So, how does it feel like to witness someone roll down the hill?

Geocacher-Hikers Meet

After our Batulao hike, Tin and I was itching to go somewhere again. We introduced Geocaching* to some friends we had met from Batulove and decided we could invite them to hike Mt. Gulugod Baboy - a mountain where 5 caches hide.

*Will write about Geocaching in a separate blog post soon

So, early-August, I asked if anyone from the GeocachingPH community wanted to find the caches on Mt. Gulugod Baboy. Two weeks before the actual day of the hike, I created the event on the Geocaching website.

[caption id="attachment_345" align="alignnone" width="3264"] Logsheet of Gulugod Baboy Cache #4[/caption]

Geocaching on the mountain was definitely one of the best experience in my geocaching life. Since most of the caches I found are within the city, Makati and BGC to be exact. The caches were mostly of the same type and the GZ's were kinda full of muggles.

Our geocaching experience in GB (Gulugod Baboy  in Jin's dictionary) was definitely how I imagined to be when I first read about it on the novel.

Tin wrote a more detailed experience on her blog.

Mt. Gulugod Baboy

Jump-off point: Philpan Dive Resort, Anilao, Mabini
LLA: 13°42’55″N; 120°53’43″E; 525 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: Half-day / 1-2 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2

Source: PinoyMountaineer

Tin and I thought that the event was gonna push through with just the two of us. Luckily, Richard (which we call by his GC username, neoren) and Miko (new geocacher from Batulove), joined us. I also decided to bring my younger sister, Clyra.

The plan was to meet up at DLTB Buendia at 3AM on August 28. Since it had been raining the night before, Tin's mom was actually reluctant to let us leave at 2 in the morning (and to hike, actually). We had to sneak out of her house.

We also arrived 2 hours late at the meet up place because we woke up late. I remember I was woken up by the dream I had - we were already meeting the others at the bus station. If it wasn't for that dream, I wouldn't be able to wake up at 2:30Am and wake up Tin and Clyra.

Since we were late, we had to take GrabTaxi to Buendia. We were lucky to find a driver at that time and the fare wasn't so bad.

When we arrived at Buendia, we found Miko and Richard already talking to each other. Take note, they haven't known each other before that.



Because we were going to geocache, we didn't bother having a guide.

The first part of the trail was totally exhausting. It was on a cemented road that goes uphill. We weren't even halfway yet when we decided to already sit on the ground and eat some breakfast.

[caption id="attachment_366" align="alignnone" width="3264"] No, this is not the cemented road I was talking about. Just some cemented part of the trail :)[/caption]

After the cemented road, we had to take the trail that led us to the first geocache. We then followed this trail going up the summit. We searched for the other caches along the way.



We decided to not find the 3rd cache when our mobile data went unstable. We then proceeded to the summit.

Once we got out of the foresty part of the trail, we were greeted with a scenic view and cool breeze.

Tin and I realized how perfect the day was for climbing (and geocaching). We just knew how regretful it would have been if we cancelled the trip.

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Rolling down the hill

I've never really thought that it's possible to trip and roll on a mountain and still live. (or I may have been exaggerating too much)

[caption id="attachment_364" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo taken by Tin[/caption]

Since it was my sister's first ever hiking trip (which I only brought her just so parents would allow me to go), I was being extra careful. I was being really paranoid. I kept telling her to be careful and not get injured. I mean, how would I go home and explain to parents if anything happened to her?

And, something did happen to her!

 

After our lunch at the summit, we decided to go look for caches #4 and #5.

The GPS was pointing us to an area somewhere just down the summit. Miko and Tin went off trail to go down to this tree which we thought was the one being referred to on the hint.

The rest of us thought they were already close to finding cache #5, so we followed them.

It was a little challenging going down since there's no trail and it was kind of steep. The only thing that made it easier and less dangerous were what I believe were the footsteps of cows.

I was walking ahead of my sister as we went down. Then, she said, "Ate, ang bagal mo naman." (Sis, you're so slow.)

Suddenly, she started running and went ahead of me. My overprotective-paranoid-elder-sister mode was triggered.

And then, she TRIPPED AND ROLLED!

Panic level: 999%

Seriously! I didn't know what to do. Thank God, she was able to stop rolling before she could go into the bushes that was on the edge of a cliff-like area. (Though, it wasn't really high but she would have fallen down to twigs/branches.)

If she hadn't laughed as she stood up, I definitely would have thrown a fit (or cry and never go home).

We went back up the trail after checking Clyra for injuries. And we didn't find a cache on that area.

On our way up, I saw what I thought was soil which I remembered got ruined after my stepped on and where she started log rolling. It wasn't really  soil, it was dried cow dung.

I just started laughing at her because I'm that kind of sister.

[caption id="attachment_363" align="alignnone" width="3264"] Yes, that was her before her unintended stunt.[/caption]

Once we were all back up, we went to the store nearby where we decided to rest for a while. The owners were really kind.

We also realized that it's possible to go up the mountain without so much effort, by car or bike. Coming from a different way, not the ones usually taken by trekkers. There was a parking space to where the toilets were and we saw some vans parked in there. The mountain was good for people who wants a great view without breaking too much sweat.

Since I was worried on how my sister would be able to go down with her foot, which she said was hurting, the husband of the store owner offered to take us down to the beach (with no entrance fees, just pay how much you like for the cottage) where there were jeepneys we could take to get to the bus station.

[caption id="attachment_367" align="alignnone" width="3264"] Found her like this after we got back from searching cache #4 and #3.[/caption]

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Mt. Gulugod Baboy would be a great place to camp, watch the sunrise and sunset, and stargaze. It's also budget friendly, 600PHP at most (excluding food).