Majayjay...cold but sweet!

Majayjay Falls

 I have always remembered Majayjay adventure whenever i would have a cold shower in the morning. There are times i really enjoyed having a cold shower even when its not really hot. Yes, only to remember the times we had so much water that is so cold in a mountain. Majayjay, which is located in laguna, is not really a hiking type of adventure that's why we call it another fun climb. A 15 minute walk is all we need to be at the camping site!

Fun Climb at Mt Famy

Mt Famy or Mt Romelo in Siniloan Laguna is just two hours ride from Manila and the closest place we have ever been in hiking last 2002. For beginners, this was mostly recommended because it is considered an easy or minor climb.

Famy is different from our other hiking experience since Famy has so many falls and rivers. 

 

The most memorable place to me in Famy is in Batya Batya. The picture of Batya-Batya at the side, which is one of my treasured photos, reminds me of our group strategies in order to have our way through the top of that rock not by swimming, coz most of us are not very good swimmers, but by just holding on to the stones at the side of the river and another is holding on to a fat stick while the stick is being held by Nads and Norman. Our two men are our heroes!

 

Finally at the top of Batya Batya but there's more coz we have to cross another river to go up to Sampaloc Falls. Another river is located at our back in the picture.

Here is a picture from the jump off point. Look at my Montanara red bag... he is my best hiking buddy ever! Also in the picture are four of my keppel officemate and my former pna colleague. It has always been more girls than boys especially if it just a fun or minor climb. 

This is our complete group picture at the top most hill of Mt Famy with extra.. a dog! I remember we labeled the dog as a picture of our guide and protector coz we have been saved from a group of robbers if not for some blessing in disguise. The blessing in disguise? We are supposed to leave Manila at night but one of our group members is late! We hated being late especially when it comes to our itinerary because we will definitely miss out our planned schedules. Because of the late, we missed the last trip and we have to wait the first trip in the morning else hire a private jeepney just for our group. We have several discussions and fiery exchange of comments until we decided to just spend the night in the office waiting. We then took the first trip in the AM and headed to Mt Famy. It is still dawn when we arrived at the jump off point and I felt the pressure around. Some of us are not already happy even before we started the climb. We are worried that our campsite might not be that good since we are late from our itinerary schedule and therefore loose the best camp site. Silence only gives in at the top hill of Mt Famy. We heard that a group of hikers just before our group has been robbed and many things were taken and some of them get hurt. We immediately realized that if not for the “late” drama we will be the group that has been robbed. It was a real blessing in disguise! This realization immediately changed us and our group is back on trail! Fun climb will always be a fun climb!

p.s. next easier than Famy...Majayjay 

Mount Maculot...Fun and thrilling!

Mount Maculot is located in Brgy Poblacion Cuenca Batangas. We have two or three climbs up there in 2002 simply maybe because the climb as we often call it is always a "fun climb".  Rockies is my favorite spot. The picture tells it so! It was a shot made after we have overcome a cliff and a moving rock. "I AM FREE!!!", a shout I would never forget!  

Mount Maculot climb is our second climbing experience, a month after the first BIG climb at Mt Banahaw. We have now our guide who usually climbs Mt Maculot even on just a day hike. Yes, you can climb Mt Maculot even on a day hike! It was just a two hours trek up the mountain if you will be using the usual trail to the summit. I admit that I am still ill-at-ease at that time coz the fear of what just happened in my first climbing experience still creeps within. But this time, we are prepared!

We have checked our things, I have brought my first ever Montanara red hiking bag. Helen also bought the same bag with gray color. Those first timers, our officemates who had been curious enough to go because of our Mt Banahaw stories, are bringing backpacks. We had a pre-climb meeting and assignments and checklists are also given. I remember almost every essential things that are needed in the climb were mentioned, the tents and how many can it accommodate, the hiking stove, a swiss knife, an extra shirt, sunblock, bottled water at around 2 liters each, canned goods, rice, trail food. It is also my first time to hear about the earth pad and the proper way to put all that in your hiking bag. Purpose: Distributing weight and for comfort and safety. 

