Pinoy Mountaineer

Hiking matters #269: Asahi-dake (旭岳) in Daisetsuzan, the highest mountain in Hokkaido, Japan

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:01:00 +0000

HOKKAIDO, JAPAN - I am back here at Asahikawa, the coldest city in Japan, after a successful ascent of Asahi-dake (旭岳) in Daisetsuzan - at 2290 MASL the highest mountain here in Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's four main islands. In this ongoing journey, I am with my schoolmates from UP Medicine, Joshua Torres and Terence Kua.

From Asahikawa, the 0920H bus right in front of JR Asahikawa Station took us directly the the Asahidake Ropeway, which in turn took us to Station 5 of the mountain. Originally, we had planned to do a traverse to Kuro-dake, but were informed that the snow levels were still too high in the trail. Hence, we had to make do with a still-challenging dayhike of the mountain.

The mountain was pretty much covered with snow, and the kind lady at the Visitors' Center even dissuaded us from doing the hike, saying that we may not have enough time, since the ropeway closes at 1700H and we had to catch the 1730H return bus. Nevertheless, I decided that we should give it a try. And so, we started trekking at exactly 1200H, with 1500H as cut-off time for descending.

Should we use snowshoes? We considered the question; there were many of them available at the ropeway area. However, since we were all wearing Gore-Tex shoes and the snow was not too deep, we all decided to stick with our hiking shoes. Still, it was quite a challenge to walk in the snow, especially in the inclined parts. Nonetheless, the view of Asahi-dake in front of us, with fumaroles, was enough motivation for us to keep going -- not to mention the time pressure!

We crossed station after station in the snow, which was fortunately still powdery, and not slippery. As we went higher, views of the other mountain peaks emerged, such Kuro-dake, Furano-dake, and the the other peaks of the Daisetsuzan National Park.

Hiking in snow is really a unique experience, and it would have been very cold were it not for the sunlight, which was unusually present throughout the day. One Japanese hiker we encountered said that the weather was amazing (...tenki wa subarashi!...) and were very lucky to have done the hike on that blessed day!

Halfway, we reached the scree slopes that I am beginning to realize are fairly common features of mountains all over: I've seen them in Indonesian volcanoes, in the Holy Ridge in Taiwan, and even in our very own Mt. Kanlaon and somewhat of Mt. Apo in the Boulders. The respite from snow was most welcome, and it was here where we had lunch.

The scree slopes led to a ridgeline, above which the summit of Asahi-dake can be seen. It looked near, but it would still over an hour before we could finally negotiate the rocky outcrops that served as the final barrier between us and the summit.

Finally, we arrived at the peak, which was immaculately white and breathtaking, offering a panorama of all other heights around us, as well as the snow-bathed pine forests, and surrounding towns. This stunning landscape before us, we celebrated by taking pictures at the summit. We then walked (and sled) our way down, and arrived just in time for the cable car, then bus that led us back here in Asahikawa. Yokatta!

Book Review: The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

My American hiking companion, Chris, gave me a wonderful present: two books, one of them Andrew Skurka's The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide. This small volume wonderfully encapsulate all the basic stuff you need to know about hiking gear, and I have come to like the book, and I have even followed Skurka's recommendation of what hiking shoe to use -- to the great joy of my feet!

TUHGG is a very readable book from a well-renowned adventurer. Amazingly, the book discusses everything in just well over 200 pages - an achievement in itself. The book starts off by asking the reader: "Are you a hiker or a camper?", which hits the truth in many debates between mountaineers: what to bring in a hike? Is it important? If only people will realize that outdoorsmen have different orientations (i.e. hiking vs. camping), then they will understand each other much more.

The book then goes through all the "tools & techniques" of hiking: from clothing, footwear and shelters to food, cooking systems, and down to small essentials and packing. Finally, it shows some "sample gear kits" where all his gear are tabulated, including the weight of each.

The book's recommendations on gear are very personal and honest. For instance, Skurka (as Chris and I often discuss) makes the assertion that there is no truly waterproof-breathable jacket, and I can relate to this, having tested out various technologies that claim to have that feature.

One great feature of TUHGG is that it has tables in each section, i.e. base layers, comparing between various kinds of that particular gear, in the case of base layers, merino wool vs. cotton vs. synthetic. And many parameters are compared, including cost, quality, durability, weight (importantly!), among others. Having this kinds of comparison puts things in perspective, making life easier.

Choosing, using, and taking care of gear and equipment are included in most Basic Mountaineering Courses in the Philippines. But I think having a book like TUHGG builds on that knowledge by speaking in practical terms which brands are good, which brands are expensive, and so on. The discussion of various brands is a breath of fresh air in a country like the Philippines where the options are confined to just a few brands.

Tropical hiking will always have its unique needs and requirements, but the general principles in the book are useful to one and all. Moreover, Filipinos embarking on foreign hikes would want to brush up on things that are of little application locally, such as layering, using fabrics like merino wool, and so on.

Considering all these, and the benefit I've derived from it, I highly recommend Andrew Skurka's The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide!

[Mountain News] Pinay hiker Mutya Bernardo, top contender in international adventure writing contest. Let's support her!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:13:00 +0000

Go, Ma'am Mutya!! Our Kilimanjaro teammate, Filipina hiker and medical doctor Mutya Bernardo is now a top contender in an international adventure writing contest! As of May 21, 2012, she is ranked #2 in the I Am Intrepid competiton!

Mutya is a regular weekend climber, whose favorite mountains in the Philippine include Mt. Batulao and Mt. Kalawitan. Yet, she also pursues dreams of exploring mountains abroad: she has already summitted Mt. Kinabalu (2011), Snow Mountain (2012).

In her entry, she writes about our unforgettable journey to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and the dramatic turn of events that awaited us at the peak.

Let's support Ma'am Mutya by voting for her entry! Don't forget to click the VOTE button in the page. Her victory is a chance to show the world that indeed, "Kaya ng Pinoy".

[AMCI] Basic Mountaineering Course Starts June 6

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:52:00 +0000

If you're based in Manila, looking to spend your weekends exploring what nature has to offer, and are looking for like-minded individuals, this might be what you're looking for.

AMCI's Basic Mountaineering Course or BMC is a course that integrates Physical Fitness, Lectures, and Skills Training into a comprehensive 5-month Program (June to October). The course includes 5 climbs around the Philippines, rapelling, rock climbing, and Red Cross training. AMCI has been conducting Basic Mountaineering Course since 1983 and has trained more than 1000 mountaineers since then. Those who complete the 5-month program are eligible to be inducted into the club.

AMCI is one of the mountaineering clubs that are in correspondence and collaboration with PinoyMountaineer.com.

The fee for this year’s BMC is P 4,500. A free orientation will be conducted on June 6, 2012 at the Penthouse of the Old Makati Stock Exchange Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati. Learn more and see the videos by visiting www.amci.org.ph. Interested parties may email Patrick Peig inquiries@amci.org.ph or call 0947-3370039.

