The BACKPACKERS Major Activities in 2011: A Recap

The Year 2011 will always be memorable to The BACKPACKERS. It was a year full of adventures and a year with opportunities to grow. To grow not only as a mountaineering group in its technical aspect, but also as a "family". 

The Group went backpacking from North to South. From one peak to another. From mainland to an island. And, from large to smaller islands. The Group had also touched lives of children through an outreach program. 

Those major activities were documented in this blogsite and the Group is looking forward to creating another fulfilling year.

Let us have a glance on what The BACKPACKERS had in 2011...


January 2011

Mt. Tagapo: A ‘Maiden’s Breasts’
Mt. Tagapo
Talim Island, Laguna de Bay
Major jump-off: Brgy. Janosa (Talim Island) Binangonan, Rizal
LLA 14.32° N 121.23° E, 438 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2

Mt. Batulao: A Twin Peaks Adventure
Mt. Batulao
Nasugbu, Batangas
Jump-off point: Evercrest Golf Course, Nasugbu
LLA: 14.0408 N 120.8011 E 811 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-4 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3 with 60-70 degrees assault

Mt. Tarak: A Great Major For Us
Mt. Tarak
Mariveles, Bataan
Jump off point: Brgy. Alas-asin, Mariveles
LLA: 14°30.357′N, 120°30′E, 1,006 MASL (ridge); 1,130 MASL (peak)
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days, 5-6 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3


February 2011

Mt. Cristobal: Traversing the Devil's Mountain
Mt. Cristobal
Dolores, Quezon; San Pablo, Laguna
Major jump-off: Brgy. Dolores, Quezon > Traverse to: San Pablo, Laguna
LLA: 14.064° N 121.428° E, 1470 MASL (600m gain)
Days required / Hours to summit: ASCENT- 4.5 Hrs. TRAVERSE-6 Hrs. TOTAL-10.5 Hrs.
Specs: Major Climb


March 2011

The Backpackers Survived Sinukuan's Traverse Challenge
Mt. Arayat
Arayat, Pampanga
Pampanga
Entry point: Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
Exit point: Brgy. Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga
LLA: 15.2067N, 120.7441E, 1030 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 5 hours (NP) 8 hours (SP)
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-4 (10kms)


April 2011

Mt. Manalmon and  the Big Five Madlum Adventure
Mt. Manalmon
San Miguel, Bulacan
Major jump-off: Sitio Madlum, Brgy. Sibul, San Miguel
LLA: 15°15.11'N; 121°1.22' E; 196 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: Half-day / 1 hour
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2

The Big Four and Friends Climb Luzon's Highest Peak: MT. PULAG
(2011 Ultimate Summer Adventure Via Ambangeg Trail)
Mt. Pulag
Bokod, Benguet
Major jump-off: Ambangeg Ranger Stn, Bokod, Benguet
LLA: 16°34'58"N 120°53'15"E, 2922 MASL (#3)
Hours to summit / Days required: 4-5 hours / 2 days
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-2


May 2011

Celebrating Love: A Couples' Climb at Mt. Marami
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

Survivors of The Three Peaks Challenge:  The BACKPACKERS and Friends

  






First Challenge: Traversing Mt. Gola
San Miguel, Bulacan

Second Challenge: Be Among the Firsts at Mt. Bagong- Bali
San Miguel, Bulacan

Third Challenge: Acing Mt. Manalmon
San Miguel, Bulacan

Night Spelunking
Madlum Cave

San Miguel, Bulacan

June 2011

The BACKPACKERS: Proven SOLID After Mt. Macu-LOST
Mt. Maculot
Cuenca, Batangas
Jump-off point: Brgy. Poblaction, Cuenca
LLA: 13°55'15"N; 121°2'30"E; 706 MASL
Days required / Hours to Rockies: Half day / 1-2 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-3


July 2011

And They Readied for this... 
Mt. Maculot: The REDEMPTION
Mt. Maculot
Cuenca, Batangas
Jump-off point: Brgy. Poblaction, Cuenca
LLA: 13°55'15"N; 121°2'30"E; 706 MASL
Days required / Hours to Rockies: Half day / 1-2 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-3

The BACKPACKERS Induction Climb at 
Mt. Tarak
Mt. Tarak
Mariveles, Bataan
Jump off point: Brgy. Alas-asin, Mariveles
LLA: 14°30.357′N, 120°30′E, 1,006 MASL (ridge); 1,130 MASL (peak)
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days, 5-6 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3


August 2011

The BACKPACKERS with 
"The Shoulderbaggers" in Cow's Hump
Mt. Bungkol Baka
San Jose, Tarlac
Major jumpoff: Sitio San Pedro, Brgy. Iba, San Jose
LLA: 551 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 3-4 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3


September 2011

The BACKPACKERS Mindanao Trip

Day One

Whitewater River Rafting Adventure: Taking IT to the Extreme!

