Mt. 387 / Batong Amat Traverse
Jump off point: Brgy. Puncan, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija
Minor Climb: Traverse to Aloha Falls 4/10; Backtrail 2/10
Highlights: Historic Forest Trail; Panoramic views of the Central Plains of Luzon, Caraballo Mountain Range, Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Mt. Arayat, Mt. Balungao, Mt. Amorong, Mt. Lakay; pine trees (including the “lovers’ tree”); grassland; and Aloha Falls
Mt. 387 (also known as Batong Amat) has instantly gained its ground as one of the more popular climbs in Central Luzon since the time it was introduced to the mountaineering community at the onset of 2017. Now, it has become as one of the favorites even by newbies and occasional hikers because mainly of two factors: 1. the supposed view of the so-called Chocolate Hills of the North; and 2. the cool dip at the nearby Aloha Falls after the climb.
This is my third Mountain na inakyat ko, i’m with my friend, just the two of us, dahil taga nueva ecija lang kami, sinakyan ko nalang yung car namin para mabilis ang byahe and we can return back in our home asap than commuting. They have parking lot naman sa loob.
Brgy. Puncan, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija is the jump off, pagkadating namin sa jump we paid 15 pesos for registration, and after that kunting introduction about MT. 387, after that binigyan na kami ng guide, saka water to bring pang dilig sa mga bagong tanim na puno.
Actually di dapat kami tutuloy dito kasi ito yung time na nagkaroon ng wild fire sa Mt. 387, our guide says the illegal loggers did that para di sila makita at walang maka akyat.
Nagstrat na kaming mag treking, sa enrty point maganda yung forest ok na ok pa talaga mga puno, which is good.
We continue hanggang sa magsuka yung kasama ko, kasi di daw sya kumain, damn!! so nagpahinga muna kami, habang nagpapahinga eh picture taking muna, tapos may dumaan sa amin na kasabay namin at nagbigay ng candy, wala kasi akong dalang candy that time.
After magpahinga, lakad kami ulit, habang naglalakad kami makikita talaga yung mga nasunog na damo, sayang kasi nasira yung bundok dahil sa wildfire.
so ayon patuloy kaming naglakad, buti di na ulit nahilo yung kasama ko, sabi ko sa kanya ihatid ko muna sya sa ibaba at ako nalang muna mag treking, while walking we didn’t forget na diligan mga halaman para mabuhay sila. Tapos syempre pag may magandang views papicture muna diba po? hehe so ayon na nga nangyari picture taking nangyari.
From the picture above ito yung view, malaki talaga yung nasunog that time, pero ngayon i’m sure green na green na sya ulit, saka mas maganda na talaga sigurado sya ngayon, nakarecover na.
So nakarating na nga kami sa summit, madami na ding tao dun, may isang malaking puno dun silungan ng mga hikers, safe naman din yung kasama ko, malakas na. Below is the video from the summit, that view is the reason why this mountain called the Chocolate Hills of Nueva Ecija.
Pictures from summit
After magpahinga at mag pa picture sa summit , start na ulit treking pa traverse papuntang Aloha Falls.
Hindi biro yung pababa kasi, madaming assault saka need ng gloves pababa kasi masusugatan kamay mo kakahawak sa mga damo. Matarik din yung pababa kaya mas ok na magingat talaga at wag magmadali baka gumulong ka nalang pababa and died.
After magkasugat mga kamay, nakarating din kami sa aloha falls, naligo lang kami saglit dito para marefresh, tapos waiting sa ibang kasabay para madami kaming sabay saby babalik sa jump off, sumakay kami sa truck pabalik sa jump off, and eat our lunch, we paid 300 pesos for our guide + his lunch and go home.
The End
Total cost 500 pesos
Sample Itinerary
Day 0
11:30 pm Assembly MCDO KIA THEATER
12:00 pm ETD to Nueva Ecija
Day 1 Proper Climb
4:00 am ETA to Brgy Puncan , Caranglan, Nueva Ecija (Landmark, INC church)
4:30 am Registration / secure guide / stretching / pray short briefing
5:30 am Start Trekking
7:30 am ETA Summit (BATONG AMAT) Rest / Photo ops Breakfast
8:30 am Start descend
09:30 am ETA LOVERS TREE, photo ops
10:00 am Start Descend
11:00 am Jump-off LUNCH
12:30 nn Proceed to aloha falls (TRUCK)
1:00 pm start trek to Aloha falls
1:30 pm ETA Aloha falls , Rest /Photo ops/ swimming/ socials
3:00 pm Back to Jump off (truck)
4:00 pm ETA Jump-off/ Wash up
5:00 pm ETD Cubao
9:00 pm ETA Cubao