Mt. Daguldol + Ambon-Ambon Falls + Laiya Beach

“Hiking is a bit like life:
The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other…again and again and again.
And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek,
you will witness beauty every step of the way,
not just at the summit”

As our plan to go on an extended hike up North failed to materialize, we decided to go down South for a dayhike. So we decided to drive all the way to San Juan, Batangas and climb Mt. Daguldol. It was practically a drive of about three (3) hours from Quezon City to the quaint Sitio Biga in Hugom, San Juan, Batangas.

While we were paying the registration fees and securing our local guide for the hike, we were forewarned by the locals that there seems to be brewing problem among the local guides. According to our guide, a guide from the Lobo (the summit and campsite is supposedly within the jurisdiction of the town of Lobo) was prevented from leading a group of hikers the past weekend owing to the fact that he was drunks at that time. Trouble erupted among them since those from Lobo claimed (which is supposedly true) that a guide from San Juan (the jumpoff is within the jurisdiction of the town of San Juan) was allegedly previously allowed to act as such even though such guide was similarly intoxicated at that time.

Mt. Batulao - New Trail to Old Trail Traverse (Solohike)

"Great things are done when men and mountains meet."

                                 - William Blake -

Mt. Batulao has been known in the mountaineering circle as one of the better climbs near Metro Manila. It offers a challenging hike that offers a lot of rewards to aspiring hikers that would wish to practice some technical facets of climbing. Hence, it is not uncommon for mountaineers to have their baptism of fire in this mountain.

This popularity of Mt. Batulao has reared its ugly head. Controversies and issues regarding registrations and rules on climbing and guides resulted to climbers shying away from tramping in this hub of Philippine mountaineering.

Previously, in any given holiday or weekend, hikers would come in droves, 300 hikers tramping on its picturesque peaks and ridges would be an understatement. Foot traffic at the roped segments is comparable to EDSA and the summit is jam-packed at any given time of the day. But now, according to the local that I talked to, a lucky day would mean about a hundred or so hikers passing through the registration areas. I admit, I am one of those who were disenchanted and eventually became indifferent to climbing this popular tramping ground because of the so many issues that supposedly cropped up from the personal interests of some people.

Manabu Peak - Mataas na Bundok

"He that plants trees loves others besides himself."
- Thomas Fuller -

Manabu Peak is one of the more popular minor climbs that is relevantly close to Metro Manila. Most enjoy its dense forest cover, the interesting flora and fauna within its range, and the wonderful views that it offers. Of course, who would ever forget the free civet coffee of Mang Tino and Mang Pirying. There are really a lot of reasons that climbers continue to flock and climb Manabu.


Arriving at the trail head, we changed gears and prepared to climb. Holding the seedling that we purchased at the registration area in one, we were so eager to trailblaze again.

Engr's seedling

The initial part of the trail is similar to the approach in Mt. Sembrano and Mt. Romelo. Subsequent to the preliminary plunge and ascent, we passed by agricultural  crops and some orchards as we slowly went deeper into the forest and reach the Stations of the Manabu Loop (Yes, the trail is a loop that is comprised by a number of Stations).

The rolling terrain went on until we finally arrived at Station 3 where we briefly stopped for some photo ops. Here, we also had to cross the brook. As the forest in the Malipunyo Range (where Manabu is located) is really one of the more impressive ones in the entire Philippines, it is not surprising that the flora and fauna in the area is really remarkable.

At the Station 3

Onwards, we passed by farmlands and even had to stoop down at one point in order to get pass by steel wires that resemble a clothesline, which I supposed is being used by the locals as a trellis for their vegetable crops.We decided to have our first rest stop at Station 4. This is where the loop trail merges. The trail on the left leads directly to the Grotto (Station 8) and is relatively an easier ascent towards the summit. On the other hand, while the conventional trail on the right is the steeper assault, it nonetheless leads to Station 5, where Mang Tino and Mang Pirying shall gamely offer a free taste of civet coffee to hikers.

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.

