Training Climb for Mt. Pulag

January 29, 2011

This climb will be our training climb for Mt. Pulag. An early morning trek will gave you an idea on trekking in a cool breeze. We started at 6:00AM and it was still dark. The trail was not familiar to me because it is not the starting point I remebered the last time I am here; it was also confusing for me because it was still dark. The group consist of me, Onin and Shirley. I am the only one who knows the trail, so I guess I am the tour guide here. My worries has been vanished when we reached the first station going to Grotto.

After a 30 minutes trek along the fourteen stations (I guess), we reached the Grotto which is the fifteenth station. We rested for a while and took some snacks. The last time I am here the area was still wide, however, this time it was full of tall grass (talahib). Thankfully it still doesn't ruined the view at the Grotto. Knowing that this will be the last view point until the summit.

We then continued our trek via the forested trail. This section of the trail is the most challenging (Grotto to summit). Steep trail with an almost 90 degrees. Maybe this will give you a feel of the steep trail of Akiki Trail. After more than an hour, we then arrived at the summit. You can have a peek of the Rockies here. If your itinerary includes packed lunch, you may eat your lunch here.

About an hour we then reached the saddle campsite which is 15 to 30 minuetes away from the Rockies. We rest for a while and take a snack. We also had a chit chat with the store owner, she sells any kinds of food/drinks/snacks and ofcourse very pricey. 35 Pesos for a small bottle of softdrinks, nice business. After taking our snack, we proceed to the Rockies. We just took pictures here and of we go.

We started descending via the traditional trail. It was hot already when we started descending. On the way down, we encountered many groups that are heading up Mt. Maculot. We descided to stop for a while to take a rest and eat Halo-Halo. A very refreshing one. About 15 to 30 minuetes, we arrived at the mountaineer store. We ate our lunch here and took a bath. Gotong Batangas and Loming Batangas for lunch, a rewarding lunch for us. After the lunch we then proceed back to Manila.

Nice one Onin and Shirley, training climb successfull. Congratulations for successfully completing the trail ahead of time. Hope this helps us on our journey to Mt. Pulag.

Septuple Birthday Climb

January 22-23, 2011

This climb was organized for the birthday climb of my seven friends; Onin, Jimi, Cyprus, Jaycee, Adam, Ian and Cindy. The destination is Mt. Balagbag at San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

I thought this will be an easy climb, but I guess it will not be fun if there will be no challenge. Instead of trekking the normal trail which is very wide that even a motorcycle can pass up until the summit, one of our friend suggested that we take the waterfalls trail going up. Literally speaking, we were climbing the waterfalls for more or less 5 hours I guess. Wet, steep, rocky and slippery; it was quite a challenge. I even had a bruises on my knees. The trail ends on a road which heads to the summit, about more or less two hours of trek and you will be arriving at the summit.

My assessment on the waterfalls trail is that it is much harder than Tarak Ridge's Papaya River to campsite and MakTrav's Melkas Ridge. If I am not mistaken, the trail we passed by the waterfalls was not a common trail mountaineers use. Well atleast I have tried using that trail.

We arrived at the summit before the sun sets. We were able to set camp before it gets dark. We were divided into four groups to prepare for dinner; our group (Team Ynna) prepared Sinigang na Baboy, Team Onin prepared Menudo, Team Cindy cooked Spaghetti Macaroni and Team Dante cooked Caldereta. It was a fiesta dinner, yum yum. A very rewarding meal.

Socials started right after the dinner. I decided to sleep when our Gran Matador (local brandy) were all consumed, they still continued with The Bar (local gin with fruit flavor).

The noise of my companions woke me up, when I get out of the tent, it is when I realized that me and my girlfriend were the last person to woke up. We get out of the tent and TANAN!, breakfast is ready. Thanks guys!

Break camp time, then we started descending. This will be a short descend. After less than 2 hours, we then arrived at the pick up point were the jeepney was waiting. On the way to Tungko we got flat tires (are we too heavy?). It is lunch time when we arrived at Tungko, the other planned on going home already and the majority of us were still planning on what to do. The decision, go to sir Rufo's house to take our lunch.

We stayed at sir Rufo's house until almost midnight. Thanks sir Rufo for your place. It was a very fun post climb/celebration. It was very fun thanks to sir Jimmi.

MakTrav II

January 15, 2011

After three months, I'm back at the trails of MakTrav. I have never thought that I will be back here in just a short period of time. Atleast I was able to see the beauty of MakTrav again, and it will surely be my favorite dayhike. MakTrav never fails to amaze me; the steepness of the trail after Haring Bato, the technicality and the great views of the Melkas Ridge, and the denseness of the Wild Boar Trail.

