Catching the breeze atop Mt. Sembrano

MT. SEMBRANO (745+ MASL) in Pililia, Rizal looks deceivingly easy to climb when viewed from down the highway going to the reclusive town of Jala-jala.

With the length of the mountain almost parallel with the road it looks as if the mountain has a long and almost flat top. Also clearly visible traversing the slopes of the mountain all the way to the top are huge power transmission towers, which may mean that there may already be roads accessible to motor vehicles all the way to the top.

The people riding with me in my car on our way to our jump-off point in Brgy. Malaya were already declaring it to be a relatively uneventful climb ahead. The primary concern was how not to get burned by the scorching heat of the sun. It was already a few minutes past 10am when we reached Brgy. Malaya on Feb 28, 2009. †It was sunny, hot, and humid when we, the members of the Delbros AB Normal Club, started our Mt. Sembrano climb.

It was a good thing that I already learned never to underestimate a mountain from our ill-fated attempt to climb Mt. Makiling (1,090 MASL) about two weekends earlier. Sure Mt. Sembrano seems easy I told myself. †It would be good if it really is. But I psyched myself to prepare for the worst.

It was in fact a relatively easy climb. Wait a minute, let’s be clear about this. “Relatively easy” is not the same as plain “easy.” After having climbed about half a dozen mountains I am yet to find an easy one. †Mt. Sembrano is not an exception. The continuously long ascent going to Peak 1 left most of us gasping for air and almost completely spent. But Peak 1 wasn’t our objective because it isn’t the summit. Peak 2 is, and it looked very distant still from Peak 1. Some of us were tempted to just stay in Peak 1, for to proceed to Peak 2 would mean a very long hike down Peak 1 only to climb up again to the summit which is Peak 2.

Nevertheless, at the end of the climb we declared that it was a relatively easier climb compared to, for instance, Mt. Malipunyo (1,005 MASL) in Batangas, or perhaps Mt. Pico De Loro (664+ MASL) in Cavite/Batangas, and of course, Mt. Makiling in Laguna.

What sets Mt. Sembrano apart is its very windy summit and its magnificent 360-degree view. Mt. Tagapo (438+ MASL) in Talim Island, which we intend to also climb one of these days, looked so inviting from not so far across Laguna de Bay. †Mt. Makiling was clearly distinguishable south-south-west from where we were. †Further south are the mysteriously enchanting twin giants — Mt. Cristobal (1,470+ MASL) and the majestic Mt. Banahaw (2,158+ MASL).

By the time we have emptied the “bar” (I lost count but I think I downed half a dozen ice-cold San Mig Light in cans while at the summit) we have already laid plans to climb Mt. Cristobal before this year’s climbing season (Jan-May) ends and Mt. Banahaw early next year.

Note: Altitudes in MASL were taken from www.pinoymountaineer.com.