Hiking matters #749: Mt. Tuwato (1715m) dayhike in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur
I’ve hiked countless mountains in the Philippines but with our vast and diverse archipelago, there’s always something new to discover – like Mt. Tuwato, the mountain I hiked July 23, 2023. Located in...
View ArticleClimbing log: 4000 footers of New Hampshire’s White Mountains
As part of my erstwhile residency in Cambridge, MA, I have been hiking the White Mountains – just 2.5-3 hours north of Boston, finding them a place of joy and adventure. I should also blog about each...
View ArticleHiking matters #803: Climbing Mt. Palhi (Babaeng Bukid) in Dinagat Island
SAN JOSE, DINAGAT ISLAND – The Philippines’ island mountains make for the most fascinating hikes in the country; think Mt. Guiting-Guiting in Sibuyan, Mt. Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin, or the otherworldly...
View Article30th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE: A first-hand account of the 1994 Mt. Halcon...
by Dominic Rover Ocampo, Sialdang Mountaineering Club (SMC) edited by Eunice Novio, honorary member, SMC Blogger’s note: In October 1994, a tragedy took place in Mt. Halcon that was described in our...
View ArticleHiking matters #804: Trekking up the bonsai forests of Mt. Redondo in Dinagat...
SAN JOSE, DINAGAT ISLAND – From Mt. Palhi (see Hiking matters #803), we took the pump boat back to Brgy. Llanera and rushed to the town hall of Loreto, where the 4×4 pick up truck – a Ford Conquest –...
View ArticleHiking matters #802: Climbing Bud Dajo (620m), the historic mountain in Sulu
JOLO, SULU – The day after our successful hike up Bud Tumantangis (see Hiking matters #801), we went on another hike, this time up Bud Dajo (also spelled Daho), a mountain that is sacred to the...
View ArticleHiking matters #801: An ascent of Bud Tumantangis (811m), the highest peak in...
JOLO, SULU – What a great experience, climbing up Sulu’s highest peak! I first saw Bud Tumantangis back in 2006, as we were on that unforgettable way to Tawi-Tawi that led to my hike up Bud Bongao; I...
View ArticleBud Tumantangis in Sulu (811+)
BUD TUMANTANGIS Indanan, Sulu Major jumpoff: Brgy. Tumantangis, Indanan, Sulu LLA: 5°59’50” N, 120°57’45” E, 811 MASL (+556) Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 3-4 hours Specs: Minor;...
View ArticleMt. Palhi (Babaeng Bukid) in Libjo, Dinagat Islands (730+)
MT. PALHI (BABAENG BUKID) Libjo, Dinagat Islands Major jumpoff: Sitio Maytubig, Brgy. Bayanihan, Libjo LLA: 10.20263410 N, 125.63748827, 730 MASL (+730) Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 3-5...
View ArticleOpinion: Beyond ‘Leave No Trace’, mountaineers should help fight against the...
SAN JOSE, DINAGAT ISLANDS – For decades, the Leave No Trace (LNT) principles have served as guiding tenets for mountaineers. These seven principles, namely (1) Plan ahead and prepare; (2) Travel and...
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