Gear Review: La Sportiva Wildcat GTX Trail Running shoe

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 20 May 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Andrew Skurka's recommendation of La Sportiva of Italy as a great brand of hiking shoes got me curious, and when the opportunity came when I was in Taipei last month, I decided to give myself an advance birthday gift of a La Sportiva Wildcat GTX, branded as a "mountain running shoe". I got the shoes for NT$3400 - around PHP5000 - a very reasonable price!

Features-wise, it has both Gore-Tex and Vibram technologies - something that is not usually found in low-cut shoes. But while these technologies are relatively common, what I love the most with the Wildcat is the "Impact Brake System" that is so good in cushioning the toes and edges of your feet, even against hard rocks! This is the perfect technology for descents!

I have tried it a number of times, during my three dayhikes in Taiwan, my twin dayhikes of Batulao and Talamitam, but it was only during the knee-breaking Tapulao dayhike that I was able to appreciate the beauty and quality of the shoe. It worked very well! My companions, alluding to online games, said that it seemed as if I "levelled up" and got a "speed +2" upgrade with the shoe, which worked seamlessly, to the point that I felt like running on the way down, in spite of the inhospitable terrain. The light weight of the Wildcat is also a big plus, especially coming from my quite heavy boots that I've been using for the past five months.

On slippery ground, it works fine as well, but not as good as my previous favorite, the Teva Forge Pro eVent. Meanwhile, for major climbs, I will still not abandon my tried-and-tested Merrell Chameleon 3 Ventilator GTX although I am open to trying out the Wildcat for greater roles in my hiking.

I hope the shoe does not break down so soon, because it is now my all-time favorite shoe for dayhikes. Most of my shoes last for 30-40 climbs, but in terms of the calendar, that can be less than a year! At any rate, I'm sure both the shoes and I will be in great company in the months (and mountains) to come!

Essay: The Three Types of Fun in hiking and the outdoors

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:19:00 +0000

by Gideon Lasco

I first encountered the "three types of fun" in Andrew Skurka's The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide, and I found it a very useful way to articulate different perspectives in what is (and what isn't) enjoyable in hiking. I am adopting it for my future entries, so I am writing this an advance explanatory note.

The three types of fun:

Type I Fun - Fun to do, and fun to remember. Most climbs fall under this category, I think. These are the climbs during which you enjoy the trails, enjoy the summit, and enjoy the company.

Type II Fun - Not fun to do, but fun to remember. These are the climbs that are too hot, too cold, too wet, too steep, or simply too tough, or in bad company...but the rewards set in later on, and you realize eventually that it was a fun climb after all. Or, these are the climbs in which you cannot afford to take your camera while doing the trek -- perhaps it is too dangerous, or you are too busy minding the trail to talk to anyone. And at the end of it, while looking back at the climb, and perhaps while looking at your pictures, you would say: "Ang ganda pala nung inakyat ko!" Since my definition of fun is very broad, and I enjoy even descents like those of Mt. Tapulao, and most of my Type II Fun mountains are those where I faced intense heat.

Type III Fun - Not fun to do, and not fun to remember. What mountains do think fall under this category? Personally, I can only think of very few: A dayhike in Mt. Balagbag at noontime, from 1000H-1400H, during which we were completely toasted by the scorching heat of the sun. This is one of the few climbs in 2011 that I have not even written down as a 'Hiking matters'! Another Type III Fun was when I climbed the wrong mountain in the Malipunyo range, way back in 2008 (Hiking matters #3)! We endured hundreds of thorn scratches and heat, and there was no view at the summit, and the trails weren't nice either! Funnily enough, a number of Christian churches in the United States found my story amusing, and some pastors decided to make it an anecdote in their sermons! See the following links: Sermon1 Sermon2 Sermon3

As an aside: It can be suggested (as my friend Jacob did) that there can also be a "Type IV Fun": something that is fun to do, but not fun to remember - or something that you regret doing later on. I can think of some things that can fall under this, like eating a lot of calamansi on an empty stomach - for sour fruit addicts like me, or unprotected sex (pardon the choice of analogies), but I can't think of any situation that relates to hiking.

This taxonomy of fun is fun, and is also very subjective, just as the experience of hiking is also very subjective. What may be fun for some may be horrible for others, inasmuch as what may be an easy mountain for some may be described as a "Difficulty 10/9" mountain by others.

As for me, all the mountains are fun to me because I love hiking! What about you? What mountains would you consider as under Type I, II, or III? What type of fun do you look for in your hiking?

Hiking matters #268: Mt. Tapulao dayhike, up the High Peak of Zambales

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:45:00 +0000

Mt. Tapulao in Palauig, Zambales, at 2037 MASL, is one of only two dayhikable 2000+ meter mountains from Manila, the other being Mt. Banahaw, which is currently closed. Tapulao, which means 'pine tree' in the local dialect, is also the only destination in Luzon apart from the mountains in the Cordillera range where you can enjoy trekking in pine forests.

Yesterday, my friends and I did the Mt. Tapulao dayhike. This dayhike has been regularly done by hikers since 2009; I have not had the chance to do it as such, but I had already climbed the mountain in 2007. My reasons for wanting to climb it are twofold: (1) To try it as a dayhike; (2) To see the West Philippine Sea from a high point, considering that Mt. Tapulao is right in front of the waters of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which falls under Masinloc, Zambales!

We took the Iba-bound bus from the Victory terminal in Caloocan (there are trips 2130H, 2300H, and 2350H; P342), then from Iba, took a tricycle to Sitio Dampay, Brgy. Dampay-Salaza (P450/trip). There was already daylight when we started trekking at 0609H, and we found ourselves trekking in the rough road of Tapulao, notorious for punishing hikers' feet and knees because of its infinite number of rocks.

We reached the first water source after about two hours, at 0815H; this also counted as our first rest stop. Already, I was seeing the town of Masinloc (very identifiable because of the tower of its power plant) and San Salvador island. I was excited because I knew that somewhere beyond the horizon lay our very own Panatag Shoal.

There was also a interesting-looking peak in Botolan, Zambales (SSW), which I later on discovered to be Mt. Catongohan (15.2392 N 120.0777E 664 MASL). The river beneath it is none other than Bucao River, which was a lahar conduit that leads directly to Mt. Pinatubo. It will be remembered that in the recently held 34th MFPI summit, one of the treks was a Botolan trial to Mt. Pinatubo!

Going back to our trek, we made progress while enjoying the aforementioned views, and by 1005H, we were at the start of the pine forests. This is my favorite part of the mountain, and reminds me of my favorite Cordillera peaks, such as Mt. Sicapoo and Mt. Ugo. Meanwhile, the rough road persisted, and even got rougher in some parts!

Finally, after six hours of trekking, we reached the Bunkhouses that were used by the mining operations of the past, and also of hikers for the past decade. We then went up the pine tree assault, and our feet finally got a taste of real trails! We had lunch at the High Camp right before the forest line, and at 1230H, we started the final leg through a mossy forest.

By 1300H, or after almost 7 hours of trekking, we were at the summit of Mt. Tapulao! Clouds obscured the views, but it was nonetheless nice to be back after five years! We only stayed long enough to take fifteen-minute naps and snapshots of the 'world tree' that serves as summit marker. Eventually, I would also like to try out the Tapulao traverse which will take me back to the 'High Peak'.

