Entry: DENR, Magnetic Hill, Ternate, Cavite
Exit: Nasugbu-Ternate road, Brgy. Looc, Nasugbu, Batangas
664 MASL
Difficulty: Minor 3/9
Trail Class: 1-3
Trekking Time: 2-5 hours
Many people know Pico de Loro.Infact, even non-mountaineers know this mountain. Maybe because it's real beauty sounds the rumor that even the outside community can hear, or because part of it's mountain range was commercialized and named same as our destination. This have attracted many visitors, mountaineers, first-timers, enthusiasts, or even "just curious" people. Well, can't blame them! Pico de Loro indeed possesses natural beauty, easy trek, falls and astonishing view, what else could you ask for? Yeah it's really a package full, cause for some mountaineers, Pico de Loro of the Mt.Palay-palay mountain range, is not just a destination, but it is a challenge, and the same time, a key passage to even more greater challenge.
Tower called Parrot's peak is already a challenge for the mountaineers, but what lies on it's foot is a key passage, the Nasugbu trail. Key passage, yes! It serves as the key for those who aims to conquer the three mountains of Nasugbu in one go! From Pico de Loro, to Talamitam and Batulao. A great challenge and a training for those who are preparing for hardcore climbs.
Lying in the foot of the famous tower of Pico de Loro, the Nasugbu trail, offers a steep introduction. At first, it will be a long and steep descending trail, which could be risky especially during rainy days. The steepness will be lessened, as you continue, but still your feet can feel the descend until you finally reach the rolling part. Keep right as they say, but the trail sign could be trusted more. There are various forks that have right turn, but the sign clearly says "not that way"(i.e. by the river there is an ascending trail to the right, if you cross the river, but you have to follow the river, a little, to end up to the correct path). As, you continue, you will encounter a fence that you have to cross. You can climb it or climb the corner to get pass through it. Continuing, you will end up with a hut with an ascending path at it's left and a trail on it's back right across the creek that passes under the roots of a mango tree beside a big rock. Take the left, it will bring you to another fork left or right. This time, it's right! The trail there should be a well established trail, more like a rough road which leads to the shooting range that serves as the exit point.
TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS:Since the centralized bus route was effected, buses now are available at Coastal mall. From there, you can take buses bound to Ternate. From Ternate, you can ride tricycle to DENR, where you can just walk to the jumpoff.
You should pre-arranged a pick up tricycle going to Nasugbu town proper at the Ternate-Nasugbu road as there are no public transportation passing by in the exit point. Yours truly have dealt with the contacts given by the people at the campsite's drinks store. From the Nasugbu town, there are bus lines heading straight to Manila.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY:
0400 Board the bus at Coastal Mall
0700 ETA Ternate, charter a jeep or take tricycle to DENR
0745 ETA DENR, Register
0750 Walk to the jumpoff
0755 Jumpoff, start trek
08:40 ETA Basecamp 1
11:30 ETA Summit, rest, take lunch
12:30 Start descent
15:30 ETA Shooting range
17:00 ETA Nasugbu town proper, take early dinner, take Bulalo and Lomi.
18:00 Head Home
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