Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Mt. Banoi Itinerary and Expenses

Mt. Banoi
Lobo, Batangas

Actual Itinerary

0500 Meet up in Buendia, Pasay
0545 Board Bus to Batangas City Grand terminal
0700 Arrive at Grand Terminal; Ride Jeepney to Balagtas
0730 Ride Trike to Lobo bound jeepney terminal
0800 Board jeepney bound to Lobo Town
0900 ETA Lobo, Register at police station; Ride Trike to sitio Malibnog
0930 ETA Sitio Malibnog jump-off
1100 ETA Malibnog Village
1230 ETA Two Towers Peak; Lunch
1330 Start Descent
1410 ETA Village
1530 Back at Malabnig chapel; Ride trike back to town proper
1600 Tidy up; Ride jeepney bound to Batangas city
1700 ETA Batangas City, ride bus at grand terminal
1930 ETA Manila

Actual Expenses

Bus to Tambo Exit: 125.00
Bus to Grand Terminal: 27.00
Jeep to Balagtas: 12.00
Trike to Jeepney terminal: 10.00
Jeep to Lobo: 53.00
Trike to Sitio. Malibnog: 10.00
Trike to Town Proper: 10.00
Jeep to Batangas City: 53.00
Jeep to Grand Terminal: 10.00
Bus to Alabang: 113.00

Monday, February 11, 2013

Mt. Banoi: Conquering the Two Towers


Feb. 10, 2013

Mt. Banoi
Sitio Malabnig, Lobo, Batangas

On this day, Chinese New Year was celebrated. Apparently it is now the Year of the Snake but here I was running like a horse in a trail towards to Mt. Banoi. Three hikers joined me on this hike namely, Noli, Dennis (Finally, my two hiking buddies met in a mountain with me) and sir Richard.

The towers of Mt. Banoi

The ideal itinerary was a four in the morning meet up in Buendia but for some reasons I made it 5 am. Like the past week, I came late due to a Fun Run. Coincidentally, I was also wearing red so I was teased by my colleagues as one of the runners. We left Pasay right before six o'clock and boarded a bus en route to Lipa. Yes you read it right to Lipa, we boarded the wrong bus as we were hurriedly saw and just entered it without reading the sign. And so we boarded another bus in Tambo exit that is headed to Grand Terminal in Batangas City.  The we rode a jeepney headed to Balagtas after which we took a trike to the Lobo jeepney terminal near in SM Batangas City. After an hour of travel, we reached the town of Lobo.



We registered at the Lobo Police station
We went straight towards the police station of the town in order to register in their visitor's logbook. Afterwards, we took a tricycle that brought us to Sitio Malabnig, which serves as  the jump-off station for the hikers.
Let's commence the trek

The first path towards the mountain is a waterless stream. It was a long gradual walk before reaching the water source. Then the real battle begins as we were greeted by uphill trek to the village. Along the trail, we came across with the villagers going down to the town.

Even if it was rocky, we were fortunate it was waterless.
Even though it was exhausting, the trail was relatively easy for everybody. After awhile, we already heard music halfway of the trail. It was a sign that we are near to the village. By 11 in the morning, we reached the village.

Taking a break at the village
We rested for awhile at the Malabnig Village before resuming our trek to the peak. There are a lot of confusing fork trails but the trick is just use the right upward path. It was almost noon so the sun was at its highest stretch but luckily for some time we were covered by trees that served as shade from the heat of the sun.

The trees shaded us from the scorching heat
When the trees were gone, the sun was happy to greet us back with his scorching heat. However, the towers was closely visible. Another sign that we are closer was the electric posts were on our path now. When we reached the campsite, another group was having their lunch there. We decided to proceed to the peak so we continued our trek. This time the trail was narrow and covered by grasses as well as branches of trees. There was also a part whereas one would crawl to cross the covered trail. Afterwards, two wooden fences blocked the way and so one should crossed over it.

No problem for Noli
At last, after almost three hours of trekking, we reached the peak wherein two towers stood there. Though the view is not great like in the campsite, it was still pleasurable as I can view Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal as well as Mt. Daguldol. The sea is also in plain sight so it was fine with me. We had our lunch there and had siesta as well.

Two towers conquered
Like the past climbs, downhill is the best part of mine as I can ran the trail as much as I wanted. All of us were on a Usain Bolt pace so we basically ran most of the trail. Ironically, while I was ascending the mountain I thought when will  I have my first slide for this year. And it was answered right away as I slid down while running downwards.



Usain Bolt pose pointing Isla Verde


After almost of two hours of trekking down back to the jump-off, we were caught surprised that the tricycle was already waiting for us. He was also shocked that we were fast unlike the other mountaineers who previously went there. We alight just in front of the town church and tidy up at the public comfort room. We were ahead of the 5 pm last trip because we made it an hour earlier. 

