Continued from Hiking matters #546: From Calayan Island we proceeded to Babuyan Island to formally commence our series of volcano hikes. Babuyan Island – one of the most fascinating in the country – is home to the Ibatan tribe (not to be confused with the Ivatans of Batanes with a v, although they are culturally and linguistically related), who hold title to the entire island as their ancestral domain.
In our approach to the island we were welcomed by the green-brown conical Smith Volcano (Mt. Pokis) – in my opinion second only to Mayon in beauty among the country’s volcanoes. Behind it stood the more forested, cloud-capped Mt. Babuyan Claro (Chinteb na Wasay). Pokis in Ibatan means ‘bald’ and is used to describe the volcano’s barren slopes.
As we followed the southern coast of the island we passed through Asked village, home to a black sand beach that doubles as a hot spring thanks to the island’s unique geology. It is marked by a lighthouse similar to the one in Sibang Cove in Calayan. Then, at the end of the coast we reached the main docking area, under the shadow of a hill on the southeastern tip of the island.
After doing the formalities – a process that requires a P500 entrance fee to the island and some patience as the islanders are not used to receiving visitors – we returned by boat to Asked village, and went a bit beyond to commence a hike of Mt. Pokis accompanied by two guides, Danilo and Narciso. There is no trail whatsoever; one just has to follow the contour of the volcano and choose how gradual or steep you want your hike to be. We ended up following the contour of the volcano.
The first part is made up of volcanic sand. Very much reminiscent of Mayon, much of the trail is made up of black rocks, gravel, and sand with some unique vegetation – including a superabundance of pitcher plants. At the higher reaches of the slope, it becomes precarious, akin to a scree slope – caution is advised for possible falling rocks.
The summit is marked by a number of large rocks, the highest of which is pyramidal in shape and can count as the marker (see photo above). There, one can see both Camiguin and Calayan islands, and behold the majesty of Babuyan Claro as well as the forests and the fields under its shadow. We awaited the sunset, then testily descended the volcano this time heading towards an eastern direction to hit the forest which then led us to Asked village.
As we were hiking during the Holy Week our evening trek was graced by a full moon, and so was the boat ride back to the ‘Centro’. Upon reaching our homestay we were treated to a feast of seaweed salad, lobsters and various fish – capping off a most amazing day of adventure.
Note: Babuyan Island is a pristine area and the entire island must be respected as a nature sanctuary and a cultural community. Because there is no waste disposal facility in the island, Pinoy Mountaineer strongly recommends taking your trash with you back to Luzon mainland.
Continued from Hiking matters #547: The following day, we woke up early to trek Mt. Babuyan Claro, also known in the Ibatan language as Chinteb a Wasay – which mean’s ‘cut of the axe’. Another name used for the mountain in the literature is Mt. Pangasun. At an estimated altitude of 1066m, this volcano is the highest in the Babuyan Islands, the highest Philippine mountain north of Luzon island, and the second most northerly 1000-meter peak in the country, with the 1009-meter Mt. Iraya in Batanes being the first.
A 15-minute trike ride took us from the centro to the trailhead of Mt. Babuyan Claro, and we started at around 100 MASL. Immediately, we were mesmerized by the beautiful forest, which was made up of narra trees and the parasitic balete. It was teeming with life: we saw numerous stick insects, including the endemic Lonchodiodes babuyanensis.
In the same forest we also saw a flying lizard that the scientific literature seems to suggest as a
Draco sp. (Oliveros et. al 2011). We also saw lots of spiders, grasshoppers, praying mantises; some of us also caught sight of the okong (Philippine megapode) – a scrubfowl that’s the object of much fascination among the locals, who claim that its egg is “four times bigger than that of a chicken”.
The hike can be divided into two parts, the first being the forested trek, taking about two hours, and the second being the ascent up the crater rim. Here, the slopes become open but far more verdant than Smith Volcano, sharing the same flora (including the pitcher plants).
At this point there is no longer any ‘trail’; one just proceeds to reach the ridges that connect to the crater rim. Here, the views are amazing – some of the best I’ve seen in the Philippines or elsewhere. Past 800 MASL, Smith Volcano emerges from being eclipsed by a smaller peak; the ridges offer views of the entire south face of the island, as well as Camiguin.
Basically, the way up involves just following the ridgeline to the top. In this, it is one of a kind in the Philippines – the closest parallels I can think of are the volcanoes of Kyushu Island in Japan, although it can sometimes feel like the ultramafic peaks of Palawan – or the knife-edged ridges of Guiting-Guiting. Even so, its uniqueness cannot be denied with the presence of volcanic holes in the second ridge before the crater rim.
After a few more ridges the crater rim is reached; the highest point we reached exceeded 1000 meters. It is not the summit proper; the pinnacle in the crater rim is precariously close to an active fumarole that according to locals previously didn’t exist. Even so we were at the crater rim – a caldera, really – and, as in Smith Volcano, the views were secondary to the enchanting quality of the place itself.
After resting and snacking at the summit (we brought boiled gabi as trail food – one of the chief root crops in the island), we headed down the same way, experiencing the ridges another time before finding our way back to the forest. In all it took us 3 hours to descend, and by the time we reached the center, another feast was waiting for us: eel, lobster, ceviche, and many more. The Ibatan f0lk also shared some of their stories; by the time we left the next day our hearts were heavy upon the realization that we were leaving a island paradise. The adventure continues in Hiking matters #549.
Note: Babuyan Island is a pristine area and the entire island must be respected as a nature sanctuary and a cultural community. Because there is no waste disposal facility in the island, Pinoy Mountaineer strongly recommends taking your trash with you back to Luzon mainland.
Continued from Hiking matters #549: After having climbed Smith Volcano and Mt. Babuyan Claro, and after having visited Didicas volcano, one final challenge remained: Mt. Camiguin de Babuyanes (712m), the highest mountain in Camiguin Island and yet another active volcano in the Babuyan islands. So we proceeded to Camiguin Island: a trip that took another 3 hours from Didicas; by the time we reached the relatively calm waters of the natural bay between Camiguin and its satellite, Pamoctan Island, it was too late to swim in what would have been very nice waters.
