Mt Sembrano Dayhike

January 4, 2014
First journey ng taong 2014, Mt. Sembrano.
Mt. Sembrano is located at Brgy. Malaya, Pililia, Rizal.

I will never forget my experience in Mt. Sembrano. We almost lose in the forest along with my friend. We didn't get a guide in order to go to the mountain since the brgy. personnel told us that the trail is easy and must turn left at Licudan st and just walk straight then right at the Manggahan area. Both of us didn't know the area since we are new in the area. My friend is a first timer hiker and he just want to experience new things. 

         

Nipa hut along the trail

As we arrived in the barangay hall we register for Php 20.00, they also get our number in case of emergency. As we walk to Mt. Sembrano we didn't know that we have to turn right when the first nipa hut, we just walk and walk until a man told us that we are far from the trail to Mt. Sembrano and need to return from the nipa hut. He also told us that we have to pass by the bukohan. As we return to the nipa hut, we saw a man and ask where to Mt Sembrano, luckily he told us the right way. As we continue our walk to Mt. Sembrano, we encounter a group of mountaineers descending from their climb. They are from Pililia Rizal that conduct their camping at the summit. We asked them if the way is easy to track and no "ligaw" trail, they told us that it is easy.

 Group of mountaineers from Pililia Rizal

We continue our walk and reach the what they call "Manggahan", the manggahan area is a private place thus we need to pay Php 20 as a fee as we enter the premises. After passing by the manggahan area and continue walking, we encounter bouldering. This bouldering is quite tricky as we got lost again for the second time around, we didn't know that there is a right turn again at the bouldering. We reconnect again the trail and found the real trail to Mt. Sembrano.

 Manggahan (private property)

After those lost and found experience we reach the grassland where you can see the north and south peak of the Mt. Sembrano. We though that we can't reach the top but thanks God for keeping us believe that we can reach the summit. When we reach the grassland of Mt. Sembrano, I feel disappointed from what I saw. Part of the grassland where being fired as they conduct "kaingin" in the area. As we go to the South peak we encounter a group of mountaineer descending from their day-hike adventure.

 Mt. Sembrano's grassland

We walk for around 4 hours in order to reach the summit of Mt. Sembrano and took some memorabilia (pictures) at the top. You can see the Laguna de Bay at the top, other part of Laguna like Sta. Cruz. You can also see Talim Island and mountain Mt. Makiling located at Los Banos, Laguna.

View at Mt Sembrano's grassland

 

View from Mt. Sembrano's Summit; Pointing at Mt. Makiling

 Views from the Mt Sembrano's Summit; right side: Sta. Cruz, Laguna

Group of mountaineer resting at manggahan area

After some picture taking at the top, we decided to descend. When we reach the manggahan area, we saw the group that we saw at grassland drinking buko juice that kuya freshly get from one of the coconut tree in the area. The coconut was sold for only Php 10.00. We decided to take a rest before going to the Manggahan Falls which is just a minute away from the manggahan area.

Mountaineer preparing lunch near the falls

 We continue our journey at Mt Sembrano, we go to the manggahan river that is a minute away from the manggahan area and saw another set of mountaineer preparing their lunch. We just refresh for some time and took some picture and decided to go down the mountain.

  We walk and walk until we reach the town, tiring but priceless. We go to the barangay hall to tidy up before leaving the barangay. We eat our lunch at Jollibee Tanay.

Mt. Sembrano Route and Elevation

ITINERARY
0530 Assembly at Valley Golf, Cainta, Rizal. Take jeep to Tanay, Rizal
0630 ETA Tanay Rizal; take jeep to Pililla (there’s a queue of jeeps in the terminal)
0730 ETA Brgy. Malaya, Pililla (jump-off). Register.
0745 Start trek
0930 ETA Manggahan
1045 ETA North Peak
1130 ETA South Peak (summit)
1150 Start descent.
1315 ETA Manggahan Falls.
1445 Back at jump-off, tidy up then take jeep back Tanay
1630 ETA Manila

Nasugbu Trilogy (Mt. Batulao) Dayhike

December 30, 2013
Nasugbu Trilogy: Mt.Pico de loro, Mt. Talamitam, Mt. Batulao (Three Mountains in one day!)

Third stop! Mt.Batulao

Dawn at Mt Batulao

After Mt Talamitam, last but not the least, Mt Batulao. We arrive almost evening at Evercrest. Thanks to Nanay Eva for letting us leave our things in her house. In order to save time we ride a tricycle upto the jump-off in order to see the sunset, but the tricycle just drop us at the end of the cemented road. After that, we walk and started our trek for the last mountain for the day, Mt. Batulao. 

