Team Pahinga climbs w/ Team Australia

Well it's been a while since my last post, but now im back to blog about a recent climb with my team EPSON Australia.

It was actually a team building activity proposed by one of my colleagues, Joy, someone whom i never expected it will come out from. So there it is, about 5 weeks of  planning and preparation. Initially, it was agreed that we climb Mt. Batulao in Batangas as a beginner's climb, since none of the team members have tried this physical sport before. But then later on, I reckon Mt Pinagbanderahan (Gulugod Baboy) will be much more suitable for first timers. An hour or two easy uphill trekking, plus a 360 panoramic view on top, im sure everyone will enjoy.

Assembly time is lunch time at the Jam Liner Kamuning Terminal, after buying everything necessary for the climb, we boarded the bus and went on our way. Bus fare is Php130 per head.  We got dark and shady sky all the way to Batangaas as if  rain is ready to strike us anytime, and by the way, we climbed on the onset of typhoon Quiel. We got off at Batangas City Diversion Rd and took a  jeepney ride for 100 bucks per head. That was a pre-arranged fare, on the condition of taking us straight to Philpan rather than taking another trike ride from Anilao. Regular fare for jeepney to Anilao is around Php60-70 then trike is Php40-50 per head. So a Php100 per pax is pretty much a fair deal dropping us straight to the jump off.

 We reached the Philpan Beach Resort at around 4pm, worried that we might trek in the dark, we immediately started trekking after a couple of group shots at the jump off. The trail head is a very steep concrete road about a kilometer uphill. Then the ascent on the dirt started after reaching a small store/rest station right after the first left turn. Just after about 10mins of trekking uphill on the dirt, we were already greeted by a spectacular view of the beaches/resorts down hill.

We reached the campsite after one and a half hour of trekking.  Strong winds and a bit of drizzle welcomed us up there. We started pitching tents and preparing meals for the night. Pitching tents amidst very strong winds is something but setting up the camp in the dark is another. Thanks to my reliable team mates who initiated the cooking while some gave a hand setting up tents. Too bad, strong winds tear down 2 of our tents, lagot kami sa may-ari.



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Below is a blog created by Joyce titled "Team Climb" from http://joycee08.blogspot.com

-Team Climb-

Yap, we had a team building last Saturday. We climb Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Batangas. It was I think a two hour trek. So scary, tiring, fun and yeah worth to give it a try.
Mountain Climbing is a popular activity in Epson. My brother and sister are both part of a separate mountain climbing group. But knowing me. I didn't imagine myself doing that actually. But I was able to conquer it. Wow, I’m so proud of myself. :)
But being able to experience it made me ask myself, why the hell mountain climbers kept doing it over and over again. Treks will vary from mountain to mountain. Climbers will carry 40+L of bags especially designed for climbing purposes. You will walk and walk on a rough mountain trek with damn ants and mosquito bites will make you ask why the hell they have to add up on a suffering you can choose not to feel. But as soon as we were able to reach the camp site and the summit. I was able to answer my own question. I now know why..
You will just smile, a genuine smile, while appreciating and seeing the true beauty of an untouched mother nature. You will thank the stick that became your best friend and served as a 3rd feet. You will thank your team mate for the support and words of encouragement, the unending "malapit na". :) You will thank the hill that covered the camp site so the wind wont blow directly on us. You will thank God more. A true nature lover will really get addicted to it. I now have a new found respect for mountaineers. Hats off to the guys.
As for me, though I enjoyed it. I guess once is enough. But who knows.

Wall Climbing @ Centro Atletico

Original plan was to wall climb in Rockwell Power Plant mall only to find out that the wall has long been gone, good thing there's a back up plan, we ended up doing it here in Centro Atletico, in North Rd. Cubao.

          

                           

                                              

It's not easy as it may seem.

This is Daivey on top of the game. 

That's Noel belaying. Included on the fees paid is the Belay Card, which serves like a license to belay, and before getting on, participants must go thru a brief orientation on what are the DO's and DONT's for this kind of activity. Orientation includes 'short course' on how to use the Belay Device, pretty interesting stuff.

     

Mt. Daguldol -- MACRO Madness

First Team Pahinga's outdoor trip, Mt Daguldol, is located in Laiya, San Juan Batangas. (Dec 12,2009)

Almost one year in the making, the plan to climb this mountain started as early as February of 2009, but due to schedule conflicts, we kept on postponing the climb, until it was moved to December.

We don't intend going on a night trek because none of us climbed this mountain before, but since we reached the jump off 7pm, and we'll be getting a guide anyway, we don't have to worry about getting lost in the dark trail so we pushed thru with the climb.

Initially, we considered spending the night at the beach, then proceed w/ the climb the following day, but its gonna be a boring day hike (with required local guide) so we decided to move along and do a night trek, we're up for the challenge.

Good thing about this climb is that we were able to cool down after almost a 3 hour trek going down by having a refreshing dip on the beach.

The Beach

Team pics

Naambon falls

And did I say MACRO Madness . . . The following photos were taken from the camp site of Mt. Daguldol 

Photos were taken using a regular lens (18-55mm Kit lens) plus a reversed 50mm 1.8f lens, no special effects or expensive MACRO lens and MACRO lightings were used on these. It was an over cast day and the camp site was still almost engulfed in fog.