Mt. Malipunyo Adventure: The not so Twin but Worth it Hike

Disclaimer: It's been 2 years since I wrote in this blog, now I will always update this for sharing my exploration in different places. Hope it will help you :)

Long climb but full of thrill for my 2nd time exploring mountain life. Mt. Malepunyo Range, Mt. Malepunya, Mt. Malipuño and Mt. Malarayat are other names for Mt. Malipunyo. It is an extinct volcano located on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located between the provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Quezon and has three interconnected destinations: Mt. Malepunyo, the highest; Bagwis Peak (also known as Mt. Susong-Cambing); and Mount Dalaga (also known as Manabu Peak).(according to wikipedia)

Additional Facts:

MT. MALIPUNYO (MT. MALARAYAT)

Batangas and Laguna

Entry point: Brgy. Talisay, Lipa

Exit point: Brgy. Talisay, Lipa

Elevation: 1,002 metres (3,287 ft) above mean sea level

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 2-3 

Peaks: 7 Peaks but we only reached 2 peaks, most popular peaks are stated above.

Let's start our journey. :) Originally the plan was twin hike from Mt. Malipunyo to Mt. Manabu but...

Start of Trek

We crossed two waterfalls

"Nampucha Trail" -bullsh** trail 'cause you will experience crawling and rock climbing plus slippery mud. ;)

Balete Peak (1st Peak)

While we're resting at the Balete Peak and enjoying the smoking of fog, we decided to go to Biak na Bundok (Slice Mountain) because some of our members are newbies and they're tired after almost 3 hrs. of climb. Kuya Mario also advised us too, so we can save more time if we choose to go to Biak na Bundok and enjoy the same scenery that we can also see from other peaks.

Tree destroyed by Typhoon "Lawin" 

Thorny plants along the way :D

Took a rest at Kuya Mario's hut




The only Kubo (hut) at Biak na Bundok



180 degree view of Laguna and Batangas from Biak na Bato Peak

All I can say that it's worth the pain! From walking to climbing to crawling to climbing again, all pain fades away when we reached the grassland of Biak na Bundok! Me- with the green top, facing at San Pablo City Laguna and Malirayat Range.

#TeamSawi - we're not able to finish the traverse but we learn a lot from experience. That's the spirit! :D

Since most of us were tired and can't continue to traverse Mt.Manabu we decided to descend to jump off for our safety. Even though we didn't follow the initial plan due to uncertainties we enjoy the long climb that took 9 hrs. to finished and we're grateful that we went home safe. :)

Super thanks to Kuya Mario, our guide! "Hindi baleng ako masugatan wag lang po kayo." - how sweet naman ni kuya. :)

Journey/Itinerary: 

(we're 14 in a group and most of us were came from Laguna and Cavite)

3:45 - 4:00 AM - Meet up at 7/11 Balibago Complex Sta.Rosa, Laguna

4:10 - 4:40 AM - Jeepney travel from Balibago Complex to Calamba Crossing, Laguna

4:45 - 5:35 AM - Jeepney travel from Calambe Crossing to Fiesta Mall Brgy. Talisay, Batangas

5:40 - 5:45 AM - From Fiesta Mall we rode in a tricycle going to Registration House 

6:00 - 06:09 AM - Tricycle travel from registration house to Meet Kuya Mario our guide

6:30 - 6:48 AM - Going to Jump-off

6:50 AM - Start of trek

9:00 AM - Arrival at Balete Peak (1st peak) and enjoy the fog :) 

9:30 AM - Start trek to Biak na Bundok 

11:20 AM - Quick rest at Kuya Mario's hut

11:30 AM - Continue trek going to Biak na Bundok Peak

1:00 PM - Arrival at Biak na Bundok Peak, ate our lunch and took selfies/groupies

2:00 PM - Descend to jump-off at Brgy. Talisay

3:30 PM - Arrival at Brgy. Talisay jump-off

3:30 - 5:00 PM - Rest and took shower 

5:00 PM - Ate Special Lomi Batangas and went home

Tips:

• Pack light (so you can make it until peak 7)
• Jog/Run/exercise before you climb so you can prepare your body strenght and cardio
• Wear long sleeves - for sun rays, insects and thorny plants protection
• Wear trekking shoes instead of sandals or rubber shoes
• Carbo loading a day before the trek
• Enough sleep (7hrs)
• Eat more bananas before the trek
• Better to start the trek at 5 or 6 AM so you can enjoy the sunrise and fog

Don't forget to bring the following:

• Pocari Sweat/gatorade - but I'll recommend pocari since it's a little bit salty than sweet so you can't easily get thirsty.
• Gloves - my biggest mistake was--I forgot my gloves! So learn from my mistake! :P
• Extra Shirt
• Wet Wipes/Tissue
• Power banks
• Canned Goods
• Disposable plate, spoon and fork
• Water - of course!
• First Aid Kit
• Jelly Ace!!! - power food for all climbers! ;)
• Cap/Shawl
• Selfie Stick
• Umbrella
• Shades
• Extra Money
• Garbage bag - leave no trace ok?!
• Sunblock
• Swiss knife/Balisong - for thorny plants

Expenses: (from Meet up place- Balibago Complex Sta.Rosa City, Laguna )

• Balibago to Calamba Crossing - P 25.00
• Crossing to Fiesta Mall - P 52.00
• Registration - P 20.00
• Tricycle from Fiesta Mall to Kuya Mario's place - P 10.00
• Guide - P 100.00 (but we prefer to add P 50.00 for Kuya Mario's hospitality, I think we can't make it without him, better if you personally give it to him)
• Jeep from Jump off to Lomi Batangas Eatery - 600/14 - P 42.80
• Tricycle from Lomi Eatery to SM Lipa - P 10.00

TOTAL : P 309.00 (our estimate budget is P 500 - 700.00 including the food)

Guide: Kuya Mario - 0998-409-4899

Trivia: 

• According to Kuya Mario during the shooting of "Born to be wild" featuring Alamid with Doc Ferdz Recio they released 2 phyton in Mt.Malipunyo forest to eat insects and balance the  forest ecosystem. (so be alert and careful during the hike)
• Biak na Bato - is the unfinished project of local government, the sliced part was created by bulldozers
• Mt. Manabu - is came from "Mataas na Bundok" (Highest Mountain)