Friday, December 20, 2013

WE CONQUERED the MONOLITH of Pico de Loro! (part 2)




Off to the Monolith!

Off to the monolith!

It was not in the plan that we'd go to the monolith. But some of the group just wanted to go at least at its base just to have a feel of it. It was mainly because of the people we saw at the base looked so cool from afar  (can you see the people chilling at the monolith from the photo above?). Some of the group just stayed behind and will wait at the parrot's beak. Miah stayed behind while me & Chris decided we'd go along with the group to the monolith. 

Stage One: Rocky Slope
The path to Pico de Loro monolith is more like wall sliding/climbing. We have to sit and crawl down 'cause it's too steep. We also have to move fast 'cause the wall we're sitting/holding on is hot to the touch. Tanghaling tapat kasi nung pumunta kami! After that is a narrow path with lots of thorny plants.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

WE CONQUERED PICO DE LORO!! (my first mountain)

October 20, 2013

So... What does four inexperienced people with sedentary lifestyles (except for RJ) doing in Maragondon? What kind of spirit came to them when they thought about climbing Mount Palay-Palay aka Pico de Loro without any guide or proper gears? Heck, they don't even know how to get there.

So here's how they hatched their plan:
My colleague Chris was like I wanna go mountaineering. I was like, why don't you try it. Then he was like I don't have someone to come with. Then I was like, I have done some hiking when I was kid. And then he was like, TARA sa October 20! Di na pinapatagal to! Push na yan! HAHAHAHA. 
We only had 3-week preparation and we pushed the plan with little knowledge on what to expect. The final headcount was 4 out of 9 people who planned to join. I was kind of disheartened by the people who backed out. "PUSH NA YAN!" was our expression of the moment.

We met up at 7Eleven near SM Bacoor at 5am. Since there's no bus to Ternate that pass through SM Bacoor that early, we rode a baby bus to Marulas near a place called Zeus (9 pesos). Then we waited for a bus from Manila to Ternate that took the Cavitex route (55 pesos). I was still comprehending what we're gonna do that day, how we're gonna manage climbing an unfamiliar mountain with just the four of us. Little did we know that we're in the same bus as the people that we're gonna be with the whole day! Talk about serendipity.

Czar, Joubert, Joan, Aldrin, Chris, Coco, Sheila (not pictured)
Meet the angels that took us under their wings. They are so unbelievably friendly and considerate! They took care of us when we're hiking even if they don't have to. I don't want to imagine what would have happened to us if it weren't for them. They were also the ones who initiated socially by introducing their selves to us. Geez, I would be happy if I can have at least half of their social skills. I suck with socials.

So we started off by renting a jeep after we got off the bus for 700 pesos regardless of how many passengers. We paid 63 pesos per person since we're 11 people in the group. It's cheaper compared to riding a tricycle to DENR for 100 pesos per person.

Clueless on what to do around DENR, picture muna! My company: Krix (ang pasimuno ng lahat), Miah and RJ