Akayan Trail ride is one for MCC's book

Almost fifty cyclists joined the MCC-organized Akayan Trail ride last March 9. The route is a 40-km loop going up two mountain peaks - on Sitio Macaingalan and at Mt. Balagbag (AKA Helipad or Veterans) - on feeder roads and single tracks.

View from first tabletop.

Cyclists started gathering at the Montalban town hall just after 6 AM. After a short briefing and a prayer, the group started moving out just after 7 AM. We were informed that another group of riders were late, and so some of us waited for them. And so, we were divided into two groups. The first group contains more than 30 cyclists, the second one more than ten, though another six cyclists later joined on.

There is now a welcome arch for Sitio Macaingalan, just above the Stations of the Cross, near the flattened hilltop. This hilltop offered us a great vista of the mountains as well as the plains of Montalban. And of course, for photo ops.

View from second tabletop. 

The road leading to  Macaingalan had been graded, removing the deep rainwater canals along the way - canals which had given us hard time before. However, in its stead, gravel and rocks have become exposed, making it still hard to maneuver. The road also contains powdery soil, and in some places, deep enough to stop a tire. Many pushed their bikes going up, and walked going down, in parts of the way due to this road condition.

We took refreshments, lunch, and stocked on food and drinks at Macaingalan proper, making the halu-halo vendor very happy with her massive sales. And oh, after initial surprise at its presence here, some also took a bottle of San Miguel Beer.

Another new here is that Barangay officials are now taking down the names of cyclists who enter the Akayan Trail, just like in Mt. Balagbag. This, they say, is a safety measure so that they would know if someone gets lost.

Going further up Macaingalan, we stopped at the peak and, in another flattened top (view deck, tabletop), we again enjoyed the view around us, appreciated how far we have traveled, and looked at how far we still have to go to reach the next peak (Mt. Balagbag). And of course, took photos.

In a fork, we entered the Akayan Trail. The single track from here to Mt. Balagbag has become wider and clearer since last year. It has also become easier to bike along the track, except for the steep part on Pulang Lupa, mid-way.

The spring mid-way has been harnessed by a nearby family, but one can easily ask for water. The next spring, near the top of Mt. Balagbag, is already weak at this time of the year.

The second group got to appreciate a near sunset at Mt. Balagbag, the second and final peak, before going back to Montalban plains.

Night caught up on the second group from Veterans village. Good thing the group was prepared for a possible night ride, as was thus equipped. After taking rest and refreshments at Licao-licao, the group road in the dark for more than an hour going back to the Montalban town hall.

Except for some reported bruises, no one was hurt bad in this ride. Many considered the ride very hard, but nevertheless appreciated this distinctive experience.

Montalban Cycling Club thanks all who joined this ride. We hope to meet you again on the trails.

Ride photos (First group, thanks to BikerJ): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10203247478370467.1073741846.1314353694&type=1&l=a4866a372d 

Ride photos (Second group): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10203313015815950.1073741897.1526987097&type=1&l=d094920994

See some of the geo-tagged photos in Google map: http://goo.gl/x2UQbs

Videos (thanks to BikerJ): http://goo.gl/PovL9w