We had actually hoped to climb Camiguin de Babuyanes on the same day as the visit to Didicas, but the sea conditions did not permit an expedited itinerary. Instead, we had to settle for a hectic final day: a climb to the volcano followed by a return to Sta. Ana, Cagayan. The need to reach the mainland took some urgency when a low pressure area threatened to infuriate the waters, potentially leaving us stranded: a very real possibility in the Babuyanes.
Fortunately, the barangay officials of Naguillan were very helpful; they helped us secure habal-habal drivers and a guide (Jun-Jun) for early the next morning; and as luck would have it, a homestay (“Nomads”) that has yet to open decided to open its doors to us, making us their inaugural guests. It was already 2030H by the time we were fully settled; a hearty dinner of adobo was hastily arranged.
The following day, we woke up at 0500H for the scheduled departure of 0530H to head to the Sitio Pagitpit, Brgy. Naguillan trailhead of the mountain, which is simply called the ‘Big Mountain’ in the island. After the expected delays (it was Good Friday after all), we finally managed to start trekking by 0700H.
Much of the trail was forested in a way that’s typical of Philippine mountains: Banahaw, Cristobal, Isarog, and Iraya come to mind. But hikers beware: the forest must be taken seriously as it is replete with various snakes, including the poisonous green pit viper: we saw two on our trek.
But the hike itself is relatively easy; in just over an hour and a half we were already at the crater – “it becomes a lake when the habagat comes” as our guide said. Between the lake are two peaks: a north peak that where an American was said to have lived a long time ago; and a South Peak that is covered with various vines including rattan. Becomes it seemed to offfer more scenic views and the summits’ elevations are relatively similar, we opted for the South Peak.
From the crater onwards the trail is non-existent; we had to scramble and crawl our way up rocks and vines until we reached the highest point. There, behind the North Peak, are views of the other mountains of Camiguin island and, delightfully, the two volcanoes of Babuyan Island – Smith Volcano and Mt. Babuyan Claro – made meaningful for us by the fact that we had actually climbed both of them.
Before we descended, we caught a glimpse of Didicas Island to the east, the approach to it guarded by the twin rocks of Dilayag. According to our guide there are many more possibilities, including a traverse to the sea; a trek to the fumaroles, and a hike up Mt. Tapya on the other side of the island. All these will have to wait for the next trip; for now we would have to be content – and in fact, more than happy – to have fulfilled our dreams of visiting the fascinating volcanoes of Babuyan; what we saw exceeded our expectations.
I have long dreamed of climbing – or at least visiting – the volcanoes of Babuyan, and that dream was further stoked when we actually saw Camiguin de Babuyanes from Cagua Volcano and Palaui Island when we went there last year. Going to Babuyan, of course, is not an easy task: there is a narrow window during the dry months when it can be done without a high risk of getting stranded; such a risk was further increased by the fact that our expedition would entail several boat rides. And so when the opportunity presented itself during the Holy Week, we decided to seize it.
And so we traveled to Claveria – a 15-hour bus and van ride away from Manila via Tuguegarao, spending a night there before proceeding early the next day to Calayan aboard the M/V Angelica, a 22-capacity outrigger boat piloted by Manong Marcelo. Our trip in Calayan was arranged by Ms. Connie Agudera (09215349231); beyond that point we were on our own as there is no cellphone signal in Babuyan and we didn’t really know when we will reach Camiguin.
Amazingly the waters were very calm – glass-like at times – on our way to Calayan; it took us 6 hours to get to the poblacion. Although I really didn’t plan anything for Calayan in terms of hiking (it is not a volcanic island unlike Camiguin and Babuyan), the island has countless trekking opportunities and we decided to maximize them in the 1 1/2 days we were there. And so after being welcomed to a lunch of lobsters (two kinds at that!) we proceeded to Sibang Cove to do some trekking around the cove and up nearby Nagudungan Hill, whose lighthouse is an icon of Calayan.
As a bonus for the hiker, from Nagudungan Hill one can view the two volcanoes of Babuyan Island: Smith Volcano and Mt. Babuyan Claro. We took the fact that the two volcanoes were visible as an auspicious sign that the weather conditions will be favorable for us throughout the week: only a few days before some groups were not able to cross the Balintang Channel due to the rough waves.
Sibang Cove can also be trekked – or reached by motorbike – from the centro and that’s what some of the younger folks in our group did the next day. As for me, I contented myself with enjoying the views of Sibang Cove that afternoon.
The following day, we went on a six-hour trek to Semaero Falls deep in the forested heart of Calayan. Initially passing through rough roads we eventually entered a river system and had to some river trekking before reaching the waterfalls, which, although not really that impressive, was good enough considering that we were in a small island. The locals know of other trails leading to other parts of the forest – depending on how much time you’re willing to spend!
Unfortunately we did not have time to do the other attractions of the island, but I am sure a hiker can easily spend 3-4 days there and do some significant treks: the hills reach beyond 400 meters and northwest portion seem very promising. I went swimming in the beach the two days I was there and I found Calayan a great place to stage the rest of our voyage to the volcanoes of Babuyan.
The Antique Mountaineering Society, Inc. (AMSI) has reported a successful ascent of Mt.Nausang (locally known as “Nausan” ) in Madalag, Aklan on April 9, 2017. Measuring 1464 MASL, this mountain is the highest peak in the province. Six mountaineers were joined by three locals belonging to the Akeanon-Bukidnon community. The hikers included Paul Francis Fano, Thelmo Fano, EJ Aniñon, and Sonny Estolloro of AMSI, Kevin Jauod of ORGASM, Jonathan Sulit of Talahib, while the three guides were Romeo Gregorio, Herminio Arias, and Delberto Nabas.
The mountaineering club, which is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, described an “unexplored summit covered by dense forest teeming with wildlife.” They added that the climb “is aimed at helping the Akeanon-Bukidnon community of Brgy.Panipiason in Madalag,Aklan established an alternative livelihood project through mountaineering events.” Paul Fano stressed that the hike is “just the first phase…we will go back to train the guides.”