Cagayan de Oro: Whitewater River Rafting Adventure

Day Two

Camiguin Island: A Captivating Haven

Camiguin Island

Day Three
The BACKPACKERS' First Mindanao Mountain: MT. HIBOK HIBOK
Mt. Hibok Hibok

Camiguin Island

LLA: 9°12′2″N; 124°40′5″E; 1332 MASL

Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 3-5 hours

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3

Day Four

Culminating the Group's Adventure: We Conquered Asia's Longest Zipline

Bukidnon

October 2011

THE SOLO BACKPACKER IN
MT. BALAGBAG
Mt. Balagbag

 The BACKPACKERS Explored San Antonio's Big FIVE
San Antonio, Zambales 

Mt. Pundaquit: Traversed and Conquered!
MT. PUNDAQUIT (Traverse to Anawangin)

San Antonio, Zambales

Major jump-off: Brgy. Pundaquit, San Antonio

LLA (summit): 14 53'59" 129 94'24", 464 MASL

LLA (cove): 14 52 41 120 04'04", 0 MASL

Days required / Hours to cove: 1 day / 4-5 hours

Specs: Minor Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail Class 2

A Zambales Gem: Capones Island

Capones Island

A Picturesque: Camara Island

Camara Island

November 2011

The BACKPACKERS Gives Back: Marion's Birthday Celebration with a HEART
November 5, 2011
Quezon City Memorial Circle
Philippines

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


December 2011

The BP Masquerade Christmas Party 2011
Linden Suites
Ortigas, Pasig City

Introducing The BACKPACKERS

By The BP Lead

Climbing Up the Manabu Peak: 
The BACKPACKERS Went "Dirty"
Mt. Manabu
Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Jump-off point: Sulok, Brgy. Sta Cruz, Sto. Tomas
LLA: 13.9777°, 121.2413°, 760 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 1-2 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2

Mt. Manabu

Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Jump-off point: Sulok, Brgy. Sta Cruz, Sto. Tomas
LLA: 13.9777°, 121.2413°, 760 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 1-2 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2

Climbing Up the Manabu Peak:

The BACKPACKERS Went "Dirty"

December 21 and 22, 2011 marked The BACKPACKERS' year-ender climb. Needless to say, it was the  Group's Christmas Climb and to celebrate the true meaning of the season, a gift-giving to the mountain's famed keeper, Tatay Perying, was included in the itinerary. The goal was to reach one of the peaks of the Malipunyo mountain range- the Manabu Peak. It was supposedly an easy two- hour climb turned "major" because of some factors that you will find out in the following write-up. As you read on, know why we said we went "dirty" during this climb, which sealed our "Calendar of Adventures 2011".

Here is the story from The BP Lead himself, Ivan Ignacio.

The view seen from the Manabu Peak.

Introducing The BACKPACKERS

Welcome Remarks & Introduction of my BP Family

by Ivan Laurence on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 

I was contented in being a freelance climber for five years. It was my guilty pleasure whenever I visit a new place, swim in a new beach and/or climb a new mountain despite life's hectic schedule.

Meeting The BACKPACKERS was totally unexpected. I never plan on influencing all of you to start climbing mountains..I just wanted to introduce you to Mt. Pico de Loro, my favorite mountain, and Mt. Batulao. If you happen to not love it, that's fine. But I was very happy that the passion for backpacking and nature tripping surfaced. And since then, you shared the passion with me.

So I want to thank this opportunity to thank all of you for walking with me and building this small but happy family. I brought something new to your lives - the sport, and you countered that by making my succeeding travels and adventures more memorable.

Thank you to the Pico de Loro babies - Liz, Ralph, York and Heinz (and Len,wherever you are). Thank you for spearheading the adventure.

And to the rest of those who completed and comprised the history of BP, the Pioneers - Jovy, Conts, DeePee and Frank. 

To the succeeding batches who shared the incredible journeys - Marion, Clue, Weng, Mon, Bogs and Paul. Thank you.

And to the person who was always there with me and for me, my babe - Angel. Thank you for accompanying me in my adventures and thank you for completing my life.

Thank you guys.

Anniversary Party 2011

The BP Masquerade Christmas Party 2011

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.