The BACKPACKERS

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Punta Malabrigo Beach Resort

Brgy. Malabrigo, Lobo, Batangas

Relaxing in A Stony Shore

By Heinz Lopez Alvarez, Jr.

As part of the plan, the group proceeded to Punta Malabrigo Beach Resort to have a relaxing side trip after a good climb in Mt. Banoi.

We left the jump-off point in two batches as we had Tami (Wilson’s L300), which transported members of The BACKPACKERS (BPs); and our hired van, which carried our guests and few BPs.

It was a 30 – 45 minutes travel from Sitio Malabnig of Brgy. Balabat to Brgy. Malabrigo, Lobo Batangas. Because of that, most of us opted to sleep to replenish lost energy on the way to the resort. The first group had to stop over King's Eatery at the side of the Plaza to buy our late lunch at the resort. The owner of the eatery was very accommodating and friendly to us and we recommend that you to check out that small eatery when you get to visit this town.

Mt. Banoi

A BUCOLIC AND BEAUTIFUL BANOI

Mt. Banoi Climb

Lobo, Batangas

September 22-23, 2012

by: Ivan Ignacio

The BACKPACKERS had been to several towns in Batangas; Nasugbu, Sto. Tomas, Cuenca, Batangas City en route to Puerto Galera, and Mabini. Being blessed with several majestic hiking destinations paralleled with its proximity to the metropolis, Batangas has been a favorite target. But there's a specific town in Batangas that nobody thought existed: Lobo, Batangas. Nestled on its ranges is Mt. Banoi - a nice and easy minor climb in the vicinity. What made this trip to the edge of Batangas province memorable is the fact that it was everybody's first time in the town, not to mention it was also everyone's first climb in Mt. Banoi.

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.