Mt. Damas Super Loop - Papaac to Papaac via Dueg

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

                                                                                              - Martin Luther King -

The mountains in Tarlac have their own reputation that is, though not that high in elevation, they actually pack a myriad of surprises even for experienced mountaineers. As to Mt. Damas, while it is common knowledge that this mountain already provides a punch, we decided to add more challenge to this already grueling hike (usual dayhike) by setting the bar a notch higher owing to our intended cross-country climb in the Cordillera.

Mt. Damas (taken from Brgy. Papaac)

Mt. Damas (the Summit taken from the campsite at the western side of the mountain)

Our intended Mt. Damas Superloop Traverse commenced at the usual jumpoff point in Brgy. Papaac. It was 1045H when we left for Sitio Dueg. While Mt. Damas is already near the area, we followed the dirt road in the opposite direction (northward, leading to the basketball court) until we passed by some rice paddies and residential areas where dogs barked continuously at us. the initial part of the hike is a relatively easy walk on a flat surface. Trees along the road would sporadically offer shade, but there are also areas where we were fully exposed to the searing heat of the sun.

Decathlon - Festival Mall

Widely regarded as a haven for sports enthusiasts, Decathlon has opened its first store in the Philippines a few months ago. Located at the 2nd Floor Bridgeway Parking of the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Decathlon became an instant hit in mountaineering circles (including runners, bikers, among others).

Rows and rows of competitively priced and quality gears are available for the budget-conscious who at least seek for their money's worth.

Membership is free for everyone where shoppers earn points and discounts. Another bonus is that members are entitled to a 2-year warranty on each purchase they make. More so, Decathlon also offers on-line purchase with free delivery within the Greater Metro Manila area. They are open from 10:00AM to 10:00PM.

You may click on the link below for more details.
Decathlon Philippines

Mt. 387 / Mt. Batong Amat traverse to Aloha Falls

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity”

                                                                                               
                                                                                           ― John Muir, Our National Parks

Mt. 387 (also known as Batong Amat) has instantly gained its ground as one of the more popular climbs in Central Luzon since the time it was introduced to the mountaineering community at the onset of 2017. Now, it has become as one of the favorites even by newbies and occasional hikers because mainly of two factors: 1. the supposed view of the so-called Chocolate Hills of the North; and 2. the cool dip at the nearby Aloha Falls after the climb.

What is referred to as the Chocolate Hills of the North is actually a part of the Caraballo Mountain Range....notice a faint Mt. Arayat in the background.

The Stone Marker near the Summit...the actual Summit is the clearing about 200 meters from this area.

Solitude

Aloha Falls

While we were supposed to participate in the National Mountain Cleanup Day, cancellations and conflicts in our respective schedules resulted to us five (5) deciding to climb Mt. 387 and do some tree-planting. It was already 15 minutes before midnight when we left McDonald's Quezon Avenue (corner EDSA), and as I practically know the easiest and fastest route to Carranglan, driving there would practically be a breeze.

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.

National Mountain CleanUp Day 2017

The annual National Mountain Cleanup Day (as spearheaded by Dr. Gideon Lasco of pinoymountaineer.com) shall be held on July 8, 2017. We are thankful to Pinoy Mountaineer for braving the challenge and starting this noble activity that allows nature lovers like us to give something back to Mother Nature.

While we also believe in the idea that each climb should be a cleanup climb, the Skookum Mountaineers fully supports this project.

credits to Mr. Jeffrey Canizares and pinoymountaineer.com for the logo

For more details, you may consult the guiding document for this worthwhile event. You may likewise visit the Facebook page of NMCD 2017 and join the group for more details.

***Updated  list-of-participating-groups-in-the-2017-national-mountain-cleanup-day.

Mt. Lagyo traverse to Mt. Susong Dalaga

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”

                                                                                                   – Ralph Waldo Emerson


After almost two years, we were finally back in Wawa to explore the mountains that were newly opened as hiking destinations.

