Mt. Tagapo Climb

Mt. Tagapo is a nearby mountain located in Binangonan, Rizal. It's actually an easy climb, taking an average of 2 hours to climb. Supposedly, I wasn't to go to this climb because it was originally scheduled the previous week. (I had a wedding to attend on the original weekend of June 16-17.) However, because there was an impending typhoon (which was hardly felt in Manila), it was moved to June 23-24, and I was able to go.

I was able to invite Yani and my new friends, Milcah and Patrick. Unfortunately, because of Patrick's schedule we weren't able to go with Deo in his original itinerary, which was supposed to leave at 5AM from Edsa Central. Instead, we met at Edsa Central at 8 am. Supposedly. (Also, I came from duty in Cavite, where I left at around 3:30 am then went home to pack, and finally met them at around 8 am in Edsa Central.) Milcah and I were prompt. But Yani arrived at 9 am, and Patrick arrived at 10 am! Good luck! We finally left around 10:30 am!

We reached the Binangonan port around 11:45 am (where it was already hot!). The boat to Brgy. Janosa left at 12:15 pm, and we arrived in Brgy. Janosa at around 1:30 pm. We registered, and ate lunch there. (Patrick and Yani didn't have packed lunch, but there were some carinderias so it was okay.) So finally, we started the climb at 2 pm from the jump-off point! Grabe! We even met some of our co-hikers Rein and Abby who was climbing down. They went down to buy some snacks and some water. Apparently, there is a lack of water because it was so hot earlier when they hiked.


Anyway, maybe it was a good thing that we were delayed. Because it then started to rain. As in pour. We were able to take shelter in a nearby hut (the only hut in the trail actually) for about 30-40 minutes, waiting for the rain to stop. By that time, Rein and Abby already came from the bayan and we called them to take shelter in the rain. When the rain subsided, we resumed our trek.

The track was now muddier so it's harder to trek. Still, I would rate it an easy climb. I tried to help my fellow co-hikers by trading backpacks with them. (My backpack was loaded with another 6 L of water as texted by Deo, so our guide Archie was the one who carried my backpack.) It's another easy climb, needing only a few minutes of rest to recover. There were also lots of trees so there wasn't much need for my sarong. 


Anyway, we reached the campsite after approximately 2 hours. I went ahead of them because I was carrying the heaviest backpack (carried initially by rein with about 14 L of water!). After the trees, you'll get into a clearing full of very tall grasses. I reached a fork and I was a bit confused on where I was to go. Then I heard voices from one side, and finally found the right trail.

Some of my co-hikers who were there earlier was going to the summit to view the sunset. I went first to the campsite, put down the very big and heavy bag, and went with the others to the summit. 

Backpackers United at Mt. Tagapo Summit

Sunset at Mt. Tagapo (viewing Laguna de Bai)

Late Climbers Milcah, me, Yani, and Patrick... Just in time for the Summit Sunset

After climbing the summit, my friends and I finally changed clothes and settled down. Unfortunately, it wasn't a very good idea, because we only had the scraps for dinner! Haha Either that or dinner was very good some had too much, while we only had the scraps huhu We had the usual socials... Though a lot of us did remark that it's very much improved compared to the previous socials.

Sitting in a circle, holding our socials... Siyempre, wala palang group pic hehe

Breakfast Committee

We girls learned from our mistake last night, so the boys let us went ahead! Haha

Backpackers United at Mt. Tagapo Campsite

The next day, we had breakfast, fixed our things, and went down. It was still a leisure trek. The trail wasn't so muddy anymore, so the helped a lot. Unfortunately, the guide/porter wasn't on time, and there was only 1, when there was supposed to be two. Anyway, we eventually reached Brgy. Janosa, climbed aboard the boat, and left for Binangonan Port.

From there, we rented a jeepney to go to Daranak Falls. We weren't able to go to the cave anymore or the other waterfalls because it was closed. Daranak Falls is easily accessible, with a lot of people going there for a swim. Of course, there's the main waterfalls and a swimming hole, there's also a mini waterfalls on the side (unfortunately full of vandalism), where you can get a massage (though not as strong as the main falls). There's also a cliff where people can jump from (it's not that high), and people can climb the cliff by doing a little rock climbing (well, I did anyway hehe I enjoyed the rock climbing more than the jump).

