2013 : A year in a glance

Well, Its another year had passed and a number of adventures had happened. Its now time to look back on some things that I was able to accomplish this year, before welcoming the 2014 with a bang!!

I was able to set foot on some of the major peak this year, Sicapoo, Tabayoc, Kibungan, Dulang and Kitanglad, and Mt Pulag.

In Sicapoo

Early in my hiking career, I made peace with myself that I will not able to complete all the mountains listed in Pinoy mountaineer. I do not have the means and the time to be able to do that. I belong to the working class people with just two days per week off. With the little time and means I have, I will just try to set foot on the mountains which I deemed worthy with little means I have.

Mt Tabayoc Forest

Having made peace with myself and accepted my state in life early on, save me from being envious of what other climbers have accomplished. And was able to save myself from feeling of want and unsatisfied desire and heartbreaks from not being able to climb all mountains in Pinoy Mountaineer's list.

Kibungan Circuit

Some of them can do a hike every week, some of them was able to accomplished having to summit all 9/9 level of difficulty. Some was able to hike outside the country. And they are might proud of their accomplishment as you can see it on their facebook page. Sometimes I wonder what kind of work they are doing that they are able to climb multiple days at least once a month, or able to do overnight climb every week. Of course , that would be a different story if your a rich kid and have someone you can ask money for or and wait for your monthly or weekly allowance. In my case, I need to work hard and just wait for my salary and save for the climb. You see, all my climbs and gears came from working my asses in a BPO company.

Mt Dulang Dulang Summit

This coming year, I am excited to be able to set foot in the island of Visaya for the first time and summit Mt Kanlaon and probably Madjaas this February. 
Another year had passed, Another year will come. One thing for sure, I will still hike and just be contend with whatever I will accomplish this coming year.
And will be forever thankful to Almighy God for giving me the strength to accomplish my hearts desire.

To all my hiking friends : real and imagined. Happy New Year. More adventures for all of us..

Somewhere in the mossy forest of Mt Lumot

The complete idiot guide for Luzon 312

To be able to climb multiple peaks simultaneously is a great achievement for any hiker. Thus to be able to climb the 3 highest peak of luzon, Mt Pulag, Mt Tabayoc and Mt timbak brings great pride and sense of accomplishment to whoever successfuly climb these giants. 

However in the past few years, almost everybody are doing it. Climbing and Organizing Massive climb for what they have called Luzon 321. They start in Mt timbak to Mt tabayoc and ends up to the most prized of them all Mt pulag- the third highest peak in the Phillipines  and the home of the famous sea of clouds.

The Group at Mt Timbak Jump off

The organizers rented a jeep to pick them at Baguio then it will bring them to mongoto school and then they will start their hike up to MT Timbak, after that they will board again the monster jeep this time they will proceed to Lake tabeo in Ballay. The next morning they will hike up to Mt Tabayoc summit, go down , board the jeep again and proceed to tawangan where they going to camp for the night and there they will start their Mt Pulag entry. After camping in saddle campsite, they will exit in Ambangeg and once again they will board their rented jeep to take them to Baguio city.

You see, they save a lot of walking hours by renting the jeep and the challenge and difficulty of the climb is lessen, its become too convenient thats why everybody are doing it.

Now comes the twist, and we called it the Luzon 312.

Mt Timbak Summit

The plan was to finish the 3 mighty peaks without renting a jeep. and It will be a pure walkathon up to the end.

The plan was from Baguio board the bus to the Jump off of Mt Timbak, proceed by foot to kabayan central, walk all the way to the jump off of Mt Pulag. Ascend the peak via akiki trail then descend to tawangan

then walk uup to 6 hours to lake tabeo and camp there . The next morning that will be the start of ascend to Mt Tabayoc then before 12pm proceed to kabayan central by habal habal and ride the van to baguio.

This idea is much more difficult than the traditional Luzon 321.

I started to coordinate my plan to Madam mering, Ranger Heron of Akiki and Ranger Arlan of tabayoc and teddy - guide of Mt pulag to Tawangan trail.

From Mt Timbak to Kabayan Bario Trail

And I assemble a 7 man team for this journey. They were my friends and hiking buddy and they are strong climber as I must say.

However due to family emergency - and to my deepest regret , I was not able to participate to the climb that I designed.

Akiki Trail

Let me just share to you how it can be done.

