I returned to Puray last weekend, still on a mountain bike. This time I had the guts to bring most of my photo equipment sans the tripod. The falls was a bit bigger than it was the last time I was there and definitely more majestic looking. I managed to get to a closer vantage point, past some thorny bamboos and slippery rocks.

I've always been enthralled and drawn to the water. I love the beach but I'm addicted to falls. And I seek them out, the more remote the better. You might be asking: whats so interesting about a stream of water falling down a ledge? I really don't know for sure - maybe its seeing something so dynamic and so beautiful. Maybe its the privilege of seeing something only a few (except for the locals of course) have laid their eyes upon on.

I could stare at a waterfalls for hours. I love to listen to the thundering yet lulling sound it makes as the waters hit the rocks and the catch basin below. When you are staring at such a beauty, you don't dare ask the whys.

I've got a score to settle with Puray.

My MTB buddies and I tried to go there on our second week of mountain biking but failed. We didn't know the way and even if we did I don't think we could have done it, not with our MTB skills at that time. The trip also "gifted" me with a deep cut on my left ear as a result of a "jack tumbling down the hill" incident. Twas pathetic. But we vowed to return.

And so we did, last week, via the mountain trail (one could go via the river trail, much easier). The trail starts from barangay Mascap in Montalban. We soon found out that ambitious was really the right description for the trail. The uphill portions should really be called "upmountain" if there is such a term. Rut strewn and sticky with mud, even the strongest in our group couldn't pedal it all the way up. We had to push our bikes most of the way.




The killer uphills and scary downhills seemed to never end. I lost count after 3. The best way to attack the trail was to use positive distraction :). I distracted myself by admiring the beautiful scenery along the way.

I'd dismount in downhill sections if my tires began to lose traction. The heavy bulky bag (its the first time I brought a DSLR to the trail) on my back is giving me some balancing problems.


Before noon we reached our destination. Finally, we have conquered Puray! It felt like a piece of cake but we found out that the falls is still 1-2km away in Sitio Mabolo. And its another climb! Oh well, time to ride (and push) the bikes again.




By the time we reached the point where the road crosses the river in Mabolo (the trail head to the falls) the sun's quite hot already. Although tired, it didn't stop my buddies to "play" first before looking for the actual trail to the falls.











The scenery at the falls was worth all the troubles, if there were any :)

On the way back we decided to go via the river trail. It was much easier. Since its not rainy the river is shallow enough to cross on bikes if you don't mind getting your hubs wet. It'll be 11 river crossings before we got to the paved roads in barangay Mascap.

Puray is one of the most isolated barangay of Rodriquez (formerly Montalban) in the province of Rizal. When "Montalban" is mentioned, one familiar with the town would most certainly associated it with Wawa, the scenic river (in barangay San Rafael) dotted with huge white stones . Wawa is very accessible, there are jeepneys plying the major routes from Quezon City to Wawa while Puray, to most, exist only in the tales of mountain bikers who frequent the place because of its trails and its falls.

Puray is already in the Sierra Madre mountain ranges, several mountains away from the town center. Its hard to believe there is even a flourishing community there - basically a small farming community, no electricity, no running water. But what Puray lacks in modern amnesties it makes up with the pristine beauty of its surroundings. The streams and rivers there are absolutely gorgeous, with crystal clear cool waters.

One of the attactions there is the Puray Falls (known as Tungtong to the locals). Its a short hike, about 2 kilometers, from the barangay center.


From the point where the road crosses the river in Mabolo, we had to hike upstream some 500 meters to the falls. A quick dip in the catch basin would be enough to cool you down after the hike. Even on a sunny day, the water in the catch basin is freezing.


Getting thereThere are two routes going to Puray - both of which will require that your vehicle can handle a bit of punishment (we were on mountain bikes when we went there).

From barangay Mascap there is the river trail where have to cross the river 11 times. Difficult during the rainy season when the river swells and the road disappears. There are jeepneys from Montalban that goes to Puray via this route but the schedule is not consistent. Sometimes there is only 1 trip a day, the return trip is always a challenge.

The other road (still from Mascap) takes you via the mountains. To say that the road is terrible is an understatement, you'll need a 4x4 or a motorcycle to go via this route. There are special tricycles (those with roofless sidecars) that go via this route (Php 60 pesos one way fare from Montalban, limited number of trips a day).

If you missed the jeep or the tricycle for the return trip, you can also do what the locals always do: walk to Mascap, just about 3 hours away.

I'll try to post our ride details and well as photos of the trails later.