Mt. Pico de Loro 2013

The BACKPACKERS are gaining new official members and regular guests. Our priority is to help them expand their mountain adventures and travel experiences by conquering new mountains and going to different places. That is why when some requested during our August climb (Mt. Pinagbanderahan) that they would love to climb Mt. Pico de Loro, we solidified the target adventure for September.

Standing at 664 meters above sea level, Mt. Pico de Loro boasts of the highest point in the province of Cavite. It is one of the most popular hiking destination near the metropolis. The BACKPACKERS, before being established as a group, had some of its pioneer members explore the mountain. In 2011, we had our first Friendship Climb held in Mt. Pico de Loro as well. And this year, BP Jovy (and other BPs and guests) requested to visit the same mountain. The beauty of this mountain is so alluring that even I, BP Lead, promised to visit it at least once a year since I started my passion in climbing mountains. This Mt. Pico de Loro By-Request is my eighth climb here, but the experience is different ever since I discovered its grandeur.

Mt. Pico de Loro ~ BP Conts

MT. PICO DE LORO

by Ivan Ignacio

The BACKPACKERS do not have a scheduled official climb for the month of May, (to give way for SURVIVOR ZAMBALES: Backpackers versus Guests to be featured in June) but that does not mean that we won't have a taste of our beloved sport; at least for some of us. We got an invitation through BP Conts to guide a group of friends in Mt. Pico de Loro in Ternate, Cavite. The three BACKPACKERS Conts, Heinz and Ivan journeyed through that familiar trail all the way to the Parrot's Beak.

BACKPACKERS Ivan, Conts and Heinz inside the forest of Palay Palay Mountain Range

Mt. Pico de Loro Traverse

Mt. Pico de Loro has always been special to me. It is the mountain that opened my interest towards mountaineering. Its amazing campsite view deck and breathtaking 360 degree summit view are responsible for inspiring me to explore the beauty of other mountain's summits and peaks. Since then I became an active mountain climber. I have climbed and will be climbing several new mountain peaks but I vowed to visit Mt. Pico de Loro at least once a year. This promise is to remind me of those days when I was just a mere guest who was beginning to appreciate the sport. And being true to the pact I made with Mt. Pico de Loro, to date, I have paid it a visit of six times in four years. Each visit was special.

It was also Mt. Pico de Loro that triggered the passion for mountain climbing in some of The BACKPACKERS. I introduced five friends to this peak in 2010. Soon after, we became a group who vowed to climb at least once a month. The group easily became close and treated each one a family. The family grew bigger. And the rest is history.

September of the year 2012, I invited The BACKPACKERS to conquer the Parrot's Beak again. BPs Tin and Weng easily responded to the invitation for they haven't been to this mountain. Both were actually looking forward in such invitation. We were joined by BP Angel and Wilson, both would be conquering Mt. Pico de Loro for the second time.

This Mt. Pico de Loro trip is unique for three reasons. First, this is the first time I'm trying its traverse trail from Ternate, Cavite to Nasugbu, Batangas. It can be considered as one of the most grueling Mt. Pico de Loro trek for it's the first time I won't be spending a night in its campsite, thus making it a dayhike traverse. The last unexpected reason it's memorable is because of the presence of a dog who voluntarily guided and bonded with us for ten hours during this daytrip.

The Sixth Companion

A Mt. Pico de Loro Dayhike Traverse story

by: Ivan Ignacio

Backpacker Ivan and the unexpected companion

Mt. Pico de Loro 2011

Ternate, Cavite
Major jump-off: Magnetic Hill, Ternate
LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E; 664 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 2-5 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
(Source: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/08/mt-palay-palaypico-de-loro-664_9808.html)

Mt. Pico de Loro:
The BACKPACKERS Anniversary 
and First Friendship Climb

November 18 and 19 - As the first part of The BACKPACKERS' celebration of its First Year Anniversary, the Group climbed Mt. Pico de Loro in Ternate, Cavite; and it was a fruitful Friendship Climb participated by 24 climbers.

The Group assembled at McDonalds along the Service Road (near Baclaran Church) in Pasay City between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. When completed, a hired minibus transported the Group to its destination - jump-off point to the Parrot's Beak.

Because it was a friendship climb, participants were strategically divided into three teams (where guests were equally distributed) so there were lead, mid and end packs.

Mt. Marami

Maragondon, Cavite
Jump-off point: Brgy. Ramirez, Magallanes, Cavite
LLA: 405 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 4-6 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
(Source: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/09/mt-marami-405.html)

The Backpacker Couples:
Ivan Ignacio and Angel Cawaling
Ralph Flores and Liz Honrade


Celebrating Love: A Couples' Climb at Mt. Marami 
By: Ivan Ignacio

Couples Ivan and Angel, and Ralph and Liz at the peak of Mt. Marami

This double date idea started after our Mt. Pulag trip when we felt that the Cordillera trip was cut short and quick that we had to endure our city life again.

Liz wanted a challenging hike.

Ralph wanted a couples climb.

Angel wanted to travel.

...and I wanted to introduce them to the mountain that made me miserable back in 2009 (http://ivanoutdoor.blogspot.com/2010/11/mt-marami.html)... one of the most agonizing climbs I had in my whole mountain climbing career.

Mt. Pico de Loro 2010

Ternate, Cavite
Major jump-off: Magnetic Hill, Ternate
LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E; 664 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 4-5 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3
(Source: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/08/mt-palay-palaypico-de-loro-664_9808.html)

The Backpackers:
Ivan Laurence Ignacio
Heinz Lopez Alvarez, Jr.
Len Tomas
Liz Honrade
Ralph Flores
York Advento


Mt. Pico de Loro: The Parrot's Beak Adventure
By: Heinz Lopez Alvarez, Jr.

A view taken from the summit of Mt. Pico de Loro. The huge rock formation at the left is what's known to climbers as "Toreng Bato".

November 20, 2010- It was a clear Saturday morning and we were all excited to end our last shift for that week. Everybody was looking forward to a good adventure, a climb to the Mount Pico de Loro in Ternate, Cavite.