Mt. Simmagaysay-Timmarid Traverse May 21 - 23, 2010

Location: Salsona,Ilocos Norte
LLA: 1402 MASL (Simagaysay); 1560 MASL (Timarid)
Days required / Hours to summit: 3 days / 8 hours (S); 12 hours (T)
Features: Pine forest, Traverse trail, River crossing

Fare (Manila-Laoag-Manila)	P1300(Partas most expensive, Florida is cheapest; Maria De Leon and Farinas are competitive)
Jeep Rental (Laoag to Solsona and back)	P2000
Guide Fee	P400/day (You'll be providing food - meals for 3 days - for the guides so factor this expense in)

Day 0		Travel to Laoag
Day 1	0700	ETA Laoag City/ Assebly, breakfast, buy packed lunch at Jollibee Bacarra Road, buy supplies
	0730	ETD for Solsona
	0830	ETA Solsona Poblacion, Register with Solsona PNP
	0900	ETA Trail Head (bridge at Brgy. Manalpac)
	1000	ETA Plateau (water source, load water)
	1200	ETA Ridge water sourse (lunch, load water)
	1300	ETD for Mt. Simmagaysay
	1600	ETA Mt. Simmagaysay Summit Campsite
	1900	Dinner/Socials
Day 2	0600	Breakfast
	0600	ETD for Mt. Timmarid Summit
	1100	ETA Mt. Timmarid Summit
	1200	ETA Nagdata (water source, Mt. Timmarid shoulder), Lunch
	1300	ETD for Saulay junction
	1500	ETA Saulay junction
	1600	ETA Saulay slopes campsite (water source), camp
	1900	Dinner/Socials
Day 3	0600	Breakfast
	0700	ETD for Gasgas River/Solsona Jump off
	1200	Lunch by the river side
	1400	ETA Brgy. Road, Jump-off

Some notes: This is the first leg in the Mt. Sicapoo climb and we will be traversing 2 major peaks (Mt. Simmagaysay is at 1402 masl while Mt. Timmarid is 1560 masl). This is a difficult climb, getting to Mt. Simmagaysay involves trekking through open and very hot grassland ridges and the ascent to Mt. Timmarid from Mt. Simmagaysay has quite punishing ascents. The descent via Gasgas river is challenging although easier at this time of year because the waters are shallow but boulder crossing could still be perilous. Needless to say, even Gideon has given this climb an 8/9 difficulty rating so be advised that you would need to prepare physically for this climb and any first time hikers should be briefed well.

Resources:
a. Aggie Pinzon for ODMG
CP NO: 09175700694

b. Pinoy Mountaineer Website
www.pinoymountaineer.com