Saddle Campsite

From Mt Timbak you can trek down to Kabayan Central - 4-6 hours depends on your pace

Kabayan Central to Akiki Jump Off  : 1-2 hours

Akiki to Saddle                : 7-8 hours

Saddle to Tawangan exit : 5-6 hours

Tawangan exit to Balay   : up to 6 hours - you can take habal habal to save time

Lake Tabeo to Mt Tabayoc Summit : 2-3 hours depends on your pace

Tawangan Trail Forest

Here are the projected expenses :

Manila to Baguio : P 450

Baguio to Km 55 : P 120

Reg fee mt Pulag: P 200

Guide fee akiki to Tawangan      : P3800 up to 7 hikers

Habal Habal Tawangan to Balay : P300

Guide fee : Tabayoc                 :P1000 up to 7 hikers

Habal Habal from Balay to kabayan central : P300

Kabayan central to Baguio                         : P220

Baguio to Manila                                      :  P450

If you want to save the P300 habal habal fare from Balay to Kabayan central, you need to spend another night in Balay in order for you to take the Bus to Baguio. Bus have only 2 trip a day. 7am and 10am.

Contacts :

Madam Mering               :  0919951316

Ranger Heron (akiki)       : 09087578319

Ranger Arlan  (tabayoc)  :09469528483

Teddy            (Guide)     : 09079873719


All picture courtesy of Randel Balio the last man standing to complete and finish

the Luzon 312 walkathon.

My Buddy at the view deck of Mt Tabayoc Summit

Due to insistent public demand, I will now include the draft itenary I created before the climb based on logistics provided by locals in Atok Benguet, Ranger Heron and Ranger Arlan, and the Guide in Akiki-tawangan trail.

Day 0  10PM etd cubao

 

Day 1

4am   : EtA Baguio, Walk to Dangwa
415am : ETA Dangwa,buy packed lunch and pack dinner. Take breakfast
6  am : ETD DAngwa to km 55
8  am : ETA timbak jump off. HIke
10 am : ETA Timbak Summit,photo ops,pic
11 am : Start Descent
01pm  : Lunch  on Trail
04pm  : Kabayan Central
05pm  : Akiki Jump off-register get guide
sleep in the ranger station or in the school-or in eddet

 

Day 2

5am wake up call, prepare coffee and packed lunch
7am start trek
11am : ETA Marlboro lunch
12   : start trek
3pm  : saddle campsite, pitch tent
4pm  : optional summit sunset
5pm  : prepare dinner
6pm  : dinner
7pm  : social

Day 3
3am  : wake up call,prepare coffee and noodles,packed lunch
5am   : Summit Assault
6:30am : Descent
7:00 : break camp
7:30 : descend via tawangan trail-pinoymountaineer i.t
0815 Enter mossy forest line
1200 Lunch on trail
1300 Resume trek
1600 Arrival at Brgy. Tawangan. take guide to Ballay
8pm arrival in balay stay in lodge

 

* Or you can rent habal habal from tawangan to balay for P300/head

 

 

Day 4
3am : wake up call ,prepare coffee and packed breakfast
4am : start trek to balay basecamp-
5am : basecamp proceed to mt tabayoc
7am : summit breakfast
8am : start descend
9:30: basecamp
10:30am : lodge, fix things,
11:00   : Etd Ballay
12:00   : ETA kabayan central , lunch
01:00   : Take van to baguio
06:00   : ETA BAGUIO, DINNER
08:00   : ETD BAGUIO TO MANILA

Outdoor Brand Haters..

Theres one issue nowadays in the field of hiking or any outdoor sport for that matter-that is the brandtology. Or the love and hate of an imported outdoor brand.

Theres a lot of people outthere who are either brand hater or brand ambassador. If you are brand hater, you always have this comment " Ganda nga ng mga gamit , weak naman, ang bagal naman, or kung ano ano pang negative comments " on the other hand there's also people who loves to brag the brand they carry " look I got this new tnf jacket, Mh pants and shirts, New osprey packs, etc, you know what I mean. 

If your just scaling some minor mountains in calabarzon area, or some major ones in benguet. You will encounter some people who just love to stare on what brands youre using and will also try hard to notice if your strong or weak or if your a fast walker or just fast talker. I don't understand if they just envy you because you can afford to buy branded gears or just pure sick brand haters.

Im guilty of this one as well, Im not brand hater. Im just a brand lover. I just want my gear to be durable, to stand the test of weather and the elements. The product that will still performed during the coldest night with fiercing winds into the scorching sun and brutal trail.

I just want my shoes to carry me troughout the climb, one that doesn't give me anxiety if im going to slip or not if i put my whole weight on the slippery rocks , roots and leaves. One that can still be in one piece even though I put in in deep ankle mud.

I want my jacket to keep me warm and dry during the intense rain in the deepest jungle.

I want my tent to shelter me from the storm and cold in the highest peak of the mountains and give me a good night sleep.

I want my pack to carry everything I need troughout the days of hiking , and have the strength to carry all my gear and supplies.

If my gears do what it was design to do of course Im happy. If they are not, I will look for something else to do the job.

