The revenge........ After months from our failed attempt This time few PACKERS joined the climb. Usual route from Manila to Rizal, where our hired jeepney was waiting for us. It was a bumpy ride all the way and passed 7-8 rivers before reaching Brgy. Sta. Inez. Secured guide, register and courtesy call to Brgy. Captain and Military Personnel were the SOPs when climbing Mt. Irid. The trek started around 7:00 am and crossed several rivers when our guide suggested to climb a mountain to bypass the last river cross where the current was too strong. Without hesitation and for the safety of the team, we scrambled all the way up to a no name mountain...... Unluckily, the soil was too loose at that time because of the rain that took place a few hours before our trek. So balancing on a slope was our main concern, heavy backpacks, eroded soil and limatiks... not just LIMAtiks.. MARAMITIKS.
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A fun climb as they would call it...... Go hike all the way up then enjoy the rest of the day and or extend another day at the beach, such relaxing. Mt. Daguldol is perfect for beginners or for people who wishes to try hiking. A 30 mins walk along shoreline of Laiya to start with can be exhausting, a direct exposure to the sun plus the sand can slows you down. A gradual slope awaits everyone when entering the forested area, the trail was well paved however from time to time you'll see forks since some part of the mountains are inhabited. Our Guide, (not an actual guide but the wife of our Guide) walked too fast that the team were left finding the trail and with that she forgot to bring to the Falls. (It was a waste of money for a Guide fee). with Mang Lizardo The team passed a Coconut farm and a small village then reached Mang Lizardo's house. During our Halo halo break at his house, Mang Lizardo shared some stories about the mountain. He and some of his friends were the first people to reached the Summit of Mt. Daguldol, they trailblaze the area. The current trail we hikers follow was the trail created by Mang Lizardo and his friends way back. The time we reached the summit, it was raining cats and dog. An open field near the summit became our playground for a while and from time to time we ran towards a tree to hide when thunderstorms and lightnings occurs. After clearing and witnessed the view from above, we started our descend and headed back to Laiya Resort where we spent our socials and celebrate our 1st year as climbing buddies. Yung feeling na hindi mo matangap ang isang pangyayari at gusto mong balikan para maituwid ang isang pagkakamali. Buti nalang pwede ito sa pamumudok. A week after the failed climb, my mind was already set for another attempt and it will be Solo Dayhike. Left Manila around 8.13pm via Victory Liner - Caloocan full of positive thoughts and hoping for a nice weather. After registration, I started my trek around 2.20am. The temperature was so cold and sometimes it drizzled. If you'll ask me if I got scared while hiking alone at early dawn? Yes. In order to divert that feeling, I intentionally brought my xMini II (very handy though) speaker and played some music from my playlist (about 90% volume). Humming, singing made the first few hours of trekking light and supernatural-free. Well, let's talk about the trail. Every blog or write ups about Tapulao describe the trail as "Rocky". True indeed, from the trailhead at Brgy. Dampay-Salaza to Bunkers you'll be following a craggy terrain. As recorded, the ascend can be completed for about 7 - 8 hours, and that depends on your pacing (solo or as group). Descend can be cut into half, since ascend is more time consuming in terms of pacing than descend. near yet so far Part of the 3-day PACKERS Invades Marinduque is to summit Mt. Malindig, Highest peak in the Island. The Picture above was taken when we were leaving Tres Reyes Island (Island to the right is the well-known Bellarocca Island Resort). From Tres Reyes Island we then headed to Brgy. Sihi for registration and secured Guide which is mandatory then headed to the Jump Off point. Entry point is from the highway then entering to a small community, further we found ourselves inside the Coconut Field. We were still on the lowland area however what amazed me the most was that in every Coconut Tree, there were mosses growing on its