An alumnus of the Loyola Mountaineers, environmentalist Gregg Yan, has proposed that alongside regular positions in each hike like team leader, tail, and first aid officer, there should also be a green officer that is in charge of making sure that the hike is carried out in an environment-friendly way. Yan adds:
By designating a GREEN OFFICER, mountaineering teams can turn every climb into a cleanup climb. The Green Officer should be spared from carrying heavy kit items like tent bodies or ground sheets. Additional training on bird watching and botany will add value to the position.
In engaging with other mountaineers in social media, the former WWF Philippines officer elaborated his proposed idea on Facebook:
1. The Green Officer is a squad-level position (i.e. he or she is only designated as a Green Officer only for a climb, like a medic or a scribe or a scout). This is different from the Environmental Officer, who is a line officer and responsible for the environmental training and activities of a mountaineering org,
2. All other climbers will look for trash. The Green Officer carries the bag where they place the trash they find within 2M of the trail. The bag must not look jologs. It must look cool. It must give pride to the bearer.
3. It’ll turn every climb into a cleanup climb – ensuring that the impacts of mountaineering (trail scuffs, etc.) are positively offset by the physical removal of litter.
In the end, the solution would of course be to wean humanity away from disposable plastic and foil items – but until that time, this measure should do wonders for the RP mountaineering community.
What do you think of Yan’s idea? Suggestions and insights for further discussion are welcome at info@pinoymountaineer.com or by commenting below.
On my recent trips to Babuyan Islands and Mindanao I tried out the NatureHike Cycling Ultralight Silicone One Man Tent that my good friend Koi Grey gave me. So far, I like it: it is light enough (1300g) to satisfy my self-contained system, and it is also quite easy to setup with a single-structure frame made of aluminum poles. What’s more, it comes with a footprint that likewise packs seamlessly and matches the size of the tent perfectly.
It was able to withstand the evening dew and light rains during the three nights I used it over the past month. Tents, however, must pass the test of time and I have yet to experience rough conditions with it so I’ll try to come up with a more comprehensive review in the future. Meanwhile, I’ll be happy to stick with it for my hikes for the rest of this season.
NatureHike, an outdoor company based in Zhejiang, China, has been specializing in camping equipment and has recently started being distributed in the Philippines.
Strategically located in the Northern Cordilleras and lying in the middle of several provinces – Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province – Abra is full of exciting hiking possibilities. Now that the peace and order situation has (somewhat) improved, these possibilities are opening up, and foremost of them is Mt. Bullagao – a prominent landmark that can be viewed from Bangued and other parts of Abra and Ilocos Sur.
This mountain, also known to locals as the “Sleeping Beauty” because – as with Makiling and others – it is shaped like a maiden lying down – is located in Langiden town, some two hours away from Bangued. Joined by Tony Gutierrez, I decided to hike this mountain and thankfully we were assisted by George Lalin (09275609121) and tourism volunteers supported by Abra’s Lone District. The bus ride from Cubao to Bangued was surprisingly pleasant, taking just 8 hours – the time it used to take hikers from Manila to Baguio, back in those days when Pulag had to be ascended starting from the DENR Visitor Center in Ambangeg.
After breakfast of pansit – a Bangued delicacy – we proceeded with a 4×4 vehicle via the dry Abra river to the trailhead. The hike commences in Brgy. Malapaao in Langiden to a slow start, which entails reaching the base of the mountain via a river. The landscape is somewhat arid during the dry season, while during the wet season the rivers can swell to a point of making the trail difficult to reach – if not downright inaccessible.From that point, the hike is mostly a straightforward ascent passing through slopes that are reminiscent of Mt. Balingkilat.
After 2.5 hours of trekking we reached a junction that led to the campsite – a beautiful plateau (L, see above) and, to the right, approach to the summit (R). A steep slope, made slippery and a bit precarious by loose soil, then connects to a refreshingly forested area that covers the trail up to the summit (17°38’ 16.5’’ N, 120°31’ 3.83’’E, 1119 MASL).
The summit itself is marked by a rock with some communications equipment; it has a limited view, but just a few minutes farther (with respect to the trail we took) is a viewpoint that is, incidentally, the starting point of an alternate trail that heads straight down to campsite some 400 meters below. From this viewpoint one can see the meandering Abra River, and the town of Bangued right in the middle. On the other side, meanwhile, lay the towns of Ilocos Sur (W). The mountains of Gregorio del Pilar, including Tirad Peak and Tirad Pass, can also be appreciated (SW).
Since some of our local companions decided to stay in the campsite, we took the trail to regroup with them; the trail turned out to be a steeper and more challenging one with sections involving loose soil – and others with thorny shrubs. It is, however, ultimately rewarding – the feeling of approaching the campsite is like descending to Tarak Ridge coming from a traverse from Pantingan.
After a rest stop at the beautiful campsite (which also reminded me, among other things, of Sicapoo’s plateau), we started the descent, which took less than two hours until the barangay. If I had more time I would have wanted to do an overnight – it’s a more recommended program in order to avoid the incessant heat. Even so, whatever the itinerary is, it’s still a very rewarding – and highly recommended hike! Looking forward to returning to Abra for more!
Terence Kua at the slopes in Huayna Potosi (6088m) in Bolivia
Not many 24 year olds can boast of an MD in their name, but Terence Kua was just 23 when he received his medical degree and passed the boards last year – being part of UP’s INTARMED program. Instead of proceeding to take residency immediately, however, the young doctor – also an avid hiker and traveler – decided to pursue his dream of traveling around South America. And that’s where he has been for the past several months – starting in Brazil.
Of course, Terence also visited the usual sights – the beaches of Brazil, the iconic Machu Picchu in Peru (via a four-day Salkantay Trek). But Terence – a Pinoy Mountaineer protégé who has joined major climbs like the Akiki-Ambaguio Traverse – also did a lot of hiking, reaching an impressive 6088 meters above sea level in Huayna Potosi, Bolivia and doing the fabled 10-day Huayhuash trek in Peruvian Andes.
