MOUNT MACULOT: The Day Hike Challenge

The Scenic Taal Lake: View from the Rockies Summit, Mount Maculot 

The Plan

Midway our review for the Bar Exam last year, my housemates--Chris and Kends--and yours truly, started fantasizing about a hiking getaway. Perhaps we were under a lot of stress that time that the thought of  climbing a rain forest--with all the limatik, muddy trail, and scary steep slope--seemed so relaxing =) It was Chris who came up with the idea, as he used to hike in Mount Isarog (Camarines Sur) way back his college days.  Naturally, Kends and I also wanted to go! Basta lakwatsa game kami, with nary a care to the consequences that will ensue, haha...

I suggested Mount Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas. Mount Maculot is located in the town of Cuenca, in the province of Batangas, which is around 76 kilometers or more than 2 hours away from Metro Manila. It has an elevation of 706+ meters above sea level. According to one mountaineer friend, Mount Maculot's level of difficultly is on level 2 on the scale of 1 to 9, 9 being the hardest.

My Review and Hiking Buddies: Kends and Chris

After the bar exam, it was time to make our dream come true. However, we didn't have much money after all the bar exam expenses and had to make our trip really tipid. Thus, our budget was just P500 =) which makes staying overnight in Cuenca out of the option. Our plan was to leave early from  Quezon City (5AM); arrive early in Cuenca (8AM); start with the hike mid-morning (8-9AM); reach summit and Rockies at noon; and be back on lowlands before dark, then back to Quezon City.

Here's the ideal itinerary:
5:00 AM       - ETD from Quezon City on a Lemery-bound bus
8:00 AM       - ETA at Cuenca
8:30-9AM    - Mount Maculot Jump-off point, start with the hike
11:00 AM     - Summit/Peak
11-12 NN    - Lunch and Rest
12-1:00 PM - Rockies
2:00 PM       - Descent
5:00 PM       - Cuenca bayan

However, the actual itinerary happened this way:
7:00  AM     - Left Quezon City (Chris suffered from migraine and had to recover for a while)
10:00AM     - Arrived at Cuenca, Batangas; Started with the hike right away
12:00 NN    - Summit
12-1:00PM  - Lunch
1-2:00PM    - Hike to the Rockies
2-2:40 PM   - Rockies
Before 3PM - Back to Summit (rest for a while, ate chocolates & cheetos) & descent
4:30 PM       - Back to the foot of the mountain :) Rest, drank softdrinks at a sari-sari store
5:00 PM       - Found a restaurant in Cuenca, ate pansit
6:00 PM       - To Lipa City, Batangas; back to Quezon City after

Departure-Arrival

We left Quezon City at around 7AM, via a Jam Liner bus headed to Lemery, Batangas. Fare was P150. We told the conductor to drop us off at Cuenca, or specifically, at Cuenca near the jump-off site to Mount Maculot. Had there been no Lemery-bound bus, our alternative plan was to go to Lipa; then from Lipa, ride a jeep to Cuenca. We arrived at Cuenca on or before 10AM. As instructed, the bus driver dropped us off where hikers to Mt. Maculot are usually known to get-off. There, tricycles are already waiting so we rode one on the way to the actual jump-off site. Fare was P30 per head.

The Easy Part of the Trail

Hike Proper

We started the hike at around P10am. There were other groups of hikers too. The trail at the start was relatively easy. But then as we progressed, the hardship also progressed hehe! I do like hiking as far as I can remember. I used to hike in Mount Makiling when I was in college. During weekends, my friends and I would hike to Mudspring or Flatrocks and then before graduation, we finally reached Peak 2. But I haven't practiced for years, so I sort of forgot the skills and it was a struggle. But still, it was OK. Tolerable.  As the saying goes, "no pain, no gain".

Definitely Steel Magnolias!

A Real Boyscout! Tunay na Maasahan 

Kends and I are hardly what you'd call damsels in distress. Independent and strong--that's what we are. But that time, we were really in distress! Haha! Poor Chris, had to act as a hiking guide and first aid nurse all at once -- constantly checking if we're OK, or if we need assistance, and making sure that none of us fall off a cliff, fall on our ass*s, break a bone or other similar missteps. Chris is the real deal when it comes to nature-loving--he's an avid environmentalist (and totally strict when it comes to waste segregation!=P) and also an experienced hiker. Without Chris, I bet we'd be poor lost souls back there.