In my climb in Mindanao, those brands dont matter. What really matter is that if your gear works in the toughest terrain and weather. The guides, local mountaineer, porters was not concious and doesnt give a damn if they are wearing the latest vaporwick shirt from north face, doesn't give a shit if they carrying an osprey or mountain hardwear packs and doesn't really care if you sleep in your cozy north face or msr tent. What they really care about is that if you know how to respect people and their beliefs. If you know how to talk and to take care of you companion.

These mountain people might not the money to buy the latest and brightest gear available. However, they have been in the mountain long enough to know what works and whats not and they have survived and still enjoy the climb and the journey even though they are not a walking fashion outdoor shop.

However, If you climb Mt pulag, You will see its like a outdoor fashion show. You can see a lot of different brands locals and imported. You'll see the difference from a real outdoor person to the weekend warrior and mountaineer wanna be. You'll see a lot of people checking cautiosly each and every one gear and You will see a lot of the north face, mountain hardwear, osprey, marmot, mammut, arteryx, black diamond, outdoor research, conquer, habagat, lagalag, tinguian , silangan, trek, and many many more..

As long as your gear works and your comfortable using it , its fine. If you can afford imported brand and will not break your budget you can go for the brand you love. After all, the mountains doesnt give a damn what brand you carry. What really matters is that your gear is up to the challenge on what ever the mother natures will throw at you.

Happy Hiking..

Kitanglad to Dulang Dulang Traverse

Theres already a lot of post about these two popular mountains, and I do not intend to add up to a tons of information about itenaries , trail situations, water sources, et al. Mt Dulang Dulang is the 2nd highest mountain in the Phillipines and Mt Kitanglad takes the 4th place.

At the summit of Mt Kitanglad

The Original plan was to do a triple traverse and we named it as the Bukidnon almigh-3. The kitanglad-dulang-maagnaw traverse. We thought we could summit all three mountains. I have communicated for more than a year to the point of contact in kitanglad and he assure us that Mt Maagnaw is open and there is no problem to our climb. However, just a few days before we land in Laguindingan Airport, Our point of contact had difficulty to confirm if we can ascend Mt Maagnaw, He cant deny nor confirm if it is open or not. Of course that was a sign that we need to have a back up plan, If our ascend to Maagnaw will not be materialized. It turns out , we got the confirmation on the basecamp of the kitanglad that theres a friendly people above Maagnaw and theres an ongoing operation for the past few weeks. We did not push trough our Maagnaw dream due to security reasons, instead we just contend ourselves to set foot on the second and fourth highest peak of the Phillipines. And we are blessed with a very nice weather troughout the climb, making us enjoy every moment, every trail difficulties, and the clear view of each summit.

Thus , Im 8/10 now. With just Maagnaw and Ragang are not yet summitted for me to complete the top 10 highest mountain in the Phillipines.

Inside the forest of Mt DulangDulang

As all of the great adventures it start and ends..and only the memory of something wonderful stays with you troughout the years of your life.

This climb is for the books.

At the summit of Mt Dulang Dulang

Climb Expenses :

Laguindingan Airport to Agora Terminal : P450 via taxi
Agoro Terminal to Kitanglad Crossing    : P105 bus
Kitanglad Crossing to Basecamp          : P45 via habal habal
Registration                                        : P500/head
Basecamp to Waiting shead               : P20
Guide / Porter                                    : P500/day
Highway to Ampalaya                        : P 35 bus
Ampalaya to Agora Terminal              : P215 bus

Natib

Orani, Bataan
Major jumpoff: Brgy. Tala, Orani
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 3.5-5 hours
Specs (Backtrail): Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-3
Specs (Traverse): Major climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 1-3
Features: Scenic views of Central Luzon; Woodlands; Tropical forests
Article history: Created 05/23/2008; Last updated 08/06/2013

After a few months without hike Im back again on the trail. I joined a group of friends who are planning to climb Mt Halcon. This was their first training climb.

 

The plan was to traverse via morong exit. Due to not properly coordinating with the local contact, the plan was aborted and the group exit via abucay. This is really important, If you plan on doing traverse, tell the person in the registration in the military post, so that they can coordinate it on the morong exit.

Hail Salute on Natibs peak without the view.

I have not joined them on the plan traverse . I call it a day once I set foot on the summit of Mt Natib.  

 

Always the best way to end a hike.

For more Info : 
Please visit pinoymountaineer.com

First Ride

I have not been busy hiking peaks for the last few months. My budget was drained for the monthly major climb I did in the previous months, also I have consumed all of my leave credits so I took a months of absence from the trail.

My First Bike

Timberland

During the time I was not hiking, I took the time to noticed and ride my bike, which I bought almost a year ago. It was the humble Cannondale Trail Six.

