Sangkanin Mountaineers | Mt. Pico De Loro

                                                                             On the way to Ternate, Cavite

                I met Juan Miguel together with his friends Arthur and Alejandro in Sm Mall of Asia around 8:00 am. We then took the bus going to Ternate, Cavite  after taking our breakfast at McDonald's. We reached the town in an hour and haggled with tricycle drivers to take us to the DENR outpost. Most of the drivers we asked was charging us Php 250. 
                            

        Jump off

  After paying the Php 25 registration fee at the DENR, we prepared ourselves for the hike.      

                     There is another Php 20 registration fee before you pass Alibangbang Park.

                                                                             Lunch at Alibangbang Park

                          We rested when we reached the Alibangbang Park, which are sorrounded by trees. We decided also to stay longer to eat our lunch also here and shared some stories and triva.

                                                 Alejandro finally reached the Pico de Loro Campsite 

                                                   Juan Miguel and Arthur rested around the Pico de Loro Campsite 

                                                                    Pico de Loro Campsite 
                                                                                     

                                                                                                Pico de Loro Campsite 
                                                                                           

                                                                          Close-up of Summit

                 A glimpse of the peak after half an hour of walk from the base camp.                                                     

                                                          Close-up of Summit 

                                                                           Way to Summit     

               The trail becomes steeper as you approach the summit from the camp site. 

                                                                          Finally at Summit    

Pico de Loro or Parrot's Peak offers a spectacular 360 view from the summit. It is considered as the highest point within the boundary of Cavite and Batangas. It got its name from its contour that looks like a giant parrot perched on the mountain.

                                                         Mt. Pico de Loro with 664 metres (2,178 ft)

                                                                 Monolith Rock (Also known as "Parrots Peak")
                                                                                           

                                                                   Alejandro on the Monolith Rock

                         Alejandro who would be climbing the Parrot's Peak / Pico de Loro for the third time.

“I am often asked why I climb mountains. No, it isn’t because it is there. It is more of a spiritual journey for me. It is something between me and Mother Nature. The mountain itself is incidental. It could just well be the stairs to my sixth floor office that I climb everyday. Patience, persistence, physical stamina is tested to the max each time. Meeting the challenge is what it is all about”.
                                                                                                                -Hardcore mountaineer


DAYHIKE

0830H Board bus at Coastal Mall Terminal to Ternate (Php82)
1030H ETA Ternate, take tricycle to jump-off (Php250/4 person)
1100H ETA DENR / jump-off point, pay Php25 registration
1130H Start of trek, jump-off point is 4 minutes away from DENR.
1230H ETA Alibangbang Park
0400H ETA Campsite
0430H ETA Summit

From here, we take a option Backtrail since our first time instead of Traverse

Option : Backtrail to Ternate

0500H Start descent to Magnetic Hill
0730H ETA jump-off point, proceed to DENR and wash up
0830H Take tricycle to Ternate then take bus back to Manila
1030H ETA Manila.