My Mother Mountain: Pico de Loro

Panoramic View

OVERVIEW 

Maragondon, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas

Major jump-off: DENR Station, Magnetic Hill, Ternate, Cavite

Minor jump-off: Sitio Fronda, Brgy. Papaya, Ternate-Nasugbu Highway, Nasugbu, Batangas

LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E; 664 MASL

Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 2-5 hours

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

Features: Distinctive spire at the summit, forests, scenic views of Cavite
Credit : Pinoy Mountaineer

ABOUT PICO DE LORO

Pico de Loro is located 85 kilometers southwest of Manila. It is bounded by the island of Corregidor and the Caraballo Mountains in the north, Nasugbu Batangas in the south, Maragondon on the east and the South China Sea on the west. With the height of 664 meters above sea level, it is considered the highest mountain in the generally flat Cavite province. Pico de Loro is the highest point on a series of rolling hills and mountains within the boundary of Cavite and Batangas.  

According to legends, the mountain got its name from the first Spanish colonizers. They have seen the mountain from a distance while they were cruising their way to Manila bay and have noticed the peak resembling a parrot’s beak hence was it called "Pico de Loro" from the Spanish word "Parrot’s Peak".

Another story goes that early Caviteños named the mountains from the tropical birds, specie of the parrot family, which they often encounter while they were hunting for food within the mountains.

Pico de Loro has two jump-off points, its major jump-off point is the Magnetic Hill in Ternate which is a couple of hours away from Metro Manila and the other jump-off point is in Nasugbu, Batangas.

Pico de Loro is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Luzon because it’s very accessible from Manila and its trails are easy for newbies. It is also good for a weekend climb, whether for a day hike or for overnight camping.

It was March 15, 2015 when I said "Yes" to an invitation to hike a mountain. I really wanted to climb any mountain, that's why when my officemate asked me if I want to join them on a climb to Pico De Loro, I did not hesitate even though I didn't know anything about mountain climbing. 

The original plan was to stay in a resort in Batangas so it would be easy for us the next day to reach the jump-off point in Nasugbu, however we ended up at the Magnetic Hill because it’s much safer to leave our vehicle in the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) Office in Ternate.

We arrived at the Magnetic Hill at around 9AM, the group immediately logged in at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) outpost at the base of the mountain. We paid 25.00 each for the registration before we started the climb. The jump-off point is a few minutes’ walk from the DENR office and before heading off, we said a group prayer.

DENR / Jumpoff point
Registration Area

Directional Signage to Trail

The trail started off very easy but after a 30 minute walk I was already out of breath, with my tiny feet and small pace I was significantly slower than the others but Sir Doy was a saint for staying behind and being my sweeper even though he has the fastest pace among us. I owe this dude big time not only because he was my sweeper but he also shared a lot of pick-up lines, jokes and “kwots” as we ascend the mountain. He made me laugh most of the time maybe that’s why I wasn't able to feel the tiredness. As we came across a small creek I remember him say “Nagbigay pugay ka na ba sa mga ninuno?” followed by the stereotypical noise where you hoot and cover then uncover your mouth which sounds like "woo-woo-woo-woo" (like what Native Americans do).

Pink stuff all over!

We were blessed with great weather, but of course people get tired and the group has to stop every now and then to take a rest. After an hour of trekking up and down the magnetic hill I already feel the pain in my back, I was already dreading how the heck I’ll be able to carry my bag up the mountain however, after seeing how tiny my bag was compared to the others, I just sucked it up and trekked on.

The trek to Pico de Loro is an easy yet a rewarding one. 

At about 11AM, we reached the base camp, it is where we should register our names in a different logbook and paid another PHP25 for the maintenance of the site. Hikers can fill up their bottles sourced from a nearby spring. There’s also a small store where we could buy cold drinks and light snacks. Souvenirs can also be bought in the store too.

CR is also available for Php 5.00 per use for those who want to wash up and answer the call of nature.

