabayan Central
05pm  : Akiki Jump off-register get guide
sleep in the ranger station or in the school-or in eddet

 

Day 2

5am wake up call, prepare coffee and packed lunch
7am start trek
11am : ETA Marlboro lunch
12   : start trek
3pm  : saddle campsite, pitch tent
4pm  : optional summit sunset
5pm  : prepare dinner
6pm  : dinner
7pm  : social

Day 3
3am  : wake up call,prepare coffee and noodles,packed lunch
5am   : Summit Assault
6:30am : Descent
7:00 : break camp
7:30 : descend via tawangan trail-pinoymountaineer i.t
0815 Enter mossy forest line
1200 Lunch on trail
1300 Resume trek
1600 Arrival at Brgy. Tawangan. take guide to Ballay
8pm arrival in balay stay in lodge

 

* Or you can rent habal habal from tawangan to balay for P300/head

 

 

Day 4
3am : wake up call ,prepare coffee and packed breakfast
4am : start trek to balay basecamp-
5am : basecamp proceed to mt tabayoc
7am : summit breakfast
8am : start descend
9:30: basecamp
10:30am : lodge, fix things,
11:00   : Etd Ballay
12:00   : ETA kabayan central , lunch
01:00   : Take van to baguio
06:00   : ETA BAGUIO, DINNER
08:00   : ETD BAGUIO TO MANILA