Entering this year was full of climb plans. My first plan
was to traverse Mt. Natib while thinking about Tarak ridge via Paniquian River
and Pantingan peak. As I am realizing to have a budget and cheaper climb I end
up in 3-4 peaks day hike climb in 18 hours but just finish three mountains. It
was my alternative training climb instead of climbing Mt. Tapulao with UEM team
Apo preparation for Mt. Apo on February. I’ve done this with my partner Ella
Dorado.
Our EQUIPMENT
·
Deuter future 28 (each)
·
Conquer Hydro Attack with bladder: Source 2L
·
1L Nalgene
·
Side out tent: tadpole type
·
2 flash lights
·
Emergency cyalume light stick
·
Coleman Can opener
Our FOOD AND
BEVERAGES
·
3 Pocari Sweat (smaller than 500ml)
·
4L water
·
Loaf Bread
·
2 Tuna (Can goods)
·
Trail food (Jelly stick,Chocolate bar)
·
Gatorade 500ml
And finally my first
climb for 2012: Three mountains in three different towns in Batangas.
Mt. Maculot | Campsite | Rockies
Cuenca, Batangas
From Manila we headed straight to Calatagan to use my motor
bike for cheaper, easier and faster transportation. At exactly 2000H we headed
to Cuenca Batangas and arrived at Ka’ Manuel Place around 2130H. I left my
motor bike at Ka’ Manuel Place then prepared our lights. We started trekking at
exactly 2200H. Five groups of mountaineers were left behind because we know
that there are lots of hikers during long weekend and campsite availability in
maculot. After an hour of trekking with only minimal rest we arrived at 2300H
in campsite. It’s just like divisoria or quiapo day that night. There’s no time
meant to be wasted so we seek space for us and luckily we found space for us
near rockies (last campsite). It was late then when I have realized and made a wrong
decision to stay in Maculot because of 50-50 campsite availability. I always drink
Pocari Sweat after trekking for my sweat and fluid lost. We slept early for
early morning descends and looking forward for the next climb.
It’s 5 o’clock in the morning when the phone alarmed. The
noisiness of evening socials had fade away. We quickly packed our things and
dissemble the tent. We headed near rockies (lapida) for picture taking then
start descending at 0600. Without rest and through fast trekking we’ve reach
ka’ Manuel Place at 0645. We hurriedly washed our body and face then we headed
to lipa city. 1 down and 3 mountain to climb next.
Manabu Peak
Sto. Tomas, Batangas
We arrived 0810H in lipa. We refilled 3 liters of gas enough
to get back in Calatagan (from Sto. Tomas-Lipa-Lemery-Nasugbu). We took our breakfast “Gotong Batangas (Lipa)”. I think it was my first time to eat gotong
batangas even though I’m from Batangas. Ella was wondering to “goto” unlike the usual “goto”. After eating our heavy meal breakfast, we headed straight to
Sulok in Brgy. Sta. Cruz Sto. Tomas. We left our backpack and motor bike in the
wash up area (store in front of the house). I didn’t get the name of the family
living there but thank you so much for taking good care of our belongings. We
just brought our trail food, camera and hydro bag. We started trekking at 0910H
and reached the peak at 1010H. Finally, after 5 years I did get back in Manabu.
We did a 20-minute break and picture taking. We descended for about 40 minutes
and quickly washed our bodies. Ella keep on saying “ginagawa mo akong macho”
and I forgot she’s a woman and she had no climb for 3-4 months. No time wasted
again. We left Sto. Tomas at 1145.
Mt. Batulao | New trail v.v
Nasugbu, Batangas
I felt Ella fell asleep while I’m driving. She told me that
she feel so weary and indolent. I decided to take our lunch in Lemery. I told
her that we need to eat fast and its already 1300H. We arrived at Brgy.
Batulao, Nasugbu by 1430H. We left again
our back pack and motor bike in a Local’s house and I thank the family for letting
us to leave our things and the kindness they showed to us. We do trail run in
Batulao and also in Manabu to reduce our trekking time.i forgot to refill my
bladder. Unfortunately, I miscalculated
the trekking time of Mt. Batulao via new trail v.v.. I expect to reach
summit by only 1 hour and descend by 45 mins, but we took it for about 1 hour
& 20 mins to ascend and 1 hour & 30 mins to descend. It was my fault to
camp in Maculot rather than to sleep in Batulao because of longer time of trek
and more available camp site for us compare to Mt. Maculot. Ella felt so tired
and she doesn’t want to push for our 4th peak (mt. talamitam). It’s been late around 1730H. I want to finish
those 4 peaks in 18 hours but due to miscalculation and time, we’ve aborted our
4th peak. We headed back to calatagan and arrived there at 1930H.
Next time I’ll try to finish those 4-5 peaks for less than 18 hours.
3 Peaks -
Maculot-Manabu-Batulao Itineray
2000H ETD Calatagan
2130H ETA Ka’
Manuel/ Cuenca
2200H Start trek
2300H ETA Mt.
Maculot Campite
0500H Wake up call
0600H Descend
0645H ETA Ka’ Manuel
Place/ Wash up
0715H ETD going to
LIPA
0810H ETA Lipa/
Breakfast
0900H ETA Jump Off/
Sulok, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Sto Tomas / Start Trek
1010H ETA Manabu
Peak
1030H Descend
1110H ETA Jump off/
wash up
1145H ETD
1245H ETA Lemery/
Lunch
1330H ETD
1430H ETA Jump
off/Brgy. Batulao, Nasugbu/ Start trek
1550H ETA Mt.
Batulao Summit
1605H Descend
1730H Jump off/ ETD
1930H ETA Calatagan
|
Destination
|
TIME
|
T
R
A
V
E
L
|
Calatagan - Cuenca
|
1 hour & 30 mins.
|
Cuenca - L ipa
|
55 mins.
|
Lipa - Sulok, Sta. Cruz Sto.
Tomas
|
50 mins.
|
Sulok, Sta. Cruz Sto. Tomas –
Lemery
|
1 hour
|
Lemery - Batulao Nasugbu
|
1 hour
|
Batulao Nasugbu - Calatagan
|
1 hour & 30 mins.
|
|
TOTAL TRAVEL HOURS
|
6 hours & 45 mins
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOUNTAIN
|
ASCEND
|
DESCEND
|
TOTAL TREKKING HOURS
|
H
I
K
I
N
G
|
Maculot (rockies)
|
1 hour
|
45 mins.
|
1 hour & 45 mins
|
Manabu Peak
|
1 hour & 10 mins.
|
40 mins.
|
1 hour & 50 mins.
|
Batulao (new trail)
|
1 hour & 20 mins.
|
1 hour & 30 mins
|
2 hours & 50 mins.
|
|
TOTAL
|
3 hours & 30 mins
|
2 hours & 55 mins
|
6 hours & 25 mins.
|