Night at Mt. Batulao camp 7

It's almost dawn and all we have to do is conduct a night trek for this mountain. Our group decided to use the old-to-new trail of Mt Batulao. We have to use our head light in this climb (We are prepared for this kind or situation). We continue our walk until we reach one of the rest area where local sell us some drinks, either coconut drink or softdrink (you know it right, Mountain Dew) are the choices. After resting some time. We continue our trek. We choose the old trail going to the summit. Since, it was dark, we need some caution since we are conducting a night trek with a bike. We reach the camp 1, we rest for awhile and register and continue our trek until camp 9. After camp 9, there will be a final assault to the summit. After the final assault, We reach the summit of Mt. Batulao, we successfully finish our mission to conduct 3 summits in 1 day. 

Reach the third summit; Mt. Batulao

Nanay's Eva eatery

After some picture taking in the summit, we descend the mountain using the New Trail. New trail is an easy trail compared to the old trail, but one must be cautious at all times. We continue our trek until we reach the campsite, again we register (they have separate registration for the old and new trail). We re reach the campsite, we see a group of mountaineer having their dinner. Sir Mong had a short social with them, Happy birthday to one of the hikers there. After registration and short socials, we continue our trek all down from Mt. Batulao. As we trek down, one of the mountaineer in the campsite join us since his friend is going to the campsite and conduct his trek alone. We they meet each other, We continue to trek and descend from the mountain. When we reach the town, we have to walk upto the Highway, It's been a long walking for us and all of us are already tired due to the 3 mountains that we climb. When we reach Nanay's Eva store, we waited some time since it's almost 11:30 in the evening. When Nanay's Eva open the door, she accommodate us still serve us we her special papaitan (yum yum yum!) Thank you Nanay's Eva for accommodating us.

 Nanay's Eva Eatery and Store (in front of Evercrest)

After almost 16 hours of trekking and traveling, we conquer the Nasugbu Trilogy. Congratulation to us guys! TAPIK Mountaineers thanks for another warm welcome and letting me join your adventure, til the next climb.

Nasugbu Trilogy Route and Elevation

ITINERARY
1730 ETA Evercrest; left some things at nanay's Eva; ride trike to jump-off

1745 Start trek
1830 Arrival at Fork. Take the left, downward trail that enters some woodland

1915 Arrival at Camp 1. Register.

2010 Arrival at Camp 9; commence final assault
2030 Arrival at summit

2050 Start descent via New Trail, which is opposite the Old Trail at the summit

2145 Arrival at New Trail Campsite. Register again.

2330 Back at Evercrest; Eat dinner; tidy up

0000 ETD for Tagaytay by tricycle; then Jeep to Olivares;
0130 ETA Olivares; anything goes from here

Nasugbu Trilogy (Mt. Talamitam) Dayhike

December 30, 2013
Nasugbu Trilogy: Mt.Pico de loro, Mt. Talamitam, Mt. Batulao (Three Mountains in one day!)

Second stop! Mt. Talamitam

When we reach Nasugbu town, we eat our lunch at Mang Inasal, refill our water (hehe), eat unlimited rice (YEY!) and freshen up. After our lunch in Mang Inasal we rode a bus to Km83 which is the drop off point for Mt Talamitam.  Km83 is the known marking when going there, Mt. Talamitam is located at Brgy. Aga, Nasugbu, Batangas. Mt. Talamitam is known for its hot nature due to its plain environment and grassland terrian. 

Bayabasan Elementary School, near km83

When we arrived at the km83 marking, we waited for our 6th member of the team, sir Mong which will be coming along from Dasmarinas, Cavite. We thought that he was riding a bus, several buses pass by but no sign of sir Mong, until a man in the bicycle going to our direction, and viola! It's sir Mong with his bike. After the kamustahan segment. We go to the registration site. The local wants us to hire a guide since it was a mandatory policy, but we manage to talked to them and consider us with no guide. Mt. Talamitam trail is easy and visible and no need for guide. 

After registration we decided to leave some of our things in order to make us more faster in our trek. We just bring our valuables, water, camera and tripod, also sir Mong decided to bring his bike all the way to the top of Mt Talamitam. On our way to Mt Talamitam, we encounter a traveler also going to Mt. Talamitam, he was alone he was Lester a.k.a binatanglakwastero (blogger name). We invited him to join us since we have the same motive, to go to the summit of Mt. Talamitam. he also told us that he will be going to Mt. Batulao. 

