Quadrilogy (4 Peaks) Dayhike

Not that I promote a crazy climb nor I tolerate an insane dayhike.. No! Not that I encourage you to do an unreasonable tiring climb. This is just an optional training climb. Anyway, let’s face it! Perhaps, even the most difficult mountain requires far more than half of your strength and resistance in doing this “4 peaks” dayhike. Name it –Halcon, Guiting-Guiting, Mantalingajan, Sicapoo, Dos Cuernos or Patukan.. and maybe in the same way, you’re bound to do a major  alpine climb. If you want to survive these difficult mountains, or if you’re aspiring to climb your dream mountain, preparation is not a joke. Practice makes perfect as the saying goes. I’m not saying you take it too seriously. Always remember that the very essence of climbing is to take delight in doing this found passion. So just take it lightly and enjoy the training climb.  At some point in your mountaineering life, you may probably realize that to be able to sustain, you have bear the pain.  Well maybe, you can only digest or accept this one if you have that burning desire to conquer yourself in greater summits or complete an epic traverse. You may completely get me if you are in your most passionate state of your desire to climb more mountains.

Guess what? I am a frustrated 4peaks dayhiker! Yes I am. I tried it twice. But it has always been just THREE peaks.Well, just remember my Nasugbu Trilogy dayhike, it’s three! But for those dayhike which intended to accomplish four, I’ve never succeeded yet. Let me tell you why.

By the way, I did two variations.

Makiling 2-PeakTraverse, Manabu Peak and Rockies in One Day

Mt. Makiling boasts its radiant beauty during the start of our traverse

My first attempt was in July 2011.It was my first time to do a dayhike with my climbing buddy, Dennis. My only dream climb then was Mt. Sicapoo as mentioned in my previous posts. To be able to succeed in this “first attempt” to do a major climb, I decided to first try the Ambaguio-Akiki trail in Mt. Pulag and Luzon321. But before these two, I wanted to undergo a series of training climbs that time which were regular weekend hikes and of course, this 4-peak dayhike. Here was the deal – Makiling traverse via Sto. Tomas – UP Los Banos  (which is of course, composed of 2 peaks already) and then we shall proceed to  Manabu Peak and finally Rockies. Technically,it’s a combination of your familiar Makiling traverse and 2-peak dayhike(Rockies-Manabu). We started at 7am and with so much unbridled limatik encounter (as it was rainy season), we arrived and finished at the UPLB at 1pm. After some quick wash up, we took the jeepney to Lipa and another ride thru tricycle to the jump-off point of Manabu in Brgy. Sta. Cruz. Sto Tomas,Batangas. However, nonstop rains challenged us a lot and the muddy trails (and one head lamp for two) caused us to slow down and become behind our itinerary. Apologies as I was a newbie dayhiker that time that I never thought that headlamp is always essential to a dayhike. I was taking it literally then --- I said to myself, “it’s a hiking on daytime anyway so why bother bringing a head light. LOL. How stupid!” From the peak of Manabu, we could already see Mt. Maculot covered by thick clouds. We were thinking by that time if we can still proceed to such next stop. Well we were probably convincing ourselves to something impossible. If you happened to read my post on 2-peak (Rockies-Manabu) dayhike, I told that it is advisable to climb Rockies first as jeepney or bus trip back to Lipa City is crucial after 6pm. It was only 7:30pm when we’re back to Manabu jump off point. Hopeless, my goodness! But here’s the most insane part of all --- apart from not being able to finish the fourth mountain for that day, the truth was we were considering a Mt. Arayat traverse dayhike scheduled on the following day!!! Whew! I even became a carrier of limatik from Batangas to Pampanga. Well, that was another experience, when a mountain leech stayed overnight inside my nose and only decided to loosen up upon being full when we arrived at the town of Dau. Here’s the thing: I may not be able to finish 4peaks on that faithful Saturday yet I was still able to still complete 4peaks on that weekend --- Peak 3 and Peak 2 of Makiling, Manabu Peak, and Arayat. What can I say? Convinced? Hehe.. Don’t get me wrong! I admit it’s not healthy anymore but it just happened that there was a committed scheduled climb with some BUSOG mountaineers (my friends in our mountaineering group) on that Sunday. And maybe, I underestimated the 4-peak dayhike that I thought it’s just an ordinary dayhike and I can manage easily Arayat traverse after doing such.

