Hiking in the Phils

[Dillinger]

V for Victory?

Have you ever danced to Agadoo? I hear Lulu is having a parry

[katie23]

@D48 - thanks very much for the reposts

@lulu - thnx for the cheers. When are you coming over to PI? We'll climb the 9/9 mountain, and won't use a motorbike along the way. That would be cheating.

@dillinger - no, V for Vendetta. and I haven't danced that Agadoo. Re: Lulu, I don't know if he can handle a 13-hour hike - I have my doubts. 55

@toot - yeah, it was a challenge to do that hike, with the sloshy mud and rain. If you look closely at my trousers/shoes from the 1st marker to this 3rd marker (Mt Purgatory), they are much muddier. And yeah, it was more of endurance and challenging myself. Last year, most of my climbs were 3/9 or 4/9 mountains, minor hikes. This year, I want to do more major hikes: 6/9 upwards. I'm scheduled to do a 7/9 later this Feb (my first 7/9) and I'm training for it.

This Mt Purgatory wasn't very technically difficult, no rock scrambling, cliffs or knife edges, but the trail was long, so it was classed as a 6/9. It took us 13 hours to finish the hike (5 am to 6pm).

So far, the most difficult and challenging that I've done is Mt Tenglawan in Bakun, Benguet. I did that last year, during the Xmas holidays. It was 6/9 and took me 14 hrs to finish it (5am to 7pm). Some of my team-mates finished it in 12 or 13 hours. I was one of the last 2 in our group to finish it. I was very exhausted after that. For this Mt Purgatory, my exhaustion was mild. I haven't ticked mountains in a map - perhaps I'll do that. Thanks for the tip!

[cisco999]

We travelled in 3 minivans, around 45 ppl.

That sounds like a military exercise.

[katie23]

Update to this thread...

After my Mt Purgatory hike in January, I did the following hikes:

February:
Mt Napulauan in Hungduan, Benguet. 7/9 difficulty, 2642 meters above sea level (MASL), 9 hours to summit (10 am to 7pm). Was an overnight camping trip, and my most difficult climb to date.

March:
Mt Marami in Maragondon, Cavite. 3/9, 405 MASL, 3.5 H to summit (2:30 - 6 am) Mountain was not high but trail was long, side trip to Pantihan Falls.

Mt 387 (or Mt Batong Amat) in Caranglan, Nueva Ecija. 4/9, 3H to summit (5 to 8 am), side trip to Aloha Falls.

May:
Mt Sawi in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. 3/9, 2H to summit (5:30 - 7:30 am). Was coupled with a trip to Dingalan in Aurora province.

June:
Mt Manabu in Lipa City, Batangas. 2/9, 760 MASL, 2H to summit (9-11 am). DIY trip with colleagues.

Mt. Pigingan in Itogon, Benguet. 5/9, 1,328 MASL, 6H to summit (6 am to 12 nn).

July:
Mt Romelo in Siniloan, Laguna. 2/9, 240+ MASL, 2H to summit. DIY hike with friends. Visited 3 waterfalls and stayed at Pangil River Ecopark.


I'm scheduled to hike in Mt Taal (Taal Volcano) later this month. For August, I'm scheduled to go to Kaparkan Falls (Abra province) + Vigan sidetrip and Mt Pulag Akiki-Amba (killer trail).

Mt Pulag is the 3rd highest mountain in PI at 2,922 MASL. It can be hiked via the Ambangeg easy trail (3/9) or Akiki trail (7/9). I choose to do the tough trail and will train for that hike probably next month. Maybe in 10 years time, I'll revisit Mt Pulag and do the easy trail. But now, I want to do it the hard way, while I still can!

Photos in next post

[katie23]

Mount Romelo climb this past weekend. Its difficulty level is 2/9, 240+ MASL (technically a hill). Jump off point is in Siniloan, Laguna. We first visited Buruwisan Falls and Lanzones Falls, before going to the summit of Mt Romelo.

Some scenes along the way

[katie23]

Horses are still used as farm animals and to transport goods in that area




Thanks to those who will repost the pics - I'm posting from phone and the pics don't load directly. Thanks much!

[David48atTD]

Mount Romelo climb this past weekend. Its difficulty level is 2/9, 240+ MASL (technically a hill). Jump off point is in Siniloan, Laguna. We first visited Buruwisan Falls and Lanzones Falls, before going to the summit of Mt Romelo.

Some scenes along the way

Mount Romelo climb this past weekend

[katie23]

That's our guide as he went down the trail to Buruwisan Falls


Buruwisan Falls. Guide said that average hike is 2.5H. Our group of 5 (all regular hikers) did it in 1 hour 45 min. So we gave ourselves a pat on the back.

