Mt. Batulao - Old Trail to New Trail Traverse

***This is an account of our climb in Mt. Batulao (technically Skookum's 3rd) before Skookum Mountaineers was formally established.***
 

Mt. Batulao

A few weeks after our first venture into the mountains of the Cordillera, we Skookums were at it again. This time we went to Nasugbu, Batangas in an attempt to traverse Mt. Batulao.

It was already 0400H when we left Mcdonald's (Gilmore cor. E.Rodriguez) and arrived at Evercrest at around 0600H. We immediately ate breakfast at one of the eateries along the highway. It was also here where we bought additional food for lunch.

The jumpoff point along the Tagaytay-Nasugbu highway

Clubhouse

From the residential area located after Evercrest, we boarded tricycles that took us deeper into the trail. We alighted at the junction and took the road on the left (the road on the right leads to the school). It was already 0715H when we started to hike.

The dirt path is literally all dirt....Allan, Jaime and Doc

Single file

At the 1st hut just after the initial incline

 At 0835H, we arrived at the split and followed the dirt path on the left side of the trail, which leads to the Old Trail. We then arrived at the 1st rest stop (house) fifteen minutes later. Here, two young boys offered to sell us Mountain Dew and buko juice (fresh from the fruit). We felt recharged after that very long rest.

Old Trail goes to the left; Straight goes to the New Trail

The Mango Orchard, photo taken from the 1st House on the Old Trail

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Just after the 2nd house going down to the bamboo bridge

Crossing the bamboo bridge on the dried up river bed

bamboo bridge

At 0915H, we finally arrived at Camp 1 where we had to register and pay the mandatory registration fee of P20.00. We were already awed by the views before us and were giddily pointing at the trail that we still had to go through. However, since most in our group were actually newbies in mountain climbing at that time, the mere sight of the steep climb that we need to scale converted the excitement in most of us into a leap of faith

Camp 1

The jagged peaks of Batulao

Ayos Geovanni

Jejo and Eunice

Camp 6 and we are all exhausted already...with Geovanni, Lorie, Eunice and Nathan

 Each step that we took became a testament of our resolve as we slowly inched our way to Camp 7. While here, we enjoyed the shade offered by the lonesome tree (talisay tree) and relished in the cool breeze that intermittently break the searing heat of the sun.

From the solitary tree (Camp 7)

Mahangin...at maaraw

 After we saw that Allan was already waiting for us at Camp 8, we commenced to assault the summit. Some of us were scrambling on rocks, while others were really huffing and puffing. Since we were held back by a big group of hikers who seem to be on an organized tour. Just to save precious time, some of us decided to just rock-climb on the left side of the ascent while they were rappelling on the right side.

The final assault to the summit

We are waiting for these hikers to go down before we can continue the assault to the summit

now...keep the focus...every step of the way

mountaineering is really not for the faint-hearted (I consider this the hardest part of the climb)

Allan was towing the line as we scramble on the rocks at Camp 8

yes we can do it

Since we had to wait for some of our fellow hikers at Camp 9, it was already 1100H when we finally reached the summit. Although the sun was really beaming in all its might, we were actually mindless of the heat at the time since the amazing views at the top were simply breathtaking. We can see Balayan Bay to the South and a glimpse of Gulugod Baboy, Mt. Talamitam is clearly noticeable, as well as Mt. Maculot and Taal Lake. As if there was an unimaginable expanse of territory from end to end. The jagged cliffs and deep ravines of the numerous peaks of Mt. Batulao were likewise very impressive.

Allan...doing the Spiderman climb on the left side of the wall

Geovanni...thinking what to do

Yipee...the hardest parts are already over. (Geovanni and Lorie running towards the summit)

Mt. Talamitam

At the summit

Camp 10

Panorama (Summit View)

We were here...