After a short rest, we headed back in the trail and made our way towards the summit. As we ascend, we met other hikers that are descending. We met other campers on their way back to the highway so there was a little chit chat before we proceeded on our hike. I remember us exchanging “Good morning”, “Ingat”, “Enjoy” and the all-time favorite “Magandang buhay”. Everyone seemed to be really friendly and really happy to see each other. It’s amazing; strangers greeted each other when they pass by and a lot of people actively helping out.

The ascent was a real test, at this point, I totally forgot about my heavy bag. All of my attention went to not tripping or falling down. After years of wanting to climb a mountain, I finally did it. No amount of words could describe how I felt enthralling the view of the green forest around me. It was a difficult first climb for me. I was panting badly since I had to go up and down. If you knew me, you would know that I don’t have the best cardio in the world (far from it, really).  Good thing the refreshing view of the forests kept me going. 

 

After 3 hours of trekking we were rewarded with an awesome sight. I took the time to appreciate my surroundings and the serenity of the area. The rock outcropping Pico de Loro is dramatic. We could see the Hamilo Cove with its white sand beaches, the seaside along Ternate, the roads to Nasugbu, the view of mountains, seas and clouds surrounding Pico de Loro, then mountains nearby and of course the renowned Monolith contributed to the sense of accomplishment I felt after the three-hour climb.

Hi Pico De Loro!

Meet Team Lagalag!

We went on a weekend, so as expected it seemed to be a convention of sorts as tents crammed the site. I’m not anti-social, while I loved the view, I was miserable from the dust and the heat and the crowd of other people who were there. I just don’t enjoy crowds that much BUT my perspective of crowd changed when I saw the mountaineers and hikers has in their community. The general sense of inclusion that I felt was AMAZING. Now I know why a lot of people enjoy the outdoors.

As the day went on, more and more mountaineers and hikers pitched their tents in the campsite. We placed our tent under the bamboo trees, after pitching the tents, we fixed our things, cleaned up, and rested our sore feet. 

By 3:00PM, most of us gave up and take a nap inside our tent. After an hour or so, we were awakened by the loud voices of students that were horse-playing and yelling. It was really a “bloody” afternoon, figuratively speaking because they were shouting, yelling and loudly talking all at once in a pure British accent. Kidding aside, it was actually great seeing them laughing, enjoying and interacting with each other without any tech gadgets.

We had our afternoon meal and went to see what the renowned mountain has to offer. It’s not every day that one can commune with nature and it’s not every day we get to experience new things so we took the opportunity to explore the ASTONISHING views near the campsite.

After having our dinner, my body gave up, my legs and thighs hurt like hell and I had a lot of tiny bruises on my arms. I fell asleep easily but I was awakened at the middle of night with my body frantically shaking. The tents thin canvas walls cannot withstand the strong winds; it felt like I was in a room with 10 ACU. I already have 3 shirts, 1 jacket, 2 leggings, 2 socks and 2 shawls but I was still freezing. I wasn’t able to sleep and it feels like it was the longest mid-night of my entire life. I was so scared. It felt like I didn't die at my extreme fear of heights but I will die of Hypothermia. Haha.

Our first day in Pico de Loro was a very tiring day but all sweats were worth it. It's about embracing the pain that you'll experience at the end of the trek and not being afraid. Being an acrophobic, climbing Pico de Loro is by no means easy for me I was too scared to move and balance myself. I felt so puny because the winds were so strong, with my tiny frame I felt like I will be toppled down the other side. Scary! Needless to say, I slipped and fell several times but thankfully, I survived as I promised my parents that I will go back home alive.

 

During those two days I realized that there was still so much more that I can do in this life. I also realized how hard it was to live life simply and survive without an actual toilet. Haha. I remember us looking for places to answer the call of nature. It was also a challenging part aside from surviving the actual climb. It’s not just the fear of other people seeing us answering the call of nature but the actual fear of animals, specifically snake biting our precious behind. Scary!

After the morning meal and sight-seeing we packed our things and cleaned up. It’s very important that when visiting mountains we have to keep in mind to dispose the trash properly and leave no trace.