We started descending by 1400H. There is really nothing else that can be said about this descent, aside from its being painfully long and taxing to the toes, feet, and knees. Fortunately, the great weather we've had was sustained, and it was all over by 1800H. Twelve hours of adventure were followed by a great dinner in Mama Dear restaurant just in front of the Victory terminal in Iba, then we went home to Manila.

Thank you Farah, Coby, Philippe, and Koi for joining me in this very enjoyable climb!

Postscript: I have already updated the Mt. Tapulao page in PinoyMountaineer. An itinerary for the Tapulao dayhike is now available.

Hiking matters #267: Hiking up Mt. Buntis and visiting Mt. Nagpatong in Andres Bonfacio's Maragondon

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:03:00 +0000

Today, Coby Sarreal (@cobysarreal) and I decided to visit Maragondon, Cavite, to see what possibilities lie in that historic town for hiking. Both Pico de Loro and Mt. Marami are actually claimed by Maragondon as under their jurisdiction, and indeed, both these peaks are part of the Maragondon Range.

Our peaks of interest for today, however, draw from history: Mt. Buntis and Mt. Nagpatong are well-known for being the site execution of the revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio. This is the subject of bitter debate among historians and pundits, but for me, it will suffice to say that the execution, which took place in May 10, 1897, was a dark moment in our history.

We took a Naic-bound bus along Taft and headed straight to Maragondon (P80). At Maragondon, we were warmly received by town officials, who spoke of over 20 other peaks in the town, including a certain Mt. Nagputok which is said to possibly have volcanic features. The counting of peaks, however, is always debatable. What constitutes a distinct mountain?

Anyway, we first went to Andres Bonifacio's shrine in Mt. Nagpatong; there is no trekking required to reach the shrine, which is accessible by any vehicle willing to brave the rough roads. Here, there are walls that depict scenes in Bonifacio's life and final days - truly his execution was a dark moment in Philippine history.

While going about town, the tricycle driver pointed to us what he thinks is Mt. Buntis: it is just a little bump in the range, but I cannot verify this. We had lunch at Lolo Claro's Restaurant, which served great food at reasonable prices! Coby and I agreed that we should eat there after the climb as well! We stayed at the restaurant until 1300H, as we didn't want to start trekking under the midday sun.

We then proceeded to the Kaingin Hanging Bridge, which is practically the jumpoff for Mt. Buntis. This is walkable from the municipal hall but a trike ride will just cost P10 per person. A local youth, Maynard, offered to guide us, for P300. However, he conceded that he is not really an expert in the trails; very few people visit the mountain nowadays.

We crossed the hanging bridge. Initially, the trek passed through wooden houses and agricultural fields, and as you walk past them, you can really see a slice of life in a rural community: men with their beasts of burden, transporting felled wood and bamboo trunks; or women with their harvests of vegetables.

After 30-40 minutes through these fields, the trail enters a forest akin to those of nearby Pico de Loro, though with less forest trees. Though the forest was not expensive, I was impressed by the variety of birds, and I even spotted a monkey. This is indeed a relatively pristine forest with an ecosystem that is still vibrant and active.

Some parts were moderately steep, but the trail was generally easy. We passed through at least two bamboo gates that are intended to keep the cattle from roaming beyond their assigned territories. It rained a bit while we were on this part, so I was not able to take pictures. Finallly, after another 40 minutes, we arrived at the 'Dungawan', the summit of Mt. Buntis.

At the viewpoint, which concludes the usual trek (although we went beyond to a higher ground, just 15 minutes further up), the view is breathtaking, if only for Mt. Mariveles, whose presence towers above Manila bay beneath. I'm sure on a clearer day, much more could be revealed, but the sight of Pantingan Peak and Bataan Peak sufficed to make my day!

It took us an hour to descent; it had rained and the trails have turned muddy, hampering our progress a bit. Nonetheless, I felt triumphant, as I knew that I have discovered for myself another nice dayhike destination! Definitely, I will highly recommend Mt. Buntis. Back in Marangondon, we dined at Lolo Claro's again, as we promised ourselves, and finished in time for the last trip (1800H) back to Manila!

Endnote: The Mt. Buntis and Mt. Nagpatong itinerary is now updated, based on my experiences in this trip! Check it out by clicking this link. Another nice account of Mt. Buntis can be found in Ivan Lakwatsero's blog.

THE BLOGGER'S HISTORICAL HIKES
Hiking matters #36: A note from Tirad Pass

Hiking matters #43: Trekking in Corregidor

Hiking matters #198: Tirad Pass and Tirad Peak

Hiking matters #267: Hiking up Mts. Buntis and Nagpatong

Hiking matters #251:The Holy Ridge (雪山聖稜線) Day 5-6: Dabajianshan and the end of the Holy Ridge

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:24:00 +0000

It was a very cold night at the nameless shelter where we stayed (see Hiking matters #250); I was especially vulnerable because of a fever that has severely weakened me. Still, I felt that I had enough energy to withstand the last two days of the Holy Ridge hike.

So on Day 5, we proceeded to head up Dabajianshan - the literary end to the Holy Ridge as defined by the Japanese hiker-author who named it as such. Unfortunately, the roped assault up the summit is closed by park authorities. Its companion Xiaobajian, has a very characteristic, and it is actually climbable as a sidetrip -- only that I was still sick and decided to forego such 'add-ons'.

The rest of the day consisted of passing by more slopes and ridges. The target was to reach Jiujiu Hut ('99 Hut'). I actually have little recollection of this part of the hike, except that it was very long and rocky - the tailend of the Holy Ridge.

Finally, we began descending, into some woodlands, until, by 1600H, we finally reached Jiujiu Hut. This establishment, also known as 99 Hut, was truly a good facility, with hot showers, clean toilets, and a well-insulated cabin where we spent the night. The hikers who do the standard Dabajianshan hike use this as base. The food, too, that our guides prepared, was good.

The next day would have been a brisk descent (albeit punishing to the knees) but because of my fever, I had to take it easy. Fortunately, a vehicle went up the trailhead, so we did not have to walk the 15+ kilometer rough road to the highway!

We were treated to a sumptuous lunch at Shei-pa National Park, and then headed to Taipei. Thank you to my hiking companions for assisting me in spite of my illness! This is one of my most memorable and challenging hikes, where I learned a lot of things that are sure to improve my hiking. I will definitely come back to Taiwan for more hikes!

THE HOLY RIDGE (雪山聖稜線) IN TAIWAN

Hiking matters #247: Behold this Holy Ridge!

Hiking matters #248: Day 1-2: From Wuling Farm to 369 Hut

Hiking matters #249: Day 3: Through Snow Mountain to Sumida Shelter

Hiking matters #250: Day 4: The precarious crossing of Mt. Sumida

Hiking matters #251: Day 5-6: Dabajianshan / End of the Holy Ridge

Hiking matters #265: Batulao in the aftermath of the tragic February fall

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:08:00 +0000

Batulao is now a much quieter place in the aftermath of the tragic fall last February that claimed the life of Diana Fajardo, the 28-yr. old first time hiker who lost her balance and fell from Peak 8 of the New Trail, just past the New Trail campsite, as she and her companions were heading to the summit.

