Bataan - Mt. Natib

Mt. Natib
Brgy. Tala, Orani, Bataan
1287 MASL
Difficulty: Major 5/9
Trail Class: 1-3
Trekking Time: 4-5.5 hours

Bataan is a province near Manila that offers good climbing destination. From the peaks of Mariveles mountain ranges such as Pantingan, Tarak and Dambana ng Kagitingan a.k.a Samat to the mountain of Orani called Mt. Natib. Slowly, these mountains are turning to be the favorites of the mountaineers in the Philippines, not just because they are easily accessible from Manila, but also because majority of them are major climbs, and not to mention that they offer rewarding experiences. And Mt. Natib is one of the two that first comes into a mountaineer's mind when the word Bataan is mentioned.

Mt. Natib is not that abused yet since it was just lately opened to the hikers due to insurgency problems. Because of the said, the biodiversity of Mt. Natib is still a little intact. As a matter of fact, the friendly little blood sucking creatures, called Limatik, is of the reported resident of Mt. Natib. Also, the wild raspberry that is said to defy cancer, called Sampinit, is abundant to this very mountain. As a matter of fact, the summit/campsite of Mt. Natib looks like a big farm place of the said berry. Also, Mt. Natib shelters a worth visiting falls called Pasulukan Falls.

Trekking the Mt. Natib will begin with a wide open trail, thus this could be very exhausting when you started your trek during noontime. After an hour, you will reach a so called Pinagbutasan (translated as "a whole" or "an opening"), where a gate should be entered by the hikers of Mt. Natib. From there, it will be denser, lessening your worries of sun exhaustion. This extends even after the water source, but ends up in the basecamp or the foot of Mt. Natib where the trails are again wide open since it is a cogonline. The basecamp is a landmark where the assault begins. The trails from here are more steep and challenging as compared to the first leg. There are also roped segments, but they may not be necessary if the trails are dry. Continuing, you will finally reach the summit that also serves as the campsite which could be very could at night.


TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

Take bus bound to Orani at Cubao or Dorotheo Jose (Bataan Transit/Genesis). Ask them to drop you off National Highway of Orani near Tala public market. Here, you can walk or either take tricycle to the jumpoff.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1

04:30 ETD for Orani
08:30 ETA Orani, take jeep or tricycle
10:00 ETA Jumpoff, register, start trek
11:00 ETA Pinagbutasan
12:00 ETA watersource, take lunch
13:00 Resume trek
14:00 ETA Basecamp, start assault
15:30 ETA Summit, pictures, set camp
18:00 Dinner and socials

Day 2

05:00 Wake up call
06:00 Breakfast
06:30 Break camp
07:00 Start descent
09:00 ETA basecamp, head to falls
11:00 ETA Pasulukan falls
12:00 Lunch
13:00 head back to jumpoff
17:00 ETA Jumpoff
21:00 ETA Home