We took our time to appreciate the scenery and had a group picture before we descend. Most of us didn't get the chance to climb the monolith. As I looked at the monolith I whispered, “I’ll be back and I will climb you.” So I said to myself, this is not going to be my last.

Descending was easy because our bags were now lighter thanks to the consumed supplies.  We don't traverse the mountain instead we go back our way down to DENR post. Some of the mountaineers took another way to go down from the mountain. They said it’s more challenging experience.  It’s what they called traversing Pico de Loro meaning using the Nasugbu trail to go down the other side of the mountain.

Despite the exhaustion, my first climb was a great experience. I learned a lot about myself. I realized to become an explorer and view the world as a jungle and to try new things, to get out of my comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as possible. I realized this world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it, I should find appreciation on working hard on things and to feel the ecstasy of reaching new heights. It is true that there’s an adventurer hiding behind our sacred selves we just need to develop an endless curiosity about this world.

The moment  I reached the summit, I could say I’m a self-proclaimed mountaineer and nothing can replace the happiness I felt that time. It’s one that I would surely be repeating soon and I’m looking forward to more mountain climbing adventure.

ITINERARY

Day 01

07:30 AM Nasugbu Resort to Ternate

09:00 AM ETA DENR

09:30 AM Start trekking

10:45 AM ETA Base Camp

01:45 PM ETA Camp Site

02:00 PM Lunch Preparations

02:30 PM Tent Pitching

03:00 PM Afternoon Nap

04:30 PM Picture Taking

05:45 PM Sunset Viewing

07:00 PM Dinner, socials

Day 02

06:30 AM Wakeup call

07:00 AM Breakfast

08:00 AM Cleaning and Preparations

09:00 AM Start to descend

12:00 PM ETA Base Camp

01:45 PM ETA DENR Jump off Point

BUDGET

500.00 per person (Food and Transportation)

Additional Information:

• Water, canned goods, snacks, softdrinks, noodles, coffee, even refreshments like Halo-Halo and Mais con Yelo is available at the summit. It's actually good if you don't want to carry heavy load though it’s kinda pricey up there.

• Bonfires are STRICTLY prohibited.

Although I am still trying to become a real hiker, here are the things that I have identified as essentials you can bring, or things you can do, to help ensure a safe and pleasant hike.

• Plan Ahead.

Preparing for a hiking trip well beforehand is the most important step for hikers. Know your hike and your terrain. Plan for the journey and learn about the area ahead of time by researching the area on the web. Safety is important so before you leave, plan ahead. 

• Pack well.

Take time to plan out what you need to bring to a mountain. Choose the smallest and lightest backpack you can find that will hold all the supplies you need. Bring along ONLY essential items, bringing unnecessary extras will weigh you down. You’ll be more comfortable climbing if your load is light.

Keep essential items immediately accessible. 

Cellphones, Map, GPS, flashlight, pocketknife, whistle and first aid kits are a few items that you'll need to have handy so know just where they are when you need them.

• Get a weather report. 

Get a weather forecast as close to your hike time as possible before you set out. It's important to know what kind of weather to expect so you can prepare and modify plans accordingly. 

Check weather forecast here:

• Eat a good breakfast.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; it influences how we perform physically and mentally so before going on a hike, fuel up with food.  Start with a healthy and filling breakfast.

• Trail food.

You don't want to go hungry, but there's no point in overloading your pack either. Bring trail food that can give you an energy boost like chocolate, nuts or biscuits.

• Dress appropriately.

Choosing the right hiking attire is essential for a comfortable and enjoyable hike. Hiking attire should keep you warm, comfortable and protected.

• Think before you step.

Think before you act, watch your step and be constantly aware of your surroundings. Complete common sense is sometimes lost in the excitement of the adventure.

• Bring plenty of water.

Bring plenty of water along and before you start off, drink some water so you're well hydrated and energized.

• Always carry out what you carry in.

The first rule with interacting with the environment is: Leave it as you found it.

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/313915036497542559/

That's all for now. See you around!