According to one of the caretakers at the NTC, the number of visits has decreased by "80%". Correspondingly, the number of vendors have also diminished, and there seems to be less trash in the trails and campsites. Indeed, I can say that Batulao is not only a quieter place; it is also a cleaner place.

I went there yesterday in Part I of the 'Twin Dayhikes' trip I was doing with Trail Adventours. Many of us knew the trails by heart, but the entreaties of the kids were hard to resist and we got ourselves a kid guide named Jason to join our group.

We started the trek at 0645H, and to our relief, the initial part of the trail wasn't muddy! The forecast rains did not materialize, and apparently, neither did it rain in Batulao the previous day, even when Manila was wet.

The trails of Batulao are very straightforward, that's why it's a good training ground for trail runners and those who wish to build their stamina. Just keep going, until you reach the peak! There are some 'add-ons' though that you can choose to avoid. Past Peak 9, I opt to go right to the only forested part of the mountain, before emerging from some of the rocks back to the grassland.

We were at the summit by 0830H. Unfortunately, the conditions were not favorable for mountain viewing, though I pointed out to the participants Mt. Talamitam, just 11 kilometers away, waiting for us!

On the way back, I was interviewed by GMANewsTV (Channel 11) for Jessica Solo's "State of the Nation". They've devoted an entire episode to hiking, and I'm sure it will be interesting to watch!

We reached the trailhead in time for lunch...and we readied ourselves for the next part of the Twin Dayhikes: Mt. Talamitam!

TWIN DAYHIKES: TWO CLIMBS IN ONE DAY

Talamitam and Batulao (September 17, 2011) 193 194

Maculot and Manabu Peak (November 26, 2011) 215 216

Tagapo and Sembrano (April 22, 2012) 255 256 257

Batulao and Talamitam (May 12, 20122) 265 266

Hiking matters #266: This time, a verdant (but still hot) Mt. Talamitam

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:24:00 +0000

In Part II of the Twin Dayhikes trip I did with Trail Adventours yesterday, we headed from Mt. Batulao's trailhead further on the road to Nasugbu to climb Mt. Talamitam. When I did the Twin Dayhikes last year, we did it in reverse, Talamitam first, then Batulao (Hiking matters 193 and 194).

It was already 1330H when we started trekking from the registration area and paid P25 each. Since there were almost 20 of us in the party, we asked a local kid, Kevin, to join and guide our group. The trek starts with a quick descent to Talamitam river, and from there, it is uphill throughout.

Talamitam can get very very hot, especially in summer, because it trail passes through mostly open fields - a gradual walk up to a plateau and then a summit assault. Done at noontime or early afternoon, this trek can be very exhausting -- don't forget to protect yourself from the sun!

Still, the Talamitam trek is actually shorter than that of Batulao, and with favorable conditions, the trek can be finished at average of 2 hours. When we reached the summit, the clouds began to come in, as did the winds, and it was very refreshing!

I am beginning to develop a fascination for mountain birds, thanks to Mike Lu, Paula Peralejo, and Charlie Fernandez. The barn swallows that orbited the summit were a delight to me, and I took a lot of pictures of them!

Before starting descent, I tried to spot some of the visible peaks, and aside from nearby Batulao and Pico de Loro, I was fascinated to see the western face of Mt. Maculot, around 35 kms away, as well as the majestic Mt. Benogongon in Ambil island and Mt. Gonting in Lubang island! These two island peaks are a worthy subject of a future exploration!

We were back at the jumpoff at 1700, and since it's green mango season, I ate three, of course, with rock salt -- one of my favorite snacks especially when I'm in the province! Thanks to the very hospitable locals for accommodating us and sending us green mangoes as pabaon!

TWIN DAYHIKES: TWO CLIMBS IN ONE DAY

Talamitam and Batulao (September 17, 2011) 193 194

Maculot and Manabu Peak (November 26, 2011) 215 216

Tagapo and Sembrano (April 22, 2012) 255 256 257

Batulao and Talamitam (May 12, 20122) 265 266

Hiking matters #263: The Sumagaya-Lumot Traverse Dayhike

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:54:00 +0000

CAMIGUIN - I have always thought that any mountain that can be done as an overnight climb can also be dayhiked. So far, this theory has been vindicated by countless examples; people have dayhiked Pantingan Peak, Balingkilat, Tapulao, and even Apo - things that were previously unheard of.

On the other hand, my good friend Koi Grey, who is a very talented young hiker, has pushed things even further and has even done a 14-hour Guiting-Guiting Traverse. His theory is any mountain that can be done in three days can be done as two. His 360 Adventure Team just did what he calls the 'three epic traverses of Mindanao' and in fact he did the Sumagaya-Lumot leg in two days.

Combining our two 'theories', we decided to embark on a Sumagaya-Lumot Traverse Dayhike when we arrived in Lumbia airport in CDO on May 4, 2012 to celebrate my birthday with a memorable Mindanao climb. Koi took it upon himself to organize the climb, and we were joined by our friends Coby, Farah, Lance, Jeshua, and met in CDO by our guide, Pong.

So on that same day, after getting supplies, we headed to Claveria and stayed at the house of the very hospitable Mayette, who has become the point person for the trilogy in Misamis Oriental of Sumagaya, Lumot, and Balatucan. I thought, "Finally, I'm getting to climb Sumagaya-Lumot!" Last year, I had to abort a planned climb with JohnMurs because of security issues.

On May 5 early morning, we took a rented jeepney to Brgy. Mat-i, Claveria, to commence the attempt for a traverse dayhike. Along the way, we were blessed with splendid views of the Kitanglad Range, of Balatucan, and of Sumagaya itself with the breaking of the dawn.

We started trekking at 0610H, and reached a village in around thirty-five minutes. Past the village, which offered scenic, pastoral views, the trail became somewhat steep and open, with beautiful grass that one of us likened to the finale scene in the movie 'Gladiator'.

We then entered a forest which offered pleasant, established trails akin to those of Isarog, or the forests of Mariveles. We had aimed at a 1000-1100H arrival at the summit of Mt. Sumgaya, but since we had no idea how the day will turn out, the idea of a dayhike being unprecedented, we were trying to hurry and by 2145H, we emerged from the forest and found ourselves at the summit!

Koi pointed to a stump of a tree that he said was the definitive landmark for the summit. This and the other dead trees reminded of Mt. Wiji, in Kalatungan; everybody promptly went up that stump, as a personal memento. Had we opted for the three-day IT, we would have been camping in that place!

Past the summit, where we rested for around 30 minutes, we headed towards Mt. Lumot, and instantly, we were mesmerized by the mossy forest that earned for it its name, which literally means "mossy mountain".

Sumagaya and Lumot are not separate mountains; they are actually contiguous, even if they are separate peaks, they are not as independent of each other as Kitanglad and Dulang-Dulang, or Talomo and Apo. The trail system does not reach a discrete peak within Lumot; the highlight is diffuse: the whole mossy forest trek is the attraction of this mountain.

