Monday, February 25, 2013

Mt. Pulag Itinerary 02232413– one of the worst condition – tail of the typhoon attacks


With:
Appie Cruz
Badz de Dios
Caleb Escobal
Casper Jacob
Dhang Sunga
Ervin Ponsaran
Ken Espinosa
Kix Tablate



Day 1

01:00   meet up at McDonald’s Munoz, coffee/midnight snack
01:30   leave Munoz
05:00   arrived at Kennon road – Caltex-cr
06:30   St. Joseph Baguio – transfer from van to jeepee
07:00   leave Baguio
11:00   DENR P150/9 guide fee, P150-180 tshirt (optional), seminar, registration, picture taking
12:00   leave to Ambangeg ranger station from Bokod
13:00   start trek
14:00   camp 1
16:30   camp 2 - fix tent, coffee, cook dinner


Day 2

04:30   wake up – listen to the radio for the weather update and climate/temperature condition
            Coffee, cook breakfast, fix tent
08:30   descend
09:00   camp 1
10:00   ranger station
11:00   leave jumpoff – with Ace, Ac/kush & Greg
12:00   DENR – log out
13:00   Jangjang Restaurant – fix ourselves - P60 meal(unli rice) P10 banana
14:55   St. Joseph transfer from jeepee to van
           Mansion House, Mine’s view, Burnham Park , Night Market, pasalubong
23:00   leave Baguio bound to Manila
03:00   arrived at McDonald’s Munoz
03:30   HOME <3<3<3



Wow! This is really awesome and a very memorable one!

As night begins, I am torn between going to the Hot-air balloon-Arayat and Pulag-Panagbenga. I of course packed my things for wherever I choose to go. Before the day ends, Kix called me up and asked me if I would like to accompany him to pick Ervin from Monuz because they cabcelled their Pulag climb because the organizer itself is not going because of the "bad weather", typhoon has just been gone but there are still rain showers.

There, when I reached McDonald's Munoz, they're all there! Geez, I wanna shout! Hehehe! I don't know what to think that time. I rush myself freshly from bathe to reach Mcdo to meet Kix and Ervin only without thinking of changing my short & shirt. When they decided to push in climbing Pulag, I decided to go with them because they're all not going just to add their number.

At exactly 12 in the morning, we leave McDo and pick each of our packed things and decided to meet again at McDo at 01:00. We leave Munoz exactly at 01:30 with our take-out midnight snacks at McDonald's. I am sad that siblings Yhang and TJ can't come especially Yhang because she's been longing to climb Mount Pulag.

Geez, inside the rented van is fun! really fun! Kix, Caleb, Ken, Ervin and Badz are snooring really loud! lol! Bloopers are around and I am really laughing the whole trip! We stopped by the Caltex nearby Kennon road  to 'comfort' ourselves :D. It is really traffic but slowly moving. We started opening the windows and stopped the AC since it is already cold outside when we proceed from Caltex.

At 06:30 we reached Baguio at St Joseph parish parking. I am so overwhelmed by the place. I saw monks for the 3rd time when I entered the church (blessing part)! I first saw monks at St Jude church along Quezon Avenue and second at Trappist at Guimaras island. I prayed for our safe climb as always! When the rented jeepee arrived just minutes passed, we transferred our things from van and leaved around 07:00





Around 07:00, we stopped by some certain area to buy other things needed and food and drinks and around 08:00 to some restaurant to eat breakfast.





Meal is expensive for me! After eating, we proceed our trip riding on top of the jeepee with Badz, Appie, Casper, and Dhang. When you are toploading, you can see the magnificent view of the dam! So cool and so wide! At 09:20, we stopped by Jang-jang-Balengasay footbridge and cross it. Then head back  the road to DENR for registration and others requirements.




At DENR, you have to have an advance registration specially for seasons like this -summer and cold season. As declared, reservation is already full from February to March. And you have to undergo a
20minutes seminar/video viewing of the magnificent Mt. Pulag's ' chasing clouds'. I learned from Superintendent Albas that we have this cloud rat which can be found only in the Philippines particularly in Mt. Pulag! Seminar pertains to the conservation of Mt. Pulag and its living things paricularly cloud rat, tribe's beliefs, and other concern. Our batch composed of 6 groups-in for the seminar. Ours are the smallest. We are 9, the others are 36. 39, 16, 15, and 12.





Mt. Pulag's exit points/trails



with DENR superintendent Albas 

Wacky daw sabi ni Madam :D


Team 5C Traverllers symbol

Jeepees hired for the day taking climbers to the ranger station in Ambangeg will not be less than 10. Some already stick up because of the slippery road. 




Few minutes from DENR, there is 1 jeepee that stick up on the road. because road is muddy and slippery. Ours too, stick up for about 10-15 minutes where we are 15 minutes away from Ambangeg ranger station. Jeepee can't go up because the concrete road is covered with mud. Everybody even bouncing, which helps a little, until Kix, Badz and Caleb try to push the jeepee which is effective though. The man whom sweeping slowly the mud through the flowing water in the hose a big help too.




