Mount Batulao, My Intro Climb
This is my first climb hoping to get to the mountain top. I climb the mountain with MESAU friends. Since I was not able to join the first group to trek, I went with the second team that is scheduled for a night trek. I was very excited to climb that I would even go the extent of night trekking for a my introductory climb. I didn't feel scared at all on trekking under the moonlight. But on the following morning, that was when I realized how scary it was to begin with. Well, this is the account of my whole climb. I inserted some excerpt of the narrative report of the intro climb creared by Marielle Alnas which I edited.
They say that the name of the mountain came from a spectacle it beholds. I did not experience this firsthandedly but they say that the sun sets between the two peaks of the mountain every last week of December which creates an image of a light held by two rocks. This phenomenon was called by our ancestors "Bato sa Ilao" and the mountain was eventually caled "Batulao". Even though this only happens a little time once a year, its grandeur is enough to make people like me to climb this magnificent God's-creation.
The first group took the climb at the morning.
"Finalization of itineraries of climb, distribution of things that was needed, and checking of important things to bring, we called it Pre-climb. It was done and we were ready for the climb. Call time 6am at McDonalds, Edsa. At our meeting place while waiting for the others to arrive, some of us ate breakfast and make sure that our individuals were complete. Unlike our previous climb, the BMC, I got to meet and greet new participants in our Intro Climb. When we were ready, we rode a bus going to Batangas. Though we were so late and had been irritated because of the bus having some problems in opening the door, we started having fun by chatting with each other, finally after an hour of being stranded inside the bus, at 10:00-11:00AM we reached destination, the Evercrest, Nasugbu Batangas. Going down on the bus, we thought that the place has a hot climate but the cold breeze of air welcomed us."
For me and to my groupmates, Kuya Kris, Ma'am Cass, Kuya Raymond and Armin, we took a Nasugbu-bound bus from EDSA taft and reach the jump-off at 4:30 pm. It was a breezy afternoon and sort of dark because of the thick dark clouds forming. It sure was a a dark, cold ascend and a little bit bumpy ^_^, a fun way to enjoy and escape from the my "world". The ascend was very windy throughout the climb because there was no trees to cover me from the angry wind. But that kind of wind felt refreshing and pleasing. Since we trekked very late in the afternoon, I was only able to admire the power of the mountain for a short time. With the forceful wind, it created the natural rhythm that engulfed the whole place for its formidable grasses. Its also very beautiful to take note the snake-forms that the paths created. Those definitely gave me the impression that Mount Batulao has a a spectacular view. I had admired the birds that's been flying atop and the breath-taking view of the hills below the paths we were crossing. 
"Our journey or adventure started on a tall grass and narrow muddy surface. We walked through residencial houses of the locales before reaching the real starting point. While walking, We noticed that some roads were cemented and and some trails were really muddy. Some of us even slip down onto mud and some wedged there foot and got a hard time moving on to their next step."
The trail was first rough. It was really slippery due the rain it experienced for the last five days. there were some transitions of the paths from being cemented to earth. The trails initially took me up and down for about 1 hour. The the trail became more pronounced as we approached the deep part of the mountain. There were huts to stop by and grab some coconut juice which they most commonly called Ministop. When we reached the last hut, I saw two trails and my companions said that the two paths leads to the same camp and summit but they differ in the kind of trail being offered. Near that last hut was a wooden sign that says "Welcome to Mount Batulao. Dito po ang New Trail". The path that the sign lead is the new trail that goes up the mountain. On the east way is the old trail that goes down and would eventually go up the camp. We took the old trail which directly leads to the camp where the others were waiting.
"The real road, going on the camp site. It was narrow, muddy, and full of rocks and sometimes, you have to make big steps to avoid slipping down. We had no choice but to hold onto the tall grasses that was blocking our way. We also grabbed on those grass for us to not slip down. Seeing our faces, we could tell that we were all tired but we were still willing to continue to go atop and unto the camp site. After some hours of walking, we reached resting huts with locales who sell coconut juice and soda, for us to gain amount of energy. We never heard anyone complaining that they were tired or asking if we were near, instead the voices we heard were total awe and admiration of the view on the high part of the mountain.