I have treked through several mossy forests around the country - Mt. Napulauan, Mt. Talinis, Mt. Dulang-Dulang, and Mt. Kalatungan among them. But I have to give it to Mt. Lumot for being the mossiest of them all.

Meanwhile, the clock was ticking, and inasmuch as we would have wanted to stay longer in this mossy realm, we aimed for a 1400H arrival at the crash site of the Cebu Pacific Flight 387. The stories and myths surrounding this incident have since become part of the folklore of the people. Pong said that that 1400H, which was the time when the crash was said to have happened, is a particularly eerie time to be at crash site.

Past the crash site, the mossy forest continued, and so did the obstacle course of branches, roots, and loose soil, which caused many a curse to be ejaculated in that forest. Fortunately, none of us had any injuries!

We emerged from the trail into the rough road at 1720H, and at exactly 1810H, 12 hours after we started trekking, we were at the shrine, just as the supermoon (it was May 5, after all) was rising to its glory...success! We spent the evening on a hut near the shrine, celebrated with the food we have left, and had a nice sleep, lulled by the cool winds of the mountain.

MY 26TH BIRTHDAY CLIMBS

Hiking matters #263: Sumagaya-Lumot Traverse Dayhike

Hiking matters #264: Hibok-Hibok Traverse Dayhike

Hiking matters #264: The Mt. Hibok-Hibok Traverse dayhike from Yumbing to Ardent

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:00:00 +0000

CAMIGUIN - The Sumagaya-Lumot Traverse was supposed to take three days, and we alloted as much in our itinerary, but since we managed to do it as a dayhike, there was suddenly plenty of time left...so we decided to go to Camiguin!

The day after the traverse dayhike, we traveled from Gingoog City to Camiguin via CDO - an arduous trip that lasted the whole day. By the time we had settled down in a resort in Brgy. Yumbing, the only thing we could do was avail of a nice dinner -- and the ostrich meat I ordered proved to be very delicious!

The next day, we started trekking Mt. Hibok-Hibok, via the traverse route from Brgy. Yumbing. We simply walked from the resort, up a cement road, then into the woods, making our starting elevation the sea level itself. Initially, we walked our way through woodlands, which then transitioned into a nice forest.

By 0930H, after three hours of trekking, we arrived at the crater lake of Mt. Hibok-Hibok, past a peak that is called Mt. Carling. A pair of brahminy kites hovered above the lake, along with various avian species; the entire place, from the crater to the highest point in the trail, seemed like a bird sanctuary.

During rainy season, the crater lake is a good place to swim in, according to our guide, but this time, the water was just knee deep - and murky.

From the crater, we had to reenter the forests and emerge into a rocky but verdant ascent along ridges and slopes of the mountain, before finally making our way to the peak of Mt. Hibok-Hibok after less than an hour.

It was already somewhat cloudy when we reached the peak; were the skies clearer, we would have seen Bohol and even some of the mountains of Northern Mindanao. Still, occasional gusts of wind would push the clouds and give way to blue skies.

Still, we were endowed with nice views of the high points of Hibok-Hibok, splendid in its various shades of green and an array of shapes, from the horns to the pointed summit, and at the centerpiece lay the round crater.

From the peak, it was a brisk descent to Ardent Hot Springs where we had lunch of kilawin and other local delights. Then of course, a dip at the hot springs before heading back to Benoni Port, off to CDO, and then to Manila. What a nice dayhike!

PS: Thank you Koi, Jeshua, Lance, Coby, and Farah for accompanying me in this special hike, which counted as Part 2 of my birthday climbs!

Sandugo's BaseKamp store opens in Ayala Harbor Point Subic / PinoyMountaineer shirts now available in Sandugo Outdoor Shops!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:24:00 +0000

Sandugo, a leading local outdoor brand and manufacturer, invites outdoor enthusiasts to visit their newly opened BaseKamp store at Ayala Harbor Point SBMA "to capture a one of kind outdoor experience"

The store is located at Space 2009, 2nd floor, Harbor Point Mall, Rizal Highway, Central Business District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 2200. Facilities include bike testing area for apparels and testing area for footwear where you can simulate the actual feel and comfort."

In a related, exciting development, PinoyMountaineer Shirts are now available in Sandugo stores! The numbered shirts no.1-6 are now offered in all stores for the same price as P350.00. The Dri Fit Shirt will also follow.

Check out the numbered PM shirts, including the latest - Shirt no. 6, "For the love of hiking"! Also, don't miss the exciting new addition to our line - the PinoyMountaineer Dri Fit shirt, released in April 13, available in four colors: Orange, Royal Blue, White, and Black!

Hiking matters #262: Trekking in Taipei's Four Beasts Mountain (四獸山) from Elephant Mountain (象山) to Jiuwufeng (九五峯)

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:41:00 +0000

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - I am about to conclude my fourth hiking trip in Taiwan, very happy after having done three dayhikes within the Taipei area, the first two with Agot Isidro, and the final one, the Four Beasts Mountain (四獸山), by myself. This final hike was the closest to the city proper, and was the shortest by elevation, but it did not disappoint.

From MRT Houshanpi Station, I walked to Fude Street, guided by maps that I packed into my iPad. The Four Beasts Mountain is actually a small range of hills named after animals, perhaps owing to their contours, called Elephant Mountain, Tiger Mountain, Leopard Mountain, and Lion Mountain. Elephant Mountain (象山) is the most famous, and it is here where I began my trek.

I was immediately greeted by the mountains of Yangmingshan National Park, which have become very familiar to me in the past few days. Guanyin Mountain, which we had just climbed the day before, was also prominent, and of course, Taipei 101 - this time, much closer than when we were at Qixing, or Guanyin.

Further delighting me in the trail were sightings of fauna that attest to how well-maintained the forest preserve is. I'm sure birdwatchers would have found the place interesting as well; I saw many species of different colors! I think it also helped that I took the smaller trails, as suggested by this excellent article by Stu Dawson in his great blog.

Stu's blog already showed pictures of it, but I was still pleasantly surprised to see some roped segments in a crazy ascent up Jiuwufeng (九五峯), which is located on a ridgeline above the Four Beasts. As the highest point in the trail system, I did not want to miss that one...and the extra challenge of a difficult trail was a great bonus!

Take note, however, that it is possible to access this peak by a cement path. But I hate those cement paths! They're boring and slippery! I rejoiced at the opportunity to finally set foot on actual soil. Unfortunately, it lasted only for around 20 minutes; very soon I was back in the main trail -- and Jiuwufeng, also known as 9-5 Peak, was at hand.

There was a giant stone that marked the summit, and from here, one can have a splendid view of (surprise!) Taipei 101. I did not pass up the opportunity to traverse from this peak, this time towards Tiger Mountain.

After less than an hour, I found myself at a temple which marked the end of the trail. The Four Beasts area is actually full of interconnecting trails that can keep you busy for a whole weekend, but I left the mountains very content and happy. Three dayhikes done! I will definitely be back in Taiwan for more mountains. Jade Mountain and Cilai Ridge, wait for me!