Mt Talamitam trail

After some walking in the plains, good thing it is almost late in the afternoon, not that hot and we feel the breeze coming from the air. A expected, trail was well establish and no need to hire a guide. We are hike in a smooth flowing pace, but we have 3 hours allotted time for this mountain. Sir Mong our strongest member brought his bike all the way to the top of Mt Talamitam. Instead of him riding the bike, the bike instead ride at him in order to reach his goal to reach to top. 

Sir Mong hiking with his bike

It was my first time to climb this mountain. When we reach the summit, I was amazed in what i saw, we see Mt. Batulao, our last mission, and Pico de loro, our first mission, in the summit. When all of us reach the summit, we conduct our agenda, to get some memorabilia for our successful second mountain. We took some photos with the bike, since its cool that we have a bike at the Mt Talamitam summit. 

Reach second mountain: Mt Talamitam grotto

After a pictorial mode in the Talamitam summit, we descent the mountain as fast as we could, since we have left some of our things in the registration site, we almost run like we are having our trail run in Talamitam. When we reach the registration site, we rest for a bit, drink some cold cola then ride another bus all the way to Evercrest, the jump off point of Mt. Batulao.

Bike inside the bus going to Evercrest

ITINERARY
1330 ETA Km83, Brgy Aga, Nasugbu from Nasugbu Bayan
1345 Registration area at Sitio Bayabasan, Brgy. Aga (KM. 83)
1400 Start trek
1515 Arrival at summit
1600 Start descent
1700 Back at registration area, head to Evercrest
1730 ETA Evercrest

Nasugbu Trilogy (Mt. Pico de loro) Dayhike

December 30, 2013
Nasugbu Trilogy: Mt.Pico de loro, Mt. Talamitam, Mt. Batulao (Three Mountains in one day!)

Me, myself being a mountaineer wants something new, and my friends from TAPIK Mountaineers arranged a hike in Nasugbu consisting of not only 1 mountain but 3 mountains in a day.

We have a calltime of 4am in the morning December 30 at the Coastal Mall in Paranque. Since I will be coming from Baguio from Mt. Ugo Traverse expedition with my fellow WASAK Mountaineers. I have to go and travel as early as 10pm in order to catch up with the call time. It's 4am in the morning when i arrived at EDSA. I was late in the call time but my fellow mountaineers waited for me, (thanks for that)! I arrive at the Coastal Terminal Station around 4:15am. There is already a bus going to Naic, but our destination is Ternate, Cavite. The bus conductor told us that there will be no bus going to Ternate, instead we can ride the Naic bus and they will drop as at Ternate (thanks again for that!)

First stop! Mt. Pico de loro!

After travelling with a bus, we need to ride a tricycle to Magnetic Hill, DENR registration site. One problem we encounter is that we are 5 in the group. the tricycle can accomodate only 3-4 passengers, so we need to hire 2 tricycle costing 200 per trike. It was a big price, but it was a lucky day for us since we encounter 2 mountaineer going also to Mt. Pico de loro, I decided to join in their trike to DENR Registration site. But on our way to the registration site, our tricycle got tire flat (the registration site is just a kilometer away, d pa kami pinagbigyan), so we need to wait for the tricycle with my follow friends.

The Nasugbu Trilogy Team

Dog from registration site follow us in the trail

Reach the first mountain: Mt. Pico de loro

 After registration to DENR we started the trek for our first mountain, Mt. Pico de loro. Pico de loro is still clean as always even though its my second visit to this mountain. It was well preserve mountain by the locals, even if lots of mountaineers go and hike in this mountain. We walk along the trails of Pico de loro with a moderate to fast phasing due to time constriction since we must finish the mission in 1 day. We reach the campsite in about 1 hour and 45 mins. We rest some minutes and took some picture as a souvenir for conquering Mt. Pico de loro. We decided not to climb the monolith since almost all of us already climb it. We took the traverse route in this climb since we are doing the Nasugbu Trilogy. The traverse of Mt. Pico de loro start in Ternate, Cavite and ends in Nasugbu, Batangas. The traverse route of Mt. Pico de loro has 30 minutes of continuous descent and an hour of mild descent. As we descent from Mt. Pico de loro, we saw the group of locals that sell softdrinks to mountaineers, they where kinda late since many mountaineers are already in the campsite. Guess what softdrinks they sell, its Mountain Dew (softdrinks for the mountaineers, hahaha). After some rest, we continue our adventure. You will know if you are in the end when you reach the shooting range. 

 

One jump shot for successful Mt Pico de loro traverse

After some picture taking at the other end of the trail of Mt. Pico de loro traverse we rode a tricycle all way down to Nasugbu bayan to eat our lunch. 

