Mt Batulao Overnight Oct 18-19, 2008

FALKOR K9 OPENING OCT 26 2008

Ruben, Dups and Bobet specializes on real protection and advance agility

The day started with a prayer by Volts; the owner of the place.

Pico De Loro The Return!!!

THE OBJECTIVE...



THE DANGER:



THE REWARDS:



START @ "Magnet"



BEFORE ENTERING THE FOREST



STOPOVER (nakakaramdam na ng pagod )



PHOTO SHOOT MUNA ULIT









MALAYO PA BA?



FINALLY!!! BASE CAMP! Lunch muna, then summit assault. See the peak sa background? I'm gonna reach that!!!



SUMMIT!!! (sakit ng katawan ko... )



PROUD LIL MOUNTAINEER...



WITH VETERAN MOUNTAINEERS



...WITH DAD AND KUYA "GRIP"



OK TARA NA SA BEACH... ASTEEG!!!



AFTER 8.5 HOURS OF HIKING, THE BEACH SEEMED TOO ENTICING...










LOW BAT, AND LOW ON MEMORY NA (translation - nakalimutan i-charge yung cam )



Simply, it was a BLAST!!!

We left QC at around 0400H last Sat. We arrived in Ternate at around 0630H. Konting kumustahan muna with the locals while having almusal. At around 0830H nasa start na kami ng trail. Along the way up we met three (3) groups of mountaineers going down. We reached basecamp at around 1130H. May two (2) groups of campers din doon. Had lunch sa basecamp, took pictures, and prepared for the summit assault. Looking at the summit from basecamp, medyo I was having second thoughts na isama si Sean sa summit. Tsaka ako mismo parang in full force yung fear ko sa heights. But then, heck andun na kami I thought I wouldn't want to pass up the chance na maka-summit si Sean on his first try sa first mountain niya. Kaya I summoned all my powers , then assaulted the summit.

Pinauna ko si Grip (who by the way was his usual energetic self during the ascent and descent - he was like kuya to my newbie hiker son ). Sumunod ako. Sean was behind me pero nakatali siya sa akin using a long heavy duty line. 40 minutes of gapang/akyat, then summit!!! (On our way home sabi ni Sean he was happiest when he reached the summit and when we arrived at the beach after the descent. )

On the summit we met veteran mountaineers with local guides who reached the summit via the other trail (which originates sa Batangas side yata).

We started the descent at around 1500H. Nakababa kami at around 1730H. Pero habang pababa, Sean was already complaining every now and then. Buti na lang naencourage siya everytime nireremind siya na derecho na kami sa beach pagdating sa baba.

We stayed overnight sa beach. No swimming yet kse pagod. After supper, while Sean slept sa tent, I and some of the locals had a couple of rounds of beer (pulutan oysters, igat tabang, and some "exotic" food daw) .

Sunday was swimming day (and food trip day courtesy of the generous locals burp burp). Sean stayed in the water practically the whole day. And Grip had a blast retrieving his toy far out sa tubig.

We left Ternate at 1930H kanina and arrived 2200H.

And if you are wondering how I still have the energy to type, well I don't, it's just that sa pagod ang hirap makatulog.

Mark reporting for QCDW.