DAYHIKES IN TAIPEI (SPRING 2012)
Hiking matters #259: Mt. Qixing (七星山), Yangmingshan
Hiking matters #260: Mt. Zhugao, Qingtiangang (擎天崗)
Hiking matters #261: Mt. Guanyin (觀音山)
Hiking matters #262: The Four Beasts Mountain (四獸山)

Hiking matters #260: The short trek up Mt. Zhugao in Qingtiangang Scenic Area (擎天崗), Taipei

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:37:00 +0000

As a short sidetrip after our Mt. Qixing traverse dayhike (Hiking matters #259), Agot Isidro and I took the Park Bus 108 from the Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑) trailhead to the Qingtiangang (擎天崗) Grassland Scenic Area to do the quick dayhike of Mt. Zhugao (830m) and to enjoy the scenery.

The rolling, grassland slopes of Qingtiangang are similar to those of Batanes. No wonder a lot of Taiwanese have gone up - it was a weekend after all! Couples go on a date with their casual clothes; parents bring their children, and of course, many dogs were present.

We walked through the grassland until we reached some shrubland area, which afforded a great view of Mt. Qixing, which we had just climbed. Very soon, we were already at the summit. It was a very easy trek, but still a very nice "cool down" hike after doing Mt. Qixing.

Once again, the skyline of Taipei is the main attraction, with Taipei 101 like a needle pointing to the sky. After some pictures at the summit, we were already seeing rain coming from the north, and rushed our way back to the Visitors' Center, and waited for Bus no. 15 which took us back to Taipei. End of the day's adventure!

Hiking matters #261: Hiking up Mt. Guanyin (觀音山) in Taipei

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:33:00 +0000

While at Mt. Qixing yesterday (Hiking matters #259), Agot and I noticed a prominent mountain, which was identified in the signboards as Mt. Guanyin or Guanyinshan (觀音山). Its location, near the mouth of Taipei Strait, seemed promising and we decided to make it our destination for today -- fortunately, we saw enough information online!

And so early this morning, we proceeded to the Luzhou Station of the MRT Orange Line, and waited for the Bus 20 which took us to the Visitors' Center of Guanyinshan. It was a beautiful place with nice views of Taipei and lush greenery. Once again, we were welcomed by friendly staff.

Just like in Mt. Qixing, the trail was a cement footpath -- which I find unenjoyable because it's not comfortable with the feet, and unsafe because it gets slippery when wet. Even so, the sea breezes were refreshing, and attenuated the heat of the sun, making the trek enjoyable.

It did not take long for us to reach the summit; the trail was only 1.9 kilometers long. We had snacks there, and enjoyed views of the mountains of Yangminghan National Park: Mt. Datun and of course, Mt. Qixing itself, at 1120m the highest mountain in Northern Taiwan and around the Taipei area.

Of course, I did not miss the famous landmark, Taipei 101, and it was nice to see it again, from another perspective. The high mountains of Central Taiwan loomed behind Taipei, but this time, they were somewhat covered with clouds.

After reaching the summit, we took the Niuliaopu Trail to Wuji Temple and then to the Bali Ferry - in all, a 4.5 kilometer trail, almost thrice the length of the ascending trail. The cement steps were easy but unsafe; fortunately, it was only 1.6 kilometers; the rest was a walk through town. The ferry ride across Tamsui River provided a nice ending -- not to mention the postclimb lunch at Tamsui!

Hiking matters #259: Mt. Qixing (七星山) in Yangmingshan National Park, a great dayhike from Taipei

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Today, after sending off the participants of the Snow Mountain Expedition, my friend Agot Isidro and I headed to Yangmingshan National Park to climb Mt. Qixing (七星山), at 1120 MASL the highest mountain in the Taipei area. From Jiantan MRT Station, we took Bus R5 that led us straight to Yangmingshan.

The lady at the Visitors' Center was very friendly, and pointed us to the entrance of the Miapou Trail, a 2.4-km trail that leads to Mt. Qixing's Main Peak, via the saddle of the East Peak. The forest path was made of cement and stone most of the time, ascending gradually at first, then becoming quite steep and slippery later on.

As soon as we passed through the forests, we were enthralled by the breathtaking views of Taipei - including its famous landmark, Taipei 101 - transected by rivers and frame by the majestic mountains of Taiwan.

I am no expert in Taiwanese geography, but I am pretty sure that somewhere in the mountains we saw lay the lofty mountains of the Holy Range - Xueshan and Dabajianshan. Beautiful was the Tamsui River (淡水河) and you can follow its course through the Taiwan Strait, under the shadow of Guanyin Mountain.

Upon arriving at the grassland slopes at the upper part of the mountain, we went to the East Peak, where we continued appreciating the majestic scenery.

Then we proceeded to the Main Peak (summit) of Mt. Qixing, which had equally fantastic views.

The adventure never ends at the summit, especially if you're doing a traverse, which is exactly what we did!

For our descent, we took the Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑) Trail, which we chose because of its fumaroles or sulfuric vents. We were not disappointed!

Indeed, halfway through the trail, we were surrounded by all sorts of sulfuric vents, reminiscent of those alongside the Boulders at Mt. Apo's Kapatagan Trail as well as some of the Indonesian volcanoes I have climbed.

The foul smell of the sulfur notwithstanding, I welcomed this unique experience of having a trail right through some volcanic feature.

Very soon, we were at the trailhead; the entire climb did not last for over four hours - Agot is quite a fast hiker! At the end of the trail, we were treated to the biggest sulfuric vent, so big that it has become a tourist attraction in itself! Success! What a beautiful dayhike! Thanks Agot for joining me!

Hiking matters #258: The outdoor shops at Zhongshan Road North in Taipei

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:59:00 +0000

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - I find myself back in Taipei, for the fourth time in less than a year -- all for hiking. Aside from the spectacular high, 3000-meter mountains, I have many reasons for loving this place, and that includes the outdoor shops at Zhongshan North Road, close to the Taipei Main Station.

This street is filled with outdoor shops, offering a very wide variety of brands from all over the world. Coming from the Philippines where the brand choices can be counted with your two fingers, the range of options is truly breathtaking! What's more, there are many items on sale, and in general, the prices are very reasonable.

The shops do not look "formal", which is good because you will not feel intimated to go inside. The secret is to go up the second floors, where many of the hidden jewels lie! For instance, there is one shop where the second floor is full of backpacks of all kinds: with brands like Black Diamond, Vaude and Osprey.

All kinds of trekking poles, too, can be found, headlamps, waterproofing kits for your shoes, tents; there are Therma-Rests and portable stoves, gloves, socks, gaiters -- name it, they have it. Through time, I've bought a number of items in Taipei, including one I bought today, my advance birthday gift for myself - a La Sportiva Wild Cat GTX. Watch out for the gear review!

Climbing Log 2012

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:45:00 +0000

List of mountains I have climbed so far this year. As of May 19, I have done 23 climbs in 5 countries, including a major expedition (Holy Ridge) lasting six days, and three major climbs, Ugo and Kinabalu, and the Sumagaya-Lumot Traverse.

