Mt. Marami Climb

Climb another mountain for May - check
Reflecting - still ongoing
Socializing - still ongoing

Since I was so pleased with myself for climbing Mt. Pulag, I must have caught the fever, because I want to climb again, as early as one week after climbing that! Haha I even sent a message to one of my mountaineer friends, to invite me even if it's just a dayhike! (Once kumapal na ang mukha, dire-diretso na pala! Hehe Of course, I was still high from the climb, so I was kind of in this feeling where nothing can make you feel down, even if you were rejected?? Hehe)

Mt. Marami was a different mountain altogether. It is located in Cavite, not in Cordilleras. That alone should have given me enough warning about the weather! That and there was Deo's email that it's a hard climb!? (Whatda?!? I invited my friend along, and this will be her first mountain! We thought it was a beginner's climb!) The itinerary seems simple enough:

Day 1 (May 19, Saturday)
0430 Assembly at Lawton Post Office, Manila.
0630 ETA Naic
0800 ETA Magallanes. Registration.
0900 ETA Brgy. Ramirez, Brgy. Hall. Registration.
0930 Start trek
1000 ETA Ilog na Kayrayag
1100 Cross three segments of Bangkaan River; Nuestra Señora de la Paz trail
1200 ETA Kapihan Nipa hut. Lunch
1300 Resume trek to Campsite 1
1400 ETA Campsite 1
1500 Reach Bamboo Forest
1600 ETA Campsite at base of Mt. Marami Summit.
1630 Assault the summit; explore.
1800 Return to camp.
1830 Dinner. Socials
2200 Lights Out.

Day 2 (May 20, Sunday)
0530 Wake up call. Sunrise viewing
0630 Breakfast
0730 Break camp
0800 Start descent
1030 Back at Kapihan nipa hut
1230 Back at jump-off point at Brgy. Ramirez. Lunch
1400 ETA Naic. Bus to Manila
1700 ETD Manila

I was able to invite my friend Tin, to come with me. Deo told us to pack light, and that there was no need for sleeping bags. So there we were, carrying school-like back packs, while most of them were carrying their mountaineering packs! Hehe I know some to most of them already, so we just said Hi. Still, I find it very awkward and generally intimidating because there was a lot of them who has been through a lot already. That and the fact that I need to buy some water, prompted Tin and me to go out for a while to buy some. (Originally, two of my sisters were to go with me, but they got sick, vomiting. So I told them to just stay home, it was a good thing they stayed, because we hardly made it to the climb without some sort of dehydration, what more for them?)

Anyway, so we took the bus to Baclaran, and had another bus to Naic, Cavite. Since I already know some of them from the Pulag climb, I befriended some of those who are new to me (besides, they seem to come in twos, so it's easier for me that way). I started joking around that we should stay together because there were 3-4 pairs of us with a beginner; and if we rest for a long while, it wouldn't matter because we were all beginners hehe

Backpackers United Before the Climb in front of the Barangay Hall

The route was really, really HOT. There was no wind. And Tin and I just brought 2 liters of water! Ha!! Though in fairness, we have a fan each haha The trail started with a few meters of grassland, then dried mud, and wet mud when close to the river (oh yeah, I got into this because of the 3 river crossings; which was negligible by the time that we climbed because it was dry/summer season). It only reached up to my ankle!

Of the four rivers that we "crossed", this is the biggest

"River" Crossing

It wasn't that bad, because there was no inclines yet. But after approximately 1 1/2 hrs of trekking, the incline starts! And there was no trees! It seems that we need 30 minutes of rest, but we just go on a 30-second ascent, our "rest" washes off! Grabe, I thank God that I get bored easily (and doesn't last long) with jogging in the threadmills, and would rather do the stepper or the incline on the threadmill! What more for those newbies, who didn't had cardio fitness? Haha And they're still carrying heavy backpacks! Hehe

The Sweepers Caught up with The Beginner's Circle

There was a "potable" water source, but I'm not sure how potable it is. I saw a carabao drinking from it, maybe it's potable for them? The locals apparently drink it, but it was still water, coming from the rocks, so I don't really trust it. (I can imagine the bacteria and E. coli...)

By the time, we reached camp, it was around 1 pm in the afternoon, so the sun was really, really hot! We had packed lunch (Tin and I didn't realize; it's a good thing she brought Tuna Paella, while I brought Sisig.) Everyone wanted to nap, nobody wants to go the summit in this hot weather! Everyone was also conserving their water, bartering for water, which was the gold up there! Hehe

I tried to sleep inside the tent, after eating. Unfortunately, there was no wind. I don't know how Bea took it, but she was able to sleep! Olive, Tin, and I all had our fans. I couldn't take the oven anymore, so I went out. I asked if there was still space where I can insert myself in their little huddle.

Inserted and fitted myself successfully in this little area of shade

Since we didn't go to the summit that afternoon, Deo made dinner, as early as 4 pm, so we were eating by 5 pm! I wasn't even hungry yet. Anyway, at least that means that we can have our socials early, and sleep early too.

Made our climb worthwhile

Mt. Marami Summit

Tin and I at the Summit

 After climbing the summit, we head back to camp. Found breakfast ready, thanks to TL Deo, who didn't come with us to the summit. (Hmm, I wonder why? :) ) Anyway, we broke camp, fixed the tent, and started the descent. One of our stop-overs was where we can get some buko juice. We were running very low on water by that time. (By the way, I managed to survive with my 2L of water! 1.5L consumed on Day 1, and 500mL consumed on Day 2. Barely made it! I had two buko juice!)

Stop-Over During the Descent

Waiting for the Buko Juice

Eventually, we reached the barangay hall. We ate lunch, and washed up.

Squeaky Clean Backpackers United after the Climb

Grabe! It was a pretty hard climb because of the lack of water, lack of wind, lack of shade, and full of inclines! Yet, it was still memorable because of the company and our complaints against so many things (especially for Tin because this is her first climb yet! Haha Hopefully, there will be a second time for her) hehe But I wouldn't go back to Mt. Marami anytime soon hehe