Mt. Nagcarlan : The "Kuranga" Trail

Brace yourselves for some real hiking experience.  We will be climbing Mt. Nagcarlan via our own Nagcarlan route using Ananda Marga’s Kuranga Master Unit in Wakat as our jumpoff point.

Persistence is needed to accomplish this hike. 3 liters of water is necessary for the entire challenge. Trail to summit is not recommended for beginners. Water loading requirement is very crucial. It is not advised for anyone to push through towards the summit with not enough supply of water.  Trail food is essential not to mention packed lunch. Otherwise, participants may opt to take the southern ridge as their target point.

Mt. Nagcarlan go by several names: Mt. Kalisungan, Mt. Calauan or Mt. Lamot. It is bounded in the North by municipalities of Calauan and Nagcarlan; South by Nagcarlan; East by Nagcarlan; West by Calauan and South West by San Pablo City and Calauan. It has a NAMRIA registered name of Mt. Nagcarlan obviously because almost half of the entire mountain belongs to Nagcarlan. Traditional trails leading to the summit are both located in Calauan: Erais Trail (now closed) and Lamot Trail.  Lamot Trail is known to many because it is being used as penance trail during the observance of Lent.  Lamot trail has Difficulty rating of 3/9 at Trail class 1-2.  However, there were some unpopular-unrecognized trails seldom used even by locals:  The “Atimla Trail”  in Manaol, and the “Kuranga” Trail in Wakat both in the Nagcarlan area.  Kuranga is rather challenging with Difficulty rating 5/9 at Trail Class 2-4.  Hiking Mt. Nagcarlan is considered MINOR in classification though.

The summit of Mt. Nagcarlan has a wooden cross erected on the ground.  Serving as prayer area, many catholic devotees gathered the place for penance and atonement of their worldly offenses. 

The hilly cogonal peak of Mt. Nagcarlan depicts genuine mountain experience: heights, air, space and superb views of the environment.

The peak of the mountain also has some historical significance.  Its highest point has served as the last fighting stand of retreating Japanese soldiers against American and Filipino forces towards the end of World War II.  It is also later believed that some Japanese soldiers who retreated to Mt. Nagcarlan eluded their captors and went further to the nearby Mt. Atimla where they became guerillas-hermits living in caves and hide for years until finally captured.

With AHON’s introduction of the Kuranga trail, it is hoped that it will bring additional excitement and another challenge to the outdoor community.

We seek.....we climb.....Mt. Nagcarlan.

Planning your Mt. Nagcarlan Hike:

a.       Communicate with Brgy. Wakat of hike schedule, guide and wash-up/side trip after hike.

Brgy.Chairman Lorenzo Joyosa – 09399387251

Authorized guides: kuya Renato, Eduardo and Hepe

How to get to Kuranga Ananda Marga Master Unit

1.  Take bus bound for Sta Ctuz alight Masapang Intersection (Big Itik/Duck Monument, Victoria, Laguna) Buendia-Masapang=P124/pax (2.5 hrs travel time from Buendia)

2.      Take tricycle to Kuranga. P50/tricycle trip ( fits 3 pax- 5mins. ride)

Water fun Nagcarlan

The summer heat is on and so we need to freshen up.  By the first hour, we will be up and over to “Gulol” hill.  Afterwards….….waterfun begins!

We will be trekking unconventional trails going to three of Nagcarlan waterfalls. One of them, popular, another haven’t realized yet and another almost unrecognized even by locals. These are precious jewels of the town just waiting to be unveiled.  AHON will help explore and rediscover these gems.

The hike includes descending on a 20-ft high gorge using ropes, river trekking on a 3-ft deep free flowing water and some rope hanging experience in order to get to the waterfalls.

Classified as “two-booter hike” the activity involves some risk.  But with enough caution, the price to see a splendor is just a stone-throw ahead.  

NOTE:

Hiking/River Trekking involves risk.

You are attending the hike at your own risk. The event host will try his/her best to assist and guide, but is in no way responsible, liable or accountable for any damage or personal injuries.

"Trails to Banahaw" Salvation Hike

“In Banahaw, nature speaks cogently.  There, people learn how to “listen” to the wise and persuasive voice of nature.” 
-          Jose de Mesa, Ph.D

The exciting trails to Bangkongkahoy will be presented in this hike. The “road to salvation” as pilgrims sometimes regarded the trails leading to Kinabuhayan, Dolores, Quezon in faithful observance of the Holyweek.

We will help out create consciousness and clean the trails to Bangkong-kahoy  from unwanted rubbish caused by irresponsible passers-by.  Plastic wrappers, empty tin cans, used water bottles, disposable food packs, and other rubbish never belong there. We will liberate the trails from these material infringements and bring them to its natural state once again. With this gesture, we hope to inspire others to respect and help maintain the cleanliness of the foot trails.

If you are open to this cause, join us to the "Trails to Banahaw" Salvation Hike.

Hike to even greater heights. Starting @ about 900 masl elevation, we will take a rather soft undemanding ascend all the way to sitio Bangkongkahoy @ about 1000 elevation.  Our trailhead is on an open area near the Nagcarlan Tramline. After the traditional log-in, group picture and prayer, a short briefing will be given on how we go about our activity.   Our end point will be “Bangkongkahoy Valley" for which its owner and fellow Nagcarlangin will welcome us and share with us his own advocacy rendition how to preserve our beloved environment.

A one-booter - 8 km hike and yet another special treat to participants craving for beautiful places in Nagcarlan. Reaching the beautiful campsite, our host will welcome us and orient us to several highlights of the valley. After showing to us the beauty of the place, we will have 2-hour free and easy/leisure activity for which participants can try the zipline, visit the viewdeck or just sit back, relax and have a cup of freshly brewed local coffee. By the sound of our whistle, all participants will go back to the campsite for lunch and afterwhich --- hike back to civilization. 

Scenic Nagcarlan Hike

 
5.58mi

Set foot on the southernmost tip of the municipality by the flank of Banahaw-San Cristobal Complex and enjoy bountiful sceneries best viewed nowhere else but NAGCARLAN.

Cool mountain breeze, sandyloam foot trails, glorious landscapes all summed-up to cater a wonderful experience of paradise-like beauty only our hometown can best offer. 

Don’t forget to bring with you:

Hiking essentials (what’s inside your backpack)

1.5 liters of water/pax

Planting essentials for “AHON tayo at Magtanim” Tree Parenting

Shoutouts about nature

“Leave No trace” Outdoor Ethics

We will charter a jeepney to our jump-off point and from there we will at once enjoy the trail leading to “Saimsim” Strawberry Fields.  An hour stay at the place is allotted for AHON participants to fully enjoy strawberry picking, tasting and picture taking. May we remind everyone that we need to pay for the strawberries that we will consume or bring home.  At a nearby place, we will plant trees and fulfill our “AHON tayo at Magtanim” tree parenting program.

 

We resume hiking exploring “Kakawa Crater” and go down on its 1.5 hectares base.  After a while, we will ascend towards “Gunaw” area to better experience more picturesque views of the environs. Then traverse to the adjacent “Braulla” area where the historical “Landing Point” is exactly situated. Landing Point campsite will be our last stop and our lunch area. While we eat, we get to enjoy superb sceneries of the towns of San Pablo,Rizal,Nagcarlan and Liliw.  Descending is equally pleasurable due to lush greeneries covering our path from the heat of the noontime sun.

Yes, Nagcarlan has strawberries.  Yes, there is a crater nearby.  And yes, Landing Point which has great historical significance are truly our own!

Better see them to believe them.  Guaranteed, this hike is certainly addictive!