I don't know where to start.
I am completely dumbfounded and utterly clueless how to blog my experience in climbing Mt. Palay Palay a.ka. Mt. Pico De Loro.
What I can tell point blank; It's my hardest climb to-date! (October 11, 2014)

#PicoDeLoroFacts

In the early days, the Spaniards saw a form of a giant parrot, perched in the forested mountains in Cavite while aboard their galleons. They named it "Pico de Loro" - "Parrot's Beak".


The Monolith of Mt. Palay Palay

According to the locals, the monolith is part of Batangas while Parrot's beak is part of Cavite. These two land masses serves as the borderline to those provinces.


Maragondon, Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas 
Major jump-off: DENR Station, Magnetic Hill, Ternate, Cavite

Minor jump-off: Ternate-Nasugbu Highway, Nasugbu, Batangas


LLA: 14° 12.855 N; 120° 38.785 E; 664 MASL


Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 2-5 hours


Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3


Features: Distinctive spire at the summit, forests, scenic views of Cavite


Last updated: February 23, 2015


source: pinoymountaineer.com

#TeamBidaBida

This hike have been drawn in air too many times. So when the right timing came, I packed up my bag and left without a second thought. "Kahit dalawa lang tayo ate, Game ako!"  I told ate @traveladik.
So we pushed through this day hike without qualms. Rode the bus from Coastal Mall to Ternate, Cavite (82 pesos) then road a 225 peso tricycle ride to DENR for registration (25) and to the Mt. Pico De Loro jump off point (few hundred meters away from DENR).
DENR - As of Feb 20, Major Jump Off Point

OLD TRAIL JUMP OFF - CLOSED
Update as of February 20, 2015:
Old Trail Closed Pico De Loro
OLD TRAIL is Closed - photo credits to Francis Reyes Jr.


#LooksCanBeDeceiving

The old jump off point was quaint. Slow ascend, and it went on for more than half an hour. In our fast pace, we advanced 3 groups. We never expected (never really bothered reading hike notes from others :P) that the next part of the hike was an UP-DOWN trek! We went up an almost 70-80 degree slope then back to a steep descend and it goes on and on.
Hiking Pico De Loro
Hiking Pico De Loro
Welcome to Pico De Loro

Geek in Nature
No pictures were taken during this time because we were concentrating in reaching the top before anyone behind us catch up to us (Competitive!). Seriously though, we just want to have the summit to ourselves before those 3 large groups monopolized the Parrot's Beak and the Monolith.

#WorthAlltheBloopers

First blooper - no ample Water
Solution: store in the camp site (after 2 and a half hour of hiking)
Second blooper - heavy bag packs
Solution: endure the Pain!
Third blooper - no Camera Man
Solution: One stays at Parrot's Beak, while the other climb the Monolith (vice versa)
Nth blooper - never assume unless otherwise stated!
Solution: "Kapit Mabuti, Ingat Palagi, at Mag ingat pa ng mas Marami!"
Climbing Up Parrot's Beak
Climbing Up Parrot's Beak

View Climbing Up Parrot's Beak
View Climbing Up Parrot's Beak

Monolith On top of Parrot's Beak
Monolith On top of Parrot's Beak

Parrot's Beak + Monolith
Parrot's Beak + Monolith

traveladik climbing Monolith!
traveladik climbing Monolith!
Steep descend to the Monolith
Steep descend to the Monolith

View from Below - Monolith facing the Parrot's Beak
View from Below - Monolith facing the Parrot's Beak

Monolith facing the Parrot's Beak



Bug's Life on Mt. Pico De Loro
Bug's Life on Mt. Pico De Loro

...Next part of the Blog is our Traverse hike going to Nasugbu, Batangas.

10 comments:

  1. Hi sir,
    We went to Pico last June this yr & overnight camping was not allowed for the mean time by that time. Do you have any idea if overnight camping is now allowed? Also, do you have contact @ pico wherein I can reach & confirm things about overnight camping. Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Regie,

      As of the moment, I don't have any updates on it, But Ill inform you if I got the contact numbers of the DENR Branch there,


      Thank you

      Delete
  2. Hi Sir Dan. You went there by yourself right? Im planning to go there kasi with my girl and we both dont have experience sa trekking. Sa DENR ba kami didiretso kung may dala kaming car and may mag gguide ba? Thanks! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gio,

      I went there with a fellow hiker. Dalawa lang kami. Doable naman siya. As for guides just go to DENR.

      Puede nyo na din ipark dun ung kotse.

      Enjoy the trail!

      Cheers!


      Delete
  3. open p b ung water falls s pico?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice photos ! i went in pico de loro before and it was awesome.

    http://www.odysseyawaits.com/2015/06/mt-palay-palay-also-known-as-pico-de.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you sir Carl! Saw your Post! Galing. at may proposal pa!

      See you on the trails sir! More Power!

      Delete
  5. Hi if i were to bring my own car, and i decide to drive to the nasugbu side, how do i get there? Kasi from most of the blogs that i have read, they start off sa cavite, then end sa nasugbu. But the thing is, i'll be bringing my own car. So pano po kaya yung itenerary ko? Thanks sir!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi sir Dan may signage po ba na pwedeng sundan kung maghihiking kami ng walang guide?

    ReplyDelete

  7. A COASTAL ESCAPE AWAITS.
    DISCOVER PICO DE LORO.


    Pico De Loro Beach & Country Club ( HAMILO COAST)
    CONDO RENTALS
    studio/1bedroom/2bedroom units

    0916-7782878 (viber/sms)
    0935-7979636

    COOKING is allowed

    100% secured booking

    ReplyDelete

Powered by Blogger.