Mountaineering

The Enchanted Mountain

Mt. Kamamasam 1339 MASL considered as the highest peak in Nakar Quezon gives us the unexplained feeling during the hike. This is one of the most memorable hiking experience that I would never forget. Its beauty gives you magical and enchanted scenery. I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter on that day I felt like I’m in the forbidden forest , dark forest on the grounds of Hogwarts where many weird, wonderful and highly dangerous creatures live. If you watch Harry Potter you may also think that the mossy Forest there it similar in the Forbidden Forest.

Along the trail we got encounter with a lot of species like Millipede blue with black color we failed to capture its head, A Toad with color of the branch of tree it is similar to Poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) despite being very small some of these frogs only measure 15mm they have a secret weapon, a chemical on their skin. If you look closely in the picture you may see that it have a long hand for its defense mechanism.

Tabanus bovinus simply as a giant fly according to Wikipedia it prefers bovine animals as the source of blood, although it may bite other kind of mammals as well. The insect is relatively large for a horse-fly, adults usually being 25-30 mm long.Like most other horseflies, its compound eyes are very colorful with stripe-like patterns. Its body and wings are mostly colored brownish gray. It is quite fast and an able flier, being capable of evading most attempts to swat it with ease. It bites humans infrequently, because of its preference of bovine animals.

Phasmid at first we thought it was a stick mantis because they have similar features they are called leaf insects, leaf-bugs, walking leaves, or bug leaves.

And lastly Forest Cockroach I thought cockroach can just be found in the house but I’m wrong hahahaha. I also spotted some kinds of flower for the first time.

Our organizer identify it as Amorphophallus titanum but also known as Titan arum it can just be found in Sumatra ,Indonesia so this is a privilege to for me to encounter this kind of flower.

Here are 10 reason why. I’m gonna rate it as Major 9/9

1.The 18 rivers crossing with leech on it. Parang si beshy mo linta kapit ng kapit.

2. The trail was smooth but after all those river crossing you may start asking yourself why are you here. Your nightmare start here at Sapa ng Malabito.

3. The boulder stones are slippery you need to crawl to support your body. Okay na madulas ka jan kaysa naman madulas ka sa maling tao.

4. Some soil are easily crumble. Because of this muntikan akong mahulog sa Bangin. Thanks to Ate Luisa and Kuya David, who helps me conquered the cliff. And also kila The Enchanted Mountain Ross and Kuya Memz for moral support.

5. The series of unli assault. I keep on asking one of our tour guide where is the “Patag”. Sobrang lal niya sa Akiki Trail for sure you are going to curse yourself or someone na nag aya sayo sa hike na ito hahahaha.

6. The series of unli slipped I cannot count how many I got slipped to the ground. Going to the campsite, to the summit till going back to the barangay.

7. The bloody war with Limatik. I’m so thankful that I just got bite twice in my hands by those insects. So feel good at hindi gusto ni besh yun blood ko hahaha.

8. The unli Ratan while going to summit. I really hate it than limatik . Paano kasi di ko siya naaiwasan not like limatik.

9. I got a lot of scratches along the trail. I didn’t even notice it. Na manhid na kasi hahaa

10. And lastly, there a trail that you basically need to kiss the wall it maybe not the same with G2 but guys, think again if gusto mo ba bang tumuloy or maiwan ka na lang sa baba. Joke lang po ako nga kinaya ko kahit medjo masakit na.

But despite of all these critics. Mt. Kamamasam will give you extraordinary breath taking views in the summit, enchanted mossy forest and excitement for a first encounter with some species.

Thank you to our organizer Kap Mac , Kap Alvin ,Kap Randy and to the two boys for making this Exploration successful and for making us feel safe po. Kudos.

