Mt. Balingkilat with Trail Adventours
The Balingkilat trail had one major thing in common with the Bira-bira and Cinco Picos trails, respectively: when it’s hot, it’s hotter than hell, it seems like. The long, exposed sections offered no shaded resting spots, and the ones that had, barely any. This would continue all the way to the summit, an exposed ridge peppered with boulders leading to a small plateau. This small flatland, the area of a basketball court, was the summit proper.
And what a view it had.
It was tough to get a view of the sea, with the heavy clouds surrounding us. The skies would tease a little though, and allow us a momentary peek. After about half an hour at the summit, it was time to head down to the ridge for a lunch break and a nap.
The trip offered by Trail Adventours is a backtrail, meaning the journey back was straightforward (back the way we came) and didn’t really need a guide. The heat was suffocating at times, and it was a relief to reach the riverbed and dunk my tired feet – shoes and all – in the cold water.
Less than half an hour later, I was back at the jump off point, and the long day hike that was Mt. Balingkilat was done and dusted!
For the challenge, the view and the scenery, and unpredictable weather, this hike is recommended for experienced hikers.
The Mt. Balingkilat trail has a difficulty rating of 5/9, and the length and steepness at the end of the trail is what makes the hike challenging for a day hike. It is highly recommended for hikers to have comfortably completed several minor day hikes prior to attempting this trek. A 20-30L bag is sufficient, and there are two water sources along the trail.
Get in touch with Trail Adventours and book your first major day hike with them at Mt. Balingkilat!
All photos and footage by me.
License – CC: Attribution, non-commercial. For more photos and commentaries, visit my Instagram (jsncruz).
Transparency disclaimer:
Trail Adventours and PinoyFitness.com have generously sponsored my hike and this fact has not affected my judgment on the experience as a whole.
