Rappeling 101 at Bitbit Bridge

  I had my few experience of rappelling (sort of)... growing up in a farm there were some work that sometimes you need to  hang yourself whenever I help my dad. I recall in my younger years I also had tried going down on a rope but without a harness.  I also tried wall climbing which in some way, is rappelling. 
So last week, we organize a rappelling activity in the office. We were a group of 10 weekend warriors. The location was in Bitbit bridge in Norzagaray Bulacan. A 100-foot bridge (approx. the height of the 10 storey building) along the Angat and Ipo dam reservoir. We hired a rappelling instructor who has 14 years experience in ropes. 

   Basically, after the provider giving us a short lecture on how to rappel properly,  we went to the bridge. The jumper master  (that is how they are normally called) anchored the ropes on the bridge and started placing the harness on those who are ready to do the jumping. 

  

Gearing up

The Traditional Rappel

 The Aussie Rappel

Game Gals!

View from Below

 Traditional (Walled) Rappel

Loading up after a fun filled day!

 All in all it was a fun experience. The most difficult part is starting your jump and getting off the platform specially on the 'aussie' style of rappelling. Each jump I can always feel my heart beating fast. I guess I am still human after  all. 

Mountains and Trails Trek Distances

My friend Bambi Guevarra who has a long mileage of treks, shared to me his record of the mountains/trails he had done. Reading the record, it amazing to see how much distance you'll have to trek to cover a mountain/trail route. Like in Sicapoo where the ascent and descent was huge, we walk a total of 26KM ( possibly +40%). Below is the recording he sent me. 

Notes on distances, altitude ascents and descents of PH Mountain trails 

    by Victor Guevara Jr.

The distances are based on waypoint to waypoint distances from my gps readings. The actual distance will be longer by 20% to 50%, depending on contour of trail.  For example, the distance of the Bokod trek is 17.6, while the distance published by Bokod is 26km, or 48% more. My actual reading of the trail to pico de loro is 5.6km while the waypoint distance is 4.2 or 33% more.  I also have actual reading of half of the bokod trail and the actual is 35% more than the waypoint distance.

On altitude gains and losses, most are based on the readings I got from my casio watch. Some were taken from my notes on altitude recorded every 15 min by my casio watch. The numbers are in meters

These notes will give the reader a good idea on the level of difficulty of the treks recorded. You will be able to choose what trek is appropriate for your fitness level.

These numbers are best estimates. Please notify me if you discover some big disparity.

Trails/Mountains routes	KM	KM total	ASC (m)	DSC (m)	Comments
San Cristobal	2.9	5.8	750	750
Pico de Loro	4.2	8.4	550	550	actual track is 5.6 or plus 33%
Pulag from babadak	4.9	9.8	550	550
Tarak from Alasasin	6.4	12.8	850	850
Banahaw from Kinabuhayan	7.1	14.2	1500	1500
Ugu from Tinongdan	12.3	24.6	2000	2000
Halcon from Lantuyan	12.3	24.6	3000	3000
Tapulao	13.0	26.0	2000	2000
Napulauan			1500	1500
Dulang Dulang			1500	1500
Kitanglad			1570	1570
Everest Base camp (Kalla Patar)  from Lukla	43.2	86.4	3500	3500
Traverse routes
Talinis – Dauin to Valencia		11.4	1000	1200
Dulang to Kitangland traverse		16.5	2250	2150
Bokod - Japas to Pethel		17.6	1230	1600	per Bokod tourism, 26km or +48%
Amuyao – Barlig to Battad		17.5	2290	2450
Apo Edc to Kapatagan		10.4	1300	1600
Apo Kapatagan to Kapatagan via Century tree		18.0	1600	1600
Apo   Kapatagan to New Israel		18.5	1780	2325
Pulag Akiki to Babadak		12.5	1950	750
Pulag Tawangan to Lusod to camp 2 to ranger station		17.2	1400	600
Pulag Akiki to Ambangeg		19.7	1950	1850
Pulag Ambaguio to Babadak (no summit)		23.5	2070	175
Pulag Ambaguio to summit to Babadak		33.3	2620	725
Ugu   Kayapa to Tinongdan		23.1	1500	1650
Ugu   Tinongdan to Amabasa to summit to Lusod		24.3	2175	2175
Kibungan			1600	1600
Sicapoo  up to Pakapako camp		26.1	2500	2500
Sicapoo Up to summit		30.5	3300	3300	per pinoymount, 49km or +60%
Around Annapurna, Nepal		175	8400	7700	per backpacker 2009, 128mi  or  206km,  or 18% more

Incident in Mt. Mantalingajan

   I received a very reliable but sad news from our contact in Palawan, who was the one who helped us made our climb in Mt. Mantalingajan successful. There was an incident on the most recent climb on Mantalingajan via the traverse trail, according to our contact as told by the guide. While the group was passing by Magringgit (a community of a local tribe in palawan, around 6 hours before Brookspoint) they were shot by one of the tribesman in the area. The tribesman was aiming for the head of the last man in the group (the porter) as the bullets were found on the backpacks top compartment. Luckily, the cookset was placed on the compartment therefore stopping the trajectory of the bullet. Base on their investigation what was used were a improvised gun that shot four bullets at a time. According to the guide they were able to  see the suspect hopping on rocks then observing for his kill, maybe checking if he can find his loot. The suspect only left when the guide made a bluff that they also have a gun. 

A Taut Daram Tribesman. Not the actual suspect.
(Photo by Jacob Maentz)

        
     So as for now, our contact is not recommending to do a traverse unless this issue is settled. They have tried to raise the issue to the PASU of palawan but as of now, they are still waiting for a response. 



Update 03/19/2014.

I have talked today to a female friend who was a common friend to one of the hikers in the group, which was attacked by the local tribesman. Below is some of the additional detail of the incident as was relayed to her. 
  - The attacked porter was not originaly planned to be hired by the group. After the porters insistance and since the group wants to help the locals earn extra income, they allowed him to join them. When the porter learned that they are doing the traverse (the group was already hiking), he kept on insisting to do the traditional trail. Btw, Mangriggit is on the traverse side of the mountain. This made the group conclude the the real target of the shooter was the porter. According to the group, the shooter also had a good chance of shooting any of them but only took a shot at the porter. The motive of the shooter was still not clear, as the porter did not give any detail. 

The gun that was used was an improvised shotgun or locally known as "sumpak". The bullet went through the three layers of cookset and the porters nape was bruised.

Revenge or whatever. The danger to Hikers is that we might get caught in the crossfire. So if you are planning to do traverse, practice extra precaution. 


I will give an update on any development if I get any new information. No word yet from the PASU as of posting time.