Special mention of these three individuals they really spoiled me during the trail and even we reached the campsite. Thank you kuya Memz , Kuya Ross and Ate Luisa for everything tulugan, dinner , breakfast and lunch sobrang bait niyo po kahit bully kayo expect kay Ate Luisa. Buti pa kayo never niyo kong iniwan sobrang appreciate ko yun mga efforts niyo mga kuya Ross, Kuya Memz and Ate Luisa from the start till the end. Yun ginugulo niyo na lang ako para di na magreklamo sa sobrang layo hahahaha . So alam niyo na sasama ako sa inyo ulit pag overnight para may taga buhat ng 60kilos bag ko charot lang. To Doc Chris thank you sa pag share ng foods po. To all na di ko nabanggit thank you sobrang enjoy ko po yun hike kahit di ko kayo nakausap lahat and sorry guys to disappoint you di nakasayaw next time na lang po.

This climb is dedicated to my BEAR FAMILIA your Baby Bear Bunso ay malaki na kaya ko na kahit wala kayo, kaya ko na mag isa. Kaya ko na and to My Familia Espadilla ” Mamang and Papang Tikbalang thank you for the support. Love ko po kayong lahat

P.S. Thank you din sa pamilya ko sa nanay ko na makulit at ayaw ako na umakyat. Pero pinayagan pa din ako. Love you Ma❤

“The Mountain of Raising Sun”

Mt.Asog / Mt. Iriga

Camarines Sur

Major Jump-offs: Sitio Ilian, Brgy. San Nicolas, Iriga City; Brgy. Cabatuan, Buhi

Elevation: 1,140 MASL

Specs: Minor Climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail Class 1-4

You will be welcome with the large IRIGA CITY symbol just like the one in Hollywood. At the foot of Mt. Asog. Iriga City is located in Camarines Sur which is 10 hours away from Manila.

Mt. Asog also known as Mt. Iriga It is home to the Agta, a tribal people of Bicol which is same complexion with our Katutubong Aetas . It has coconut plantation, Squash/ Kalabasa, Chinese cabbage /Pechay and Baguio bean plantation. Our route is the Ilian trail that has always been the most preferred by local mountaineers because it is very proximate to the city and more locals offering mountain guides. It’s the easiest trail we also complete the hike 5.5 hours.

The trail here was accordingly to my best friend Froi was same with Mt. Damas trail because of the straight assault. Along the trail you’re going to encounter a lot of insect species like dragonfly, bugs and ant. But in the summit there a lot of flying insects I don’t its name. There is no water source. So I advice you when you’re planning to hike this even in the usual trail bring 2 liters of water because the trail is open and it’s hot. But when you want some extreme and challenging,try the other Sto.Domingo trail which is the killer trail accordingly to one of my friends who try this trail it has Kissed the Wall segment and Rope Segment. And he mentioned “ Madaming natatapos na relasyon at pagkakaibigan doon”

Mt. Asog welcome us with the beautiful weather. But sooner the sun disappeared. And as usual every hike, I just got nothing but the beautiful fog hahahah. But we wait for until the fog disappeared to witness the marvelous view of the mountain.

We reached the Summit of Mt. Asog by 12pm battling with the warmth and itchy tall Talahib grasses. We wait for clearing to witness the beautiful and marvelous 360 degree view of Iriga City, Mt. Masaraga standing tall and proud while beneath it is the famous Lake Buhi with its famous smallest food fish in the world listed in the Guiness Book of Record the “Sinarapan” or Mistichthys luzonensis.

So far this hike was one of the most happy to go lucky hike for me , I maybe felt tired but it’s all worth it. My team mate was so cheerful and bubbly we enjoyed each other company. I enjoyed taking pictures of those lovely flowers along the trail. Me and My teammate also enjoyed drinking and eating coconut It was refreshing and delicious. This is the one of the best hikes for me, I highly recommended “Tsinelas Transit “ organize by Kuya Xhvia, Madam Lily and Kuya Gerecho. They are all friendly and approachable looking forward to the next climb with you guys. Thank you to all my co joiners I really enjoyed this hike. Thank you Besh Froi for inviting me to join this hike, I never regret saying yes. Thank you again everyone. I promise I’ll be back here soon to witness the Rise of the Sun.

The Majestic Mountain

Mt. Napulauan Back Trail “Million-Dollar Mountain”

Hungduan, Ifugao

Major jump-offs: Poblacion and Brgy. Hapao, Hungduan

Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 7/9,

Limatik is always present here.

