Mt. Daraitan, Sampaloc, Tanay Rizal

One of the best hiking+trekking+caving+spelunking-experiences I had so far! Mount Daraitan is a hidden paradise and a great adventure to experience near Manila!

I'd often ask what's the difference between hiking and trekking. Here's what I've got from the net.

The main difference between the two is that hiking is mainly a leisure activity which is done by walking on well-made trails and man-made roads. However, trekking is more rigorous, and a more challenging activity. It tests one’s physical ability, endurance, and even their mental or psychological capacity.

Caving or a caver are those who were highly skilled, those who have equipments and gears. Spelunking, on the other hand is, the act of exploring a cave, other sources say it simply refers to an amateur caver.

We had 8 hours of foot travel with breaks as we climb the summit and decided to traverse that night. It was my first time to do a night trek and felt it was really fun, exciting, with bits and pieces of fears.

Here are some photos from Sir RJ and Beni's SLRs posted at PITS HIKERS FB Page.

Wear tights to protect you from the sharp edges in grassland.

 Bring lots of water!

Take five-minute breaks when you are tired and exhausted.

 Prepare to climb those rocks. 

 Have fun while inside the cave.

 Take time to buy halo halo along the road!

Be with fun people and bring camera!

Treat yourself to a good dinner!

For the itinerary posted on the Event created by PTS Hikers:

IT
Day 1
08:00 - Meet up in Cainta Junction (7-11)
08:15 - Ride Jeep bound to Tanay
10:00 - ETA Tanay / Rent Tricycle bound to Daraitan



Mon and Beni brought their cars so we didn't have to ride the jeep and tricycle!

11:30 - ETA Daraitan Brgy Hall / Eat Packed Lunch / 
We ate bruch at Jollibee Tanay

Pay Registation & Arrange Guides
12:45 - Prepare to climb
13:00 - Start Trek
15:00 - ETA Grasslands
17:00 - ETA Summit/Campsite. Pitch Tent

We decided to traverse right then and there but we ate dinner first!
18:00 - Cook Dinner
19:00 - Eat Dinner
Traverse from 7:40 to 1130. Night trek it was!
19:30 - Socials
22:00 - Lights out

Day 2
04:30 - Wake up, boil water for coffee/milo
05:00 - Cook Breakfast
05:30 - Eat Breakfast
We ate brunch (eggs, corned beef, luncheon meat, and sinigang!)
 06:00 - Break Camp
07:00 - Start Descent / Trek to Tinipak River
10:30 - ETA Tinipak River/Camp Site / Cook Lunch / Swim
12:00 - Eat Lunch
13:00 - Boulder hop to Tinipak Cave
13:30 - ETA Tinipak Cave / Spelunking
15:00 - Back at Campsite Trek to Brgy Hall
15:45 - ETA Bgy Hall / Clean up / Settle guide fees
16:30 - Ride Tricycle/Jeep back to Tanay
18:00 - ETA Tanay / Eat dinner somewhere
18:45 - Ride Jeep bound to EDSA Crossing / Cubao
21:30 - ETA EDSA Crossing / Cubao
Extra Details from last climb:

Guide Fee - 800 Php - summit then to Tinipak River
Tricycle Fee - 500 Php (4-5 persons) - Negotiable
Boat Fee - 5 Php (tawid lang ng ilog)
* Rough road ung papunta sa bayan ng Daraitan
* Parking ay nasa kabilang side ng ilog, tabing ilog lang ... yun pa ay kung may tulay, pede itawid. Nung last na punta ko, tinangay daw ng ilog ung tulay hehehe
* Masukal ung trail at Summit, except sa Grasslands na part
* Matutulis ung bato sa trail after grasslands at sa may summit
* Cogon ung damo sa grasslands (around 4 ft ung taas ng damo dati), kelangan ng arm & leg sleeves/warmers para di mahiwa sa damo
* Maliit lang ung camp site sa summit... mahihirapan isetup ung malalaking tent. Siguro mga 6-8 tents, puno na ung summit at dikit dikit na ung tents.
* May drinkable water sa trail papuntang summit, sa may waterfalls na part. Mga 2 hrs away from summit.
* May drinkable water din sa Tinipak River
* Pwede mag swimming... pero direkta sa araw ung ilog... mag sunblock
* May area dun na pwede mag dive pag mataas ung tubig sa ilog.

Pico De Loro II

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity...”
― John Muir 

As I walk up that mountain I realized these things: The good about climbing a mountain is that we keep ourselves bowed down, humbled, feet flat on the ground, as we go up. We stop to appreciate how beautiful the things around us, while we  rest our body and soul. 



 March 9-10, 2014, Pico De Loro climb.

I was blessed with a friend who once again invited me to join him and his officemates in their Pico climb. Last year was my first time to climb that mountain. I was able to reach the peak but not the Parrot's beak and so this climb was a push to do so. I kept myself fit for me to be able to do that rope climb and thank God I did it! Really nerve-wrecking!
To add, I had my great monthly period I have been waiting for days. An hour before that climb, I had it and hurts like thousand pins! Still that was a blessing since that signs I am healthy.

My friend has a car and so travel to Cavite and back was free and fun!