"Continuing our trekking, for us not be get bored, some of us chatted with each other, joking, some were singing though it was not that easy because we have to catch our breath and energy while walking. We were also frightened because one wrong step amongst the trail might lead to an accident. Then when were tired and needed to catch a breath in going up, we had to ask the person at our back to stop also, because when one of us slipped down, all of the others at the back would fall down the trail. Far enough from the first hut, we encountered streams and from crossing them, there we met the river. From crossing it, our shoes that were full of mud got cleaned, but some chooses to step on the stones rather to wet their shoes and feet. It only took us a minutes to reach the Camp1 of the mountain after crossing the river but, knowing that we’re already there, we felt the tiredness conquering our whole body and we even got a hard time going up because our mind set the matter that we were already tired, but still we walked onto that muddy trail and reach the Camp."
I can't say that my climb is superb. But mostly, it was challenging. The paths were very slippery due to the mud and some trails were not sturdy. The help of the steadfast grasses. It had gotten pretty unlucky because of the spiky branches and bladed grasses. But then, because of the places getting dark, it was really hard to perceive the paths, even with our headlights turned on.
"After registering at the Camp1, we climbed and settled at Camp4. It was already 3:00-4:00PM when we settled. After pitching and assigning to our tents, the officers started to cook and some fixed the cover for the socials area. As it was getting darker, the climate was getting colder, when the food was cooked, we already ate and meet our group mates and finalize our presentation. When everything was settled, the Socials started to begin, Groups presented two kinds of play and we also had a cooking contest. Each groups cooked and it was judged by the Alumni’s and the officers. After the socials, we also have the lights off; we went to our respective tents and rest. The night was calm and cold, and the rain started to fall, it added the coldness that we were feeling and we ccould say that all of us got a good night sleep."
We made our way to the Camp were all the others were dining and waiting for us. The delicious foods they prepared for that night were fried milk fish and stir-fried varied vegetables or chopsuey. Indeed, the night was a blast and the people present was a pleasing company. With the dark clouds still lurking from above, we finished the supper and started the "party". Hehe. Its kind of a tradition that the applicants were to perform something and present to the whole members and other co-applicants. Just after the performnces were over, it's then that the place started to blow hard winds and awhile after, a hard rain befell unto the whole places and engulfed the majestic view around. The rain was definitely hard that it even overcame the flysheets of some of out tents and eventually leading to break waters to the insides. The long night it was. But eventually, it was being given a solution and all was able to sleep. Well, still raining.
"The voices of the people outside waked us up in our tent, we got up and we found them cooking for breakfast, the food was cooked and we started to eat. After eating, our president decided not to continue trekking going on the summit, for our own safety, because even though that we can see the sun, after a minute it will be foggy again and we can’t even see the trail going to the summit. It was a little sad but all of us understood the situation, that it’s just we don’t want anything unconscious to happen. At 9:00AM we decided to break camp and go down on the mountain."
The following morning, I was greeted by the misty wind and still, the splendid view. The mist enhanced its majestic appearance and gave it an imposing aura. As the sun started to show its all glory, its heat blended with the cold forceful winds gave my climb a best pleasuring experience. Still with the steep landscape, Mount Batulao did not fail to make me stop and just stare at its grandiose. The green gentle hills were my silent witness on how I was the night before. Since I trekked the mountain at night, I was trying hard to climb fast as I can because all of us did not want to get longer trekking in the dark. I slipped and I even skidded down the trail. That morning then I realized how dangerous it was or how close I was to danger. I thanked God for watching over me for I was safe and not a single wound befell me. I saw the paths I ascended last night and shivers ran down my spine. It was unfortunate that were not able to climb the summit because of the thick fog present. This prevented us from further attempting to climb the peak.It could be really dangerous to try because the path could no longer be seen. Feeling unlucky, we all decided to trek down.
"While trekking down, we realized that it was easier to go down on the mountain though we are still going to trek on the same trail when going up. Unlike when were are going up, the sun was hiding in the clouds, when we are going down and near to the houses the sun got out from the clouds. When we got down we went to the market and bought food for our lunch. As we returned back to the meeting place, they are not yet complete; we still waited for the others to come. We went to a resort to wash up, eat our lunch, rest and had our post climb.
"While cooking the food, some of us washed up and some of us rest but some chatted with each other about their experiences while going up and down on the mountain. The food was cooked and we already eat, after eating the post climb begin. All of us shared thoughts, learning’s and experiences about the climb. We waited for the people who last washed up and finally, we went back to manila with our experiences and gained knowledge in our heart and mind."