Three months have passed, the trail seems to have changed. Well, that proves that mountains are alive. I cannot remember some part of the trail, and was thinking if we pass by those trail the last time we were there. It's good to see this mountain in a different mood.

Actually, no one from the group is familiar with the first part of the trail (the trail after the dead creek). Luckily we haven't got lost, we met some locals and pointed us the right direction. Also, we got advise from friends who are familiar with the trail, and I have read some article which states that the way to MakTrav is North East (NE).

We then reached the "bahay kubo" (nipa hut). From here and on, I'm already familiar with the trail. I'm already complacent that there is a very minimal chance for us to get lost. Our next stop is Haring Bato, this is one of my favorite spot. The view are great with clear sky. Nice place to take pictures.

We decided to take our lunch at the Melkas campsite, after resting we then scaled the Melkas Ridge. This part seemed to be more difficult than the last time, or maybe because I was the one leading the group. It is good to see that there are newly installed ropes in some segment of the ridge. After reaching Peak 3, we then stopped to take a rest after proceeding to Peak 2.

We then entered the Wild Boar Trail, in contrary to the Melkas Ridge, the Wild Boar Trail seemed to be more easier than the first time I was here. However, it seems that there are too many thorny plants this time.

After more than an hour, we then arrived at Peak 2 (1080 MASL based from my watch), the highest point of Mt. Makiling National Park. We met some teenagers, they will be spending their night here at the summit. After a few chit chat, and a quick rest, we already start descending. It is getting dark already and the fog is getting thicker. It was very hard, my headlamp won't pass through the thick fog which gave me minimal view of the trail and brought me to dead end trail.

The rain started to fall when we are about to reach the "kalsada" (road). It rained hard before we reach the Nursery, it was very hard for me trekking in the rain because I have already changed from my shoes to my old pair of slippers (slippers that is slippery when wet).

After taking a bath, we then proceed to the town proper. Here we ate our very late dinner then grab two bottles of beer for our reward. Well it was a tiring day, but it is worth tiring for. Hoping for more MakTrav to come.

Old to New

December 18-19, 2010

I organized a climb for my college friends who wanted to try hiking. Our destination, Mt. Batulao. I first planned it as a dayhike, when some of my mountaineering friends suggested to make it an overnight climb. Well ofcourse it's fine with me, however, how about my college friends who cannot join the overnight. Well I guess this will not be a problem.

A supposed to be 5:00 AM departure from Manila turned to be 7:00 AM (courtesy of Dean and Gessy), PEACE guys! Hehehe! We were 2 hours delayed on our itinerary, well the show must go on, then of we go.

We took our breakfast in the stores outside Evercrest, Bulalo, hmmmmm (however, it was expensive! Hehehe!). Because of the delay on the itinerary, we decided to take a trike to the jump-off rather than walking which will eat up our time.

The plan was take the old trail to the summit and descend using the new trail. I decided to take this trail for my college friends to have a complete Batulao experience. Batulao is slightly familiar to us Letranites (not by the name), this was the mountain visible during our retreat at Caleruega (if they can still remember).

Actually, this is my 4th time in Batulao, however, I haven't tried going up the summit using the old trail. This will be my first time. My assessment was the trail going up the summit in the old trail is much more difficult rather than the new trail.

We took our very late lunch at the summit. We were very lucky, the weather is great up until we reach the summit which means there is clearing. However, the rain started to fall when we started to descend, which make it difficult for the first timers (actually most of my college friends were first timers). We reached the new trail campsite and it is still raining, we started setting up camp while the rain is not too hard.

After the camp was set, we set off to accompany my college friends who were not joining the overnight. We joined them up until the diversion between the old trail and the new trail because it is getting dark already and we need to prepare for our dinner.

This was the birthday climb of my girlfriend and she prepared carbonara for our dinner, and it was delicious, knowing that this is her first time to cook carbonara (and take note; first time to cook carbonara in a mountain). While the dinner was being prepared, we started the socials. This is to lessen the coldness, it was very cold that night. And, dinner is set. Yum! Yum! Carbonara for dinner.

The socials was finished early with 2 bottles unopened. All of us where already sleepy, we decided to stop the socials and sleep. Lights off please!

Our plan was by 9:00 AM we were supposed to start descend, however, 9:00 AM seemed to be a wake up call. We need to get back at Evercrest at fast as we can, they were planning to climb Mt. Talamitam that day. Well I am out of that plan.

After lunch, we parted ways. They went to Mt. Talamitam, while me and my girlfriend head back home.

I hope my college friends were not traumatized by their experience in Batulao. I hope seeing you in the mountains. Let's do it again another time.