Saturday Hike

June 23, 2012

Pico de Loro

Ternate, Cavite

Things to bring on your day hike to Cavite's highest peak:

Packed lunch

Rain Coat

Extra Shirt

Trail Food

Swim Clothes

Camera

Insect repellent/ Sunblock/ BB Cream

Fun (I have a mind-full of this! :D)

and Four (4) Liters of water.

Yes, you read that right. You need four liters of water to sustain you for this 3-hour hike up Mt. Pico de Loro. We underestimated the trek since as per other blogs, there were lots of trees which serve as canopies during most of the trail. However, they failed to mention that the trek is almost always ascending, and it was actually very steep. So we were panting like maniacs, looking for staple water, and found there are no sari sari  store up the mountainside. And no four-walled comfort room either. But that's the least of our worries. ;)

Unlike other Mountains in Cavite (Batulao has a store after 2 hours hike up which sells softdrinks and coconut water), Pico de Loro can be every bit exhausting as it is exhilarating. We started off assembly at 4am. From McDo Baclaran, the rented van departed for Cavite. We arrived at Naic around 6am. Had breakfast at the local 7/11 since stores / small restaurants were still closed. 

Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church
Naic, Cavite

We arrived in Ternate an hour after. And at DENR, along Magnetic Hill, we paid Php 20.

At DENR

And shortly thereafter, started our ascent.

Picture taking = breather

Paid another 20 PhP at the first jumpoff point.

Kurt John, the three year old son of Sir Jovi, was head set on getting his chicken. So throughout the trail, he was muttering nothing but chicken. At the first jump off point, we saw this purple chick, which he instantly liked, and asked Dino to catch it for him.

Fifth mountain to scale for 3 yo Kurt John

He would not consider M&M's of colors other than brown to be "Chocolate." Thus, I have to segregate the browns, and give it to him. In return, he stays nice and calls us nice nicknames, like "tekti." Hohoho. Perfect symbiotic relationship. ;)

Steep all through out!

Nature's best 

Raindance

This is how to conquer Pico!

Oh, the perils of mountaineering activities! We do not mind the endless walking at all! =)

At camping site

Life :)

Jump Shot

I looked back at Tish, and she was standing. "Oh pwede palang tumayo?" I quipped. Sorry for my puny regard for heights.

All fours going to other side

I was literally on all fours. Climbing and getting down steep rock formations, with loose rocks everywhere, we tried to hold on for dear life. As always, my knees were buckling. But I did not mind it. Might as well try everything while you are there, right? Right. Oh how I wished there were ziplines or cable cars! Haha. I'm kidding!

"Sana lizard nalang ako."

I've prided myself being surefooted. Good thing too, because the climb up the other peak was arduous as it was painstakingly scary. It was fortunate that we readied ourselves (OKAY, that was Sir Jovi) with a rope. It was of big help, mind you. You would need extra arm strength to pull your self up the rock, with little handholds and unidirectional footholds, it was something of a reward itself that we got to the peak.

Trailing back. And we saw Maricar at the first peak.

First Gen goes bundok

They were teasing me still for my Komodo Dragon blooper from Nagsasa. Thus, we were dubbed a new team. :)

Fun Facts:

+ Pico de Loro was named so because of the way the mountain peaks looked like a parrot's beak. :)

+ North: Caraballo Mountains; South: Nasugbu, Batangas; East: Maragondon; and West: South China Sea. Southeast: Batulao and Talamitam Mountains. Pretty terrific 360 degree view.

Going down we passed by and took a dip at the waterfalls. Had to lick the few drops off our lips to quench the thirst. Hahaha! Kurt had to ask me. "Are tattoos bad?" That caught me off guard. I told him, "Little Boy, that is just art." And grinned.

So that was our Saturday. Care to join us next time? =)

Itinerary c/o Dino

0400 Assembly at McDo Baclaran

0430 ETD via rented van transpo

0700 ETA DENR /jump-off point (Cavite)

0730 Start trek

0830 ETA rest station, manungkit ng mangga at kainin (P20 registration)

1000 ETA Falls (Swimming, Photo-ops)

1130 ETA Summit / Lunch

1300 Start descent

1530 ETA Jump-off, back to DENR for wash-off

1615 ETD back to Baclaran / MOA

*Time was not followed because we took our lovely time laughing in the woods.

YOLO!

(c) Tish

Pictures from Tish, Maximus Jovi, KC, Cha, and Hetty