TraveLORE: Mt. Batolusong

Summer is a good time to hike; only that you have to be very patient and enduring with the scalding sun. I don’t like hiking when there’s a chance of raining. I’m afraid of getting caught by the rain while in the middle of the trail. Thus, as the summer get on our heels I encouraged my mom and her friend to go with me in a hike. She wanted to try this kind of activity so I brought her to Mt. Batolusong for her first ever mountaineering experience.

Mt. Batolusong is the easier version of Mt. Sembrano. Both mountains are located in Tanay, Rizal. One good thing about Rizal is that there are lots of affordable hikes that you can make.

I was looking forward to the sea of clouds in Mt. Batolusong as I saw one hiker blogged about it. The three of us (my mom, ate Mely, and I) travelled in the early morn (4AM), going to Sta Lucia East where we rode a jeep going to Cogeo Gate 2. At Cogeo we found the terminal of jeep bound to Brgy. Sampaloc, the first trip is around 5AM. But the jeep waited long for other passengers so we set off at 6AM already. We got off at the tricycle terminal and rode a tric going to the registration site.

Guide is mandatory in Mt. Batolusong. After registering our names and paying our fees, Kuya Guide led us up the mountain.

Mt. Batolusong is a recommendable hike for beginners. I have with me two beginners who aged 47 and 50 – and yes they were able to do it! So why can’t you?

On our way to the main trail, we passed by the Sangab Cave. The cave is another attraction that the place has to offer. I just found about it so it wasn’t included in our original itinerary. Kuya guide also told us that if we’d go spelunking and hiking, we should have arranged for overnight. We didn’t bring camping gears and enough extra clothes so we just brushed off the idea.  Sangab Cave got chest deep water so apparently when you go spelunking you’d have to plunge into the cold water. We just took pictures by the entrance of the cave and promised to be back soon for her.

The hiking began; we were fortunate to the gentle weather. The sun was not very active and there were times that the clouds got gloomy and grayish. The mountain breezes were also generous to refresh us from time to time. The trails were not steep and there weren’t much of difficult assaults. Literally it was a chill hike where you’d sweat and got tired but quick stopovers would reward you with cool air. There were hoses along the trail to refill your water containers. It was safe for drinking because the water is coming from a spring source.

The healthy soils were bit slippery on some slope trails. My companions used hiking sticks to support their way up. We never hurry. We rested when we felt like to. Many hikers go to Mt. Batolusong but we only met a few people that day because it was a week day and the long Holy Week vacation has just over.

Mt. Batolusong has three main stops– Duhatan Ridge, Mapatag Plateau, and the Rangyas Peak. We trekked by Narahan Trail and after two hours we reached the Duhatan Ridge. I was expecting the sea of clouds but we got there past 8AM already. Still it was a beautiful sight to behold. The air was refreshing up there with the Duhat trees around you. You’d see the wide grassy hills below, and the higher land formation from afar. There were benches to sit upon. 

You could see from there the Mapatag Plateau that took only 30 minutes to hike. Mapatag Plateau was a brownish spectacle because according to kuya Guide it was set to fire a few months ago.

When we went up the Mapatag Platea we passed by a tent set up in the foothill. The tent was empty and we saw some figures going up the Rangyas Peak. It could be them, who else? Hehe.

It started to drizzle in Mapatag Plateau when we got there. The sky looming above us was dark and intimidating. The surrounding mountains couldn’t be seen, they were clouded.   The mist was on us. We could feel the sprinkling – and it started to rain for real. Time for us to get our umbrella but oddly the sprinkling came not from above – it came from sideway. Yes! So our umbrella was angled to our right because that’s where the drizzle was coming.

The drizzle stopped (thankful enough) so we set off to Rangyas Peak before it rains again. We met the campers who were now going down. The sky brightened while we were on our way uphill. It was steep but manageable (again remember that I have two elders with me and they made it). Right on foot of the peak, you’d have to climb a sharp rock in an almost perpendicular angle. Nothing to worry though as long as you listen to your guide on where to place your footing. 

It was a short rock climbing and up the peak you’d be delighted of the breathtaking masterpiece. You’d see the other mountains around Rizal, and it was an amazing view seeing the shadows of them from afar. It was still in the side of Mt. Daraitan while a bit bright in Mt. Sembrano and Mt. Susong Dalaga ends. It seemed that the weather was on her period that day..uulan, aaraw and vice versa. However, it wasn’t bad at all to hike with a bit of drizzle. Huwag lang talaga yung ulang mala-bagyo.