Terence shares: “The Andes is a mountaineer’s dream because even just the cities are high altitude: La Paz is 3900 MASL; Cusco is 3400 MASL. So you get to acclimatize as soon as you arrive. The hikes are easy to arrange through the many outfitters and I was able to do Huayna Potosi for less than 150 dollars [from La Paz]. Imagine that – a 6000-meter mountain for the price of Apo back home!” He says he encourages Pinoys to go to South America. “The good thing is, you don’t need a visa for most of the countries here!”
Terence is currently in Peru and is expected to continue northward to Ecuador and Colombia – two countries that are also famous for their high altitude treks. Says Terence: “My hiking buddy [from the Philippines] will fly in to meet me in Colombia, and I can’t wait to go on more hikes there!” Meanwhile you can follow his adventures on Instagram at @terencetravels.
Anyone who pauses long enough to reflect on their lives will realize for themselves how true the maxim is, that things change and so do people; they come and go like passing clouds.
This is true for mountaineers too. Climb after climb, new and old faces come and go, and one day, the goodbye you bid a fellow hiker at the bus terminal or the airport will be the last; and all there is between you are memories.
Such is life, and there are many reasons for such changes. As time passes, priorities change, and people move too, across physical and social geographies. Among most of us, it is the mountains that brought us together. Without them, our relationships fall apart or fade away. No one is to blame for this. Like classmates in elementary or high school, we move on to the next chapters of our lives. Some ties endure, but many recede. There is a natural flow in life, one that erodes more than it binds.
Yet, perhaps it is not too late to offer you a little tribute, a farewell note, even as I hope that we may someday meet again.
To start with, If I haven’t been able to thank you before, then let me thank you now. Surely, in our journeys, you made me think or you made me smile. Or perhaps you challenged me to be a better person. And simply by being yourself, you have introduced me to a different way of living, a different style of enjoying the outdoors; a different way of looking at the world. For these, I thank you.
For organizing a climb I joined, and for joining a climb that I organized, I thank you.
For waiting for me in the bus terminal; for taking my pictures; for guiding me in the trails, and for sharing with me the joys of reaching the summit and the occasional disappointment of not reaching it, I thank you.
For sharing with me your last bottle of Gatorade and the last piece of your favorite trail food, I thank you.
For listening to me while I recited in wonder the names of the peaks we saw from atop a mountain, and for speaking to me whenever I needed words of encouragement or comfort, I thank you.
For accompanying me in the freezing cold and walking with me through the forbidding high altitude on a day when we should have celebrating a holiday; for joining me in a climb that others were too afraid to do or try; for cooking our food on a night when I was too tired to leave my tent; for driving your car just to reach our destination, I thank you.
For telling me I can do it, for telling me that nothing is impossible, for communicating to me the power of dreams, I thank you.
To all of you, I offer my thanksgiving for making me a better person.
The mountains are mirrors that enable us to see ourselves, but in the process we also open up ourselves to others in a unique way. As an imperfect person, if I failed you or wronged you in any way, I wouoffer my apologies. Was it a joke I wrongly said, or a failure to help you when you needed me? Did I hurt you when I uttered angry words? Did I snore too loudly on a night when sleep was all you ever hoped for? Did I fail to invite you in a climb you had longed for? For these, and more, I am sorry. I am only human, a person with moods and quirks, with likes and dislikes, with strengths and weaknesses. Had you looked upon me as anything more than that, I would almost certainly have disappointed you.
I have not forgotten our adventures, and I bring them back to life in the stories I share to others. The funny and erudite words you said, the crazy adventures we did; the unique things that you are; they stay with me, as securely as harness is held to a carabiner.
I wonder where you are now: perhaps you are at work, laboring to build a career. Maybe you are reviewing for an exam, or taking care of your loved ones. Or perhaps you are climbing another mountain. Whatever you are doing now, and wherever you are, I wish you the very best. May the spirit of freedom and adventure live on in you as it does in me!
I say this without exception because I believe that all things work out for good, and your presence in my life, mo matter how fleeting, was part of God’s plan for me and for you. If ever we parted ways with some unresolved matters, i want you to know that i harbor neither hurt feelings nor ill will because I climb mountains in the same way I live life: choosing to see the positive side of anything or anybody.
And so let me end with the Wordsworth’s words of hope and glad anticipation:“We only part to meet again.”
***
MAYBE WE will climb again someday, maybe we won’t. Whatever the future brings, I offer this piece as my message to you today and forever:
To all the hikers I’ve climbed with, wherever you are, I offer my gratitude, my remembrance, and my hope that you will reach the summits of your lives, as surely as we reached the ones that we climbed together.
I just completed a two-day hike of Mt. Namandiraan in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, and am very impressed with this mountain, which happens to Ilocos Sur’s highest point at 2331 MASL! The hike features long stretches of trail through pine forests rivaling Mt. Ugo, and even surpassing it in terms of being pristine. What’s more, the Mt. Namandiraan hike begins at Bessang Pass – site of one of the great liberation battles vs. Yamashita’s troops in 1945 – adding historic significance to an already-important peak by virtue of its topographic prominence. Kudos to Jet de Mesa, Rogemar Bravo, and team for pioneering this destination and helping us with the arrangements! (Note: I will follow their altitude recordings in this post as they are consistent with my own)
My hike up this mountain was a sequel to our trip to Abra and Mt. Bullagao (see Hiking matters #552); from Bangued it was simply a matter of getting off at Tagudin, and catching the first trip to Cervantes the next day. At this point we were joined by Koi Grey, who actually coordinated the hike for us – the second time he had offered to organize a hike to commemorate my birthday (the last being Lumot-Sumagaya in 2012). We found ourselves in Cervantes by 0930H; we decided to have brunch there and return to memorial shrine at Bessang Pass; it was already 1138H when we finally got to start hiking (guides: Mau and Cardo). From the Bessang Pass Memorial Park (1463m), we followed a village road to Sitio Biwak – around 1800 MASL: a walk that will convince you – the smell of fertilizer, the walls made of GI sheets – that you’re in the Cordilleras. It is past the village that the beauty of the pine forests begin: a beautiful descent to a river with a nearby campsite. Past the campsite, a series of ridges ensues and the mossy forest part of the hike commences – this time I am reminded of a similar forest in the upper reaches of Mt. Sicapoo. By the time you emerge from the mossy forest, you’ve already reached the summit plateau (we arrived at 1730H, after less than 6 hours of trekking)! Measuring 2331 MASL, the highest point of Ilocos Sur is also the highest campsite in the Ilocos region: a perfect place to bivouac and enjoy views of the Central Cordillera range, from the more proximal towns of Bakun and Kibungan, all the way to the highest peaks of Luzon, led by no less than Mt. Pulag (ESE). Fireflies – and an owl – comprised our faunal guest list; my favorite ayosep flowers (Rhododendron subsessile) graced the summit and its contiguous slopes.