                               wet look during our Makiling traverse 

           (we're the only ones who  didn't mind the rampant limatik that rainy saturday)

the get up! sorry, just a newbie here at the jump off point in Manabu Peak haha

gloomy view of Malarayat range at the top of Manabu Peak

            first time encounter with the Bedural couple (Ed and Sha) in Manabu

                         together with  their friend, Benjo and Domeng

(Note: Makiling traverse is a major climb while Manabu and Rockies are both minor ones)

Suggested Itinerary


Makiling Traverse via Palanggana Trail (Peak 2 and Peak 3), Manabu and Maculot

0300 Meetup Alabang/Buendia
0400 ETD Sto.Tomas Markert
0600 ETA Sto.Tomas Market/Breaksfast/Buy Packed Lunch
0630 ETD to Palanggana Trail
0645 ETA Brgy. San Bartolome/Register/Last Preparation
0700 Start Trek
0715 ETA Cardiac Trail
0800 ETA Silyang Bato
0900 Melkas Ridge
0930 ETA Peak 3
1030 ETA Peak 2/Rest
1045 Start Descend
1200 ETA Aguila Base
1330 ETA Station 1/Quick Wash-up/Lunch
1400 ETD to Calamba Crossing
1500 ETA Calamba Crossing/ETD Transfer jeep going to Fiesta Mall
1530 ETA Fiesta Mall/ETD Take Tricycle to Manabu Jump-Off
1600 ETA Manabu JOP/Start Trek
1700 Manabu Peak/Rest/Take Pictures
1730 Start Descend
1830 ETA Manabu JOP/ Quick Dinner/ Proceed to Maculot
2000 ETA Maculot/Rockies/Macatmon JOP/Start Trek via Old Trail
2100 ETA Rockies/Macatmon
2115 Start Descend
2230 ETA Maculot JOP/Wash-up

Rockies-Malarayat Quadrilogy

During my second attempt, the deal was a Rockies- Malarayat quadro. We did it as Luzon321 climb was approaching, so I badly needed a training climb. That was sometime in October 2011. It is climbing the Rockies first and then Malarayat range in Batangas which is composed of Mt. Malipunyo(1005masl), Mt. Susong Dalaga (Maiden’s Breast) and Manabu Peak(760masl).  Malarayat is a range of mountains that lies in the provinces of Batangas and Laguna (a trail that ranges from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to San Pablo City, Laguna. There are, of course, other peaks but the mentioned three are the famous ones.

Risky Rockies

We traveled to Cuenca very early in the morning so we first completed the trek to Rockies. We finished early. It was unusual for me descending there as early as 9:30am. Afterwards, we’re bound to proceed to Brgy. Talisay in Lipa City, the entry point in Malipunyo and Susong Dalaga. We first took the Malipunyo side. We hired a guide for Mt. Malipunyo as this mountain, per policy, required guideship of around P800. The trek was very lengthy with no view at the summit and the only thing that makes you fulfilled is the fact that you finished it anyway. Although you will be still challenged by the trail as there are also some assault parts of the trek. There were plenty of lipa (a plant that creates an itchy-painful feeling when your skin accidentally touches its leaves). We finished such backtrail climb at around 3:30pm after starting up at 11:30am. That’s why, you would imagine me getting groggy already doing the next one, Mt. Susong Dalaga trek. From the first step at the jump off point, it was doing an assault climb all the way to summit because of its almost vertical trail. What’s annoying too is the not-so-established and messy trail. I was just wearing a trekking sandals that time and I got a lot of cuts in my feet. Who could enjoy that on a night trek, with almost no view at all upon arriving at the summit.  At 6pm, we started to climb it.The only reward? Well, we still reached the summit and I could finally mark this mountain with a big check. The only question was “when shall I get the eagerness to climb it again?” By the way, if you are atop Manabu Peak, you will see a great view of Susong Dalaga truly depicting a maiden’s breast. For me it was confidently lying there in a very perfect form.  Finally, after transferring to Manabu jump off point, there were no one at the house where the registration and logging should be done. We decided not to proceed. Well that’s the only reason why we were not able to complete the 4 peaks for the second time.

