Climbing Mt. Batulao [via iPhone]

"OMG we smell like fertilizer!!!"

I can't recall what we were overreacting about in this photo, but the caption suits it! Steph and I are total drama queens. 

I didn't even notice this sign, Dondi was able to capture it. Get a guide or you're sure to get lost! 

   

About 3 hours in we decided to have lunch and take some obligatory souvenir photos at Camp 1 

 

I always have this type of photo wherein a friend is assisting the elderly. 

approaching the summit 

Steph reminded me of a woman from Kosovo 

a rope was there to help us haul ourselves up in some parts  

I look decent in photo ops but in reality, it's a nose-flaring experience. 

Don't... look. down. 

Tryin to werq as we reached the summit! 

The most maarte group of mountaineers 

We came all the way here for some coconut juice! 

This stuff works. Shared this with the rest and only those who applied it were saved from looking like lechons. 

Ray-Ban caravan sunglasses + Folded & Hung top + Zara tank top + H&M leggings + the North Face backpack + Pacsafe belt bag + Nike trainers (I have yet to buy decent shoes) 

 

"We climbed those mountains?!"

❧

We took a chance and decided to head to Nasugbu, Batangas last Saturday even if the weather in Manila was horrible. We decided that we could always stay and chill in Tagaytay if the weather wouldn't permit us to climb that day. As we were nearing Batangas the skies were bright and clear so we asked some locals for directions (our unpreparedness for these trips deserves an award in itself). A few missed turns and we reached the starting point where we hired a young guide that agreed to a fee of Php 400 (read somewhere that these fees helped send them to school). This proved to be a good move since unlike our last hike (Mt. Pico de Loro), there weren't a lot of markings and there were so many diverging routes. 

The trek to the summit was about 3 hours long. We spent about 30 minutes at the peak, enjoying fresh buko juice and taking photos, before descending and reaching our starting point in 3 hours. It took us less than 7 hours to climb and get back to our car, and we were glad that despite arriving late (got there at 10:30 AM) we were able to drive back to Manila a few hours before sundown. 

Mountaineers' accounts online state that this was the same level as Pico, but throughout the hike & climb we kept commenting that it was slightly easier. It was Dondi's first time to climb and during the first 10 minutes he kept asking if the path was going to be as wide all throughout, but as we kept going he commented that they were indeed getting narrower. It got to a point where the paths were less than a foot across, and the ravines would make your knees shake once you stop to look at your side. 

Some challenges during this climb: 

• Steep portions that required you to use a rope to haul yourself up- it's just like any other climb requiring a rope, so you have to be able to lift yourself up 

• It's a bit harder to go down because of the loose rocks. It's important to wear the right shoes or have a trekking pole to assist you if you're not that accustomed to these things yet. 

• There aren't a lot of trees to serve as shade so wear a hat! My scalp is sunburnt since I forgot to bring one and an umbrella. 

Some more notes:

• You can buy buko juice / soda / beer / halo halo at most of the stops, but they don't have water! Bring a lot of water with you. 

• Registration fee is just Php 40 and you can also camp for a fee. 

• Pace yourself. Javy had a brilliant way to conserve his energy- he'd stop at the windy spots and then run to catch up when we were already far away from him. 

• Sunblock, salt (for cramps), first aid kit, water, scarf/hat, sunglasses.

• Some plants have sharp edges and we got cuts all over so it's better to wear something that can cover your legs and arms. There are lots of bugs, too! 

Overall it was a really fun climb and I am having climbing withdrawals, it's insane! I can't wait for the next trip! We learn a lot from each one since they're never the same, and you can never be too prepared. It's challenging psychologically as it is physically.

We do it for the view-- nothing beats a 360 from the summit!

