Pico de Loro '11: Freedom Climb

I never thought I would agree on joining the climb last weekend. It all started when Cj bullied me saying I purposely don't join any of his climbs because I was afraid I might discover I have feelings for him. The hell! So i did join at the end.. oh i have no idea what i was in for..not a single clue..

I totally get why climbing was addicting as well as why other people don't get it. The fulfillment you get when you see the peak of the mountain as well as the craziness of going on a weekend just to tire oneself.


We left Manila around ten in the morning and arrived at the jump off point past noon. We found a van who would bring us to our destination. It was Mark and Buchoy who did the haggling which means we got a good deal.


If you have noticed, I have been meeting a lot of accidents every single time I go on a break. My El Nido cut, the Ilocos traffic mishap, and a lot of undocumented incidents. So, because this is something more of out of the box for me, I was so careful in every step I take. It didn't help that I was wearing the wrong shoes or the rainy weather. I was not the sweeper yet I was always at the end of the line..I guess I am not really that fit..

Well, we ( no, its more of I ),  reached the campsite after a grueling three to four hours climb. most were spent on taking photos and resting..countless rests along the way. nonetheless, I reached the top, no matter how slow I was..

Thanks Beth for the NF 

And the view..

It was breathtaking..

View from our campsite

It was far different from the beach scenes I'm used to.. instead of the white sands and the blue sea surrounding you.. mountains.. and clouds.. the full three-hundred-sixty view..

It was a bit cold. But we expected worse. Glad rain didn't poured on us that night. Or else, sleeping would be impossible.

Thanks to Ambo and Buchoy. We had a sumptuous dinner that night.  Yum!

Fish fillet, Super-patok na soup

At dahil nabasag ni Sir Ryan ang isang boteng Emperador, we (the eleven of us) were left to share one bottle that night. Super bitin! It didn't help that we had loud neighbors. As in super loud neighbors. Dra. Auds, my tentmate, can even attest to that. Argh. If we only consumed enough alcohol that night, we would reach dreamland in minutes. But fate was cruel, we were so wide awake the rest of the night.

Our super noisy neighbors

I woke late the next morning, hoping to get even at least 30 minutes of a decent sleep. But it never came.

I was so determine to look for the nangingibaw-voice last evening. All the shouting and the "Jump-brother! Jump brother!" was not funny at all.

When I finally saw who owns the voice, all I can do was stare him down. Rex was more of naghahamon-ng-away-mood. He said if Benjie and Afable were there, for sure, they were all in a brawl right at that moment.

I turned all my frustrations at breakfast. Careful not to eat much. I wouldn't want to have a go on an open-wide rest room. (Enough for poo-poo stories at me naaalala ako).

We went up to the summit and the view was far more breathtaking.

It gives one a different high..

Now, I totally get it why..

Mountain meets the Sea

Now that's a different set of mountains

Because it was the 12th of June, there was a flag ceremony at the campsite. At siyempre, Pinoys that we are, we didn't go. Instead, we did our own at the peak. hehe. So much for patriotism.

Isang mapagpalayang araw!

Some of us went on to go to the other peak. The three of us, Mark and Rex, were left knowing it was a bit of  a climb again.

Maysie, Ryan, Karl, Mark and Auds doing their own flag ceremony

We eventually packed up and left campsite.

The descent will be much faster compared the climb up. I thought I will be too but I wasn't spared. As expected, I was the end of the trail again. I took the most out of it and shot some interesting photos along the way.

Wild mushrooms

Jackfruit. tama ba?

Crossed one of two of these

At dahil sa tagal kong maglakad, naabutan ako ng ulan..haha. Sori Mam Maysie! Trekking under the rain, now, that's an experience.


The day after, I receive the most unrewarding gift one gets after climbing. Aching to the nth power legs. I was walking funny for a day or two. I really need to invest on some good shoes and do warm ups prior climb. But not soon. Maybe after a month or two.. or more.. hehe.


Contemplating on my first climb, I'd still do it again. Even after that unfortunate poo-poo incident. Even how many times I almost slipped because I was wearing the wrong shoes. Even if how hard the climb was for me. Even if, I'd do it all over again. Because, I know,  it would be all worthwhile at the end...  (naks!)


"Sometimes, the things that scare you the most are the most worthwhile..."