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Mt. Gola; Biak Na Bato National Park, San Miguel, Bulacan
Topic Started: Jan 10 2017, 08:22 AM (90 Views)
emancampos
Administrator
Mount Gola

160 MASL


Mt. Gola, considered one of the chill climbs that Luzon offers together with sister mountain, the famous Mt. Manalmon. Lying at the historical park of Biak-na-Bato in the town of San Miguel, Bulacan.

This mountain is a part of Sierra Mountain Range and known as the counterpart of Mt. Manalmon. A local tour guide said that Mt. Gola peak is used by guerillas fighting the Japanese invasion army as camp and watch tower, a vantage point in spotting the approaching Japanese troops. Today the place is a part of Biak na Bato National Park.

Source: http://lakbaybuhay.com/gola-and-manalmon-twin-dayhike/

Height: 160 MASL
Location: Biak Na Bato National Park, Sitio Madlum, Brgy. Sibul, San Miguel, Bulacan

Hike starts from the Madlum Cave, where you will need to cross this stream;

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Biak Na Bato National Park by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Biak Na Bato National Park by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Biak Na Bato National Park by Eman Campos, on Flickr

Mt. Manalmon comes to view. But first you need to climb Mt. Gola because it is harder to climb than Mt. Manalmon.

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Biak Na Bato National Park
by Eman Campos, on Flickr

Cross this river.

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Biak Na Bato National Park by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Biak Na Bato National Park by Eman Campos, on Flickr

You may ask a friend to carry you if you don't wanna get wet. You can also ask the tour guide for this. Do it politely though since it is not a part of their assigned task as guides.

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Biak Na Bato National Park by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

Taking a rest after that tiring initial climb;

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

The hardest part is climbing up on those 45-degree rock wall with almost nothing to cling on. One mistake will make you come rolling down, hitting the rocks bellow.

Yes. This is a great risk indeed. Respect the danger.

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr
Edited by emancampos, Jan 11 2017, 12:27 PM.
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emancampos
Administrator
Halfway to the peak is a big rock where you can enjoy the view of the plains in Bulacan and Pampanga, including Mt. Arayat that sits in the middle.

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr


Finally, .... the reward!

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr
Edited by emancampos, Jan 11 2017, 12:08 PM.
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emancampos
Administrator
You thought climbing up is hard?

Try going down!

This same 45-degree rock wall gave us a hard time.

We were not able to go down standing. Our butts helped us get a good grip on that rock wall.

One mistake and you'll end up rolling down and hitting those sharp rock edges.

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

For the tour guides, it seemed easy. You can see them standing while us, we could not go down standing.

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

This one is the hardest. It's a long steep rock wall! With nothing to cling on to!

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

Last challenge!

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr

Whew! That was one hell of a climb indeed!

The climb in fact taught me how to handle such 45-degree slopes, made of solid rock, w/o nothing to hold on to.


Photo below: with our tour guides, Tope (in blue) and Lean (gray)

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Mt. Gola by Eman Campos, on Flickr


Photo below: lovely river at the foot of Mt Gola

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River near Mt. Gola in Biak Na Bato
by Eman Campos, on Flickr


PROCEEDING TO MT. MANALMON
...

Edited by emancampos, Jan 13 2017, 01:04 AM.
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