ITINERARY
0400 Board bus at Coastal Mall Terminal to Ternate
0600 ETA Ternate. Rent tricycle to jumpoff
0630 ETA DENR / jump-off point
0645 Start trek.
0830 ETA rest station, Basecamp 1

0910 ETA summit

0920 Start descent to Nasugbu-Ternate Highway
1030 ETA Nasugbu-Ternate Highway.

1100 Ride tricycle to Nasugbu town. 

1145 ETA Nasugbu bayad. Lunch.

1230 Ride bus to km83. Bus station near Mang Inasal

1330 ETA Km83, Brgy Aga, Nasugbu

Mt. Ugo Traverse

December 27-28, 2013
My year end climb with the gang (WASAK Mountaineers)
Mt. Ugo Traverse start at Kayapa, Nueva Viscaya to Itogon, Benguet

CCQ Bus Stop at Aritao, Nueva Viscaya

It was a nice a weather in Manila when we leave for our adventure for Mt. Ugo Traverse. Our bus reservation is 10pm but due to the traffic our actual departure became 1am. It took around 7 hours when we arrive at CCQ Bus Stop and Restaurant. Our jeep that will move us to Kayapa is waiting already at the meet up area. We took our breakfast and buy our packed lunch there. After our breakfast, we travel another hours to the jump off point for Mt. Ugo Traverse, Kayapa, Nueva Viscaya. 

Kayapa Public Market

When we arrived at the Public Market, all the locals are busy. Since it is the center of the Barangay, lots of people are in the area buying goods, stuff and foods. Here we secure our guide, register and buys some food like vegetables (we want fresh veggies for our dinner) and some stuffs. After securing guide we start our trek to Mt. Ugo, as always we do some stretching and pray before our quest.

Leader is conducting a meeting with the group

Foggy trail at Nueva, Viscaya to Mt. Ugo

Lunch at Indupit Village

The quest starts around 10:30am after the stretching. Nueva, Viscaya is a foggy area. When we arrive at Nueva Viscaya, cloudy sky is present in the province. We think that it will rain so we prepare our poncho or rain coat in case it will rain during our quest. The weather condition throughout the Nueva Viscaya trail was foggy. All you can see throughout the trail is the clouds, the fog. The surrounding is wet due to the moist that the fog/ cloud have. Plants are healthy and greener. Also trail we visible since locals that lives in the mountain use the trail to buy good/food. They are carrying sacks of loaded goods or used sa backpack to transfer the goods to the village in the mountain. We do some rest at the small resting area and do some mini break. After several hours of walking we arrive at a small village (Indupit Village)  where we took our lunch. We heat our packed lunch since weather is cold. Our packed lunch is chicken/pork adobo and pork steak. While eating our lunch we was another group of mountaineers reach the area.  I think they are around 10 in the group. After eating, we prepare ourselves again for another walking, but this time the trail is smooth since motorcycle can travel in this area to the other side. While walking, we saw a man and a dog walking toward the Indupit Village but we saw them having some blood around their bodies specially the dog. They where attacked by the limatik (leech). Yup! Mt. Ugo has leech in the trail so prepare your anti leech material when you go to Mt. Ugo. Luckily we have a doctor in the group (actually she is still taking her internship as a doctor and the rest of the members are engineers). She treat the man's wound.

Ishie our medic treats manong wounds due to limatik attack

Dog that is also been attacked by the limatik

Mt. Ugo seen at the trail

School at Domolpos Village

After the treating session, we continue our journey to Mt. Ugo. There is a part where we can call the zigzag zone since the path is wavey and like a zigzag, we think that we go around the circle since we see the same surrounding for around one hour. After the zigzag trail, you will see the part where you can see Mt. Ugo and the village is about 30 mins away from this point. After 30 mins of walking we arrive at Domolpos Village where our guide kuya Varian lives. We took our rest at one of the classroom in the school. We arrive at the school around 5:30pm. Weather at Domolpos Village is similar to Baguio, it is cold and the wind breeze add up the coldness of the weather. We make sure that the door is always close since when it was open cold breeze from outside enter the classroom, brrrrrrrr. 

 


 

Exchange gift

Dinner at one of the classroom at Domolpos

At the classroom, we set our things, we move the chairs at the side so that we can set our bed at the floor. We prepare our food for dinner and we prepare gift. Yes! We will be having our group Christmas party at Mt. Ugo. After some hours, the other group already arrive the village, we share the same classroom as our resting area since the area is wide and 2 groups can share the room. We are preparing Pork Adobo, Adobong kinchay and Sinigang na Baboy for our dinner. After eating our dinner we do our exchange gift. Thanks Jojo for the gift. After our stomach are filled with delicious dinner and gift giving activity. We do some food preparation for our lunch for the next day, we cook the boneless bangus. Some of our members make some socials with the other group while me, already in my sleeping bed, resting for early wake up for our assault to summit.