❤

Parrot's Peak, Mt. Pico de Loro [via iPhone]

To reach the peak we had to walk (and climb) for about 3 hours  I didn't want to bring a backpack so I brought a fanny pack instead. I got too excited about this nerdy accessory because it's anti-theft!  2.5 hours up brought us to the campsite where we could buy drinks and take some photos. Here's David risking his life for the sake of a good Instagram pic. L-R: my brother (in the most inappropriate hiking/climbing outfit), me, Ayen, David, Steph, Ces and Jed

frugal fitness fashion: sports bra- Jockey, shorts- Nike, shoes- Adidas, top- Forever 21, sunglasses- Ray-Ban (polarized Caravans) Struggling to reach the highest peak... It almost looks like flat ground on this photo... ...but the blogs were correct in saying that you'd have to grab on to grass to climb up!!! The most beautiful view that greeted us

Parrot's Peak!   The rest of the group at the Parrot's peak  My brother and I at the other peak ❧ My friends and I have been dying to go on another hiking trip so we agreed to reserve last weekend for a short one. We've been wanting to go to Mt. Pulag but we didn't have enough time to prepare and organize a bigger group. Jed suggested Pico de Loro in Cavite, so Ayen researched about the hike. I've only heard of Pico de Loro as a resort, so I didn't expect anything from this trip. Even David thought the hike was going to be easy- like going around in a park or something. Ayen even mentioned people talking about grabbing on to grass to climb up but we all laughed when she said that and thought nothing of it.  I wore my Adidas Boost running shoes and thought that the thick sole was going to cushion my feet from the rocks, but as the hike progressed I started to realize that it was a bad idea. I couldn't feel the ground at all so I was being careful the whole time as the paths were all inclined or going downhill. I was also suffering from cough so I was careful not to have an asthma attack (I haven't used my inhaler in 6 years). This definitely slowed me down and made me realize that it was time to buy decent hiking shoes! The Boosts are the best running shoes and are also great for plyometrics but NEVER wear them for hiking.  Other than my struggle to keep my balance with my shoes, the hike was so much fun. It's a bit of a challenge as it is the highest walkable trail at 665 meters above sea level so it's more like mountain climbing but with more rugged trails (the hike to the summit isn't paved) . It takes 3 hours to climb with rests in between, and another 3 to go down. We spent an hour on the peak and on the Parrot's Peak, and the climb definitely made the view more worth it.  There were lots of campers but this was also doable as a day trip if you go early. We arrived around 8:30 AM and left almost 4:00 PM.  The funniest part of this trip was expecting nothing from it... We were all underprepared (except for having enough water) and we didn't really know that it was going to be that much of a climb. We only slept for 2 hours since we stayed at my uncle's house in Cavite and spent too much time catching up and exchanging stories. The two guys in the group were scared of heights, my brother wore flimsy sneakers, we didn't have a guide and just followed the other hikers and we also didn't know some hiking etiquette. As we were walking all the hikers would say "Ingat!" or would greet you a good afternoon. It was really nice to be amongst friendly people since it wasn't that easy and it was our first time there. Whenever someone would ask about our group, my friends would always plug my site (LOL) and I would just sit there, face-palming. The Raleene.com Mountaineering Club was born on that day! Highlights of the group include laughing at our disbelief in climbing mountains and ADHD attacks after two sips of pop. We paid Php 40.00 for registration and the rest of our money went to buying Gatorade (Php 50) and Mountain Dew (Php 30) at the camp sites out of desperation. And because it's a business, they didn't have water, just sugar-filled drinks that make you want to buy even more!  My brother might've had the most complete backpack with the essentials my dad packed for him (he trained for the army or something. LOL Hi, dad!). You should have these basics: plastic bags, lots of water, face towels, alcohol, first-aid kit, sunblock (I used Nivea's Protect & Refresh SPF 50 with Invisible Cooling Mist. Water-resistant and non-greasy, i didn't get sunburnt like my friends!), tissue, moist towelettes, swiss knife, salt (one of us got cramps so this is actually important), painkillers, umbrella, packed lunch, snacks, chocolate/crackers. As for what to wear- proper shoes,  a hat, sunglasses, leggings/compression pants  and long sleeves (or a shirt with armbands) are the safest options since tan lines aren't so nice when you wear sleeveless tops, plus you're prone to have gashes and cuts especially when sliding downhill. It was harder to go down from the highest peak since everyone's been grabbing on to the grass and the mountain's bald because of all the uprooting!  I'd recommend hikes like these to those who want to try out something else this summer. You can even do this to overcome your fear of heights! It's so much fun, especially after discovering what your body can do if you're willing. For adventure-seekers, this is a beginner's course but it's definitely not easy. You can read more about it on other blogs so you'll know what to expect.  ❤