The chapel where we were picked up by our trike
Before proceeding to the Grand Terminal, our stomachs decided to eat in a bulalo diner. For 140.00 it was a worthwhile dinner for us. After dinner, we went separate ways on our way home. Thank you Noli, Dennis and sir Richard for being my companion on this 40th climb of mine. Thank you Dennis for the photos.

Reward for an exhausting climb: a hearty bulalo

Meet the Fast Four

Sir Richard


Noli

Dennis
The Author

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Mt. Balagbag Itinerary and Expenses


Mt. Balagbag
Rodriguez, Rizal

Actual Itinerary

0530 Meet-up in Cubao
0600 Board Bus to Tungko
0645 ETA Tungko; Board Jeep to Licao-Licao
0730 ETA Licao-Licao
0800 Commence Trek
0830 Reach Balagbag Elementary School
0930 Reach Gate; Register
0945 ETA Helipad; Lunch
1200 Start Descent
1300 ETA Falls
1400 ETA Jump-off

Expenses:

Bus from Cubao to Tungko: 55.00
Jeep To Licao-Licao: 27.00
Reg. Fee: 10.00
Jeep To Tungko: 27.00
Bus to Cubao: 55.00

Monday, February 4, 2013

Eat, Hike and Ride at Mt. Balagbag with the USAP Mountaineers, USAP MTB and the USAP 2-Wheels Clubs

Mt. Balagbag
Rodriguez, Rizal

Feb. 3, 2013

Which is much faster, wheels or feet? This past Sunday, the said question was finally answered when our club USAP Mountaineers joined forces with the USAP MTB and the USAP 2-Wheels clubs in a trailblazing affair in Mt. Balagbag.On any given day, the easy bet would be wheels but this was no ordinary day as we were all in a competitive spirit to race on the said mountain.


The whole gang:USAP Mountaineers, USAP MTB and USAP 2-Wheels

As mentioned; there were three clubs involve so went to the jump-off separately. The mountaineers went to Licao-licao through the Tungko route while the MTB club took the Montalban route. There were only two participants from the 2-wheels club and one took the former trail while the other one used the latter route.

On our way to Licao-Licao
Upon our arrival. we saw sir Julius of the 2-wheels club already waiting for us. And so the winner of the first leg goes to their club. In fact, he went with us without his motorcycle and he even lead the way for majority of the trail.

Sir Julius leads the way minus his motorcycle
Half an hour later, the MTB club had arrived and we commenced our journey to the helipad. Probably, we were given a 15 minute head start by the bikers and still they were able to catch up by the time we reached the school in Balagbag.

At the midpoint of the trail, the bikers had caught us
However, we took back the lead when the the trail became a steep and rocky assault. And we held the lead for good by a long margin. Thank you very much steep trail. We appreciate your humble assistance in making their ascent a burden.

See how hard it was
During the ascent, it is notably worth to mention that the sight was breath-taking as one could see the Sierra Madre mountain range as well as Mt. Arayat in Pampanga. The skyline of the buildings in Ortigas can be seen as well. Minutes past nine in the morning, I already reached the gate en route to the Helipad. Right after, a house could be seen and served as the registration site that cost ten pesos.

A week before the year of the snake comes, a dead snake welcomed us just before the registration site
Sir Julius and I were the first one to register and did not wait for the others. One of the locals instructed us to use the shortcut en route to the Helipad and so we used it while the others use the long route. The trail was much more I am accustomed to as it was narrow and steep and full of tall grasses. True enough, in just ten minutes, I was able to reach the highest point of the mountain, i.e. the Helipad. Aside from the privilege of being all alone in a mountain with a gorgeous view of the mountain range of Sierra Madre, I am also proud to brag that the Mountaineers went there first.

Victory for the Mountaineers

Moments later, Julius was able to reached the top. Then the sun made his presence for awhile just before the other mountaineers arrived. Afterwards, the MTB crew one-by-one made it finally to the top and greeted with loser signs.

A proud achievement for the USAP MTB Club
And the winner is....
The Mountaineers had their lunch there and rested in a hut nearby the helipad and joined in by the MTB crew as well. While me, Julius and sir Lemuel stayed behind. I took the opportunity to have a serene and peaceful thought of my lolo who departed five days earlier and was cremated 24 hours earlier. 

For a brief time, I did not have fun in this hike
Just before noon, we had our photo session. This time the bikers made the most of the time pedaling as it was downhill to the jump-off. I was the only one able to catch them but only momentarily. One side note was a local trying to be funny asked me where was my bike. I took it as a compliment but I accept my fate of not beating them downhill because I had neither front or rear brakes like them. By the time I reached the jump-off point, they were all having their lunch. More than an hour later, the others arrived as they drop by at the falls who had a few water to offer.

All set to leave

Thank you for all those who participated in this unique event of conquering a mountain
Thank you Sir Dada for the photos




P.S.

On a personal note; this is a tribute climb for my lolo Bugs. Surely, I will miss him very much dearly.

Engr. Orestes "Bugs" M. Delos Reyes
Jan. 12, 1932 - Jan. 29, 2013
The engineer and the future mountaineer