This is my first ever hiking experience and i've heard that Pico de Loro is a good hike for beginners. Most reviews rated it 4/10 in difficulty. I wanted to try and see for myself.
My friend Shalom invited me to join them in their Hiking Trip at Pico, at first I was hesitant since I don't like being exposed to the sunlight for too long, I hate sweating and being uncomfortable carrying a backpack full of stuff for the hike.
But then there's a requirement for my Ad Photography class to create a travel journal just in time with the scheduled hike of my friends lead by Shalom.
For the love of Ad Photography I was encouraged to join the hike. We are 6 friends all from Dasmarinas Cavite. we planned it on an earlier time line so that we could enjoy the peak before noon time, We meet up at Mcdonald's UMC around 6:00 AM, had our breakfast and then started our adventure by 6:30 AM.
My friend Shalom invited me to join them in their Hiking Trip at Pico, at first I was hesitant since I don't like being exposed to the sunlight for too long, I hate sweating and being uncomfortable carrying a backpack full of stuff for the hike.
But then there's a requirement for my Ad Photography class to create a travel journal just in time with the scheduled hike of my friends lead by Shalom.
For the love of Ad Photography I was encouraged to join the hike. We are 6 friends all from Dasmarinas Cavite. we planned it on an earlier time line so that we could enjoy the peak before noon time, We meet up at Mcdonald's UMC around 6:00 AM, had our breakfast and then started our adventure by 6:30 AM.
We traveled in a Honda Civic Sedan, we are 6 so the car is full, but it is still comfy.
It took us one and a half hour to reach the foot of the mountain. (Registration Camp)
We have to pay P25 and register before we could start the trail. I asked the registration officer what the DENR does with the P25, and he said that it is for the maintenance of the hiking area of the mountain - to keep the trail passable and safe for the hikers
The Parrot's Peak (Mountain Summit) is a 4-hour hike so a hiker must have at least 2 liters of water to keep himself hydrated for the entire hike.. Good thing it was cloudy that day so we were able to enjoy the mountain breeze.
They provide TOUR guide for P400 per group to assure that your hike will be safe.
It took us one and a half hour to reach the foot of the mountain. (Registration Camp)
We have to pay P25 and register before we could start the trail. I asked the registration officer what the DENR does with the P25, and he said that it is for the maintenance of the hiking area of the mountain - to keep the trail passable and safe for the hikers
The Parrot's Peak (Mountain Summit) is a 4-hour hike so a hiker must have at least 2 liters of water to keep himself hydrated for the entire hike.. Good thing it was cloudy that day so we were able to enjoy the mountain breeze.
They provide TOUR guide for P400 per group to assure that your hike will be safe.
There are occasional stops for beginners like us, so we really appreciate the comfortable resting stones designed for hikers to rest and re-hydrate and be prepared for a much elevated trail.
As we continue the trail, it becomes elevated, and as we climb, it gets harder, feels heavier and will really tire you out especially if you doesn't have an active lifestyle or do much exercise.
As we continue the trail, it becomes elevated, and as we climb, it gets harder, feels heavier and will really tire you out especially if you doesn't have an active lifestyle or do much exercise.
There are a lot of species living in this wild, there were also birds and animals hiding in the woods so we tried our best not to disturb them (as well as not stepping on them)
Thee hours later we reached the mountain's base camp. From there you'll be able to take a good look of the Parrot's Peak and the cliff. By then we enjoyed the cold drinks (and by "drinks" I mean water, soft drinks, coffee, etc.), noodles, lunch meals and a Halo-halo special with the locals and fellow hikers.
Thee hours later we reached the mountain's base camp. From there you'll be able to take a good look of the Parrot's Peak and the cliff. By then we enjoyed the cold drinks (and by "drinks" I mean water, soft drinks, coffee, etc.), noodles, lunch meals and a Halo-halo special with the locals and fellow hikers.
Im sure we've all heard of this phrase whenever we are facing situations where we are struggling to move forward and cannot be back to where we started, "Kapit lang" In this part of the trail, you'll literally hold on to something, anything! whether if it is a rock, roots of a tree, of even a fellow hiker. But because there are bamboos and bamboos love us. They wont mind you holding onto them to climb your way to the top. As you see the track is covered with dirt and it is really hard to step into it, you'll skid and possibly slide down so you better reach for the bamboos all the way to the top. |
As we enjoy the Parrot's Beak, I was amazed by the Monolith and the hikers who were able to climb it, I think I heard it calling me out saying "TRY ME THIS IS GONNA BE AMAZING".
Rumor it that there's an incident that a hiker fell off the rope leaving him with a fractured leg. the tour guides rushed him to the nearest hospital, taking the 4 hour trail.
Well my worry is that I am a graduating student and there are superstitions that Graduating students are much closer to troubles and anyone, But I can't waste the moment of conquering both the Parrot's Beak and the Monolith at once so I invited Shalom to join me. We were cheered by our friends who opted to just enjoy the Peak and will just take us pictures as we climb the Monolith.
We had to ask asssistance from Kuya Sendong to safely climb up and down the monolith.
Rumor it that there's an incident that a hiker fell off the rope leaving him with a fractured leg. the tour guides rushed him to the nearest hospital, taking the 4 hour trail.
Well my worry is that I am a graduating student and there are superstitions that Graduating students are much closer to troubles and anyone, But I can't waste the moment of conquering both the Parrot's Beak and the Monolith at once so I invited Shalom to join me. We were cheered by our friends who opted to just enjoy the Peak and will just take us pictures as we climb the Monolith.
We had to ask asssistance from Kuya Sendong to safely climb up and down the monolith.
There's this rope on the other side facing the cove. it is about 3M of 90 degree rock climb with the help of the rope. You'll just need to know where you'll put for feet and have a good grip of the rope as your lifeline while in pursuit of the Monolith peak.
It's a must for beginners who want to start their hiking life. The only question left for me now is where to go next?
Till my next hike, Ill keep everyone posted!
Till my next hike, Ill keep everyone posted!