Conquering Mount Guiting-Guiting: A Brutal 9/9 Traverse via Olango to Tampayan

Standing at 2,058 meters above sea level on the isolated, galaxy-shaped Sibuyan Island in Romblon, Mount Guiting-Guiting (affectionately known as G2) is widely regarded as one of the most technically challenging and dangerous mountains in the Philippines. Rated a formidable Difficulty 9/9 by local mountaineers, its Indigenous Tagalog name translates to "The Sawtooth," referencing its spine-chilling series of jagged, razor-sharp granite peaks poking through dense rainforests.

Mount Guiting-Guiting Expedition Cover

In February 2025, our crew set off on a multi-modal island-hopping expedition from Cebu to Sibuyan Island. We took on the grueling Olango-to-Tampayan Traverse, braving torrential downpours, freezing gale-force winds, and sheer vertical rock faces to conquer the "Sawtooth Mountain."

👥 The Expedition Crew & The Island Journey

A successful G2 climb requires tight logistics, elite endurance, and absolute trust among trail mates. Organized by Outlander Ph and guided by Gee Friolo alongside our heroic local Sibuyanon porters, our crew prepared for a seamless transit blending air travel, land transit, and ferry crossings to reach the "Galapagos of Asia."

The Trail Crew at the Basecamp Jump-off

Having reliable team energy was essential. Whether navigating long transit delays across Visayan sea lanes or clutching wet granite ledges in zero visibility, our shared humor and collective drive kept everyone safe and motivated.

⏱️ The Expedition Timeline

🚢 Day 00 & Day 01: The Multi-Modal Transit to Sibuyan Island

(February 19–20, 2025)

Getting to Sibuyan Island is an adventure in itself. Our journey combined flight connections, land transports, and inter-island ferry rides across the center of the Philippine archipelago.

Feb 19 (04:00 AM – Evening) – Assembled at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) and flew out to Iloilo City (ILO). Spent the night resting in Iloilo.
Feb 20 (07:00 AM) – Boarded a northbound bus from Iloilo City to Roxas City, Capiz.
10:00 AM – Arrived at Roxas City Bus Terminal and took a local tricycle directly to Culasi Port.
11:00 AM – 01:00 PM – Secured terminal tickets, cleared manifests, and boarded the Starlite Ferry bound for Sibuyan Island.
06:00 PM – Touchdown at Sibuyan Island! The towering silhouette of G2 loomed ominously under the evening clouds.
07:00 PM – Proceeded straight to the DENR Office for mandatory registration, local briefing, and park orientation.

DENR Registration and Orientation Briefing

08:00 PM – Checked into our local homestay, prepped gear, enjoyed a heavy dinner, and turned in for crucial rest.

🌧️ Day 02: The Wet Assault via the Olango Trail

(February 21, 2025 – Start of Climb)

The opening leg tested our raw physical capacity right out of the gate.

06:00 AM – Secured remaining DENR permits, grabbed a heavy breakfast, packed our lunches, and boarded a jeepney to the Olango jump-off homestay.
08:00 AM – Start Trek (Olango Trail). We plunged into the dense canopy. The trail immediately threw steep, continuous inclines at us as we pushed past Camp 1 and Camp 2.

Trekking Through the Dense Olango Canopy

12:00 NN – Trail lunch amidst damp tropical flora.

The Brutal 6-Hour Rain Assault

Shortly after lunch, the sky broke open into heavy, unrelenting rain. The trail transformed into a vertical stream of mud and slick roots.

Scrambling Up Slick Trails in Heavy Rain

The 5-to-6-hour continuous ascent to Camp 3 completely drained our reserves. As night set in around 6:00 to 7:00 PM, the rain intensified. Completely soaked, we scrambled to pitch our tents at Camp 3, wolfed down a hot dinner, and bunked down for a cold, stormy night on the mountain.

💨 Day 03: The Sawtooth Ridge, Summit, and the Infamous Knife Edge

(February 22, 2025)

This was the main event—the technical alpine traverse that makes Mount Guiting-Guiting world-famous.

04:00 AM – Early wake-up call, breakfast, and breaking camp.
05:30 AM – Start Technical Assault. We stepped directly onto exposed ridges into freezing temperatures, howling winds, and completely drenched technical gear.

Navigating the Granite Monsters

We spent hours scrambling over razor-sharp granite boulders, traversing narrow rock ledges, and maintaining three points of contact on sheer drops.

Scrambling Along the Sawtooth Granite Ridge

10:00 AM – G2 Summit (2,058 MASL)! Reaching the roof of Romblon amidst freezing sub-alpine winds was incredible. Because of the biting cold and swirling mist, we captured our victory photos quickly before commencing our descent.

Standing Proudly at the G2 Summit at 2,058 MASL

10:30 AM – 03:00 PM – The Knife Edge & Mayo's Peak Traverse. We tackled G2's most notorious features: descending the vertical 90-Degree Wall, carefully shuffling across Kiss the Wall, navigating the narrow Camel Back, and crawling across the exposed Knife Edge.

⚠️ Trail Warning: The Knife Edge A narrow, exposed granite spine with multi-hundred-meter sheer drops on both sides. High winds can easily throw off your balance—absolute focus and careful foot positioning are mandatory.

Traversing the Infamous G2 Knife Edge Ridge

Navigating Technical Granite Rock Formations

Bravest Steps on the High Altitude Slopes

Extreme Ridge Line Traverse in Sibuyan

03:00 PM – Reached Mayo’s Peak Campsite. Exhausted and battered, we set up camp, cooked a warm meal, shared stories from the ridge, and fell into a deep sleep.

🌊 Day 04: Downhill Punishment to Tampayan River

(February 23, 2025 – End of Climb)

08:00 AM – Woke up to clear mountain air. Had breakfast, packed up our gear, and began our final descent toward Tampayan.
08:30 AM – 12:30 PM – The downhill route proved to be a knee-punishing trial. Muddy, slippery descents and loose soil demanded constant tension in our calves and knees.

Descending the Muddy Forest Slopes

12:30 PM – The Tampayan River. We broke out of the tree line directly onto the crystal-clear river. We discarded our muddy boots and jumped straight into the refreshing water to wash away three days of sweat, dirt, and exhaustion.

Crossing and Cooling Off at Tampayan River

Group Celebration After Clearing the River Trail

01:00 PM – Onward – Headed to our homestay to wash up, rest, and celebrate with an epic victory dinner featuring local seafood and cold drinks.

🛫 Day 05 & Day 06: Homeward Bound

(February 24–25, 2025)

Feb 24 (05:00 AM) – Boarded the Starlite Ferry from Sibuyan back to Culasi Port, Roxas City (ETA 10:00 AM).
02:00 PM – Overland bus back to Iloilo City.
Evening/Feb 25 – Flown out from Iloilo back to Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB). Back home in Cebu with sore legs, bruised knees, and unforgettable memories.

🧠 Final Reflection

💡 Takeaway: Mount Guiting-Guiting isn't called a 9/9 difficulty climb just for marketing—it earns every bit of that reputation. Battling soaked technical gear, scaling sheer 90-degree rock faces, and balancing along the Knife Edge during torrential rain tests your physical limits and mental fortitude. But crossing that river at Tampayan alongside your crew makes every muddy slide and freezing wind gust worth it. G2 is a legendary rite of passage that will stay with me forever.