Welcome to Daranak Waterfalls

Daranak Falls

Sides of the water basin

  

By the Mini Waterfalls

Backpackers United after washing up

At around 6:30 pm, we finally left the place and arrived in Shaw Blvd around 8 pm. We had another round of Elixir of Life in the jeepney enroute to home. That was pretty funny. Milcah and Yani, very talkative people seem to grow comfortable around the Backpackers and were soon joking around with them. Anyway, on with our next adventure :)

Photo Credits to my fellow climbers Isa Sandoval, Alain Cortes, Dada De Silva, Milcah Loyola (hehe tamad pa din magdala ng camera! Sige, next time, I will try to remember and charge my camera!)

Why I Love Climbing

Most people probably think I'm crazy wanting to climb every weekend. Sleeping on the hard ground. Eating cold and less than appetizing meals. No bathroom. Going on a hike on a hot sunny day or worse, a very muddy trail. Paying money to suffer and undergo all these things... So, the question is.. why?

At first, I did it as a form of physical activity so that I can force myself to walk (and carry heavy weight for) long distances for the whole weekend. I also did it as part of my bucket bucket list. But somehow I enjoyed myself so much that I wanted to "suffer" weekly!

Then, I get to travel. Travel and have new adventures is my number 1 love since l was a young girl. (l used to sleep over at my cousin's house all the time! For some reason I use to think that her house is more exciting than mine. probably because their toys are different from ours.) I love organizing outings for my friends back in college as well. So reason no 1 is I get to travel. Self-explanatory actually.

Third, the view is really amazing when you get to the summit. It makes you feel so small and significant to the rest of the world. Like whatever your problems are, it's petty compared to the world. It takes you back to the simple world of mother nature. Forgetting your very shallow materialistic world for a few moments and submitting yourself to the mercies of your survival skills!

Then of course, there's always the company. I mean you can always travel alone but it's always much better when you have someone to share the journey with. I work in a hospital and for a very long time, I forgot to have other interests and how to make friends with people outside of work. So when I had my solo trip in Mt. pulag, I was reminded on how much it was to have new friends based on your interest... meaning, it was fun!! The last time l had friends for sharing the same interests was in college, which was the yearbook. Others are mostly mixed with school and work.

Then of course, there's always the reason of challenging yourself. In every climb, there's always something new to learn and new things to see. (Actually you're supposed to learn something new everyday.)

It is not about just reaching the summit and surviving the climb, but the journey itself. As I've read before in a signboard in a highway,"Life is a journey, enjoy the ride."

Republ1c Wakeboarding

It started out with Yani organizing an event for the weekend for Milcah and Patrick... anything! Idea from going to Sagada, to surfing, to whatever! But I told her, I had a climb that Saturday, but I'll be free on Sunday!

And that's the idea. She copied my itinerary on our Saturday climb at Mt. Batulao, but unfortunately, my phone was snatched/pickpocket-ed so I wasn't able to coordinate with her. Anyway, we just saw each other near the summit, and both of us went home after the climb, and on Sunday, went to Sta. Rosa, Laguna for some wakeboarding action! :)

Matel was also planning to go on Sunday with her boyfriend Ron and some of her friends. When she knew that I was going, they knew it was for sure, even if her friends wouldn't make it.

I wanted to sleep so much that I really don't want to go. (Plus since I have to buy a new phone, I know I have to save... yeah, right...) But I went because it was too late to cancel (Ron was on his way) and Yani will kill me!

Matel, Ron, and I took our car from Quezon City, and left sometime before 2 pm. We met with Yani and their friends in the Balibago complex, and went straight to Nuvali. You have to have a private mode of transportation when going to Republ1c. It's a really long, winding road inside Nuvali park.

We arrived around 3:30 pm. And just got the one-hour cable pass, which costs PhP 250. But there's a deposit of PhP 800 for the vest and helmet. We got a little lost finding the restroom, where we could change our clothes. Note to self: change first before registration, because your one-hour starts after registration.

The place was still under a lot on construction, but there were still a lot of people despite of that. (It was just a soft opening.)

The line was long for the beginners. We should have brought (or borrowed) our "own" board, because there was less line in the other route. (Next time daw.)

