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.