One day, My friend and hiking buddy Invited me to try biking in Timberland and Up Diliman. There have been plan like this before, however due to unlimited excuses, the plan didnt push trough. This time , all forces have been set and I was on my first bike ride in the highway. The biking scene and mountaineering scene are different, but it was the same thrill and excitement all over again just to be with other athletic and outdoor people once again.

My Buddy Russell

 So my first biking experience was a bliss..

 

At Up Diliman

Meal Planning for Newbie Hikers

We Filipino Hikers or Not are used to eat 3 times a day mostly with rice and viands. And if we missed a meal, somehow we feel incomplete and unsatisfied. Out there in the mountain campsite and on trail our choices became more limited with how much weight we want to carry, and how fast and convenient to prepare the food we want for dinner and how long the meats will spoil. Obviously there are factors to consider on what and how to prepare our meals in the mountain.

You can pre-packaged your food like this.

We want our meals to be delicious, mouth watering, and nutritious. We wants something that consumed less water and more importantly the ingredients are not that heavy to carry and have a long shelf life.

For a regular overnight climb either minor or major climb you will eat based on this sequence, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

On the first day of the climb  your breakfast can either be taken in a bus stop or packed. Its also not advisable to cooked on the trail for your lunch on the first day, so your lunch should be prepared ahead. Meaning you will only cooked on your first night - based on this scenario you can plan your food, fuel and supply.

The second day of the climb most climbers prepare to have a heavy breakfast and packed their lunch. With this thoughts in mind so can easily anticipate how much food you need to carry on the regular minor and major climb. Morever, you also need to eat and consumed foods during interval, thats where your choice of trail foods come in. Im not a fan of jelly-ace as I dont see what it contributes to my body. I would just replace it with raisins, dry fruits or fresh banana or just simple candy for sugar and carbs boost.

The dinner on the second day usually happened just before the climbers hit the bus going home. If

With these thoughts in mind, the only food you need to cooked when hiking was Dinner, Breakfast and Lunch. Your fuel and ingredients should be prepared how many times you cooked so you will avoid carrying a lot of dead weight. More often than not we are so accustomed to have a dinner with a soup, so how much water you need to carry for all your meals and until the next water source the next day will also play a part.

Your life will be easier if you will join a group that will have a meal provision. That way, you can avoid the burden of thinking what food you will prepare and how much weight you will carry. The downside only with this set-up is that you might not have your ideal dinner.

On a lighter note based on my readings from various resources available on line. We should prepare our food based on the 3 main elements. Carbohydrates, Fats and protein.

Carbohydrates provide fuel to the body. Fat serves as the main storage form of energy. Protein is for repairing muscles that were burn out on our hiking activity.

It is wise to prepare our meal based on the three main elements for the body to function properly on the trail. Imagined the torture and abused your body have experienced every time you hike.

The following are the ideas for the meals on the campsite

Carbs :

Rice, Pasta, Cereal , Fruits and Vegetables.

* Rice with Vegetables viand. Stir fry is easily to prepare and to cooked
* Spaghetti with meat sauce
* Pansit Bihon

Spaghetti with meat sauce.A High Carb meal.

Fat Sources

Butter, Cooking oil, Mayonnaise , Sardines and Processed meat

* Tocino
* longganisa
* Bacon
* Omelette

High Fat Foods

 Protein Sources

Meats, Eggs, Fish

* Chicken and Pork Adobo
* Sinigang
* Tinola
* Nilaga
* Sopas

Protein sources

Trail Food

Before the main meal, we also need some simple trail food to keep us from getting hungry and to help sustain the energy from the body. You should consumed your trail food at least every hour to keep fueling your body for your hiked.

The following are my personal favorite trail food.

Raisins mixed with Nips prepackaged in a ziplock bag.
Dried fruits ( guyabano, mango and banana )
Simple sugar - candy, cloud 9
Crackers   - Fita with peanut butter

Pre-packed trail food

On our last night in Mt Apo our dinner was my prepacked power oatmeal. This is very easy to prepare and can provide the body the energy it needs at the moment.

Heres how I did it.

5 tablespoon full of instant oatmeal
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 tablespoon of powdered milk
2 tablespoon of raisins
2 tablespoon of banana chips

Prepacked all of the ingredients in a ziplock bag. When your hungry, Just pour it on your Mug, add hot water and enjoy. You can also make it as your emergency food, fast breakfast and if your tired and cold to prepare your dinner.

Power oatmeal

The idea was to continuosly provide fuel to your body the best nutrition it needs when your hiking for it to function properly and to give you energy to finish the climb successfully. Dont forget to bring your toilet paper alright..

And always remember, bring all your trash down.


* All pictures used came from the internet