Fun! Fun! Fiesta Climb!

July 3-4, 2010

The climb was organized by a college friend and invited me to join.

First stop is Lipa, Batangas. We took the market first before heading to Sulok, Sto. Tomas, Batangas(jump-off). We also bought our lunch at Lipa.

When we arrived at the jump-off, we rested for a while then start trekking. We decided to ascend using the Grotto trail and descend using the traditional trail by the next day. I think the trail changed a bit compared when I first climb up Manabu Peak last two years ago (its quite some time though).

We took our lunch at the Grotto then rested for a while. Then we started trekking up to the summit. When we arrived at the last hut before the summit, we took a break to prevent the suns heat.

We then reach the summit area which was stationed by a white cross. We immediately proceed to the campsite area due to the suns heat at the summit.

After setting up the tents, the sky gets dark and started to rain. However, it didn't last that long. After a while we started preparing our dinner. We cooked menudo(courtesy of Erwin), sisig(courtesy of Anne), adobo(courtesy of Eds and Lyn), unknown viand(courtesy of me! Hehehe) and rice(courtesy of Onin and Cyprus). This really was a team effort and it went all great.

After the dinner, the other group visits us to join our social. A very joyful socials with a bit of scary stories. Too many stories were told that night. A mixed of funny and scary stories which make the socials joyful. After that well its lights off time.

The early morning waked us up with the view of the twins Mt. Crisobal and Mt. Banahaw with the sun as its background. A very nice view to start your morning. We then decided the climb up the summit area to have a greater view.

After the breakfast, we then start breaking camp and then start descending. The trail is a bit slippery because of the wet and muddy trail. After a while, we then reached the house of the famous keeper of Manabu Tatay Pirying. Ofcourse we did grab the opportunity of having the very much famous Tatay Pirying's coffee. A few minutes of rest then we set to continue the trek.

All I can say is that this is indeed a Fun! Fun! Fiesta climb!

The dinner fiesta

Mt. Cristobal and Mt. Banahaw (view from campsite)

Mt. Maculot (view from summit)

White cross at the summit

Manabu "Starbucks"?

First times!

June 6, 2010

There are a lot of first time happened to me on this trip.
 - to climb up Mt. Maculot
 - to do a day hike
 - to climb that will need a rope because of the steepness of the trail

To sum this up, this first times are very worth experience.

We started our trail at the grotto, passing through the forest to the summit, and descend to campsite and the rockies, then descended by the traditional trail.

We have noticed that there are lot of trash along the trail on the grotto side compared to the trail along the traditional trail. We have concluded that the trash on the grotto trail is the left by the recent holy week.

We took our lunch at the campsite before proceeding to the rockies. Then take pictures at the rockies and start descending thru the traditional trail.

Want a hand? Just use the rope. :)

On the way to campsite and rockies!

Breath taking shot!