It was really a fun climbing experience at Mt Maculot. No stiff rock just slippery trail because of the dry leaves scattered around the trail. We had a great time climbing up especially when I see the reactions and actions of the first timers. What's really fun about our going up is that Janet, who is very consistent in her beauty regimen, wears make up and I think she also brought an umbrella. (",) Well, you know the rest is history! We also had a great time at the summit, stories and many more stories! The view at the top? It is breathtaking! I could really appreciate the beauty it shows! The view of the other mountains, Taal Volcano, the river, the green fields, the birds, the breeze of the wind...and the voices of the people in the summit! Everything is beautiful!

Rockies is one of my Mt Maculot challenge. My first time to go there was not a success because I was overwhelmed by the fear of falling and my feet slipping. All I have to do was to just watch their courage as they go to the most beautiful Rockies spot. After that first fun climb, I regret about it! I failed because I have not tried at all! I then promise myself to at least give it a try and trust that my feet would bring me to the place safely. My second time try, was a success! The picture above was my second try. All along, while I was going on that cliff, while holding my companion's hand, my heart was beating fast and I could almost hear it. After that, all I could do was shouting...I AM FREE!!! I am free because I know I have overcome my fear of heights...I have overcome my fear thoughts...I have overcome my weak myself!

Next...Day Hike at Mt Maculot!

;Des

      

My First Hiking Experience

My first experience in climbing mountain was in 2001 with my officemates. My former officemate invited me to join her friends who usually go to Mount Banahaw every year during Holy week. It was not an immediate Yes answer for me. In fact, she already invited me twice before and i would always give a “No” answer since i couldn't imagine myself climbing mountain with my so called "petite" physique. Oh! I could almost faint just imagining myself up in the mountain with my fear of heights and going into caves. But something happened in 2001 that made me say yes,  a yes to something I wouldn’t dare to do in my dreams. My purpose: a hurt I need to heal…a search I’m longing to know... a something I could find if I go with my friend and spend the holy week in a different way besides that year I already care less about myself. We’ll I’m just being myself disregarding anybody who cares even my family. Yes, they don’t know where I’m going that holy week.

I started to pack my things with mixed emotions, of excitement and of fear. I have an idea what the place looks like coz I saw Mount Banahaw featured  on TV just before we go on hiking. I felt I really should be going. It’s maybe something I really long to do. We are less than fifteen (15) persons in that climb. They are all in hiking gears except me, Lovelle (my friend who invited me), and Helen (my officemate). We are using an ordinary backpack with shoulder bags. It was also my first time to join in a group whom I met the first time, the first day of the climb! and what so funny about it is Lovelle also met them the first time. (“,) Lovelle’s friend who invited her was not around. We are strangers! Helen almost back out and having a second thought of joining since eventhough they are in hiking gears…most of them really look like “kanto” boys! Are we coming home alive with these people? Are they kind? Will they take care of us? What if they do something bad to us? We are helpless! So many doubts in my mind but that night, that first night of the climb was a turning point in my life. I began to trust people first before I get to know them eventhough they don’t look like one. I trust that Lovelle’s friend is good enough to let us come with them even though he is not around. Then..the journey begins!

Till my next blog…

;Des    

Climbing on foot or on wheels?

Climbing a mountain on foot or on wheels? I have experienced both but still the experience of climbing a mountain on foot is a learning experience. Each step counts! You must not stop until you reach the top...of course, you rest if you must...but the promise of the top brings back your feet to step once more...and another...and another...until you are finally at the summit!..It is a real joy to finally finish the climb especially when you know you have overcome many obstacles! Soon you will also realize that your body has been prepared for next big climb! So don't take shortcuts and never climb alone!(“,).

Till then,

D.E.S.

p.s. I'll be sharing more on my climbing experiences and almost all have done a great impact in my life.