It is the first time for us Skookums to attempt a circuit climb as well. For starters, a circuit climb is made when mountaineers successfully summit a series of mountains that are usually located within close proximity of each other. It may be a dayhike, an overnight climb, or an extended hike that may last three to five days. In other cases, it may be called as Trio Climb (as in Bakun Trio) or even a Trilogy Climb (as in Nasugbu Trilogy). Another Circuit Climb that has become popular to mountaineers over the years is the Kibungan Circuit in Benguet.
The San Jose Circuit ("SJC") actually refers to the series of mountains that straddle the town of San Jose in Tarlac. Nevertheless, the term San Jose Circuit has evolved in the mountaineering world and now refers to the hike (usually a dayhike) wherein three (3) mountains namely: Mt. Caoayan; Mt. Bungkol Baka; and Mt. Tangisan, are scaled.
For this climb, four Skookums namely: Allan, Gani, Lennon and Oliver dared to answer the challenge.
We decided to meet at Mcdonald's Eton Centris (along EDSA before Quezon Ave.) at 0145H. At 0200H, we were already on our way to rustic Sitio San Pedro, San Jose, Tarlac. Even with our leisurely pace, we reached Tarlac City at 0400H. After spending minutes going around looking for an eatery, we just decided to eat breakfast at the Mcdonald's located on the junction just opposite Tarlac State University.
It was still dark when we arrived in San Jose (0520H), and since at first, we thought we still had to go to Brgy. Iba where we were advised by one barangay official that we still had to backtrack and find our way back towards the Monasterio de Tarlac and turn right towards the gravel road leading to Sitio San Pedro. So much with the thinking that we were still very early haahaa.
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| "Double Shot" |
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| Waiting for the sunrise |
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| dare to climb |
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| We were already in Brgy. Iba before sunrise |