The experience above worth the climb. Refreshing. Rejuvenating. It made me think again and contemplate about my existence. It’s certainly a pa-deep statement but that’s really what you’d get when you commune with nature. Hehe. Picture taking here and there…but nothing beats to just sit and appreciate the surrounding. Let your eyes be the lens and your memory be the recorder. There are beauties that only the human eyes can capture.

We then decided to go down and traverse to Kay-ibon falls. It was just a small pool but the water was cold. It would be a relief to immerse into the water but there were other people in the area so it was a bit crowded. And it started to drizzle again. So we just rested for awhile and went off to the main road.

Mt. Batolusong was a nice experience. It is also recommendable for the beginners. Akyat na rin kayo rito!

0400 ETD Ride jeep going to Sta Lucia (we're from Commonwealth)           21.00

**if you're coming from other places you can ride jeep from 

Cubao going to Cogeo na diretso.

0430 Ride jeep at Sta Lucia going to Cogeo Gate 2                                             12.00

0500 Ride jeep to Brgy. Sampaloc. Drop off at Batangas                              42.00

the jeep set off at 0545 naghintay pa kasi ng pasahero
0700 Ride tricycle going to registration area                                                30.00

        Registration Fee                                                                                    25.00

        Guide Fee                                                                                             500.00

0715 Start trek to Mt. Batolusong
0900 ETA Duhatan Ridge
0930 Start trek to Mapatag Plateau / Rangyas Peak

1015 Mapatag Plateua / Merienda time

1045 Started trek to Rangyas Peak

1140 Summit
1230 Start descent / trek to Kay-Ibon Falls

0245 ETA Kay-Ibon Falls
0315 Pack up
0330 Back to highway / ride jeep back to Cogeo                                        42.00

        Cogeo to Sta Lucia                                                                               12.00

        Sta.Lucia to Commonwealth                                                                21.00    

Budget: 600 (without the food yet)                               

Kailangan nang umuwi nila Zaldy at Ana

ni: Uel Ceballos

Isinalin ni Zaldy ang natitirang alak. Nakatitig lang sa kanya si Ana at nagpipigil ng tawa.

Tumingala muna sa ulap si Zaldy saka uminom. Nang tumayo ay biglang sumuka.  Dito na tuluyang natawa ang dalaga.

Inalalayan ni Ana si Zaldy, hinihimas-himas ang likod nito. Halos masubsob ang mukha ni Zaldy sa kasusuka sa damuhan. Natatawa pa rin si Ana. Nang matapos magsuka ay natawa sa sarili ang binata. Umalingawngaw ang ingay nila sa kabundukan ng Batolusong.

Sumeryoso ang mukha ni Ana. Tumayo nang nakapamewang sa binata.

“Kahit hindi mo ko matalo sa inuman Zaldy, mahal pa rin kita.”

Umiling-iling lang si Zaldy na pumasok sa tent. Nahiga ito at agad na nakatulog. 
Si Ana na ang nagsara ng tolda  saka humiga at pinanood ang nahihimbing na binata.

Ang kaninang umuugong na halakhakan ay napalitan ng pabulong na ihip ng hangin at salit-salitang pag-iingay ng mga kulisap.

Alas-sais ng umaga nang lumabas si Ana at Zaldy mula sa tent. Binati sila ng dagat-dagatang ulap na pumapalibot sa Duhatan Ridge.

Naglakad si Zaldy papunta sa upuan sa ilalim ng puno ng Duhat. Nakapaang sumunod si Ana kahit na basa ang tinatapakang damo. Tahimik nilang pinagmasdan ang mga naglalakihang cotton candy sa kulay puting karagatan.

Isang oras.

Dalawang oras.

Naglalaho na ang mga ulap, natutuyo na rin ang basang damuhan. Nilingon ni Ana si Zaldy.

“Happy anniversary.”

Hinalikan niya sa pisngi ang binata. Umihip ang hangin at isinayaw ang mga halaman at punungkahoy. Lumamig ang paligid. Napangiti si Zaldy at saka buong lakas na sumigaw sa kawalan.

“Ang daya mo Ana!!! Mahal na mahal na mahal kitaaa!!”

Hindi umulan pero nadiligan ang mga damo sa paanan nila. Naglakad na pabalik sa tent ang binata. Naiwan sa kinauupuan niya si Ana. Kailangan nang umuwi ni Zaldy. Kailangan na ring umuwi ni Ana.