body. Our guide told us that during November - January the area is mostly covered with fog and yes the temperature is really cold on those month. Me at Falls 3 After uploading my Mt. Balabag - Solo Climb Pics, Sir Vince Cent (http://deequixotic.blogspot.com/) commented that 4th and 5th falls are located above the 3rd falls. So tama nga ako sa paginterpret sa blog ni Ms. Akyatera Bundokera. Headed back sa Mt. Balagbag, this time I invited few of my friends. This time it's a quest to reach the 4th and 5th falls not much of a "pamumundok". Led the group and escorted them to the same route I took during my Solo Climb. This time I had some time to enjoy the mini falls, taking pictures at magbabad in a short span of time. The girls and Robbie seems to enjoy the trail, I saw smile and glee in their faces. We spend most of the time bathing at Falls 3, laughing.....enjoying the water.....photo shoot..... parang mga bata lang na nagtatampisaw sa tubig. I told the group about my intention of the said climb, it was more of a personal quest, my hunger to reach the 4th and 5th. The group agreed to join me with this crazy quest of mine (thanks!). I left the group for a while to look for the exact route.... Something to look forward Empty weekend about to end, ayoko masayang ang araw kaya I decided to embark another Solo Climb and isa lang pumasok sa utak ko that time..... Mt. Balagbag. Googled it up and came across sa blog ni Ms. Akyatera Bundokera (http://bundokaholics.blogspot.com). According to Ms. Akaytera Bundokera, there are 4 trails available that will lead you to the summit: Horse Trail, Rotary Trail, Waterfalls Trail and Licao-licao trail. To add some spice to this solo climb of mine, I chose the Waterfalls Trail (Five Waterfalls). No specific itinerary for this climb, since I have all the time to traverse the said mountain. From Maculot, we're now heading to Makiling. Mt. Makiling is named after the beautiful Lambana Maria Makiling who punishes mountaineers who leaves the camp dirty, she makes sure these mountaineers gets befuddled. Keep coming back and forth to the same place until they clean the campsite. So beware and be aware! :) From Batangas to Laguna, got lost of the time how long the travel was... rest assured it was a bit long ( I was asleep during the travel by the way) Their are several entry points to Makiling however the local tourism decided that from now on Sipit trail will be the official trail for hikers and mountaineers (other trails are still open though). It was my first time in Makiling and according to them Sipit trail is quite longer than the Palanggana Trail, so this will be a test of endurance because I was in full pack. A heavy backpack on my shoulder, long hours of trek..... and Limatik.
Courtesy of Sir Ryan From "Pinagpatong", day 2 came and this time we're off to Mt. Suso ng Dalaga. We left Jamboree Sitio Tablon around 9:00am after breakfast papuntang jumpoff point ng Mt. Suso ng Dalaga. This time, apat lang kami umakyat (Sir Ace, Sir Ryan, Sir John and Me) while si Mam Katie nagpaiwan. Grassland First part ng trail ay medyo gradual lang ang hike, the trail was flat and covered pa ng mga puno. We meet a group of hikers galing sa isang falls. After passing a small village, grassland ang sasalubong. Tirik ang araw that time kaya sobrang exposed ang team, nakakadehydrate. For an hour na lakaran sa open field, simula na ng masukal na daan. Yes, sobrang masukal that even our guides paved the trail. Based from our guide's assessment, the trail can no longer be found so they created one for the group. This mountain is often visited because of one reason: NPAs. Most hikers are afraid that Military might consider them as NPAs, according to our guides. @ Peak 8 New Trail The power of social networking is indeed a great venue to meet new friends. Sir Jay found my profile from a social networking site and pinged me if he can join sa mga climb ko in the future. Kakasimula din nya magmountain hike at kagagaling lang nya from Mt. Gulugod Baboy at nakapagvolunteer work na din siya sa Bukidnon kung saan assignment niya requires mountain hiking to meet the locals. Mt. Batulao was the first mountain na naakyat ko 10 months ago. Kasagsagan ng Bagyong Mina noon at hindi masyadong maganda ang view kasi puro ulap. (My First Climb) |
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