01/28 Trails in Monschau (Germany) 231

02/08 Mt. Maculot/Rockies 233

02/11 Mt. Batulao 234

02/20 Mt. Makiling/Traverse 235

02/22 Mt. Makiling/Traverse 236

03/03 Mt. Daguldol 239

03/10 Mt. Ugo 241 242 243

03/17 Pico de Loro 244

03/19 Bukit Timah (Singapore) 245

03/24 Mt. Maculot/Rockies 246

04/03 Holy Ridge (Taiwan) 247 248 249 250 251

04/15 Mt. Kinabalu (Malaysia) 252 253 254

04/22 Mt. Tagapo 255 256

04/22 Mt. Sembrano 257

04/29 Mt. Qixing and Zhugao (Taiwan) 259 260

04/30 Mt. Guanyin (Taiwan) 261

04/31 Four Beasts' Mountain (Taiwan) 262

05/05 Mt. Sumagaya-Lumot Traverse Dayhike 263

05/07 Mt. Hibok-Hibok Traverse 264

05/12 Mt. Batulao 265

05/12 Mt. Talamitam 266

05/16 Mts. Buntis and Nagpatong 267

05/19 Mt. Tapulao 268

GIDEON LASCO'S CLIMBING LOG

2012 Climbing Log

2011 Climbing Log

2010 Climbing Log
2009 Climbing Log

2008 Climbing Log

2007 Climbing Log

The PinoyMountaineer Dri Fit Shirt is here

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:47:00 +0000

The PinoyMountaineer Dri Fit Shirt is here! Check them out at The Perfect White Shirt branches in Metro Manila in four colors, Royal Blue, Orange, Black, and White for only P399!

The Dri Fit Shirt represents our desire to have a simple, functional, distinctive, and affordable shirt that anyone can wear in the trails, in a fabric that is suitable for the tropical environment of the Philippine mountains.

The Perfect White Shirt Branches in Metro Manila all carry them (Trinoma, Alabang Town Center, Market Market, Rob Manila, Glorietta 3) but you can also avail of FREE DELIVERY anywhere in the Philippines for orders of three shirts or more! Simply email shirts@pinoymountaineer.com to avail of this promo.

Hiking matters #250:The Holy Ridge (雪山聖稜線) Day 4: The precarious crossing of Mt. Sumida

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:45:00 +0000

Day 3 (Hiking matters #249) of our six-day Holy Ridge hike saw us successfully cross over from 369 Hut to Sumida Shelter - in a trek through ridges and scree slopes that lasted for twelve hours. Carrying a 23-kg. bag the whole time, I was exhausted when I arrived at the shelter. Little did we know that Day 4 would be even tougher.

We started trekking at 0630H, and very soon, we were confronted with the menace of Mt. Sumida itself, which we quickly realized was the crux of the climb. A series of near-vertical, cliffside rock formations had to be negotiated. There were no harnesses. Instead, a rope would be tied to your backpack, and pulled, as an 'assist' and a 'safety'.

There was no choice but to continue; this was the only way to proceed with the Holy Ridge traverse. There were at least four such roped segments which were definitely Class 5; Honestly I was not prepared to do such climbs on a heavy pack. Moreover, since we were unharnessed on a cliffside, just one mistake will take you to the depths of Taiwan. By the time I reached the end, I felt elated but exhausted.

After completing the crux, it was just a five-minute scramble to the summit of Mt. Sumida (3517m). Later on, after the climb, we would consider this summit as the 'main achievement' of the six-day Holy Ridge hike: there were after all nine peaks to choose from. But Mt. Sumida, with its technical roped ascents, is one of a kind.

The descent would prove challenging as well, but instead of ropes, we had to negotiate another scree slope, this time more precarious the ones on the previous day. There was the risk of one wrong slip unleashing a rockslide, so we descended carefully and slowly.

At the end of it, however, having finally finished the ascent and the descent, we were rewarded with a view of Sumida, the mountain we just climbed. To be sure, it looked very intimidating, but we have already crossed it; it menaced us no longer.

The day, however, was far from over. We still had to cross two peaks: Buxiulan Mountain (3438m) and Bashalayun Mountain (3402m). We planned to stay at Banan Hut, which puts us in good position to assault Dabajian Mountain (3492m) the next day; we could see it looming ahead of us, and the views all throughout were breathtaking.

When we finally arrived in Banan Hut, however, it had burned down! By this time, I was beginning to feel febrile and sick so I was very disappointed that we had to trek for another hour before reaching a nameless hut with damaged roof and walls. It had to do; we had no choice. We braced for a cold night, and hoped that the worst is over.

PinoyMountaineer shirts now available in R.O.X. Philippines at The Fort, Cebu City, Baguio City, and Pampanga!

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:43:00 +0000

We are very pleased to announce that the PinoyMountaineer shirts have begun shipping to all R.O.X. Philippines stores: its flagship hub at Bonifacio High Street at the Fort in Taguig; its second store at Ayala Cebu; its third at Marquee Mall, Pampanga, and its latest addition, R.O.X. Baguio in Camp John Hay. Shirts no. 1 to 6 will be available starting this week, with the PinoyMountaineer Dri Fit Shirt to follow soon.

This exciting partnership makes the PM shirts available in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao! We are especially pleased that we now have outlets in Baguio City, Cebu City, as well as our continuing presence in Cagayan de Oro (Viajero) and Davao (House of Lord Anthony). Meanwhile, the PM shirts continue to be available in all The Perfect White Shirt branches in Metro Manila.

Hiking matters #256: Tagapo and Sembrano in one day - Part 1: Mt. Tagapo revisited

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:25:00 +0000

Mts. Tagapo and Sembrano are the two prominent mountains to your right if you are passing through SLEX on the way to Manila. These two peaks of Rizal share many characteristics, including similarities in their contours and trail environments. Last year, I did 'twin dayhikes' (i.e. two hikes in one day) of Talamitam & Batulao, as well as Maculot & Manabu Peak (HM#215 and 216). I have long wanted to find out if doing the same approach for Tagapo and Sembrano is possible.

The Tagapo-Sembrano Twin Dayhike is more challenging than the first two, because of the logistical difficulty of having to go to an island, climb a mountain, head back, and climb another mountain. The boat rides to Brgy. Janosa do not have a regular schedule. Moreover, even though they seem close to each other from SLEX, these two mountains of Rizal are actually quite far from one another. Is it doable? The only way to find out was to attempt it.

And so in April 21, 2012 I set out with my friends to do the twin dayhikes. We rented a van, which is actually cost-effective if you have a group of around 8-10 people -- not to mention very convenient. I would recommend doing the same for people attempting twin dayhikes, or a long or far dayhike (such as Tarak Ridge, or Cristobal).

This is only my second time to do Mt. Tagapo -- my first time up this mountain was way back in January 2007, which was when I began to take up hiking as a regular hobby. Back then, I hiked with my classmates; we saw dayhikes as a perfect way to detoxify the stresses of studying in medical school. I remembered Tagapo as an easy mountain, exposed to the sun but with beautiful views at the peak. It would be interesting to see how it looks like, five years hence.

