Rain or Shine: The Mt. Batolusong DIY-hike

Would you have decided to continue hiking if you know in advance that it will rain very hard? It's a YES for us.

             "Mt. Batolusong is at 645 masl, and is rated by pinoy mountaineer at 3/9                                                                 difficulty. This is located in Tanay, Rizal"

On the morning of June 10, we all met at the usual meeting place for fellow climbers, JOLLIBEE - MRT CUBAO. We were supposed to meet at 3AM, but only Carla got on time, while me, Maki, Gel and Sean are still snoring at 3AM. Eventually, we were all startled when i woke up and saw the time has already passed the call time. We hurriedly changed outfits and all, booked Uber and went straight to the meeting place.We arrived 15mins before 4AM, better late than never! hah!

Upon arrival at Jollibee MRT Cubao Station, we bought our food for breakfast and immediately set out to travel to Cogeo. There are UV Express available to Cogeo that time but only 4 can be accommodated. So we have no choice but to wait at an empty van. Then we get to negotiate our travel to Cogeo so we can already leave Cubao. We got the van to ourselves for only 350.00 pesos all in all, not bad :)

It was past 5AM when we arrived Cogeo, we then directly look for the terminal of jeeps going to San Andres. We had difficulty in tracing the terminal as it was heavily raining already. Thankfully, someone helped to give us directions on how to go to the terminal. 

The jeep left Cogeo for San Andres around 5:15 in the morning, past sunrise but we know there won't be one as it was raining already. Fare was at 42.00 pesos each.

We alighted at Batanggasan Junction around 6AM, then hurriedly rode a trike going to the jump-off for Mt. Batolusong. Trike fare was 120.00 pesos and can accommodate 4 person.

We arrived at the Barangay Hall around 6:20AM, went straight to the registration booth. FYI, the environmental fee is now at 100 pesos per person, from 40 pesos few months ago. That was expensive! We were given a guide (btw, guide fee is at 500 for a group of 5 for day hike), then we proceed to our hike.

The start of our trek was very chill, passing through a rice field, no sweat of course. It was still raining but moderate. A few minutes after, we were at the base of Mt Batolusong, this is where our struggle started.

OPPA!!!!

The ascend was not that difficult, but there were few assaults on the way. Our pacing is slow considering that it was raining hard and that we have a first timer in the group, but still, we were able to attain the target without compromising anything.

Carla saving her own life.

Prior to arriving at the summit, we were challenge to pass through wall of stones. Few of us were struggling on that moment. We arrived at the summit around 11AM already, then took our lunch and performed our Depsacito "tokhang" dance. (rofl)

DESPACITOOOOOOOOOOOO!

We started our descent at 12NN, still, raining moderately. Although it was raining, we had a few glimpse of the clearing, as most of the time, fog was everywhere.

Walang clearing pero siya, clear na clear. haha!

The descent was more challenging because the trail was already very muddy.

We were able to go back to the barangay hall at around 3 in the evening. We washed ourselves and prepared our things so we can proceed on going back to Manila.

Departing at 4PM, we rode again a trike going back to the high way. Then rode another trike going to the terminal of jeeps for Cogeo. We paid 40 pesos each for the trike going to the terminal.

We alighted at a covered waiting terminal, but my guess is that we were supposed to be dropped on the next terminal, as the fare collector said that we will be dropped off near the bulalo restaurants. 

Setting that aside, we were able to ride a jeep going to Cogeo in a matter of minutes, only paying 30 pesos per person.

Then the rest is history, and maybe your own story.

It's not that easy to do a Do-It-Your own trip, but hell yeah, we enjoyed every moment we were together!

Till the next DIYhike!

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Summary of expenses (for a group of 5):

Cubao to Cogeo, UV rental =  350.00

Cogeo to San Andres  = 210.00

Batanggasan Junction to Jump-off = 240.00

Guide fee = 500.00

Environmental fee = 500.00

Jump-off to Batanggasan Junction = 240.00

Batanggasan Junction to jeep terminal = 200.00

Terminal to Cogeo = 150.00

Cogeo to Cubao = 120.00

TOTAL = P 2,510.00

or 502.00 pesos per person