Needless to say, the sunrise over the Central Cordilleras was spectacular.
After breakfast (and brewed coffee thanks to Koi), we descended to Sitio Paang – a trail that’s far longer and more challenging than the ascent, but also more rewarding. We started trekking at 0820. At first it features an Ugo-like descent followed by a ridge-trekking portion that made us feel like we were crossing over from Saulay Junction to Timarid and Simagaysay: ups and downs through pine forest slopes and talahib (beware of the grass blades). Here the trail is made treacherous by the pine needle-covered ground that get very slippery when dry. A memorable rest stop is the Kay-Ang Rock (1905 MASL) – so called because of a man thus named, who a long time ago was exiled to the cavernous formation because of leprosy.
It took us six hours to complete the descent – there were some parts that felt hot especially towards the end, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. The trail doesn’t feature any structural obstacles or technical challenges, and I imagine that it will be even more pleasant once it gets established. It’s really beautiful: a worthy answer of Ilocos Sur to Ilocos Norte’s Sicapoo, and should rank favorably among the other pine forest treks of the Cordilleras.
Batulao used to be the favorite training ground of hikers and trail runners, especially those living south of Manila. With open trails, scenic views, and seasonally cool weather, it had everything one can hope for in a dayhike and Tagaytay is at hand for a postclimb food trip.
Today, the mountain remains beautiful as ever – but there are few takers.
The change started when locals started charging beyond the P20 registration fee. They started charging P50 to P100 for parking space. Things turned for the worse in the past year when locals claiming ownership of parts of the mountains began to “gate” the trail and charge “toll fees” from 20 to 30 pesos, to a point that there are now 5 to 6 collection points in the mountain. (Fortunately, the attempt to require guides didn’t materialize).
What locals don’t realise is that first of all, there are many mountains out there and people can go elsewhere, where the rates are more reasonable. In Mt. Makiling, for instance, the registration fee of P10 has been unchanged since time immemorial. There are many hiking destinations now compared to 10 years ago.
Another thing locals don’t realise is that overcharging is self-defeating; they are cannibalising their own income potential. While the toll collectors may initially get a lot, the steep decrease in visitors means that they will eventually get much less; and they are affecting the whole community in the process: from tricycle drivers to guides. Today, there are many parking spaces – but very few vehicles.
Locals should realise that ecotourism can only work if everyone benefits – the environment, the community, and the mountaineers. This can only work if mountaineers can enjoy the place without feeling fleeced and whatever profits the community gets is fair, equitable, and distributed evenly. As this has not happened at the barangay level, I am calling on the LGUs of Nasugbu and Balayan (apparently, there are overlapping jurisdictions) to step in and arbitrate to come up with a system that’s fair. The “toll collections” should be stopped. Long term thinking should prevail over short-sighted and selfish policies.
Alongside this call for the government to act on behalf of the greater good, what we can do is to let the rules of competition decide and send a message that we do not agree with the status quo. Batulao remains one of my favorite mountains but, sadly, I cannot recommend it in the meantime.
National Mountain Cleanup Day 2017 logo by Jeffrey Canizares
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Continuing the annual tradition, the fourth NMCD is envisioned to live up to being an annual reminder to the public of the importance of having clean mountains, as well as a set of simultaneous activities organised by different groups that will clean up mountains and other natural areas in different parts of the Philippines. Alongside cleanup activities, measures geared towards the sustainability of cleanliness – including local ordinances, guide trainings, and awareness campaigns, are also encouraged.
SCHEDULE AND VENUE
The fourth NMCD is scheduled to be held on July 8, 2017. The venues are are the mountains and areas with hiking activity that are both within and outside the designated Protected Areas by the government.
ORGANIZATION
1. At the national level, the lead proponent/s of the project will be coordinating the initiative in partnership with the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources through its relevant agencies. The local events however will be organised by different groups.
2. The organisers of each of the clean-up climbs will be assembled in one Internet group through a suitable social media platform in order to disseminate information. For climb organizers, please click this link to access the Facebook group for the NMCD.
3. There will be a designated coordinator for each clean-up climb who will be responsible for the participants and the conduct of the hike and the clean up. All coordinators must have basic mountaineering skills and must have experience in organising hikes.
PARTICIPATION
1. Any hiking or outdoor club, civic organization, or group of individuals may join the NMCD. Groups are at liberty to select their target mountain for clean-up. However, there may not be several groups doing a clean-up in a single trail or area.
2. Participating groups are responsible for the safety and well-being of their participants.
3. Every group must have a designated coordinator.
4. The coordinator for each climb must make sure that his participants are sufficiently fit to participate in the activity, have sufficient mountaineering skills and experience, knows what to do in case of emergency, and is aware of the Leave No Trace principles. If a participant is below 18 years of age, parental consent must be secured.
5. The maximum number of participants per group is 18. However, this is just a general guideline. The policies set by the mountain authorities (i.e. PASU, ENRO, barangay officials) take precedence over this guideline.