[David48atTD]

Horses are still used as farm animals and to transport goods in that area

Horses are still used as farm animals and to transport goods in that area

[David48atTD]

That's our guide as he went down the trail to Buruwisan Falls


Buruwisan Falls. Guide said that average hike is 2.5H. Our group of 5 (all regular hikers) did it in 1 hour 45 min. So we gave ourselves a pat on the back.

That's our guide as he went down the trail to Buruwisan Falls

[katie23]

After taking pics, swimming and resting, we went to the next falls, which was just a 2-min trek away.


The 2nd falls, Lanzones Falls had much more water.

[David48atTD]

After taking pics, swimming and resting, we went to the next falls, which was just a 2-min trek away.


The 2nd falls, Lanzones Falls had much more water.

After taking pics, swimming and resting, we went to the next falls, which was just a 2-min trek away

[katie23]

After taking pics at Lanzones Falls (we didn't swim anymore), we trekked to the summit of Mt Romelo.


Near the summit, one can see Laguna Lake

[katie23]

After reaching the summit, we trekked back to the jump off point, then went back to Pangil River Ecopark, where we had accoms.


That was our room, 9 ppl in our hiking group, 4 girls & 5 boys.


Simple room with a/c. Mattresses on the floor, sheets & pillows provided. You have to tell the staff re: number of ppl in your group, so that they'll bring out the right number of beddings.


Had lunch in the room, then proceeded to the 3rd falls.

[NamPikToot]

After taking pics at Lanzones Falls (we didn't swim anymore), we trekked to the summit of Mt Romelo.


Near the summit, one can see Laguna Lake

nice.

[NamPikToot]

After reaching the summit, we trekked back to the jump off point, then went back to Pangil River Ecopark, where we had accoms.


That was our room, 9 ppl in our hiking group, 4 girls & 5 boys.


Simple room with a/c. Mattresses on the floor, sheets & pillows provided. You have to tell the staff re: number of ppl in your group, so that they'll bring out the right number of beddings.


Had lunch in the room, then proceeded to the 3rd falls.

more.

[katie23]

Panguil River Ecopark is owned and operated by the municipality of Pangil in Laguna. Simple room accoms, as well as a campsite for tents. There were lots of day trippers when we visited last weekend.

To get to the 3rd falls, there's a 1 km walk/ wade/ raft ride to get to the falls.

In some parts you'll have to wade


In some parts, bamboo raft ride

[NamPikToot]

Katie,

Those are some mighty fine waterfalls. The thread is lacking two things,

1. a back shot pointy finger / v sign
2. a link to this years Fantasy Football on Teakdoor which definitely requires a Flippa team, you, Gracie, Davis etc..

(Football - Fantasy Premier League 19/20 - anybody up for it?)https://teakdoor.com/the-sports-room/192223-football-fantasy-premier-league-19-20-a.html

apologies for polluting your thread, Chitty told me to do it

[NamPikToot]

Panguil River Ecopark is owned and operated by the municipality of Pangil in Laguna. Simple room accoms, as well as a campsite for tents. There were lots of day trippers when we visited last weekend.

To get to the 3rd falls, there's a 1 km walk/ wade/ raft ride to get to the falls.

In some parts you'll have to wade


In some parts, bamboo raft ride

That's a raft not that bamboo sunbed Lulu showed in CM

[katie23]

Life vests were required during the raft rides. Approaching the 3rd falls, you'll see this.


We had the falls to ourselves, since that group left just as we arrived. Each group is allowed 30 min only at the falls, during peak season. A guide is also required.

As requested

^Ambon-ambon Falls in Pangil, Laguna

After the 3rd falls, we went back to the room to wash up, pack, and return to reality. Cheers!

[katie23]

@toot & D48 - thanks for the reposts.

I won't do the fantasy football thingy, as I don't watch football and am not really interested in it. Much less the fantasy stuff.

At present, I'm busy with many things: work, hiking & my new hike friends, family & love life. As such, I spend less time on TD nowadays. Proof is I've done several hikes the past few months and only updated this thread today!

[NamPikToot]

Life vests were required during the raft rides. Approaching the 3rd falls, you'll see this.


We had the falls to ourselves, since that group left just as we arrived. Each group is allowed 30 min only at the falls, during peak season. A guide is also required.

As requested

^Ambon-ambon Falls in Pangil, Laguna

After the 3rd falls, we went back to the room to wash up, pack, and return to reality. Cheers!

lots of falls in Phils

[NamPikToot]

I won't do the fantasy football thingy, as I don't watch football and am not really interested in it. Much less the fantasy stuff.

You don't need to do anything. I expect your males friends in the Katie Hiking Team are into Footie - tell them and they can set up KatiesPhiliHikers for you

[katie23]

@toot - PI males aren't keen on footy. They're into basketball: NBA and PBA (Philippine Basketball Association). By osmosis, I know some NBA teams & players, like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, etc.

Re: FF, thanks for the offer, but I'll pass.

[Bettyboo]

Nice pics, thanks, Katie.

Far too energetic for the ugly old gits on here though...