Mt. Susong Dalaga in Olongapo City, Zambales - Playing Tourist Adventure

Mt. Susong Dalaga is located on the outskirts of Olongapo City in the northern part of Sitio Mampueng in Barangay Old Cabalan. Mt. Susong Dalaga is a 'Young Woman's Breast' when translated into English. This mountain is visible in Olongapo City and almost all locals know about it but only a few tried to hike its summit.

Trek to Mt. Susong Dalaga

We started our trek at six in the morning. The trail head was at Purok 7 in New Cabalan. My friend Axcel, a trail runner who lives there, introduced the Saturn trail going down to Sta. Rita River (Maliwacat). We reached Sitio Mampueng at six thirty to asked for a guide from the chieftain and Orlan was appointed as the lucky guy.

Sta. River or Maliwacat River

After leaving Mampueng Resettlement Area at 7:00 A.M., we crossed a river knee deep. We followed Orlan on an established and ascending trail for more than an hour until we reached a water source close to a waterfall with a faucet-like torrent. Here we had our "take 10" including photo ops and trail food munching.

The only water source we passed along the way

A photo opportunity at the waterfall

There was a nice spot to see the famous 'Toreng Kabayo' or 'Facebook Like' mountain along the trail. I've heard this 'Thumbs Up' view of Toreng Kabayo is only visible in Olongapo City. Axcel insisted we climb this mountain in the future.

'Facebook Like' Mountain

At ten in the morning, a small house appeared behind taro leaves. We took shelter there because it started to drizzle. Leo, the owner of the house welcomed us with a smile and offered us coffee. 

An Aeta house where we took shelter

Leo's sister was grilling 'Labuyo' (Wild Chicken); the aroma made us hungry. The wild chicken became our exotic lunch before proceeding with the climb. We thanked them for their hospitality!

Grilled Labuyo for our lunch

Regaining energy from wild chicken and our packed lunch, we decided to continue our trek. There was no trail at the foot of the mountain so Orlan had to cut down plants to make a trail. Teka Teka (any thorny plants) were everywhere forcing us to slow down. Ants and other insects crawled all over us during our ascend to a rock closest to the mountain.

There was no established trail at the base of the mountain.

Then Orlan was saddened when we were almost on top of the rock. The sky became cloudy as if the mountain threatens us not to interfere the area. Orlan hasn't climbed Susong Dalaga before but we survived the steep slope and made it to the rock formation with the help of outgrown plants and tree branches.

Axcel, smiling as if it was an easy trek

This mountain, south of Mt. Susong Dalaga covered the view of Olongapo City

We had a short stay on the rock formation the rain started to fall when Orlan finished removing the small branches of a tree covering the mountain.When it was cleared, the rain got harder and a strong wind blew forcing us to seek shelter under the tree. It was useless to wear our ponchos because of the dense vegetation.

Axcel on top of the rock, showing the view east of Mt. Susong Dalaga (sorry for the blurred  part of the pic)

Mt. Susong Dalaga

At twelve noon, while it was raining hard, we started our descent. It was harder this time because of the slippery wet soil. My knees trembled while looking down at the edge of the cliff between trees below. (My minuscule acrophobia surfaced).

Leaving the rock where we had our photo opp

Descent from Susong Dalaga

Orlan introduced a new trail on our way back to Sitio Mampuen traversing the southwestern foot of the mountain. It led us to another Aeta house where wild chicken feet were displayed under their roof. We rested for ten minutes then asked for the established trail.

A collection of wild chicken feet 

The rain was off and on and we were tired but when we reached a grassy plain; we stopped to take pictures.

Clouds covering the mountain behind Mt. Susong Dalaga

The steep Mt. Susong Dalaga

Two more hours walking downhill was hard because the rain didn't stop. My two companions didn't seem to feel the pain on their knee caps but mine hurt. (The same feeling when I trekked Pasukulan Falls in Bataan for nine hours back and forth). We reached Mampueng at three in the afternoon.

Approximately 15.53 km's of trekking distance from starting point to end point.

By the time we reached the Sta Rita River at 3:30 P.M., it wasn't passable anymore. A trail to Iram Resettlement Area in New Cabalan was the only option but we had to climb again with no choice. We reached the national highway at 4:30 P.M. and had some Goto from a food cart, then took a tricycle back to Olongapo City proper.

Here's the Trekking Video to Mt. Susong Dalaga.

Map of Mt. Susong Dalaga

Mt. Susong Dalaga Itinerary

05:30 - Meet up at Kalapati Monument (Dove Monument) in New Cabalan
05:40 - Arrive at Saturn Trail
06:00 - Trek to Sitio Mampueng
06:40 - Arrive at Mampueng
07:00 - Start of Hiking to Mt. Susong Dalaga
09:45 - Rest at Leo's House / Lunch

10:00 - Continue Trekking
11:30 - Arrive at the closest point to Mt. Susong Dalaga / Photo Ops

12:00 - Trekking back to Sitio Mampueng
03:00 - Arrive at Sitio Mampueng
03:40 - Arrive at Iram Resettlement Area
04:30 - Arrive at Iram Tricycle Terminal (close to National Highway)
05:00 - Arrive at Victory Terminal Olongapo