Mt. Gulugod Baboy (525+) Adventure

What’s the best thing to do in holiday season? As for adventurer, the best thing to do in a holiday season is to travel or to complete what’s in the bucket list before the year 2013 ends. For us, we had our Christmas mountain climbing before we celebrate Christmas day.  This is not definitely the last mountain for this year because we also plan to do our year-end hike. There are options where to climb, but fortunately, we all agreed to climb a mountain in Anilao.

Mt. Gulugod Baboy, is officially my 10^th conquered mountain, is located in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines. It is a minor climb that requires half-day and one to two hours to summit. There are three peaks in the range; the first one is about 470 MASL, the second peak is about 485 MASL, and the highest peak is about 525 MASL.

From Southeast to Northwest are Gulugod Baboy (Peak 1), Gitna (Peak 2), and Pinagbanderahan (Peak 3). At the peak, from east to west; you can see the Janao Bay, Maricaban Island and Sombrero Islands are visible. The east side, you can see the city and the port of Batangas. The mountains of Lobo, Mt. Maculot, Mt. Batulao, and the Tagaytay highlands are also noticeable too!

My group decided to meet at the Bus Terminal in Buendia and we rode a bus bound to Batangas City. From Batangas Grand Terminal, we hired a jeep going to Mabini then drop-off at Philpan Diving Resort, and register. We start trek around ten thirty in the morning, it was already hot. And, we reached at the summit by twelve noon and had lunch then, took some pictures.

We’ve met Mr. Herman from Belguim and we are amazed by his energy. He was biking from the jump off up to the summit. And, we totally admire him as he discussed the place you can see around the mountain and everything. He knows what you can see from Southeast to Northwest and from East to West. We just like, Wow! Amazing man!

the famous tree

Pastoral view

Do you remember teletubbies land?  Yes, the mountain is looked like a teletubbies land.  At the peak, the clouds are not totally clear during that day, but we still amazed the beauty of the nature. However, we just witness the romantic view of the sunset when we descent. What I like this adventure is that the trail is very easy because you are just going straightforward until you have reached the peak of the mountain. Locals are very helpful, you can ask them.

the romantic sunset 

ITINERARY:

07:30AM – Meet up, Buendia Bus Terminal

08:00AM – Ride a bus bound to Batangas City, 157php

10:30AM – Batangas Grand Terminal, rent a jeep going to Mabini,

11:30AM - jump-off Philpan Diving Resort, register

11:35AM – start trek

12:35PM – Gulugod baboy (Peak 1)

01:00PM – Gitna (Peak 2)

01:30PM – Pinagbanderahan (Peak 3), Lunch

03:00PM – descent

04:30PM – clean up and refresh

05:00PM - back to Batangas Terminal

06:30PM – back to Manila

EXPENSES:

Bus – 157php

Rent a Jeepney – 130php (14pax)

And this is my official 10th conquered mountain! Hooray!

Until next climb,

Marco

Mt. Kalisungan, 760+ (Dayhike)

After the unforgettable island adventure (see previous post), the group planned for another weekend getaway and settled to climb a mountain. Where we heading? 

There are lots of choices but the group agreed to climb Mt. Kalisungan – is the one of the smaller mountains in the Southern Tagalog region however, it is also one of the mountains that border the Banahaw Trilogy. It is located in Calauan, Laguna.

There are fruit trees all the way to Mt. Kalisungan – from rambutan, kaimito to sunkest, and buko which offer trail food but of course, don’t forget to ask permission before picking up the fruits. 

Also, there are coconut trees, banana plantations, and huge grasslands going to the peak of the mountain.

The view to the North side of the mountain is the Talim Island which Mt. Tagapo has been seen. To the east, the view of the highlands of Caliraya appears. Of course, the seven lakes of San Pablo verge by the two mountains Mt. Cristobal and Mt. Banahaw. To the west of the mountain, Mt. Makiling has been seen.

I met Jepoy and Badong at the HM Transport bus Cubao station and board a bus going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. We dropped at the Duck Junction but guys make sure that you told Manong Conductor to drop you at the Victoria, Laguna (Duck Junction) so you don’t get lost. From there, we met Roy (our friend) and took a jeep bound to San Pablo and dropped at Brgy. Lamot 2 then, registered at Brgy. Hall and look for Mang Bino or his wife. This time, his wife is our guide (Ate Mercy, I am not sure of the name. I really forgot her name. Sorry!)

There are two locals offered to us a fresh buko while we’re on the trail and yes, we didn’t refuse the offer because we are also craving to it. Then, after few minutes we start trekking again. It’s sunny day during our hike and the heat of the sun burn your skin. We, also, brought plenty of water because as per review there are no water sources along the way and the heat makes you dehydrated.

We’re on the summit of Mt. Kalisungan at exactly 12 o’clock in the afternoon and feeling blessed because the clouds are so clear. We took pictures and make chitchat with the guide. Then, we go back to the downward slope. After the hike, we ate our late lunch at the nearest market.

ITINERARY

5:30AM – Assembly at HM Transport Bus Station, Cubao.

6:00AM – Board HM Transport bus bound to Sta. Cruz, Laguna (117.25php).

8:00AM – Get off at Victoria, Laguna (at the Duck Junction to be exact). You can take breakfast or buy food here. Take a jeep going to San Pablo and get off to Brgy. Lamot 2 (12-15php).

8:30AM – Register at Brgy. Hall, and look for a guide (10php-registration fee and 400php for the guide).

9:00AM – start trekking

12:00NN – SUMMIT

12:30PM – Lunch, Rest, Take photos….

1:30PM – descent

3:00PM – back to Manila

EXPENSES: 700php
How to get there:

•   Take HM Transport bus bound to Sta. Cruz, Laguna, EDSA-Cubao. Ask the Manong Conductor to drop you off at Duck Junction in Victoria, Laguna.
• From Duck Junction, take a jeep bound to San Pablo and drop off at Brgy. Lamot 2. Then, register at the Brgy. Hall and look for a guide. Contact number of Mang Bino is (+63-909-297-1437.

gAnd I officially declared that Mt. Kalisungan is my 8th conquered mountain. Hooray!

HHappy climbing,

Marco

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