MOUNT SILANGANAN SUMMIT

At an elevation of 905 meters above sea level, Mount Silanganan is located within the westernmost sector of the Natib Caldera, situated within the confines of the Bataan National Park, a designated protected area. Information pertaining to Mount Silanganan is notably scarce, save for its marked presence on geographical maps and the noteworthy proximity of the renowned "Kairukan Falls" to its summit. The summit of this mountain remained untouched by humans until December 29, 2019 when it was successfully summited by Erwin Garcia and Nelson Quitain.

• First Phase: Research
  • Map Analysis
    This task involves exhaustive map review using Google map and other online maps. Satellite image and topographical studies follow, providing insights into the mountain's terrain, density of vegetation and proximity to populated areas and road network. During this process, I identified a school called Kanawan Integrated School northwest of the mountain. The school is surrounded by a cluster of houses, which I believed to be the closest inhabited area to the mountain's summit, serving as my prospective starting point for the journey on foot. Additionally, I identified the presence of Kanawan Hanging Bridge, a vital infrastructure, serving as a key access route linking the school to major population areas like Morong and Subic to the vicinity.
  • Previous Attempts
    In the same year, a group of hikers made two previous attempts. They embarked on their adventure from the town of Morong located southwest of the mountain. It's worth noting that Morong is considerably farther from the mountain's summit in comparison to Kanawan. The group followed the popular Morong-Binaritan trail that leads to Kairukan Falls, the end point of the trail. However, their journey came to an unexpected halt at Kairukan Falls for reasons they did not disclose.
  • Route Planning
    Based on the map and previous attempts of other hikers, I plotted the best possible route to the summit, taking into consideration technical difficulty, safety, and my capability. Instead of Morong, I chose Kanawan as my starting point primarily because it is an inhabited area closest to to summit.
  • Virgin Peak?
    Despite its close proximity to Kairukan Falls, a popular tourist spot, there is no evidence to suggest that anyone has reached the summit of Mount Silanganan.

   

   

• Second Phase: Reconnaissance
  • Research is Not Enough
    Even with extensive research, there are often gaps in information about remote and unexplored tropical mountains. Satellite imagery can only provide a limited view, road maps may not convey whether a road is easily reachable by vehicles, and there might be paths or significant points of interest that aren't marked on the map.
  • Preliminary Site Visit
    On the 14th of December 2019, I conducted a short visit to the region to fill in the gaps in information such as the actual road condition, terrain and the local community of Kanawan. During my visit, I discovered that the Kanawan Hanging Bridge, which provides access to Kanawan, can only be crossed on foot or by light motorcycles. From the bridge, it was a short walk uphill to Kanawan community.
  • Kanawan Community
    It was a community of indigenous people - the Aeta. I passed by Kanawan Integrated School, verifying the accuracy of infomation I got from Google map in my earlier research. Then I met with some leaders of Kanawan who shared information about the area. However, when I asked about Mount Silanganan, they said that they were not familiar with that mountain nor its location.
  • The Unexplored Mountain
    Despite its close proximity to Mount Silanganan, none of the local residents were aware of its existence, which hints at the possibility that it hasn't been explored or documented. I asked the permission from the leaders to go beyond Kanawan and into the wilderness, hoping that I could find more answers, and possibly the best path to the summit.
  • Beyond Kanawan
    There is a network of trails radiating from Kanawan, each potentially leading to different destinations. To avoid confusion, I hired an Aeta to guide me to the direction that I wanted - to the southeast.  Initially, the trail was broad, flanked by bamboo trees, and took us through small farms and streams.
  • End Of The Trail
    As we continued, the surrounding vegetation grew thicker, and numerous parts of the trail became unrecognizable. After approximately 3 kilometers of walking and occasional bushwhacking, we reached a small clearing in the middle of nowhere. There were no trails beyond this point. Tall trees and dense undergrowth cover all directions.
  • Logistical Planning
    While I was tempted to go beyond the trail, this was just a 'recon mission', so I decided to turn back. Now that I got most of the information I need, its time to think about logistical planning which includes transportation, supplies, equipment, and staffing requirements. This is essential to ensure a safe and successful exploration.
• Third Phase: Preparation

  Based on Google Maps' satellite imagery and my reconnaissance mission, I need to be prepared for the following challenges:

  • Cluster of Tall trees could block my view of the surrounding landscapes and landmarks, which presents a significant challenge for navigation. To address this problem, I had to use GPS technology such as a dedicated GPS device or a smartphone GPS app.
  • Undergrowth may obstruct my movement forward. To overcome this challenge, I might need to resort to bushwhacking using a machete.
  • Water Source may be scarce especially in higher elevation. The only water source I found was a stream before arriving at the end of the trail.

   

  The 10 Essentials

  1. Backpack: Two backpacks. One for me and one for my companion.
  2. Clothing: Long and moisture-wicking upper and lower garments.
  3. Footwear: Ordinary hiking shoes
  4. Water: 10 liters of water . This was calculated based on the expected duration of the expedition, energy-consuming bushwhacking and other unforeseen circumstances. This ensured we wouldn't find ourselves dehydrated and stranded in the unforgiving terrain.
  5. Food: 2 kilos rice and canned goods
  6. Navigation tools: GPS app
  7. Communication tools: Cellphone, whistle and headlamp
  8. Light source: Headlamp and lighter to start a fire
  9. First aid: The usual first aid kit
  10. Shelter: Two tents. One for me and one for my companion.

   

Day One of Mount Silanganan Summit Expedition

It took approximately fifteen minutes to travel by car from the town of Morong to reach the Kanawan Hanging Bridge. Upon arriving at the vicinity around 5 a.m., I parked my car along the roadside in front. The surroundings were shrouded in complete darkness, devoid of any human presence.