Summit

Our Lunch of Pork Tocino and Rice. It's not the food but the people you're eating with :)

Summit-Rockies

We reached the summit at around 12noon. Gosh, the hike on the way up seemed to go on forever that when we finally arrived, I felt so relieved and happy. Since we didn't have time to prepare, all that Kends and I were able to cook were tocino and rice. Haha, tocino forever! We dig in nonetheless, nakakapagod kayang maghike! Then after resting for a while and talking to some of the hikers, we decided to go for the Rockies.

On the Way to the Rockies

The Rockies is like the icing on the cake, or rather, the crispy balat on a lechon. Any hike to Mt. Maculot will not be complete without going all the way to the Rockies. In fact, Mount Maculot is famous for its Rockies. Photographers head there for the view and daredevil hikers, for the adrenaline rush. We headed there out of curiosity haha. We should have also dropped by at the grotto, but time (and energy) constraints prevented us. 'Di na kaya ng powers! 

For mountain climbing newbies like us, Mount Maculot's Rockies looked almost impossible at first glance. We had to go down first from the summit, then go up again! Kends and I were clearly intimidated, but of course we would not let each other give up. We made it through the bar review, then through the bar exam together. We are comrades in battle (naks!). So we also have to make it to the Rockies together. Besides, Chris was a real angel, so patient with all our shrieks and constantly helping us to the extent of even lifting us up the large rocks until finally, we made it to the top. In retrospect, it was not really that excruciatingly difficult. Difficult but not impossible :)

As usual, the reward of a strenuous climb is priceless. I so love the feeling of being on top of a mountain (or on top of anything for that matter). There on top of Mount Maculot is the unobstructed view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. The view was so amazing, plus I love the mountain breeze on my hair and skin. Back during the review, we imagined a fresh change of scenery.Indeed, that mountain hike was perfect. I can't find the exact words, all I can say is that it was wonderful. Plus I'm with two of my dearest friends. That experience is definitely hard to forget. :)

The Author, In Her Shining Rockies Moment :)

Descent - End of the Trip

Anyways, we made it with just P500! Fare was only P300 for two-way bus ride from Quezon City to Cuenca then from Lipa back to Quezon City. By the way, the descent was way faster than the hike. Chris taught us some techniques on how to go down properly. He also taught us how to run downwards hehe. That part was really fun! And it sort of expedited the process that we reached lowlands at 4:30, so we still had time to eat pansit at a small restaurant in Cuenca. Then we rode a jeep to Lipa and from Lipa, a bus to Quezon City. So that's it. Our one-day fun hike with a P500 budget =)



Budget:
P300 - Bus fare from Manila (approx. P150 one-way)
P 60 - Tricycle fare
P 24 - Jeep from Cuenca to Lipa
P100 - For miscellaneous necessities, like water, gatorade, chips, candies, etc :)

Some Tips:
1) It would be best to hike with a pro or an experienced hiker. If possible get someone who knows the trail so as to prevent from being lost. For P500, you can hire the services of a guide in Mount Maculot. However, were were not able to do so due to our tiiigghht budget.

2) The best time to hike is during summer or the sunny season. However, you may still opt to hike even during the rainy months--just like what we did--just make sure that the weather is good enough for comfort and safety purposes.

3) Bring enough water or sports drink. Hiking is hard enough, so make sure that your body is always hydrated.

4) Apply sunblock and insect repellent lotions. Also, wear appropriate clothing for protection. Wear some comfy hiking shoes. Since we were not (yet) professional hikers, we just had to make do with what we have hehe, our running/exercise shoes.

5) Be nice to the locals and fellow hikers. For obvious reasons. Being nice really pays. You'll never know who'll help you when you need a hand. Many hikers are really friendly and helpful and will teach you with the directions, that sort of stuff.

6) Be prepared for contingencies..bring enough baon, medicines, tissue, flashlight, etc. Just be prepared :)

7)  Be environment-friendly! Don't leave your trash behind. There is nothing more unsightly and irritating than the sight of mineral bottles and food plastics scattered in the campsites and trails. Remember, we are just visitors there, we have no right to spoil the place. Act responsibly.