Group picture before the Mt Ugo Assault

Nueva, Viscaya being covered by clouds

It's 4am in the morning, we woke up the rest of the group to prepare for the summit assault. We do our fast breakfast and pack up our things. We do the assault around 5am in the morning and do some night trek. Before the trek, we do some group picture at Domolpos Village. As our trek, morning is coming, light is nearly visible in the trail. We see the clouds covering the Nueva Viscaya, that's why Nueva Viscaya has a foggy surrounding since early in the morning, the clouds already covered the area. We do the assault for 3 hours until we reach the summit. You will see Mt. Pulag at Mt. Ugo summit (Mt. Pulag is the highest mountain in Luzon). Mt. Ugo was discovered due to the plane crash in the area. You will see a grave in the summit near the summit marking. We do some photoshoot at the summit before leaving and descending from the summit. Total distance from the jump-off Kayapa, Nueva, Vuiscaya to Mt. Ugo summit is 15km.

a

Mt. Pulag seen at Mt. Ugo

Mt Ugo view 15mins before the summit

 

Mt. Ugo Summit Marking

Kilometer marking found at Mt. Ugo

After some photoshoot at the summit we decided to descend the mountain going to Itogon, Benguet. There are kilometer marking that you will see from Mt. Ugo summit until you reach Itogon, Benguet. Another 15km of walking downhill must be survived. The kilometer marking are made by R.O.X (Recreational Outdoor Exchange) that conduct their yearly sky trail run in the area. The 1st kilometer is a total descent so be careful. We walk and walk and as we walk we see the kilometer marking every 500 meters. Each kilometer marking is a sign that we are near our goal. 15km.... 14.5km.... 14km..... kuya Varian told us that we can take our lunch at a rest area at the half of the trail, meaning it is located near 7.5km marking. We also pass by some group of cows along the trail. When we reach the 7.5km marking we saw a small village, Lusod Village, meaning we are near and we are already hungry, we also saw some farmland (palayan) in the area. 

Descending from Mt. Ugo

The 7.5km marking at Mt. Ugo

We took our lunch in this rest area

 When we arrived at the 7.5km marking we go to the rest house where mountaineers rest and eat their lunch. There is a water source in the area which you can refill your water. BTW, Mt. Ugo has a lot of water source throughout the trail. We heat the fish and rice that we cook last evening. We also open some canned goods like tuna (seafood galore this lunch). We also rest for half an hour in the area before we continue our quest.

After eating and resting, we continue our adventure since we already finished half of the trail. We continue our walk toward the 0km marking, hehe. For the last 1km, we pass by another village, Itogon Village, here there is a long bridge located 0.5km marking (We took some photos at the long bridge). We walk for the last 0.5km after the bridge and then we saw the 0.0km marking. Meaning, total of 30km trail of the Mt. Ugo traverse from Kayapa, Nueva Viscaya to Itogon, Benguet. When we arrive at the 0.0km marking, the van that will take us to the brgy hall is waiting. We ride the van to the brgy hall. We tidy up, change our dirty cloths and prepare to go to Baguio.

Itogon Village bridge

Mt. Ugo 0.0Km marking (End of trail)

Itogon, Benguet Brgy Hall

Mt. Ugo Route and Elevation

ITINERARY 
Day 0
2200 Assembly, Victory Liner GMA-Kamuning Station

Day 1
0100 ATD for Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya via Isabela-bound bus
0800 ATA Aritao or Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya,
0930 ATD for Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya via rented jeepney
1000 ATA Kayapa, Register at police station, secure guides, buy food
1020 Start Trek
1330 ATA Indupit Village / Lunch
1430 Resume trek to Domolpos
1730 ATA Domolpos Village. Stay in the Elementary School


Day 2
0400 Wake up Call/ Eat Breakfast/ Break Camp
0500 Start Trekking to Summit
0720 Reach Campsite
0750 ATA Ugo Summit
0815 Leave Summit, Start Traverse
1140 ATA at @Post 7.5Km
1150 ATA at rest house, Lunch
1320 Leave Rest House, Continue Trek
1630 Reach Hanging Bridge, post 0.5km
1650 Reach post 0.0km, Ride Van to Itogon Barangay Hall
1710 Reach Itogon Barangay Hall, Tidy Up
1830 Leave Itogon for Baguio
1930 Reach Baguio
2000 Eat Dinner
2200 Leave Baguio for Manila