one of the Malipunyo trails

approaching the summit of Susong Dalaga Peak, it was this kind of sunset that we saw!

this grassland is the very peak of Susong Dalaga

(Note: All the concerned 4 peaks are individually major climbs. However, having it as Malarayat range climb is already major. Rockies is of course a minor climb)

Suggested Itinerary

Rockies and Malarayat Range (Malipunyo, Susung Dalaga, Manabu)

0100 Meetup Buendia Bus Bound Lemery
0200 ETD to Cuenca/Maculot JOP/Register
0500 ETA Cuenca/Take Trike/Start Trek
0600 ETA Rockies Summit/Peak/Take Picture/Breakfast
0630 Start Descend
0700 ETA Rockies JOP/Buy Pack Lunch/Proceed to Malarayat Range (Malipunyo)
0800 ETA Fiesta Mall/Take trike going to Malipunyo JOP
0830 ETA Malipunyo/Arrange Guide
0900 Start Trek
1100 ETA Malipunyo Summit/Take Pictures
1115 Start Descend (Back Trail)/Proceed to Susung Dalaga
1230 ETA Susong Dalaga JOP/Quick Lunch
1300 Start Trek
1500 Susong Dalaga Summit/Take Picture/Rest
1530 Start Descend
1630 ETA Susong Dalaga JOP/Proceed to Manabu via Tricycle
1700 ETA Manabu JOP/Start Trek
1800 Manabu Summit/Peak/Take Pictures/Rest
1830 Start Descend
1930 ETA Manabu JOP/Wash-up/Dinner
2100 ETD Manila

Just like the advantage of Nasugbu Trilogy, which seems to be the prequel of this post about training climbs, the proximity to Manila as well as low budget (around 1,500 assuming 2 pax)  are what make it advantageous. Imagine with such value of money and you can already explore 4 peaks.

The great thing about my first attempt to climb these peaks is that, it was first time to climb them all, oh except Makiling and Rockies. I had a good reason to climb and reach their summits. Unlike buddy Dennis who happened to climb them for the "nth time". Well, that’s his role being a climbing buddy—to accompany me. Thanks so much to you! (peace, Dennis!).

If you are interested or planning to do multi-peak dayhike, as I am always saying, believe that you can accomplish it. Again, pacing is sort of a crucial thing. Of course, this is given that you don’t have any advice from your doctor about your physical capabilities or any assessment about your body that may cause you to forgetting this crazy training climb. Again, believe that you accomplish it as in the course of doing a megatraverse or a very major 9/9 climb, you will face much more hardships. Again, just imagine one mountain with many peaks.

I am very glad thinking that finally, this experience of mine was written up. During the heights of my urge to climb more mountains, I never got enough time to put it in the chronicles of my mountaineering life.

I’ve tried.. and I am still looking forward to finally accomplishing FOUR in my next attempt.

Read More »

Rockies-Manabu Peak Twin Dayhike

Location: Rockies (Mt. Macatmon, Cuenca Batangas; Manabu Peak, (Sto. Tomas, Batangas)
Feb 2, 2013

Good thing there was something kind of an outdoor to look forward to and prepare for this year. So in preparation for our anticipated comeback to my once dream mountain (and now my favorite), Mt. Sicapoo, as scheduled on the last week of February, buddy Dennis organized a training climb for us-- this was the Rockies-Manabu peak twin dayhike.

This happened to be my very first hike for 2013. I was wondering, what if there's no other reason except for training climb, would I still climb those 2 peaks again? In this twin dayhike, it was my fourth time in Rockies and my 2nd time in Manabu Peak. (When I was a newbie, I often told myself not to go back to a specific mountain, once it's already reached then there's no more reason to climb it again). Yet there are always new things to encounter and  experiences to learn from. It's not only about mountain but about every moment that you experience and learn that matter.

The climb event itself was new to me. This was my first time to do this combo climb. I've been to these mountains but in separate climb events (As you may notice in the list of all my past climbs).

