Mt. Maculot 2013

A Redemption Climb. BP Ivan and BP York's Birthday Climb 
 A Pre-Climb for Mt. Apo Climbers.

Mt. Maculot

By Heinz Lopez Alvarez, Jr.

The BACKPACKERS' Mt. Maculot Climb on February 2 and 3, 2013, was an important activity for the Group because of three main reasons. First, it was the Group's redemption climb after being actually lost in the wilds and slopes during its first attempt to invade the said mountain two years ago. Second, it was the Group's avenue for the BP Lead Ivan and BP York's birthday celebration. And, last but certainly not the least important, it was a preparatory climb for BP members who will climb the highest point in the Philippine archipelago, Mt. Apo, on February 15 to 17 this very year.

Mt. Daguldol

The BACKPACKERS 

Year Starter Climb 

in Mt. Daguldol

by Ivan Ignacio

Eleven BACKPACKERS and five guests kicked off the start of 2013 with the group's adventure at Mt. Daguldol in the coastal town of San Juan, Batangas. Mt. Daguldol is known as one of the mountains near Manila that offers a wide selection of scenic viewpoints from its grassland peaks. This mountain is even included in one tourism site's Top Ten Must Climb Mountains in the Philippines joining the ranks of Mt. Pulag, Pico de Loro and Apo. When the group climbed this mountain last weekend, we definitely agreed that it is truly deserving of these praises as our expectations were satisfied by the wonderful vistas on its peaks.

Real, Quezon Province

THE MISADVENTURE TURNED ADVENTURE FILLED WEEKEND

By: Mark Nickson Garcia

BP Marion & BP Nick @ Real Quezon

                                                     

For two weeks prior to the weekend before Christmas day, Marion and I were completely decided to have a vacation in the beautiful island of Calaguas in Bicol. We both did our research but due to “time” issues and other matters, we found ourselves discovering the simple yet adventure-filled Real at Infanta, Quezon instead.

Mt. Batulao Traverse

I was not able to join the Group when they climbed it for the first time in 2011. Because of that, and though I was aware of an accident that happened to a first-time hiker, who fell to her death attributed to human error, I was very excited and was looking forward to a memorable year-ender climb in a mountain where scenic views of Batangas could be seen - Mt. Batulao.

And yes, with The BACKPACKERS' Way in mind, that is individual sense of responsibility to personal and co-members' safety, we were able to seal the Group's mountaineering activities for 2012 safely and with pride.

The BACKPACKERS Year-Ender Climb

Mt. Batulao Traverse

By Heinz Lopez Alvarez, Jr.

December 29, 2012 - It was an intermittently gloomy Saturday past noon in Metro Manila and it actually drizzled when the Group was waiting to be boarded on a bus bound for Nasugbu, Batangas. Because it was two days before the new year's eve, that terminal along Taft Avenue in Pasay City, for Genesis and BSC buses and jeepneys, was crowded and lines of passengers hurrying to go home to the South were literally lengthy. As a matter of fact, it took almost an hour before we found ourselves finally climbing a BSC bus! But it was totally fine because our Lead, Ivan Ignacio, had already briefed us ahead of time that it was going to be a night trek for us. We were eight in the group namely BPs Liz, Chons, Heinz, York, Resty and Ivan; and guests Wilson Galapon and Alva Zarte Nombrado.

Top 12 Adventures of 2012

All of The BACKPACKERS ranked the adventures they took part in from their most favorite to their not-so favorite this year. After everyone ranked these adventures, the average is calculated and these adventures are ranked according to the group's consensus  Adventures which landed on #1 in a BP's list earned +0.25 points. And from there, the TOP TWELVE ADVENTURES of 2012 were determined.

TOP 12 ADVENTURES OF 2012

12 - MT. GULUGOD BABOY , June 2012

We start this countdown with the mother mountain of The BACKPACKERS, Mt. Gulugod Baboy which was revisited in June of this year. The relaxing climb and the nice vista on its campsite and summit were appreciated by BPs and guests.