All Geared Up

Beginner's Course

All Geared Up with the Board

The Advance Course

Registration Area

Milcah, Patrick, Yani, me, Ron, Matel with the bare parking lot behind us

It was actually a good idea for us to go after lunch, so when we arrive, the sun isn't that hot anymore. The manong was also very nice, teaching us and letting us extend. (Well, also because the line was very long. We get to go on three rounds, though Ron was lucky enough to get four rounds.)

Wakeboarding was a great experience, but I think I still like surfing's much better? Or is it because I don't have to wait when I go surfing? I just paddle when I want, and rest when I choose to. And I still think surfing is harder. However, my whole body ached. I'm not sure if it's from Mt. Batulao or from the wakeboarding, but I'm suspecting that it must have been the wakeboarding. Because I really think Mt. Batulao was a leisurely climb haha Still, that's another story.

Mt. Batulao Climb

It was Rein's birthday and he invited his friends for a climb. Fortunately, that included me! Haha (even though we only met 2-3x so far hehe)

The day started tragically, with my phone being snatched/pickpocket when I got off in Pasay at around 4 am. That's why when I got to McDonald's to meet them, I was a bit of in a shock... Mourn for a few moments and scold myself on how stupid I am... We waited there for the others until 5 am, then proceeded to the bus station. We got a bus to Nasugbu (costs PhP 108), went down in Evercrest, and changed into our "gears". (Actually, I just changed into my long sleeves, and took out my sarong.)

Most of the climbers were people I already met from our previous climbs Rein, Alain, Chookies, Gyles, Ben, Ralph, Ynna, and new friends I just met are Dan and Abby. And we have new-found friends from the bus, RR and Jason.

Climbing Mt. Batulao was a leisure climb :) (Or maybe it's because I'm not carrying much haha Generally, just a water bladder and an extra shirt.)

My Malong, the only mountain gear that I really need

It was actually another hot sunny day to climb. (But it's better than Mt. Marami because there were lots of rest stops, where buko juice and mountain dew were being sold.)

See those mountains behind? That's where we're going

The registration takes place approximately 1/3 of the trail. Actually, there's two registration area, near the start, and near the end of the trail. (I think it's because they are the old and new trail?)

Registration Fee (20 for day trip, 30 for overnight)

Rest Stop near Peak 7 (where a female climber died recently) and the Registration Area

There are many routes that one can take to go through the summit. But because we want the shadier route, we took the forest route, where it's cooler by so many degrees. Eventually, the forest ends, and it's back to the hot striking sun (and by this time, it's around noontime too) to the summit.

View from the Summit

Still scolding myself for the loss of my phone

We spent several minutes in the summit, took some photos, etc, then finally went on our way down so we can have lunch on our first rest stop. There was a rappelling area on the way down, fun! Or you could challenge yourself and scramble yourself up and crab yourself down... (Hmm, did I say that right?)

We had a pause, because we can't rappel down because there were climbers going up! Apparently, my friend Yani was one of them. (Her story is posted in my other post Republ1c Wakeboarding.)

Yes, there's a part in Mt. Batulao where you rappel

We had lunch on the first tree that we found on our way down from the summit. There was this white cat there, who according to those who previously climbed, was already there even before. Apparently, the cat has a land spot in this mountain.

Thinking of my new phone

So many rest stops in this mountain! I think this is really one of the easiest to climb... Unless your route was taking the old trail then the new trail, which was more of a challenge! (Ahem, ahem...)

Nth Rest Stop

Anyway, we reached civilization around 2-3 pm. We rode the tricycle back to Evercrest, where we cleaned ourselves up. Urinating costs PhP 5, defecating costs PhP 10, and taking a bath/shower costs PhP 20.
Because I'm a very light packer, I just changed into a new shirt! Haha

In fairness, when I went up to buy something from the sari-sari store, there was a little boy who approached me, asking me if I need a guide. Apparently, I still look fresh enough to climb! Haha

As the itinerary goes, we went to Mushroomburger afterwards because we were very hungry. I should have ordered the mushroom burger steak with rice, based from the original itinerary. But for some reason, I thought I considered it an afternoon snack, and was planning on having dinner at home! (Whatda? Why would I think that??! Apparently, the trauma caused by my phone-snatching is still having an effect on my logic...)

We left around 5 pm, and reached Manila around 8 PM. They had a post-climb in Robinson's but I still had a wakeboarding I have to get up for the next day, and I also have to change my passwords because of my old phone, so I went home.

What a day!

This is a video produced by Ralph to document our climb :)