Features : Mossy Forest

Mt. Napulauan located in the municipality of Hungduan, and towering at 2,642 MASL, Mt. Napulauan, or Napulawan as the locals spell it (either way is correct), is the country’s 15th highest mountain in the Philippines.

The Mt. Napaluauan was trail the combination of all assault trails I hike so far this is one the most unpredictable mountain so far. It was 12 pm in the afternoon the Sun was so bright and clear but unfortunately rain pours. The trail going to the campsite literally cardiac assault. “ Keep on asking myself hanggang kelan to assault na to “

It also well-known mountain in Hungduan, Ifugao is also shrouded in a mystique that makes it more enticing for adventurous tourists. The locals believe that the summit of the mountain is enchanted and protected by fairies. According to the one website I read Mt. Napulauan peak has served as refuge for both defenders of Philippine soil and invaders from the imperial Japanese army. General Emilio Aguinaldo, who fought to free the Philippines from Spanish and American colonizers, sheltered his troops in the mountain’s mossy forest. The hidden valleys of this majestic mountain were also used by General Tomoyuki Yamashita, a Japanese General who was infamous as the “Tiger of Malaya.” General Yamashita used the region for the last stand against the Filipino and American forces. Rumors also suggest that the Japanese general buried vast amounts of plunder treasure in the surrounding area.

It was called as Million dollar Mountain dahil sa bundok daw na ito ang huling kuta ni Gen. Yamashita bago matapos ang gera at sinasabing dito din nakatago ang mga kayamanan nya. Madami ding butas sa trail.Malalalim daw iyon dahil doon nagtatago ang mga tao noon para hindi makita ng mga Sundalong Hapon.

The mossy forest here can be also compared to the Harry Potter forbidden forest well it maybe not look like the mossy forest of Mt. Kamamasam but it’s one of the most beautiful mossy forest so far.

Mt. Napulauan, as with other mountains in the Philippines, proved to have some unseen supernatural forces lurking within. I had a very uncanny feeling. Like what “ bakit parang kanina galing na kami dito tapos nandito na naman kami. I also saw a lady with a white dress I keep on pretending that I didn’t see her. I just ask my friend to keep going, but the trail like a never ending assault. When the rain pours we started feels the cold ambiance it was cold night not like my overnight in Mt. Pulag and Mt. kamamasam so far Mt. Napulauan was the coldest. It was nearing dark when we burst out of the forest and into the false campsite. Every time we saw something that has a ‘Liwanag” we always thought that it was the campsite. After 6 hours of trekking finally we reached the campsite with trembling due of cold weather. Me and kuya Kel decided to take a nap. But when we go outside to take the dinner, I saw her again the lady in white at first I thought it was my co- hiker because she wearing a white shirt that time. But I keep I got confused why the hell she is on the other side of out the tent when basically I was dead end and there no trail. I just keep on praying. After we ate, we decided to sleep. Then I think it was 2:45 am I heard a footstep outside our tent which is on the side where I saw the Lady in white. I just pray in silence so that I cannot disturb my co- hikers. It was an intense and scary experience.

The photogenic view paid off very well for the hardships of the day before. We may not see the sun rise, but Mt. Napuluan give us clearing which is rare. I’m going to use lesser words to describe the magnificent beauty we saw. It was “Magical”.

At 10.15am we decided to go back to the jump off. So far hindi pa din tumigil yun ulan sobrang dulas ng daan. But thank you nakababa kami with my team ng 1.15pm. And waiting for the others na lang.

This mountain gives me a dose of unexplainable feeling. I really want to go back here witness the sunrise and the most beautiful clearing. See you soon Amica Mea 💕💕💕💕

Shout out to my GF Irish who are so hands on to us Kudos Gf more more organize event hahaha. Thank you so much for this climb. Pero ilang overnight na tayo ha wala pa din tayong matinong picture ano na. Be Albert, thank you for taking care of me on my wasted look “ Susuka pero hahabaol pa din.