Climbs for Beginners like me

Mountains are effortlessly beautiful. Have you ever tried climbing a mountain? You think its really hard to stay fit and it is expensive to do hikes?

What do you love more? Nature or cities? I was never a city person. I use to climb mountains before, we use to have a group for climbing mountains, and they taught us a lot about climbing and stuff, plus, they really offer cheap climbs for beginners like me. They even gave us Basic Mountaineering Course or BMC (this is important if you do major climbs). I really love climbing mountains and I really find myself strong and healthy if I do it like monthly or every other month. Year 2016 was my year for climbing mountains. I climbed several mountains here in Luzon. And I really liked it. I enjoyed climbing with my sister, boyfriend and best friend. I'm sure of it that it made my ties stronger. So, why don't you start climbing mountains?

I'll share with you some of the mountains that I climbed.

MT. BATULAO
Name: Mt. Batulao
Location: Nasugbu, Batangas
Jump-Off Point: KC Hillcrest (Evercret) Golf Course
Elevation: 811+ MASL
Difficulty: 4/9 (Pinoy Mountaineer)
Features: Scenic view of the coastal towns of Batangas. Grass Ridges. 12 Peaks.

Batulao was the first mountain that I climbed. This mountain is very popular all over the metro because its just 2 hours away from Manila and a lot of people had been here to climb or do a jog. I promise you it was not easy for me because it was my first time. Well, all first timers might say that. And I was wearing my rose run then. Haha! I have no climbing stuffs way back then. But I know that I'm gonna push through climbing right after I climbed Batulao. It was like love at first sight. I know that i'm still gonna climb mountains even if not on a regular basis. 

TAAL VOLCANO

Name: Taal Volcano
Location: Talisay, Batangas
Jump-Off Point: Barangay Look
Elevation: 1312 ft
Difficulty: 2/9 (Pinoy Mountaineer)
Features: Its mysterious shape, as well as its location of being on an island within a lake within an island, makes it a unique geologic wonder, fascinating thousands of tourists – and scientists – yearly. 

Taal Volcano is very popular because you can enjoy its beauty by just going to Tagaytay. But you will enjoy it more if you go down on its crater. Its actually also very near me that's why we climbed this mountain. You can opt to see it from the top or really go on its crater. Our group had choses to go to its crater and enjoy its sulfur water from the lake. I was then wearing my rose runs during this time. It was really funny, I slipped down on slopes and tripped over on rocks. Yup, I'm a flat footed person. Who thought I would love to go on treks. 

TARAK RIDGE 

Name: Tarak Ridge
Location: Mariveles, Bataan
Jump off point: Brgy. Alas-asin, Mariveles
Elevation: LLA: 14°30.357′N, 120°30′E, 1,006 MASL (ridge); 1,130 MASL (peak)
Difficulty: Major climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3

Features: Craggy landscape, sharp rocks, and steep location may have given rise to its name, Tarak, which is somewhat of a cross between ‘Tabak’ (hunting knife) and ‘Tarik’ (steep). 

This was my first major climb. It was not easy, I almost gave up! Yup I did slept in the mountain for a night. But I will never regret that! This was the time when we bought our climbing gears. Heavy duty shoes (yup not my roshes anymore), 60L backpack, water bladder, and tent (but we got the wrong tent, I have a beach tent, Haha). I ca still remember my excitement during this time. We didn't really climb with our heavy bags, we left it on our camp site then we pushed through the climb. I experienced a whole day of climb during this time. I experienced it at dawn, mid day,  afternoon, and night. I cannot sleep during the night time because I'm scared that there are some snakes on my tent, and it was really cold during the night time. We're lucky because our group carried our food for us (yup, rice and pork and everything), they even cooked the dinner for us. I realized so many things during this time. Everything was yummy when you're on the mountains. Your problems are just little problems. And someone is waiting for you down the real world (AKA your family) I really missed my family during the duration of the climb because it was really long. And it was a longer time drive home. My boyfriend even drove for me and my best friend going home. But it was all worth it. The body pain was worth it. Tarak was amazing!

MT. ULAP

Name: Mt. Ulap
Location: Itogon, BenguetJump off point: Brgy. Ampucao, Itogon
Elevation: LLA: 16.2904 N, 120.6312 E, 1846 MASL (Mt. Ulap)
Difficulty: Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3,
Features: Grassland and pine ridges, scenic views of the Cordilleras

Let me tell you about my favorite mountain. Yup this is my personal favorite. Why? Because it was cold, it was just a chill climb, I love seeing pine trees along the trail, and it was really beautiful. And I always wanted to have a picture like Lion King, like you're sitting on the edge of a cliff. I really lined up for this photo by the way. 

MT. TALAMITAM

Name: Mt. Talamitam
Location: Nasugbu, Batangas
Jump off point: Brgy. Bayabasan
Elevation: 630 MASL
Difficulty: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3 with steep assault (100m)

Features: Grassy terrain, not much trees

This mountain is also 2 hours away from Manila. It was also an easy climb! I loved it because we got to visit a waterfall near the mountain and take a bath before climbing. Our team leader said that Mt. Talamitam has no shade of trees and really really hot. So, we decided to climb up the mountain wet. It was fun!

MASUNGI GEORESERVE

Name: Masungi Georesrve
Location: Baras, Rizal, Philippines
Jump off point: Garden cottages
Features: Man made trails, the famous giant swing, jagged rocks

This was one of the most exciting treks I did. This is the place that offers both all the splendor atop a mountain peak and that same rush of adrenaline and excitement of an obstacle course climbing on nets, lying down on giant swings and enjoying the very beautiful view of Rizal.

MT. DARAITAN/TINIPAK RIVER

Name: Mt. Daraitan
Location: Tanay, Rizal and General Nakar, Quezon

Jump off point: Sitio Cablao Brgy. Pagsangahan, General Nakar

Elevation: LLA: 14°36′48.5′′N 121°26′19.5′′ E, 739 MASL (+600)

Difficulty: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 1-3

Features: Tropical forest, limestone formations, river trek

This mountain is also exciting because after you climb, you get to enjoy the tinipak river. The water was so cold and refreshing. The trail was fine, I love the view up the summit. It was a stunner!

OSMENA PEAK

Name: Osmena Peak
Location: Mantalongon, Dalaguete, Cebu

Jump off point: Barangay Mantalongon

Elevation: 1013 MASL

Difficulty: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-2

Features:  Dramatic view of jagged cliffs with a view of the sea in the distance

Shortest climb I've ever been. I was just wearing shorts, top and slippers. After we do whale shark watching and canyoneering, we went up the peak for the sunset. It was amazing! Definitely a must see in Cebu. Its like the Chocolate hills of Cebu they say. 

MT. GULUGOD BABOY

Name: Mt. Gulugod Baby
Location: Anilao, Mabini, Batangas

Jump off point: Philpan Dive Resort, Anilao, Mabini

Elevation: LLA: 13°42’55″N; 120°53’43″E; 525 MASL

Difficulty: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2

Features:  Scenic views of Batangas Bay and Balayan Bay

I was not ready for this climb because my cousins just made it up one weekend. But it was one of the best climbs also! I loved the view up the summit. Well, all summits are breath-taking. Gulugod Baby is in Anilao (famous for diving). After you visit some beaches and do diving, you can climb a mountain! Make sure to add Mt. Gulugod Baby on your itenerary when you go to Anilao Batangas!

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed my short write up about my climbs. I'm not a mountaineer, I just want to experience the joy of climbing mountains. I'm glad I have friends who always tags me along! :)