Climbful 2011 : Always Look on the Brighter Side

Every year is a new experience. The past year was full of fallen hopes. Lots of trips cancelled….and lot of excitement went to waste. Despite, the climbs that pushed through made up for all the disappointments that I have endured.

By the numbers, last year was equivalent to 21 climbs, 12 of which were new peaks for me. I have always thought that I made good the previous year, but when I accounted for each year I realized that I am progressing as the year passes. I am just not noticing it. It was also a year that I had my first international flight on my own. Of making dreams come true. =)

Mt. MANABU (January) :

The Year-starter Climb

Mountaineer’s dream includes that of starting the year with a blast of a climb. But if you don’t have any plans at all… one can be contented with just any mountain that is close to the heart.

This trip was supposed to be a double dayhike of Mts. Batulao and Talamitam in Nasugbu, Batangas. But with unforeseen events always waiting to happen, there had been a change of plans we proceeded instead with the easiest way out. I originally had Mts. Manabu and Maculot as Plan B for the botched Nasugbu back to back climb. We got lost at the start of the trek, and it was raining hard on our summit assault via Mang Pirying’s kubo.

not bad for a year starter

Itinerary : Mt. Talamitam - Mt. Batulao Dayhike

Double or triple dayhikes had been becoming popular to climbers nowadays because of climb economy and the physical challenge it presents to the hikers. Famous double dayhikes proximate to Manila are Mts. Maculot-Manabu (Cuenca/Lipa Batangas), Mts. Malipunyo-Manabu (Lipa, Batangas), Mts. Sembrano – Tagapo (Pililia/Binangonan, Rizal), and Mts. Talamitam – Batulao (Nasugbu, Batangas) among others.

Last September 2011, I finally had a chance to join the band wagon of the double-dayhikers. We failed to follow the itinerary because we intentionally grazed on the area, with lots of photo opportunities on hand. The weather was clear in the morning, and we didn’t expect the worse turnout in the afternoon. We failed to do the traverse of Mt. Batulao, and instead just stayed in the registration hut and rested for a while. We had our picture taken with Ms. Janet Belarmino of the Pinay Everest Team, who has a vacation hut in Mt. Batulao campsite. Here is our intended itinerary for that day:

Mt. Talamitam fields, with Mt. Batulao’s unmistakable ridges from afar

MT. TALAMITAM – MT. BATULAO Double Dayhike

Mt. Talamitam is famous for its 360 degrees summit view, which you will enjoy after an arduous climb on an open field. The trek usually takes 1.5hr – 2 hr on a normal pace. Mt. Batulao on the other hand, is a more strenuous hike. The trek will start on Evercrest, of which you will walk by passing several houses on the way to the mountain itself, negotiating muddy trails even on a clear day.

Mt. Balatukan : Itinerary

View from Sitio Civoleg: Pamalihi peak (false summit) to the rightmost

Mt. Balatukan forms one of the gargantuan ranges that pillars Misamis Oriental. This strato-volcano has an estimated elevation of 2,450masl (Wikimapia) and is considered as the highest peak in Misamis Oriental looming over the whole Gingoog City and nearby towns along the National Highway. The summit is called Rosas Pandan Peak, and there is an adjacent prominent peak the locals refer to as Pamalihi peak.

The Inner Traveller of a Mountain Climber

A: Age you made your first international trip
Four I think, to see a cousin in Japan… visited Disneyland. That trip became an adventure for all of us (TNT, deportation and all). That Japan trip lasted for a month, and costed me two notches down in the honor roll. And had I known that I would be this mountain climber hoolabaloo, I would have insisted climbing Mt. Fuji since at that tender age of 4, I was already mesmerized by Mt. Arayat.

Tokyo Disneyland, 1986?

Mt. Mayapay : Itinerary

highest peak in Butuan City, Agusal del Norte (Mindanao)

Mount Mayapay is one of the lesser known peaks in the Philippines, but well renowned in its home in Butuan City. Standing approximately 675masl as per Butuan Tourism or 719masl per article in a newsflash (http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/ht/ht006118.htm), Mt. Mayapay is one proud local of Butuan City.

Timeline of My Hiking Footwear

To those persons who knew me better as a hiker, they would probably tell you that I prefer trekking with slippers, crocs, or no footwear at all. In my 4 years of climb experience, I had only two hiking shoes.

Wanted : Postcard Recipients

It just hit me that I want to experience the feeling of sending postcards. In our times where communication is just a matter of a touch of button, sending snail mails is becoming a thing of the past. Before this practice becomes long forgotten, I will try to send 9 postcards in total during my upcoming Christmas trip. This is also my way of thanking my readers. :)

If interested, please leave a comment stating your name and desired mailing address. I will not publish your comments. If there are more than 9 interested parties, then I will try to select just 9 through a raffle.

I will fly on the 25th, and will return on the 31st. Please have your entries in before my flight so I could have the list ready before I leave.

PS: this was also an idea sparked when a blogger from Oz asked for my mailing address so she could send me a postcard for Christmas.

Happy Holidays!


Update:
Since there had been a low turn-out of interested parties, this is going to be on a first-come first-served basis. Here is the list of the future recipients of the postcards, divided in 3 batches since I will be in 3 provinces in my 7 days of backpacking.

Kota Kinabalu: How Much I Spent on the 8D7N Trip

Malaysian Ringgit

PLANE FARE

We got a deal last year for the Kota Kinabalu flight from Manila. Cebu Pacific who regularly holds a Piso Fare seat sale every now and then offered seats for only Php150.00 per head, baggage not included. My friend Liz booked for the two of us, without return flight.Last August, I booked a return flight to Manila for RM114.89 under a Piso Fare (what a difference, right?).

Get Me Out of Here!: Kota Kinabalu International Airport (Terminal 2)

KKIA 2

Kota Kinabalu City in Sabah, Malaysia has 2 main international airports….one is Terminal 1 which mainly serves Malaysian Airlines (there are other carriers though), and Terminal 2 which caters mostly to Air Asia and Cebu Pacific. Kota Kinabalu International Airport Terminal 2 or much popular as KKIA2 or Terminal 2 is much smaller than its counterpart, and is located opposite of the KKIA Terminal 1.

Kota Kinabalu: View Witnessed by Only a Few

Mt. Kinabalu sunset along the trail....