Amuyao Traverse Dayhike

The idea of Amuyao Dayhike Traverse came to my mind when I saw the photo of Roland Wang Wang and friends doing a sky run on the said mountain. Meaning, if they can run it fast, we can hike it slow. So I coordinated with him to ask about all the necessary information to make the dayhike a success.

Once I gathered the logistics, I look for the contacts in Barlig. More importantly the guide who will join us on this never heard quest. Funny, I found the contact in Facebook when carrot man was viral. I saw the picture of him posting in Barlig Police Station. I made the necessary inquiry, good people point me to the person who can help me made this journey complete.

The marker near the summit - (courtesy of Mark Balonces )

So you see, We make this climb happen without help of a well known mountaineering group and individuals. We are just a bunch of newbie, shy type, all have a regular day jobs. We are all just love the outdoors and new challenges. We just all finished some Cordillera Mountains, so we all know each other's capability and strength on the trail. And most of all - We trust and care for each other and our bond is strong enough to believe in one another.

We could have finished up to Batad as we arrived in Cambulo at 5 pm with still an hour or more daylight. We are all feel good, We still have supplies , no one in the team have injury or even a blister. Meaning, If we choose to proceed to Batad, we can actually do so. However due to landslide that happened in Barlig, We were faced with unexpected problem, that needed our attention. That issue was delayed us for one night. We'll that's part of life, sometimes you just move on, think of what to do next and still have fun. All of us have a great mind set, no one sulk in bitterness as most if not all of us will be absent on Monday.

The clouds on trail -Photo courtesy of Mark Balonces

Some might not believe it,  Some were proud we nailed it., Others might think it's impossible

So let us share how we did it.

Sunday

1am - Start trek
5am - Amuyao Summit - Rest, Photo-Ops, Breakfast
7am - Start Descend
11am - Patyay Village - Lunch
12pm - Start trek to Cambulo
1pm  - Mt Umayao
5pm  - Cambulo - End of Trek. Awarding of Certificate
From Cambulo it will be just another 2 hours of easy trek to Batad.

We just call it a day there..


Thanks to Sir Wangsky for paving the way and inspiring my imagination to do this.
Thanks to All the people of Barlig for welcoming us, specially our host in Sea World Inn, Madam Jansen for all logistics and for the climb certificate and to our 2 guides - for pushing us to move forward.
To our Guide / Driver - Raffy - who happened to be left behind in Barlig for a day due to landslide.

And of course to everyone who joined me in this not so normal Dayhike.

The baby ducks of the team

Jem
Vaneng
Xa-an
Janine
Cars
Gela

The boys and not so boys

Mark
Ed
Direk
Don
Allan
Omar

And to Almight God for give us this mountain to climb, for giving us a good weather and a full moon on our hike. For giving us all the strength to finish the entire length without injury. and most of all for giving us each other - to be together - and to experienced and finished this wonderful and beautiful mountain trail with one another..

Resting at Cambulo - Photo courtesy of Mark Balonces

As I told them, If we complete this climb, our self confidence will boost, our bond will get stronger. We will now have a mindset that together we can complete any Mountain we set our hearts and minds to.

At the summit of Mt Amuyao

The complete TeamAttitude at the Summit

Dayhike Essentials

I love Day hiking and Peak bagging more than camping and spending the night in the wilderness. Why ? Because I have only 2 days off and of course there are other things I want to do beside spending it on the Mountain tops. There are other important things to do, to focus on and to spend time with. Thus, If the summit can be reach in one day, then Ill do it and find someone who would join me.

Thus, having doing it for years, I might or might not found ways of doing it more efficiently and to know the necessary and useful gears to bring on day hikes. 

This works for me on major and minor mountains alike, it might work for you as well, or you might found something useful to add to your gear list.

My Day Hike Essential Gears not necessarily in order of their importance. 

1. Umbrella - This is very useful for both rainy and sunny condition. It will reduce the amount of heat your body is absorbing on a very sunny day that can save you from being insane from the heat and from having a heat stroke. This is very useful also on rainy days without strong winds. IT blocks the rain from making you too wet and also have the ability to protect your packs if you forgot to water proof your gear. The umbrella also keeps you dry after the climb and to you travel going home. 

2. Headlamp / Flashlight - Even the very minor day hike can go wrong. Shit happens out there so it would be useful to have a means to light your way when the darkness creeps in.

3. Nutrition and Hydration - Foods for your energy and water for your hydration. Always research in advance the available water source on the trail for you not to bring too much water. Water is heavy. 

If you find the nutrition of trail runners, they dont rely on jelly ace for their fuels , the same should be applied to hikers. And also, do not bring your 1 liter Nalgene bottles on day hikes as it was bulky. 

4. First Aid Kit - Basic medicine will do. I always bring loperamide and ibuprofen

5. Disposable poncho - To complement the umbrella if the wind is too strong. Also poncho can keep you warm on a cold dark days. 

6. Cellphone with load- I always turn off my phone on a day hike. I just turn it on on breaks. So I do not need to carry an extra weight by bringing a power bank. 

7. Lightweight fleece - Depends on the mountain and season-  if it is nearby and can be finished in 6 to 10 hours I will not bring it. If the Mountain is on Cordillera Region and in Mindanao I will packed it. 

8. Shades - To protect your eyes from the sun. 

9. Headwear / Buff - Multiple use. On all my climb day hikes or not, I do not bring a bath towel. Headwear is enough. 

10. Slippers - Nothing can give you much comfort after a long and hard day's on the mountain than removing your shoes and socks and slip on  your slipper. 

11. Plastic Bags / Black bags - Plastic bags can be use to water proof your gears and clothes and for your trash and for your dirty clothes and shoes. Black Bags can also be used as windbreaker. 

12. Tissue ( Wet or Dry ) - You never know when you might need to use it, better be ready. 

Always use your common sense on what to bring. Research the mountain first and you will enjoy your hike more..