07 March 2020
Hiking Mt. Gulugod Baboy was my first outdoor adventure seven long years ago and yet again, it was my first outdoor adventure in 2020 with colleagues from the corporate world. I almost had the same reasons in the past for not being able to spend more time getting closer with nature - deadlines, projects, reports and my other obligations.
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| Gulugod Baboy Peak and Camp Site |
I had been attempting to hit the trail as early as the start of 2020 however, with the extended wet season until the end of first quarter and other personal reasons, I decided to wait for the trail to get dry again, prepared myself physically and waited for the start of the dry season.
After few months of waiting, I felt the hot humid wind, once again, blowing from the east telling me the rainy days were over and the hot dry season was officially taking place.
I was invited by colleagues for a day hike on a weekend at Mt. Makiling. I did both a Makiling back-trail and a traverse in the past and once more, I wanted to spend another day with Mariang Makiling under its dense green forest.
Before finalizing the supposed Makiling trek, I thought of getting back to basic as a starter. Though Makiling can be considered as a minor climb since it is "day-hikable", I thought of starting my 2020 trek on a more "easy-to-climb" mountain instead.
This has been my practice in the past as part of my physical conditioning in preparation for a major climb because for me, the best way to prepare for a major climb is to do a minor climb before it.
This has been my practice in the past as part of my physical conditioning in preparation for a major climb because for me, the best way to prepare for a major climb is to do a minor climb before it.
Kicking-off the adventure
From Makiling trek plan, we switched to Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Anilao, Batangas. Few things I like about the mountain are the year-round green summit, the unobstructed view of the surroundings and the clean trail among others.
Meet-up point was at Belton Place in Makati. The jump-off point is at Philphan Dive resort in Anilao. It is approximately 134 kilometers away, a 3h and 40mins drive on a private vehicle.
We left Belton Place at 0530H and reached Philpan Dive resort at 0900H, registered, secured a guide and then commenced hiking at 0930H. Sirs Jonas, Jhun, Jhei, Sam were with me.
The climb started at the jump-off point on a concrete trail. Though it was my third time to climb the mountain, I considered myself a first-timer, physically and emotionally, coming from many months of hibernation.
We had fun along the trail and at 1100H, we had a halo-halo refreshment. I was happy to see the wooden house still standing in the same way it was the last time I saw it seven years ago.
We reached the camp site and proceeded to the peak at 1250H and started our descent back to the jump-off point at 1330H.
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| Standing at Gulugod Baboy Peak |
At 1526H, we were back at the jump-off point, tidy up and rewarded ourselves with a tasty Lomi.
We left Philpan Dive resort at 1600H and headed back to Makati.
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