6. The organising party will coordinate with the Protected Area Management Board through the Park Superintendent. If the mountain is not a protected area, the organising party should instead coordinate with the local government unit in charge of the mountain. The following should be endorsed and consulted:
a. The number, names, and contact information of participants
b. The itinerary of the hike
c. Areas that will be cleaned up
d. Emergency plan
e. Waste disposal plan
7. In case there are several groups seeking to hold clean-up activities, the Park Superintendent will determine the maximum number of participants for each group, as well as how the groups will be divided according to target areas of clean-up. In mountains not falling under protected areas, should designate a lead coordinator for the clean-up efforts for the particular mountain, and discuss beforehand to designate particular areas to be cleaned by each group.
8. In protected areas, the Park Superintendent will designate the designated waste disposal facility. For other areas, the DENR will provide advice at the national level while the participating groups will also coordinate with the relevant LGU on where the garbage will be disposed.
9. All participants must treat every clean-up climb as a regular hike and thus they must have contingency plans, designation of tasks (i.e. lead, sweeper, medic). Importantly, every team should have a first aider who can respond to injuries like cuts that may be caused by picking up garbage.
10. Participating groups should feel free to organise other activities concurrently with the clean-up, including, but not limited to community outreach, dialogues and lectures about Leave No Trace principles, among others.
GARBAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
1. For the purposes of the event, garbage is defined as any material that was brought by humans to the mountains and does not serve any useful purpose. Common garbage in the mountains include various kinds of plastics, glass bottles, cans, any form or piece of paper, cloth, or any other material left by humans. All forms of garbage should be collected from the campsites, trails, peaks, and other areas of interest.
2. Participants will be advised to use garbage bags to collect the trash. Each participant should try to fill one or two garbage bags depending on the number of trash on the trail. The bags must be of sufficient thickness to withstand being transported through the trail. If in doubt, consider using two bags for double thickness. Biodegradable, environment-friendly garbage bags are preferred.
3. Participants should wear rubber gloves or equivalent for sanitary reasons, as well as to protect themselves from possible cuts or injuries from sharp trash like bottles. Special precaution should be exercised when handling glass shards as well as opened tin cans, as their edges can cause injuries.
4. Participating teams should consider bringing other tools such as a hand trowel that can assist in retrieving buried cans, glass, and other forms of garbage.
5. The sweeper, or the last person in the group, must ensure that no trash bags are left behind, and that they are not left in huts, rest stops, not even in the trailhead, regardless of the existence of trash cans there. Only the designated waste disposal area should be considered. If necessary, groups should transport the garbage with them to a point where proper waste disposal is assured.
6. At the designated waste disposal facility, the groups should measure the weight (i.e. in kilos) and volume (in number of bags) of the garbage they were able to collect. In the absence of a designated waste dis
7. In cases where locals would demand that participants leave the garbage in certain places, like campsites, participating groups are encouraged to abide with the chain of waste disposal as long as this can be done amicably.
FEEDBACK
In order to improve on future clean-up days and also to guide future clean-up activities, participating groups will be requested to report the following to the PASUs or, if outside a protected area, to the coordinators for compilation:
a. Actual number of participants
b. Areas where garbage was found
c. Weight and volume of garbage collected
d. Problems and challenges encountered
e. Personal/group reflections on the activity
f. Recommendations for the next NMCD
g. Status of the mountain
h. Photos of the mountain
Blogger’s note: We are very honored to feature the thoughts of Ms. Cynthia Sy, an 18-time Halcon climber (from 1993-2004) and former AMCI member who was also part of the team of Sky Biscocho that attempted a traverse of the veritable mountain.
The reason I prepare for limatiks is because I observed that I am an insect bite magnet, especially mosquitoes. Another thing, I am allergic to any kind of insect bites, including limatik bites. If I got biten in my leg, my whole legs gets swollen for a week, the actual bite develops a water capsule that slowly leaks in a week’s time. It eventually becomes an open wound. It’s also very itchy. Here are some of my tips on how to prevent limatik bites:
1. Be prepared: Know the mountain where there are limatiks. Reserach and read blogs how infested it is.
2. Always have a hiking buddy wherein you can check each other after passing a noted limatik area. Limatik areas are usually wet sections with many bushes and trails covered by plant. In Halcon, it’s usually in the lower portion of the trail before the first campsite.
3. Be aware of your surroundings but don’t be too obsessed with the limatiks. Enjoy nature by being aware of the creatures within its confines.
How to prepare:
Clothing
1. Bandana so that your head will be tightly covered.
2. Any trekking shirt will do, just don’t let the limatiks reach your waistline area wherein they can penetrate.
3. Tight arm sleeves that limatiks cannot hold on.
4. Gloves so that you can hold the limatiks to remove them. Limatiks loves to go to tight places, like in between your fingers.
5. Leggings (thick ones that bites cannot penetrate). Limatiks are visible in leggings.
6. Long thick light-colored socks that you can fold just at the end your leggings. For Halcon, I usually wear 2 to 3 socks the whole trek (2 thin smooth socks and one trekking socks).
7. High cut trekking boots.
Repellant
1. Off lotion all over the exposed skin (face, neck and hands)
2. Johnson’s baby oil on exposed skin again. You can use this also at night as Halcon summit is very cold at night.
3. Vicks vaporub – my tried and tested prevention. I usually apply it all over my shoes, tummy area, upper arms area where the arm sleeves ends, neck, hands, ears, and back of the ears.
4. Alcohol for the limatiks that doesn’t want to let go of your clothings.
Recovery for insect bites:
1. Stay inside a pool for 2 hours
2. Take a bath in a hot spring
I only apply once and don’t re-apply these repellants upon reaching the camsite and after river crossing as there are no more limatiks on those areas.
Today, I don’t have much memory of Halcon’s trail but, I can still remember those areas that are limatik-infested. I love Halcon as it’s in my home province and I got my first induction there in 1993 but sometimes it gets clouded with memories of limatik infestation.
Remembering all those now, I am kinda fascinated with those bloodsuckers because of their pretty appearance/colors and it’s way of adapting in its environs.
Proud to say, that limatiks were not able to penetrate those defenses that I enumerated above. The same thing goes whenever I climb Mt Makiling.
