The month of March sucks. We cancelled a climb to Pico de Loro March 11 because we are supposed to fly to Taipei. Unfortunately, there’s this conflict between the Philippine government andTaiwan ROC which was not resolved until the 14th. That sucks big time. I was really looking forward to coming back to that city since my last stay there lasted only 14days.
Anyways, we rescheduled the climb April 2nd. The weather was fine that day. We meet up in our RBC office 6AM and rode two cabs to fit the eight of us going to Baclaran. From there we got to ride a bus to Maragondon town in Cavite. The fare was 71pesos. From the bus station we hired tricycles to go to the town market so that we can buy provisions for the climb. After that we hired another set of tricycle to take us to the jump off point in DENR to register. The tricycle cost us a hefty price of 280pesos. A market vendor also offered 250 for the tricycle but unfortunately she got bullied by a mob of tricycle drivers. That was a little uncomfortable on our part. Of course we want to get the cheapest offer available but all the talking was overwhelming. We were forced to deal with the "real" drivers.
After paying the twenty pesos registration, we started the hike. The early part of the trail was under foliage. It was pleasant to be walking under the shade. We eat our lunch in base camp 1. We bought green mangoes for 2bucks each. By and by, we saw other mountaineers getting themselves free mangoes by climbing them trees and putting the fruits in a big rice sack. They also made a campfire where they cook rice in a very large pot. Open fire: talk about leave no trace principles.
After eating lunch of corned tuna, we learned that the table we were using is for rent which worth 20pesos per head. Wow. We should have been informed prior. After paying, we get two liters of water each because we were informed that it will be the last source of water. It would be another four hours until the summit.
The trail was difficult. You head up under trees then you traverse hills, walk on boulder-filled side of the mountain then walk in the open sunshine. Then do it again only the next it would be more steep.
We reach the camp site near the summit around 3pm. We pitched our tents and take some photos. We waited until 5:30 until we did the assault to the first summit.
It was worth it. The view from the top is breathtaking.
 |
| photo during the assault. from Takie's flickr page |
It was worth it. The view from the top is breathtaking.
 |
| on top of the first summit. on the background is the parrot's beak (and an on-going photoshoot) |
Dinner was prepared by Frank immediately after descent to the camp site. Pork sinigang is on the menu. Pork adobo and string beans will also be prepared for tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch. After dinner they drank a little (I don’t drink). It was Frank’s birthday the next day anyway. Lights out was very early at 11pm.
The next day, the group of teachers next to our camp was awake very early before 5am. They will climb the summit that morning. Lucky for us that we were also awake because we were able to see the Milky Way that dawn. It is very seldom that we see a lot of stars in the city, what more seeing these galactic clouds.
I wake them up around 7AM. The sun is up and we want to be early when we do the traverse to Nasugbu. Breakfast was of course delightful. Danggit, dried squid and adobong sitaw. We have to eat a lot because it will be uncertain what time we will eat lunch. We also need to budget water provisions because we also don’t know how long the trek will be. There were also no other groups that will go the same way as we do.
After we break camp, we head again to the summit to go to the other side of the mountain. We also climbed the other summit, the parrot’s beak which we didn’t really plan to climb the day before. Climbing that big rock is very dangerous. I was really terrified on the tricky part of that rock but it was worth it when I was on top.
 |
| me on top of the second summit |
This mountain would have been very lovely if not for all the vandalism it has to endure. I always ask myself throughout the hike why the hell someone would bring permanent markers when climbing a mountain.
 |
| on top of the parrot's beak. visible are all the scratched vandalism on the rock floor(they just have to eventhough they forgot to bring a permanent marker) |
After that we head down the trail least taken. It was very steep. This trail is worse than the other way. It’s like going to bamboo-land then into a forest of trees then into grassland. After that we hear motorcycles. We are finally on climbing a side of mountain and into a road. We were in high spirits at that time. They hail this motorcycle guy who sells ice for 6pesos. It was too much but for people like us who badly needs water, it was and so far the best tasting frozen water ever.
 |
| this guy sold us the frozen water. he will also pass as a good barber with all the tall tales he told us |
Going down the road, we found two tricycles. We rented them and asked them to bring us to the nearest beach. They brought us to Sta. Mercedes, Maragondon, Cavite. In this side we can see the Parrot’s beak-like peak from the mountain we just traversed. It is very far from where we are standing. Beaches of Nasugbu are also close by but the place was fine. We rented a place for 300pesos for four hours. We only stay there to eat lunch and tidy up a bit before going to the bus terminal. We also take a swim in the Manila Bay before sunset.hahaha.
Before 6pm we left the place, ride again on the rented tricycles. The journey to Nasugbu bus terminal was very frightening. We were going too fast in a dark road on uphill and zigzag roads. Another thing is that we have another guy in the roof of the sidecar. It adds up to the fear we are having with our existing phobia on riding fast tricycles.
Finally we reach this bus terminal near a Jollibee. During the ride, I am estimating how close we are from the terminal by using the km marker on the side of the road to a Jollibee (like this: Jollibee 4Km, then 3Km then so on..). that estimation was so freaking dead accurate.
The buses to Pasay cost about 150pesos. The trip was very long with the frustrating Metro Manila traffic. We arrived in the Pasay terminal about 10pm. We ate in a Chowking then part ways.
The whole adventure was awesome. The uploaded pictures in facebook draw lots of attention that people want to join in on the next climb. Too bad that our little crew is not that equipped to consider.Talk about funrun is so dead.
