MT. KANLAON -- Negros Oriental

Mt. Kanlaon trail map

The Mt. Kanlaon Experience
Mapot-Mananawin Masulog Trail

Negros Oriental

Mt. Kanlaon is an active stratovolcano in Negros Oriental, 36 km southeast of Bacolod City, with a summit elevation of 8,088 feet or 2,435 meters above sea level, the highest mountain in the Visayas region.

Note: Our total expenses including airfare of P550 two-way was about P4k per head.  Thanks to Cebu Pacific and Air PhilExpress promo fares and to our kind host at Kanlaon City which made our trip possible.

After our short Bacolod City experience, we took a Ceres bus for a 3-1/2 hours ride to Canlaon City for our Mt. Kanlaon climb.  We met our guide at the terminal who accompanied us to the City Tourism Office to confirm our pre-registered climb.  Afterwards, we boarded a truck for a 1-hour ride to the Mapot jump-off.  We arrived at the jump-off at around 5pm and after 30 minutes of preparation and load distribution we started our 1 hour trek to Camp 1 - the base camp where we stayed for the night.

On our second day we woke up on a foggy state with a sight of an impending downpour ahead.  We started the ascent at 8:30am and shortly after an hour, the rain fell heavily.  We trekked for 6 hours to Makawiwili Peak under a cold drenching rain. Even our guide and porters shivered in the trail.

From Makawiwili Peak, it took us another 3 hours to reach the Pagatpat Ridge with a glimpse of Margaha Valley along the trail.  It was 5pm then and no sign of the storm calming down.   At the campsite, we were held in our tents and even our food was cooked inside.  The warmth coming from the stove and the heat of the pots served as a short refuge from the cold wind piercing through our dainty shelter.

In the evening instead of the usual “socials”, we were engaged in ensuring the pegs, rain fly and poles in its place.  We can't afford any drip or moist inside as we don't have enough clothing to stay warm... We let the night pass with a prayer for a beautiful morning.

Our watches told us it was already 7am but the dawn failed to show up.  The weather was unchanged and some joked and called the mountain - the unreceptive KANLAON... 

At 930am despite the possible zero visibility at the summit, we continued the 45minutes assault and hoped for a glimpse of the crater.  According to the guide, in conditions like this the stone-made trail sign guides the climber from keeping far left or right or from a possible fall.

The summit is marked by a pile of rocks which also serves as a marker for volcanologist in monitoring changes in the mouth of the crater.  We stayed for 30 minutes and was lucky to be spared with short-seconds showing portions of the crater.  But even so,  the fog forbid us from capturing it in our lenses. 

The ProTrek Family

We were back at the campsite at 11am and wasted no time in packing our stuff.  We informed our team already of our early descend to catch our next day flight back to Manila.  A porter guide was assigned to us and assured the availability of a habalhabal at Sitio Mananawin.

We started the descent at 1pm through the steep Masulog trail which to date the most challenging, leg cracking descend I've done.  I can’t imagine how difficult the Masulog ascend can be.  Huh! But I noticed that as we moved down, the weather condition was improving and the trail was getting better.  We passed by a farm filled with sunflowers with a sight of a towering waterfalls from afar.  After 3 hours of trek gliding and mud skiing, we reached Sitio Mananawin.  I simply looked back at Mt. Kanlaon and whispered, “Maybe that awful experience indicates another visit, maybe then at your best.  Till next time :)”.

I thought that was all for Kanlaon extreme but the habalhabal ride to Canlaon City through the narrow 1-foot partition of the onion fields was another heart stopping experience... LOL... I just closed my eyes to relieve my fear of falling and tumbling at anytime.  I truly admired how the driver maneuvered the bike with two us at his back.  

On our last day, we left Canlaon City at 7am for another 3 hours ride back to Bacolod City.  Along the way, we can’t help but stare at Mt. Kanlaon and admire its calm beauty.  “Hope to see you again”... 

Mt. Kanlaon

Actual Itinerary

Day 1

12NN-3:30PM – Traveled from Bacolod to Canlaon City
3:30PM – Arrived at Canlaon City, visited the City Tourism Office
4-5PM – Traveled by truck to jump-off

5:30-630PM – Trek from jump-off to Camp 1, set-up camp
7PM – dinner time, socials, lights off

Day 2

6AM – Wake up call, breakfast then break camp

8:30AM –Start ascent to Makawiwili Peak, lunch on trail
2PM – Arrived at Makawiwili Peak
5PM – Arrived at Pagatpat Ridge/Shoulder
5PM – Set-up camp, dinner then lights off

Day 3

6AM – Wake up call, breakfast
9:30-10:15AM – Trek from shoulder to summit

11AM – Back to shoulder

12NN – Lunch, prepare for descent

1-4PM – Trek from shoulder to Sitio Mananawin

4:30-5PM – Traveled from Sitio Mananawin to Canlaon City

5PM – Arrived at Canlaon City

Related posts:

BACOLOD CITY - Negros Occidental

18th PALAPALA RESTAURANT -- Bacolod City

Travel Date: November 2011