The Blue Hiker

Hiking Leaf # 6: Last climb for 2017 - Mount Tapulao November 26, 2017 - Finally, I will be embarking on another major hike after my Makiling hike last August. I am very excited because I know that this mountain is higher than Makiling (1,090+ masl), with its peak at 2,037+ masl. I am also excited because I will be hiking with one of my high school buddies, Harold. We travelled to Zambales around 10:00 pm and made a stopover at SM Pampanga to wait for Harold and one of his co-worker. By 4:00 am, we arrived at the jump-off point, registered, and then started our hike. Ms. Mylene hired three guides as it was a requirement. At the beginning of the trail, you are immediately faced with an assault. It was still dark, so there was no view yet, but I knew we were traversing a wide rocky path. The trail was filled with rocks, and I was looking for a smoother path. I read that Tapulao used to be a mining area, which might explain the rocky terrain we were navigating. Around 5:00 am, w...

Hiking Leaf # 12: First Overnight hike   May 5 - Our plan to climb Mount Halcon with Doc Sheng didn't push through, so we decided to join an event where she was invited. I was also excited because aside from this being my first overnight hike, we were going to climb the holy mountain of Banahaw (Tayabas side). I planned to meet Doc Sheng at the Bus Terminal to Quezon near Gil Puyat at 11 pm. The bus to Quezon departed at 12:15 am. May 6 - While on the journey, I fell asleep but kept waking up intermittently because we were also not familiar with the place. Around 3:15 am, we arrived at Lucena Diversion and headed to Jollibee where we agreed to meet. I saw some hikers inside, but we weren't sure if they were with our group. I also bought my packed lunch while waiting. By 4 am, our group increased, and we found out that they were indeed our companions. I even recognised one of them, Rocky, who was the seller of the dry bag I bought before, and also an organiser. We ...

Hiking Leaf # 15: Highest Peak of Rizal  Due to my upcoming birthday this November, I decided to look for an event that I could climb as my birthday hike, similar to what I did last year when I climbed Mt. Batulao. I joined Kaka Donato's event of Buhay Bundok and invited my hiking buddy JP and my former colleague Ms. Angie from Walter Mart. We were both excited because aside from being a major climb, Irid is the highest mountain in the province of Rizal. This climb was also Ms. Angie's first major hike, making it a special one. I was a bit nervous and hesitant about my physical condition because aside from not climbing for a few months (my last climb was in June), my work has become a back-office setting where I sit almost all day. November 10 - We met up at KIA Cubao. We took a UV Van to Cogeo, Antipolo where we transferred to a Monster Jeep that would take us directly to the jump-off point in Sta. Ines, Tanay. I sat at the top of the Jeep, which was very exciting....