It was already 1145H when we decided to descend via the New Trail. Nevertheless, some of us still dared to climb the egg-like peak along the trail. It was bedlam when Allan dared to do his patented Skookum jump. Clearly, we were already enjoying each moment that we spend along the trail

We now go down via the New Trail

need to be extra careful

Skookum Jump

And Allan has made it

We reached the camp at Peak 8  at 1230H. We again had to register and pay P20.00 registration fee. We then settled at the rest area cum store located on the far corner of the camp. There we ate lunch and even had extra time for siesta. Since it was really so humid at that time, we decided to take an extended rest.

The camp site at the New Trail

Ayos...heehee

We started to descend at 1430H. I must admit that the heat of the sun was still very draining at that time. Nevertheless, strong winds would cool us of from time to time. It also is very exciting to trudge on the winding trail as we try to reach the apex of each of the remaining peaks on the New Trail.

as we left Peak 8...with the summit as background

Since we only had very brief rests (actually only for photo ops), we decided to take a long rest at one of the huts and bought halo-halo. We were then instantly relieved of the exhaustion that was brought about by the intense heat. At 1630H, we continued to descend back to the residential area where we parked our vehicles.

At the intersection

Halo-halo for everyone

We finally arrived at the residential area at 1715H and immediately proceeded to the wash-up areas along the highway. At 1830H, we left Nasugbu for Metro Manila.

Traipsing Chronicles 010
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Mt. Batulao - Traverse (Old Trail to New Trail)
Nasugbu, Batangas
Minor Climb: 4/9   811MASL
Highlights: 360° view at the summit; rolling terrain; roped segments; open trail;  

Actual Itinerary (please be reminded that we did not use public transportation so make the necessary adjustments)


Old Trail to New Trail

0400    ETD (McDonalds Broadway)
0600    ETA Evercrest / Breakfast along the Highway
0645    Start trek (we hired a tricycle to take us deep inside the jump-off point)
0815    Arrived at the split / cleft (take the trail on the left side going down)
0830   Arrived at the rest stop (1st House in the Old Trail) (had to wait for the others here)
0915   Arrived at Camp 1 (Register)
1000   Reached Camp 8 (Prepare for final assault to summit from the Solitary Tree)
1100   At the Summit
1145   Descend to Peak 8
1230   Arrived at Peak 8 (register and have lunch)
1430   Descend from Peak 8
1545   Arrival at the 2nd Hut after the split (Halo-Halo time)
1630   Continue descent to jump-off point
1715   Arrived at the residential area (Parking area)
1815   Finished wash-up at the houses along the highway
1830   Departure for Manila

Getting There. Just board any bus going to Nasugbu, Lian, or Calatagan in Batangas and tell the conductor that you are going to alight at Evercrest. From there, you may choose to start hiking or hire a tricycle that will bring you deep into the residential area (until the junction where you will have to take the dirt road on the left and not the road on the right that leads to the school) for P120.00.

In case you have your own transportation, just go to Tagaytay City and traverse the highway leading towards Nasugbu, Batangas. Evercrest is located on the left side of the road more or less a kilometer after the "Welcome to Nasugbu" arch.

Guides. Guides are readily available (most of them are children aged between 11 to 15). It is advisable to hire one for first-timers or if there are a lot of novice climbers in your group.


* There are reports that in view of the accident that happened to one hiker, the Barangay Council has now made it mandatory for hikers to secure the services of a guide. But again there are others who claim that it still is not mandatory to get a guide to climb Mt. Batulao.

Registration Fees. There are different caretakers for the Old Trail and the New Trail. Hence, the need to pay P20.00 on both registration areas in case you are doing the traverse.

Wash-up. There are houses at the residential area inside Evercrest and along the highway who charge P20.00 each person.

Side Trip. Spending extra time in Tagaytay City is a common occurrence among mountaineers after scaling Mt. Batulao. Nonetheless, some would choose to proceed to the beaches in Nasugbu or even as far as Calatagan.

Trails. Although it may be subjective, many consider climbing through the New Trail easier than doing the traverse via the Old Trail. Consider this as a tip, it is observed that most tour operators / weekend warriors choose to climb via the New Trail.