Mt. Gulugod Baboy / Mt. Pinagbanderahan - Tramping the famous "Pig's Spine"

We left Quezon City at 0420H bound for Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, one of the most recognized diving sites in Philipiines. But we are in for a different adventure and that is to scale Mt. Gulugod Baboy, so-called for its resemblance to a "pig's spine". There were actually five of us who answered the challenge for this climb.

We are Skookum!

A great day to climb

We arrived at the scenic town of Mabini, Batangas at 0630H and went straight to the market for breakfast and for us to buy some provisions. And after having our fill of Pork Nilaga, Liempo, and Giniling, we headed straight to the PhilPan Dive Resort in Anilao, the jump-off point to Mt. Gulugod Baboy.

At the public market...for breakfast and to buy food

Skookum...at the registration area

We are ready to rumble :)

After fixing our things and a short prayer, we commenced hiking at 0815H.

The hike actually began on a concrete pavement opposite Philpan Dive Resort. The initial climb (and so we thought it was only the initial climb but it was pure climb all throughout until you reach "Teletubbyland") was a pure ascent passing by residential areas until we reached the "intersection" where a store cum rest area is located on the right side of the road. Facing the said store is the actual dirt path leading to Mt. Gulugod Baboy. Previously, there was a sign board that was posted here but at that time we were there it was already gone.

The beginning of the trail looks like this.

Mt. Maculot - Rockies.Summit (Skookum Mountaineers' 1st climb)

*This is an account of our very 1st climb together, way back when we were not yet known as Skookum Mountaineers.

It was Chinese New Year 2014 (Lunar New Year) when a group of friends decided to get out of the box and explore more of the outdoors. It began with the aim of scaling the famous Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas.

Mt. Maculot...snapshot taken from the public market

For some of us, it was an initial attempt to hit the trail; for most maybe the first in a long while. Only a few in our group have a more than decent knowledge of basic mountaineering. Of course, our Team Leader was Sir Allan Calura who was ably assisted by Sir Espi.

While some of us took the bus in Buendia cor. Taft Avenue, another group (where I was in) used private transportation and went straight to Batangas. Our rendezvous point is at the Cuenca Public Market, where we arrived at 5:00AM.

We decided to eat breakfast at one of the eateries in the public market, the owner of which was very elated that she opened early as we even bought additional food for lunch aside from the lomi and puto't dinuguan that we consumed with gusto.

Lomi topped with crispy chicharon

We then took the tricycle going to the jump-off point, although we had to pay the registration fee of P20.00 at a checkpoint area.

registration area

the road leading to the trail...just before the mountaineers' store

Mt.Talamitam and Mt. Batulao - Twin Dayhike on a stormy weather

Since Typhoon Florita was then within the so-called Philippine Area of Responsibility, the Southwest Monsoon was relatively enhanced thereby causing inclement weather throughout the archipelago. Nevertheless, we did not let this dampen our spirits as Gani and I dared not only to brave the elements but to take it a notch higher this time by doing a twin dayhike.

In mountaineering jargon, a twin dayhike (as the term implies) refers to summiting two separate mountains within a single day. While this is no longer uncommon since there are also those who even do triple dayhikes (also referred to as circuit hikes), it is safe to say that only the most hardcore of mountaineers dare to do a twin dayhike. In our case, we went for the Mt. Talamitan - Mt Batulao Twin Dayhike.

Mt. Talamitam is covered by storm clouds

I left our house in Quezon City at 0430H and was able to fetch Gani at the MRT Boni Station 10 minutes later. At 0610H, we arrived at the jump-off point to Mt. Talamitam, Km. 83 along the Tagaytay-Batangas highway in Sitio Bayabasan, Brgy. Aga, Nasugbu, Batangas.

That is the Highway (the truck is heading towards Nasugbu); the road leads to the trail leading to Mt. Talamitam

B1 (Hardcore #1)

B2 (Hardcore #2)

  
Since as per our intended itinerary, we are scheduled to summit Mt. Talamitam and supposedly get back to the jump-off point before noontime, we already ate for breakfast the beef tapa that Bette prepared as our lunch. At 0635H, we commenced our twin dayhike.

The 1st Registration Area located along the Highway (just after Km. 83)