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. Manalmon Revisited

Mon, who celebrated his birthday last month at Mt. Sembrano with The BACKPACKERS, arranged for a Mt. Manalmon trip. He sent out immediate invitations for people to join him. A couple of days before the target date he got a confirmation from two co-backpackers, Angel and Weng, some of the members of PLUS and three of The BACKPACKERS' most recent guests during our climbs: Sheryl, Mina and Freddie. Add to the  gang were Sir Freddie's wife and friends. 

Check out their adventure in the easy but equally amazing Mt. Manalmon:

Missing Madlum
by: Weng Topasi 

The BP Tips: Security at Mt. Sembrano

An advisory on Mt. Sembrano was placed in Pinoy Mountaineer since year 2009. The mountain has become notorious for multiple theft and tent slashing incidences. Words spread like wildfire that Mt. Sembrano is a mountain to avoid. It is sad that it has been three years and it seems like nothing has changed. The last account of stealing on Pinoy Mountaineer was dated February 2012. After that, Mt. Sembrano page became less active as its thread became more silent. 

source: 
http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2012/02/climb-advisory-feb-2012-theft-persists.html 

"Be wary of people who might join you on your socials at night. They will pretend to be all nice and fun but they actually will be observing. After a couple of drinks and when the whole camp is exhausted and drunk, that's when they will attack." These are the reminders of the Brgy. Chairman of Malaya, Pililla, Rizal before we started the trek to Manggahan Campsite.

Brgy. Chairman of Brgy. Malaya conducting a short briefing

Mt. Sembrano

February of 2011, The BACKPACKERS targeted that prominent mountain in the Jalajala Peninsula: Mt. Sembrano. Everything is all set when BP Lead Ivan got hospitalized for a week. The climb responsibility was handed over to BP Vice Ralph and BP Sec Liz. But come climb date, the group decided to postpone the trip. Mt. Sembrano was cancelled. Since then it has been an inside joke that planning a Mt. Sembrano climb can spell out bad luck for the group.

March of 2011, BP Lead invited the group to conquer what the group failed to conquer a month ago. But since only five members confirmed, they had a last minute change of plan to go to Madlum Park in Bulacan instead. Mt. Sembrano was cancelled again. A recon climb to Mt. Manalmon was conducted instead.

September of 2011 in The BACKPACKERS calendar was supposedly for a Mt. Sembrano climb. But the Ultimate CDO-Camiguin-Bukidnon trip satisfied the adventurous spirit of the group and the scheduled climb to Mt. Sembrano was later forgotten. Mt. Sembrano was cancelled again. Mt. Hibok Hibok was conquered instead for that month.

Several more cancellations, numerous surveys and attempts to head to Mt. Sembrano, but it never happened. The question was whether or not the group will be able to visit Mt. Sembrano? Come August of 2012, The BACKPACKERS finally gathered and conquered the mountain. That month, the target was Mt. Sembrano (and Mt. Sembrano only).

FINALLY, MT. SEMBRANO!

Pililla, Rizal

August 18-19, 2012

by: Ivan Ignacio

Solo Backpacking at Talim Island

In the heart of Laguna lake, we will find a dagger shaped island, hence the name Talim Island. This is where the Backpacker Lead spent his interesting day last weekend. He was not lucky for the weather was not on his side, but he was fortunate to witness a festivity celebrated on the island that day.

Monsoon on My Third Time

Solo Backpacking at Talim Island

by Ivan Ignacio