I hate all kinds of insect bites but I don’t hate the limatiks!
In a recent speech, Jeshua Sales of the UP Mountaineers urged fellow hikers to be sensitive to the culture of the places they’re visiting.”It’s important to respect not just the environment, but also the locals,” he said. In an interview with Pinoy Mountaineer, he cited various examples, such as Mt. Mantalingajan in Palawan where some indigenous communities had to relocate due to the presence of hikers. “Hiking is a privilege, not a right. We should realize that we are just visitors, and respect the people for whom the mountain is home.”
How cam a hiker be culturally sensitive? It’s all about listening and being humble, Sales says. “Dapat matuto tayong makiramdam.” In some communities, for instance, making loud noises may not just disturb their sleep – it can also trespass their beliefs about the mountains’ sacredness. Sometimes, guides will hesitate to voice their concerns because they are embarrassed “nahihiya” to bring up the topic: one must learn to anticipate these situations.
Sales’ speech was part of an activity organized by another hiker, Romina Lim, a masters student in UP Diliman. proponent of Project Alagalaan – an initiative to make traveling environmental-friendly and sustainable.
The University of the Philippines Mountaineers (UPM) is inviting interested organizations to propose topics to be presented at AkyatCon 2.0. Now on its 2nd year, AkyatCon is a national conference on responsible mountaineering and the conservation of mountain environments. It is a venue for professional and leisure hikers, local communities, conservation workers, students and academics, national and local government agencies, and other stakeholders to share information, knowledge and experiences. AkyatCon 2.0 will be held on July 28-29, 2017 at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Presentations are expected to align with the themes in the poster, and focus on current, thought-provoking topics and contain quality-driven content.
Chosen presenters will get the opportunity to reach a diverse audience of over 800 participants from various sectors, including influencers and decision-makers from the Philippine outdoor community, academe, local governments and national agencies.
Those interested in presenting at AkyatCon 2.0 should send a 300-word abstract providing a summary of the proposed presentation, particularly the relevance of the topic to the conference themes and its significance to the Philippine mountaineering/outdoor community. Abstracts should also contain the name of the proponent, his/her organizational affiliation, and contact information. Abstracts should be sent to akyatcon@upmountaineers.org with the subject “Presentation Abstract – [Title of Presentation].”
Abstracts will be accepted until June 10, 2017.
Originally posted in the UP Mountaineers’ Facebook Page.
For more information visit the Guiding Document for the NMCD 2017!
You can sign up your group by commenting in this post or contacting Carlo Cunanan at cp.cunanan@yahoo.com. Please mention your group name, cleanup venue, date, contact person, and contact information. Thanks!
DESTINATION
GROUP
Arayat
Trail Makers
Bagacay (Labo)
Camarines Norte Trekkers
Balagbag
LakbayNilay and Nice People Around
Batulao
Lineage Mounatineering Club
Batulosong
Baratpackers Outdoor Group
Binacayan
Montalban Mountaineering Club
Bloomfield
Hikers from Puerto Princesa
Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve
DimenEu
Damas
Tarlac Outdoor Club
Gola
Akyateam, Inc.
Gulugod Baboy
Alpinista Mountaineering
Haponang Banoi
Montalban Mountaineering Club
Hinipaan Waterfalls (Mercedes)
Camarines Norte Trekkers
Kalisungan
Independent Mountain Climbing Alliance For Responsible Outdoorsmanship
Maculot
Akyat Tulong Adventure
Magsanga
Magsanga Outdoor Adventure Club
Malarayat
Hikayat Mountaineers
Manalmon
Smart Mountaineering Club
Manalmon
Akyateam, Inc.
Manguyakuya Trail
Balamban’s Finest Outdoor Club
Marami
D’ Conquerors
Maranat
Trail Zoned
Nacali Waterfalls (San Lorenzo)
Camarines Norte Trekkers
Pamitinan
Montalban Mountaineering Club
Pamutan Ridge
Manakaay, EOC, Tribuwad & Friends
Romelo
Kanlungan Pilipinas
San Vicente (Mananap)
Camarines Norte Trekkers
Sembrano
Trail Seekers
Tagapo
Philippine National Mountaineering Society
Tarak Ridge
Team ni Abong
Ulap
ETAG Mountaineering
Yangbew
Discover Islam Baguio
HOW TO JOIN
Review the Guiding Document for details. You can add your group by commenting on this page with the following details:
Mountain to be cleaned-up, and trail to be used:
Group (does not have to be a formal organisation):
Contact person:
Contact information:
Important: It is the responsibility of every group to ensure the fitness and preparedness of their participants, to coordinate with the relevant LGU / local officials, and to ensure proper waste disposal. FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS
1. I do not have a group. How can I join the clean-up climbs?
You can try to contact the groups above to see if they can accommodate you; or else, you and your hiking buddies can organize your own cleanups! Moreover, everyone is encouraged to organise and join clean ups and other environment-supporting activities throughout the year.
2. Our group has signed up but we do not know how to organize a clean-up climb. How do we go about it?
Organizing a clean-up climb is not rocket science. Basically a clean-up climb is just the act of climbing a mountain to collect trash in the trails, campsites, and points of interest and bringing it down to a place where proper waste disposal is practiced. Please refer to the Guiding Documentfor additional guidance.
3. What if there are several groups doing a clean-up climb in one mountain?
The reason why I am posting the groups who have already announced their intentions is so that we can avoid such a situation. Groups who have decided on the same destination can discuss among themselves how to work it out. For examples, many mountains have different trails and groups can focus their clean-up efforts in a particular trail. Two or three groups doing a clean-up for one mountain is not a bad especially if these mountains are high-impact to begin with, and have many trash to be collected. The important thing is that groups cooperate with each other and with the local government.
4. How much will participating in the clean-up climbs cost?
There will be NO registration or other fees. Of course, you will have expenses like going to the mountain, or contributing to the food, transpo, etc, for your own climbs. PinoyMountaineer itself is not the organizer of one big event, but the coordinator of many small events happening at the same time. I want this event to be as ‘grassroots’ as possible but providing the necessary unity to it.
