Where To Bike Next? | Mt. Susong Dalaga, Floridablanca, Pampanga
Pampanga may be known as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines but as Transit Pinas visited some of its highlands, it happens to be riddled with extensive network of mountain biking trails, one of which is the stunning Mt. Susong Dalaga of Floridablanca!
Take the panoramic view of the Cabusilan Range from Camias Viewdeck as a close approximation, but combine the fantastic mountain views with long flowy descents, grueling climb, rolling hills and forested single tracks – you’ll get Mt. Susong Dalaga.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yphLVQBG5GA[/embedyt]
Lahar Ridden
From Basa Airbase in Floridablanca, I met Sir Adriel Paglinawan and other bikers from Loopaypay Bikers Group at 07:00 in the morning. Sir Adriel is a well-known trail rider who maps out different trail across Luzon. Unlike other bikers who hauls their bikes unto rigs and drives up to the jump-off, Adriel prefers to do it the classic way – so we crossed the Apalit-Pabanlag steel bridge until the pavement gave way to dirt and lahar.
The Cabusilan Mountain Range stood sentinel from afar as we pedaled through the lahar ridden trail leading to one of the quarrying companies in Mawacat after passing under the SCTEX. Forests lies to the west, darker and more ominous, but just as green and full of life.
The summer air hangs dryly as we passed through grassy plains. A few kilometers, with our wheels turning white from the fine lahar, we encroached a river crossing with a steep paved road leading to the last sitio before the serious ascent.
While the air in Mawacat was hot and humid, like it came from a blow dryer, certain sections of the forest right after passing Sitio Bayabas was cool enough like it wasn’t summer at all. A water spring is available halfway but I advise you to bring atleast a liter or two.
There’s a hut before arriving at “Sagingan” where you can leave your bikes and go on foot. But in the name of Instagram worthy photos, we pushed our bikes (carrying it most of the time) up the steep section riddled with Banana trees and loose soil. I was actually imagining a full-on semplang if I let go of the brakes when going downhill from here.
Marimla, Keni!
We were on the verge of cursing and blaming each other for bringing our bikes up to the top of Mt. Susong Dalaga as we subject ourselves in this climbing agony. But hey! As soon as we entered a grassy knoll devoid of any trees, the spectacular view in front of us was worth the taxing climb.
There’s still quite a few climbing and hiking ahead, but knowing that this kind of place in Pampanga exists makes the trip even more exciting to share with fellow bikers.
The single track ended on a fork, one leads to Zambales particularly in Aglao, while the other is a narrow grassy migratory path that goes up the mountain. Going on foot is another challenge since there’s no established trail to follow. We managed to climb up the edge but nowhere near its ample bosoms. Marimla keni!
Going down was a sweet escape that leveled up my bike kung-fu. Most of the time I was torn between letting go of the brakes and discover these corridors of flow I struggled while going up and the other to squeeze those brakes hard and take photos of the mountains around me. Going downhill is always the fun part, eh?
Eventually, we managed to go down Sitio Bayabas in one piece, unscathed (weeee). One of the residents even invited us for a free lunch as it was his wife’s birthday that day, I repeat, FREE LUNCH!
Here, There, and Everywhere?
Susong Dalaga means maiden’s breast in Filipino. It is not only in Pampanga that we can find a Susong Dalaga mountain, it may refer to several summits in the country, particularly:
- Mt. Tagapo, dubbed by locals as Mt. Susong Dalaga, in Talim Island, Rizal
- Susong Dalaga Peak of Mt. Batolusong in Tanay, Rizal
- There’s also the Manabu Peak or Susong Dalaga Peak of the Malipunyo Mountain Range that is straddled between the provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Quezon
- Malasimbo a solitary peak of the Zambales Mountain Range, also known as Mt. Susong Dalaga in Dinalupihan, Bataan
- Susong Dalaga, Abra De Ilog, Occidental Mindoro
- Susong Dalaga or Breast Peak in Brgy. Lambayong, Tampakan, South Cotabato
How to Get There
- Mt. Susong Dalaga towers at around 500+ meters above sea level
- This mountain is located inside the Cabusilan Mountain Range with its jump-off point in Sitio Bayabas, Mawacat, Floridablanca, Pampanga (same jump-off area for Sumuclab Lagoon, click HERE)
- Bring sufficient amount of water around a liter or two, there’s a spring halfway to refill your bottles. (Bring a beer too, just in case haha)
- If planning to go there please contact a local guide or a biker who knows the trail. Here’s our trail map of the ride:
Updated April 19, 2021