We arrived at Binangonan Port at 0640H, too late to catch the first trip (which officially leaves at 0600H, but actually leaves at around 0620H). We had no choice but to charter a boat for P1200. We could not wait for the next trip, which officially leaves at 0830H...otherwise, our twin dayhike plan would have sank.

It took an hour for the boat to reach Brgy. Janosa. Kuya Archie, the popular guide of the mountain, was waiting for us. He led us to the barangay hall, where we registered for P20 each; we lost no time in heading up the mountain, starting the trek at 0830H.

It felt very hot throughout the trek, at times unbearably so. Unlike coastal peaks with similarly exposed trails, such as Gulugod Baboy, Talim Island does not receive a healthy dose of winds, and so there was no reprieve from the sun. Even so, I was encouraged by the sight of remarkable yellow and black birds; I have to consult Paula Peralejo what these beauties are. The trail is characterized by numerous bamboo groves.

The ascent was very gradual; the bamboo groves soon gave way to woodlands of light to moderate density. Finally, after around 80 minutes of trekking, we were at the grassland slopes of Mt. Tagapo, ten minutes short of the summit.

One final assault brought us up, and for the second time, I was at the highest point of Talim Island. It offers a unique, 360-degree view of various mountains, from Mt. Maculot to the peaks of Norzagaray, Bulacan and Rodriguez, Rizal and Mt. a. Of course, the usual 'barkada' of mountains like Makiling, Kalisungan and Atimla, and the Banahaw Trilogy were there; unfortunately the trilogy was covered with clouds. Finally, beckoning to us was Sembrano, which we planned to climb on the same day.

Since it was so hot, we just stayed for several minutes at the summit, and the proceeded to go down. Perhaps wanting to make the trip more worthwhile for us, Archie took us to an alternate route going down, passing by a well they simply refer to as 'balon', and taking a more gradual descent with the same bamboo grove environment.

Back at Brgy. Janosa, we treated ourselves to halo-halo and sago't gulaman. What makes these local treats so delicious? I think whenever we partake of them, we not only relish the delicious ube, gulaman, or minatamis na saging; we are also reminded of our childhood. And in a way, hiking itself is an a way a journey back to our youth when we could do everything, where we were yet untethered to the exigencies of life.

Fortunately, there was a boat waiting for us at the small pier in Brgy. Janosa. Aside from ferrying us back to Binangonan, the pumpboat served as venue for a delightful siesta; the waves of Laguna de Bay lulled us into a most restful sleep that helped us prepare for the second leg of our day's adventure: an afternoon hike of Mt. Sembrano (see Hiking matters #257).

TWIN DAYHIKES: TWO CLIMBS IN ONE DAY

Talamitam and Batulao (September 17, 2011) 193 194

Maculot and Manabu Peak (November 26, 2011) 215 216

Tagapo and Sembrano (April 22, 2012) 255 256 257

Hiking matters #257: Tagapo and Sembrano in one day - Part 2: Mt. Sembrano Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (gidyonder) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:43:00 +0000

ANTIPOLO, RIZAL - After spending the morning hiking up Mt. Tagapo (see Hiking matters #126) and taking the pumpboat to and from Talim Island, we proceeded to Brgy. Malaya, Pililla, Rizal to do a late afternoon ascent of Mt. Sembrano. My first and last time in Sembrano was with the UP Med Outdoor Society way back in March 2007. My memories of the mountain were marred by the extreme heat on its exposed grassland slopes.

Since then, I have avoided the mountain, out of security concerns enunciated in a series of "Hiking advisories" that we have issued from 2009 onwards. Mt. Sembrano has gained notoriety for the numerous reports of theft and holdups that have taken place on its campsites and trails. One of my objectives in the trip was to see for myself what the present situation is.

From Binangonan to the the Brgy. Hall of Malaya, Pililla Rizal took less than an hour; we simply passed by the Manila East Road, and then turned right after the Flying V gas station past the town proper of Pililla. At the barangay hall where we paid P20 each, the tanods confidently asserted that it is now safe to hike up Sembrano, they dismissed the security concerns as slander even though they conceded that several incidents did happen in the past.

We started trekking at 1610H - a very late hour to commence a dayhike, but a very reasonable time considering how we were 'oven-baked' by the Tagapo hike. My experiences with mountains that are notorious for being scorching hot tell me that they are best hiked early in the morning, or late in the afternoon. With this strategy, we saw Cinco Picos in entirely new light, literally.

By 1650H we were at the Manggahan campsite, where we met some hikers who were about to finish their dayhike. There, Melvin and wife - the caretakers in the area - are now collecting a P10 'entrance fee' from hikers; I guess we have no choice but to pay, since the area is private property. I have mixed feelings about locals collecting fees without any receipts, but the reality in the Philippines is that mountains are unregulated, and 'fees', unofficial or official, do not necessarily translate to environmental conservation or improved security.

Talking to the locals, I have the sense that they did not enjoy the talk about thieves and holduppers lurking around; they seem quite confident in the fact that the juvenile thief has already been caught, and the trail is now very safe. I would have wanted to probe deeper into the issue, but we were pressed for time; Neither did we have time for buko juice or refreshments; nor for a sidetrip to the waterfalls, as we wanted to be at the summit while the sun was still up.

Fortunately, by 1740H we were already at the grassland. Instead of the scorching hot, windless atmosphere in Tagapo several hours before, we enjoyed refreshing winds there, and I basked at the sight of Mt. Tagapo itself, and Mt. Makiling, Mt. Malipunyo, as well as the peaks of the Sierra Madre. Upon arrival at the grassland, hikers usually conclude that the trek is almost finished, but actually, the trek up to the 'true summit' can still be taxing. The heat of the sun can make this almost unbearable, but in our case, the breezes practically kept me going.

By 1805H, almost two hours after we started trekking, we were at the summit of Mt. Sembrano! There was a sense of fulfillment in having hurdled both the physical challenge of hiking up two mountains in one day amid the heat, as well as the logistical challenge of driving across Rizal and even taking two boat rides. Thank you to the youths from Taguig I met at the summit, who kindly took our summit photos!

The night trek back to the trailhead was pleasant; by the time we had left the grassland, the city lights of Metro Manila had been turned on, creating a spectacular scene. We did not encounter any security problems, even if we nighttrekked. I would still advise hikers to be careful, but I think the situation has improved. I can also say that having done this climb, I now have a better appreciation of Sembrano. By 2030H we were heading back to Manila and I am now on our van as we eagerly await a stop for dinner. Surely, a good meal is awaiting us!

PS: This is the third 'twin dayhike' that I have done and documented in the past several months, the first two being Talamitam and Batulao and Maculot Manabu Peak. What's next?

TWIN DAYHIKES: TWO CLIMBS IN ONE DAY

Talamitam and Batulao (September 17, 2011) 193 194

Maculot and Manabu Peak (November 26, 2011) 215 216

Tagapo and Sembrano (April 22, 2012) 255 256 257