5. Why do you have to do a cleanup day? Cleaning up the mountains should be done year round!
To this kind of argument, I might as well respond: “Why do you have to celebrate your mother’s birthday? Celebrating her life should be done year round!” These two things are not mutually exclusive. Definitely, making our climbs clean and holding clean-up climbs should be practiced throughout the year. But we need special days to remind us – and to send a message to others – that mountains should be kept clean, and it is a shared responsibility.
6. Will there be IDs and event/souvenir shirts?
I know that shirts and IDs are important for hiking events. However, to avoid any financial and logistical issues, any shirt that will be produced as an event shirt will be open source design. which groups and individuals can just download and print for themselves and add their logos on it. This logo is now available on PM Facebook page and the Group Page for the NMCD.
Whether or not for profit, whether formal or informal in its setup or legal existence, climb organizers have duties and responsibilities to their participants, to local communities, and to the mountains or destinations they are visiting. For the purposes of this discussion, an “organized hike” is defined as a hike in which participants carry no responsibility in the organization of the hike, in contrast to a “team hike” where every participant is involved in the division of labor. Organized hikes, which can be spearheaded by registered businesses or freelance organizers, have become a common mode of hiking, raising the need for a code of conduct that protects participants, local communities, and the environment.
In what follows, Pinoy Mountaineer would like to offer a draft document that can serve as a guide for further discussion about this very important topic. Note: Participants have duties too – see “Ten tips on how to be a good climb participant”.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO PARTICIPANTS
Hiking organizers must themselves be well-prepared, trained, and adequately-skilled for the nature of the hikes they are organizing.
Hiking organizers must clearly state what’s included and excluded in their services. All the inclusions they declared should be fulfilled or delivered. Any discrepancy between offered and actual services or amenities rendered must be compensated or accounted for. Increasing the number of participants compared to what was the promised range of participants is not acceptable. Cancelling trips for which participants already prepared for – unless by force majeure – is likewise unacceptable.
Hiking organizers must inform participants about what might happen in cases of emergency or force majeure. Policies regarding refunds, cancellations, postponements, and itinerary changes must also be discussed beforehand. Participants should be made aware of the shared risks inherent in hiking activities.
Hiking organizers should assess the qualifications or eligibility of their participants for nature and difficulty of the hikes they are organizing. They should not invite beginners for difficult hikes. They should make sure that all participants are taught the basics of hiking, including the Leave No Trace principles. They should make sure that the participants are properly oriented about what to expect during the hike, and what to bring.
Hiking organizers have the responsibility to ensure that there are enough members of the organizing team, including local guides, to supervise their participants if needed.
All the above responsibilities should be applied to each and every participant. Organizers should never abandon their participants, unless in cases of force majeure.
Hiking organizers must be open to feedback from participants as to the conduct of their trips.
It is unethical for hiking organizers to badmouth or speak ill of their participants – whether to other participants, or to other people.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHERS
Hiking organizers should respect other teams in the mountains. Regardless of the mode of the hike (i.e. team climbs or ‘organized climbs’), groups should be treated equally. Hiking organizers cannot claim special treatment at the expense of other groups.
Hiking organizers should not pursue profit maximization at the expense of other parties (i.e. local guides, transportation providers, etc.).
Hiking organizers are expected to be in compliance with pertinent laws. They should not violate rules set by national parks and other government agencies, like the closure of mountains.
Note: This is an evolving document and we will update it, factoring in everything.
TOKYO, JAPAN – Last year was a very productive time for me as far as hiking in Japan is concerned – three separate hiking trips allowed me to climb over 10 mountains, including five of the veritable Hyakumeizan! Today, I’m very glad to do my 11th Hyakumeizan – the easy but still very nice Mt. Tsukuba (筑波山) in Ibaraki Prefecture – at 877m a great dayhike from Tokyo and a mountain that is deeply steeped in myth and legend.
From Asakusa (Tsukuba) Station, we headed to the terminus in Tsukuba (1160 JPY) then took the 40-minute bus (720 JPY) to Tsukuba Shrine (筑波神社入口), where the hike started. We followed a nice trail surrounded by cedars to reach the saddle, taking less than two hours to reach the unremarkable Nantai Peak (男体山, 871m).
From there, we returned to the saddle, which is, as with many Japanese peaks, host to a number of shops and eateries. A very different hiking culture compared to the Philippines! And of course, there are hikers of all ages – from infants being carried by backpack carriers to the very strong ojisans and obaasans.
For the final leg of the hike we proceeded to the prettier and higher Nyotai Peak (女体山, 877m). Between the two peaks are interesting rock formations, including the famous frog’s mouth that will “give you luck if you toss a rock inside“.
At Nyotai – which counts as the summit of Tsukuba – we had beautiful views of the Kanto plain, and although it was too hazy to see Mt. Fuji, it was still very rewarding. From there, hoping to catch my favorite matcha ice cream place in Tokyo, we took the ropeway (620 JPY) to Tstsujigaoka (つつじが丘) where we caught to bus back to Tsukuba en route to Asakusa. What a rewarding day. Truly, it’s nice to be back in the Japan mountains! より多くを楽しみにして！
#nmcd2017 at Mt. Sapari-Mt. Binutasan, Maysawa Circuit (Kervy Barlis)
LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA – Over 100 groups and at least 1020 volunteers participated in the 4th National Mountain Cleanup Day on July 8, 2017, cleaning up over 60 mountains in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Carlo Cunanan, PM Environmental Committee head, estimates that at least 205 kilos of garbage were collected, a “significant decrease from the previous cleanup days”.
Here are some photos of the #NMCD2017:
Four cleanups in CamNorte: Nacali Waterfalls – Red Team, Mt. Bagacay – Yellow Team, Hinipaan Waterfalls – Green Team, Mananap Waterfalls – Blue Team (Kimmy Reyes)Baratpackers Outdoor Group in Mt. Batolusong
The next cleanup day is scheduled for May 5, 2018.