Benguet Dam links captured through mobile - http://youtu.be/9VerVm-ql70 or https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151305342621048&set=vb.752826047&type=2&theater

Jang-jang-Balengasay footbridge - a footbridge used to transfer the water source and has a very nice view

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Mt. Nagpatong itinerary - rock climb

Rock climbing without harness or anything

with Herold Vergel de Dios

morning - 711's Run800

10:45 arrived at Cogeo P24 from Cubao
10:52 to Cuyampay Tanay Rizal P50
11:50 to brgy Hall P30
13:23 Peter's house - fix ourselves
13:40 start Trek
15:00 arrived at Nagpatong Rock summit
16:10 descend from Nagpatong Rock, rock climb to another rock
17:40 Peter's house fix ourselves wait for a last trip jeepney
18:43 finally to Cogeo P45)
19:45 to Cubao


guide fee P500 negotiable
motorcycle service P200-P250

Morning event is the 7-11 800 Run at Roxas Blvd. This is mine and Badz' first time to run. That's why we only take the beginner's 'distance', 3km.


Sto Nino QC Feast Day - side trip until 06:30 courtesy of Romer Matubang with Casper Jacob and Francis Tablate




Monday, February 18, 2013

Mt. Timbac traverse to Pulag itinerary - February 9-10, 2013

with Gerald Ternola


Day 0

00:00 leave Victory Liner Cubao to Baguio

Day 1 Mt. Timbac traverse (Atok -Kabayan Central)

05:45 arrived at Baguio Victory liner Bus Terminal                                  
06:30 Ride bus going to Km. 55 Atok, Benguet
09:45 Arrived at Mt. Timbak jump off
10:00 Start trek
11:00 Arrived at Mangoto Elementary School
11:30 Arrived at Mt. Timbac Cruz Station take some photos
11:50 Arrived at Mt. Timbac summit take some photos
12:40 Arrived at Mt. Timbac Key keeper
13:40 Visited Mt. Timbac mummy
15:14 Met Valerie and David at Mongoto-Kabayan road
17:41 Arrived at Tinongchol Cave bridge
18:42 Arrived at Kabayan Central
We can’t find tricycle at this time of day.
21:32 Arrived at Mt. Pulag Akiki jump off
Day 2 Mt. Pulag dayhike traverse (Akiki-Ambangeg trail
01:00 Start Trek
02:15 Arrived at Eddet River
03:30 Arrived at E-camp
05:23 Arrived at Malboro camp site
06:30 Arrived at Akiki last water source
08:00 Arrived at Saddle camp-break
09:00 Mt. Pulag summit
09:15 Start decend from Mt. Pulag summit
10:00 Arrived at Mt. Pulag Summit-Tawangan trail sign
11:00 Arrived at Ambangeg Camp 1
12:30 Habal Habal ride from Babadac Ranger station to Bukod, Benguet
13:30 Arrived at Bukod, Benguet
14:00 Ride Norton bus going to Baguio
16:30 Arrived at Baguio city
17:00 Post climb at O’mai Khan restaurant                                              
18:00 leave Baguio through Victory Buslines                                             
23:00 ETA Pasay terminal
links to pictures:

Mt. Malipunyo, Manabu, Maculot Itinerary - December 30-31, 2012

People who were with me:
Dennis Camara
Reynante Mina

Day 1
00:00 leave Buendia through Jam Liner bound to Fiesta Mall - Lipa
01:45 arrived at Fiesta Mall landmark (wait for the guide-trike)
02:45 trike and guide(Mario) arrived
03:15 start trek
05:00 reached peak 1
06:00 reached peak 3 - breakfast
06:30 descend
07:15 at traverse trail - new trail-6days old. we are the first to take!
08:00 mang Mario's house - coffee break :D
08:30 start trek to Manabu
09:30 reached "biak na bundok"
11:00 reached Manabu campsite - lunch break - resume to peak (standing cross)
11:40 descend to Grotto
12:33 reached Grotto
13:01 buko buko
13:15 arrived at the jump-off/registration - fix ourselves
14:20 trike back to Fiesta Mall P40; P8 to SM; P8 to Robinsons
15:28 to Cuenca P24
17:25 reached campsite - cook dinner, wento wento ala wenta inom


Day 2
06:00 wake up call; cook breakfast-eat; to Rockies
09:05 trek to Maculot peak
09:55 reached peak
10:00 descend to Grotto
11:00 reached Grotto; picture picture :D
11:55 jeepee to Lipa
12:55 Dennis' residence
15:00 Marian Orchard - side trip
17:05 way back to Jam terminal
17:55 leaved Batangas through Jam liner
1 & 1/2 hr to Manila






Mt. Damas Itinerary - November 3-4, 2012

People who were with me:
Xandrea and Charmaine Derige
Crystalyn Jacob
Rodney Yu
Dennis Camara
Christopher del Mundo
Ron Jalbuna
Jason Flores


Itinerary:

Day 1
08:00 meet up at Jollibee Cubao
08:20 at Victory liner Cubao
08:56 depart from Cubao at P265
13:15 arrived at Camiling Tarlac - eat at the markket nearby P40
14:00 hire trike to Papaac-Papaac P120/trike
14:40 2nd stop at the waiting shed/jump-off - fix ourselves
          via Dayangdang trail to Mt. Damas
20:45 reached the peak

Day 2
06:00 wake up call :D
06:25 cooking time :D
08:30 start trek to Ubod Falls
11:30 reached Ubod Falls
14:34 1st river stop/water source
15:50 reached the jump-off/fix ourselves
17:48 trike back to Market/Camiling
18:25 arrived at the market - eat
19:00 waiting for Manila bound buses in front of Petron beside the brgy outpost
19:16 in the bus bound to Cubao only