Travel Journal 13-002: Mt. Kalisungan Dayhike

Fearing the muscle cramps might attack me again in our forth coming major climb, I accepted an invitation from a cousin, to climb Mt. Balingkilat. Scheduled at February 2-3, the excitement to climb increases as the date comes closer. It was just the responsibility that made me backout in the climb. I have to go to work in Saturday, Feb 2, to meet the deadlines.

I immediately looked for backup to climb even just a dayhike in Sunday, Feb 3. Luckily, a friend of mine is looking for a "revenge climb", as he termed, in my chosen destination, the Mt. Kalisungan. Then through a networking site, another friend have indicated an interest to join.

It's already morning of the climb, when I have packed my things, "Camera & battery, checked! Lights & battery for backup incase we failed to go down before night, checked! Toiletries & clothes, checked! Water, checked!". I head fast to the assembly point where my two colleagues are already waiting, "Am I late?Yeah for 5 minuntes!haha". Then we took our breakfast and headed to the destination. We took a jeep going to Crossing, Calamba, then a bus going to the Masapang Junction at Victoria, Laguna.

Soon, we reached the Masapang Junction and meet the giant duck statues. We brought our lunch and head fast to the Lamot 2 Brgy. hall via tricycle.

At the Brgy. hall, we register and paid an amount of Php 10.00 each (they don't say an amount, they just ask a donation), the head fast to the destination. Then trek begins so long with the stories each of the trekking buddies have. We talked much of the Mt. Ugo that one of the trekking buddies have climbed a week before our climb. Then we're almost lost! The never ending road have already passed the Field of Faith building leading us to the wrong direction. Luckily, there are lots of local farmers that are approachable and answers our query which finally lead us to correct jumpoff.

The first leg of the trail is confusing as to where you should be heading since there are lots of forks, wherein some where junctions of horse and human trails. And with the help again of local farmers, we are able to navigate which path we should take. The trail is quite easier compared to the trail near Erais farm, this trail are not as steep as the former. Unfortunately, I maybe lack of sleep and water that makes me ask for a stop as my vision is swirling. We have to stop to a nipa hut where Agot Isidro and Sir Gideon Lasco of Pinoymountaineer had their picture in their last visit in Mt. Kalisungan.

After short minutes, we continued our trek and met a group of mountaineers resting under a mango tree. They warned us to be very careful as the upcoming trail will be slippery due to mud. Evidently, their shoes wear a thick layer of mud. With this, we have set our mind to face the said, and they are correct. The trekking turned a li'l slow as we face the mud! There are also random instances where the sky have to drop some of it's water making the fogs roam around the mountain, thus blocking the possible views the mountain offers.

With continuous trek, our group reached the Talahiban and soon the summit. There some views but some are blocked by fogs, but as we spent time resting in the campsite, a miracle has come. The sky appeared and fogs had bid goodbye, enabling us to see the beauty of my mother mountain. We took our lunch and started descending after some minutes of rest.

The descent was much harder than ascent since the mud had thicken and the trail was already been damaged by groups that spent their nights at the camp. But with care and determination, the group had manage to reach the dry part of the trail without accidents. Soon the trail had gone flat, but were gone lost too. We forgot where the exit was and had to face some backtracks.


Finally, the brgy. hall! We logged out, then head fast to the Masapang Junction. We took our meal and had a little shots at an eatery on the junction before heading home.

See Photos in Facebook.

BUDGET CHECK (as of February 2013):

*Foods and Liquors : This could be a group expenses and it depends on your selection, average falls at Php 100-200 contribution.
*Bus fare Buendia to Masapang (Php 115.00) + Jeep fare Masapang to Lamot 2, Brgy.hall (Php 8.00).
*Registration fee: This is just a donation, you can pay any amount (Php 10.00).
 Total: Php 456.00