This double dayhike is popular to many hikers because of their proximity to one another in  Batangas province. Rockies is in Cuenca while Manabu's jump off point is only few hours away which is in Sto. Tomas. 

Taking the Lemery-bound bus, our first stop was Rockies.There's a helpful and logical reason  why it should be the Rockies to climb first instead of Manabu. It's because, at least even if you happened to finish by nightfall, tricycle may be rented in Manabu going back to Lipa for a Manila-bound bus unlike in Rockies in which beyond 5 or 6pm you can hardly find a jeep from Cuenca to Lipa.

We were 5 for this dayhike-- Yeth, Ayen, Eric, Dennis and me. What surprised us was the new trail up to camp site. According to the locals there, the trail was only opened Monday last week. And such was the first weekend for the climbers to hike on the new trail. Same same! But I think it's shorter than the old one but a bit steeper. And the locals have already their respective place/station for their sales of buko juice or halo2x.

There were many who climbed on that day including a big group from Sun power Binian.

After some stand-by's and much kwentuhan at the campsite, we started to ascend to Rockies. In this fourth time to ascend through the mountain's rocks, I used to remind myself to take note of the rock awaiting straight anyone's head but when I'm already there I always forgot and so I bumped my head to it again.

At the top of Rockies was the same amazement that I felt as I had on my first, second and third time there. The view of calm and serene Taal lake and surrounding mountains are breathtaking.

In our descent it seemed that the trail caused me to slow down because of the loose soil and rocks that made it slippery to walk on. Perhaps it's due to the fact that it's not yet fully established. The soil is not held in tact and the trail is kinda messy Thankful to the stems of plants at the side of the trail in which we could hold on to and prevent ourselves to slide down.

Right after we arrived back at the starting point, rains started to pour down and we were hesitant to proceed to Manabu Peak.

My instinct was, it could not be raining there and it's better to proceed with this two-peaks dayhike as it is our training climb. Besides, the rain was tolerable , I think. It was also Yeth's first time to do such double hike. And so we took risk and transferred to Sto. Tomas through two jeepney rides and a tricycle ride.

Hola sunny day! It was a very fine weather when we got there! I kinda revived myself from lots and lots of sleeping time during the rides. We prepared ourselves and began to trek. There was a great excitement in me going back to this mountain. The trail was very gradual at first and assaults can only be encountered before the kubo of Ka Perying. But he was not there (almost two years since he got his eyes medicated according to his brother who is now currently overseeing everything there) and there's still free coffee! According to him, he cannot make it a full coffee made of that from alamid (too costly) but instead is mixed with kapeng barako (a very popular coffee in Batangas). I was amazed when Tatay showed to us what the waste of alamid looks like and it's only like a normal coffee bean and not a pupu.A small bag of it is sold for Php100 and the bigger one for Php500. And those prices are already cheap because it is actually traded more than that price in the market.

the coffee bean

We resumed our trek and this time more assault trails were faced. Arriving at the grassland summit, there are already set tents and a good number of hikers staying for an overnight camp. I felt a little envy on the campers there because the weather is so good and obviously it's a perfect time to camp :)

Finally we reached the summit marked by a white cross. We felt every second at the top. There was a good clearing except for the side which we were supposed to view Mt. Maculot. Apparently it's still raining there because it was covered by thick clouds. This was the first time I greatly appreciated Malarayat range. Manabu was part of it along with Malipunyo and Susong Dalaga. My first time here was a rainy trek and foggy at the top. We were also able to view Mt. Mt. Cristobal and Banahaw on the other side (Quezon province).

the team at the top of Manabu Peak marked by the white cross

the Malarayat range including Malipunyo and Susong Dalaga as viewed from the top of Manabu peak

And whaaat? We forgot to bring head lamp. I actually brought one for this dayhike but I left my bag at the jump off point including the head lamp. Hurrily we descended and arrived back at the starting point already nightfall at around 6pm.

I was amused at myself because in this very first hike for the year, it appeared that I still behave like a newbie mountaineer who is very joyful and excited. It felt like I'm hiking for the first time and it really felt good. The passion will always be there, I guess.

Read More »