Commencing the hike at 0720H, we threaded the road leading to Mt. Parawagan. We were initially surprised to see that the dirt road has now been cemented up to the point where a public resort is located just a few minutes before the junction leading to Mt. Lagyo is located. As there was an on-going fun ride at that time, we had to contend with a considerable number of riders making their way to the summit of Mt. Parawagan.

As it was Engr. who scouted for our hike and prepared our itinerary, we were then expecting a leisurely hike. Nonetheless, through the prodding of our guide (Mang Geovanni), we were persuaded to traverse Mt. Lagyo onward to Mt. Susong Dalaga for a twinhike.

It was already 0800H when we reached the junction where we bid farewell to the bikers and continued towards Mt. Lagyo. It was after we reached another junction (where we took the trail on the left...the path on the right leads toward a residential area) that the trail began to get steeper. A mountain biker followed us and asked for directions saying that he is going to Pintong Bukawe which is still at least 3-4 hours from Mt. Lagyo (depending on the pace) considering the terrain of the trail that he still needs to cover. From the said junction where a store is located, we had to circle around Mt. Lagyo until we finally reached the trail that leads to the upper portions of the mountain.

It was 0820H when we reached the trail at the base of Mt. Lagyo where we decided to have some time to catch our breathes and prepare for the steeper climbs ahead. Initially, banana and some fruit-bearing trees dot the trail, until the rock scrambling began. Then we reached a bamboo grove which ultimately gave way to some more rock scrambling. The hike went on until 0915H, we reached the general area where the 1st Peak (viewdeck) of Mt. Lagyo is located.

Mt. Lubog - Hiking after a bumpy ride

"Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuffs to show."
                                                                                      - Anonymous -

Mt. Lubog and its rocky peak

Mt. Lubog: taken from the jumpoff

"Manong, bakit naman ngayon ka pa umikot ng Morato at E.Rod kung kelan napakaluwag ng EDSA? Timog hanggang Aurora, nakailang traffic light tayo?" 

Okay, that was me badgering the taxi driver who was obviously trying to rip me off by inflating my taxi fare in going to our meet up place in Cubao. Haahaa...fast forward.

As we were five (5) in our group and another group of four (4) hikers joined us in the fx, we decided to just pay for the last slot instead of spending time waiting for a chance passenger to arrive. It was a rather smooth ride through Commonwealth, and Litex in Quezon City, until we finally reached the Total Gas Station in Eastwood (Rodriguez, Rizal), where incidentally a 7-11 convenience store is also located and where we are set to meet our habal-habal driver.

It was still dark when we left the Total Station and went through the different subdivisions in Eastwood, until we finally reached the concrete road leading to Brgy. Mascap. Before reaching Mascap Proper, we however turned left towards Sitio Macaingalan and sooner than we think, we were already traversing an unpaved and bumpy road.

I actually lost count of the number of times that we had to alight from the habal-habal, push it, or just hike until it is able to negotiate the steep and/or difficult portions in the road. We passed by the local chapel and even the so'called Ark (similar in intent and purposes as the Noah's Ark) that was featured in news reports some years back. As we continued to ascend the dirt road, we reached the concrete structure that the locals refer to as "Simbahan" (concrete house with inscriptions in its wall...and what I remember is something like "Paraiso ni Diyos Ama"). After the next Station of the Cross along the road, our habal-habal again encountered difficulties in negotiating the dirt road that is obviously in a severe state of disrepair. Hence, we had to hike (to our surprise) at least 500 meters of continuous uphill climb until we reached the remains of what was supposed to be a "Welcome Arch".

That was actually the longest (but not the last) among the hikes that we had to take.Huffing and puffing, it felt like I already hiked a good deal of peaks even before we actually reached the trailhead.

Our butts definitely took a beating in this roller coaster-like and bumpy ride into the midst of the Sierra Madre. Good thing, our habal-habal had rubber straps for seats. It therefore is Newton's Law simplified, "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". More so, the view of the vastness of the Sierra Madre, and the Metro Manila skyline, somewhat made up for the grueling ride. To tell you honestly, we were actually enjoying at that time.