BATANGAS│(Mt. Gulugod Baboy+Mt. Talamitam: PartI) Mt. Gulugod Baboy: The Easiest Climb, Perfect for Novice Climber.

After searching on web for an easy and Batangas area mountain for our first day hike, I finally found Mt. Gulugod Baboy at Mabini Batangas. Gulugod ng baboy, "Pig's spine is" is how they describe this mountain and I kept on imagining how or on what angle this description would really be obvious.

Because it's our first day hike and first time for just the two of us to climb, Lovers' Lakwatsa (me and my bf) decided to bring car for an easier and convenient travel. This is one disadvantage of climbs with few people, more transpo expense.

After three hours of travel from Dasmarinas, Cavite via private vehicle, we finally found Philpan Dive Resort at Sitio San Teodoro Brgy. Anilao, Mabini Batangas, the jump off.

 Because we're blessed to bring our car in this trek, we were able to skip the cemented steep road, thanks to "Red" our dearest car rolled all the way up until we reached this uphill path to the mountain. Well, we can't bring red to peak from here so we parked and left him beside a store.

Placard says "This way to Gulugod Baboy", and "Guide Gulugod Baboy P350"

TRAIL
Trail is quite easy but there are some path going to different houses that made it kinda confusing. You have to pass residences so be courteous. Also the hardest part here for me were the "gangster dogs", hehe... There were lot's of them, some walked closer to you, barked a lot and looked like they'll bit your leg, but thank God they aren't, they're just expecting you to give them some food.

Along the trek up, try to turn your back and see the amazing view of Batangas' bluish waters and floating Islands from a far including Sombrero Island.

Because of the mountain's grassland state, there are cows and goats graze and roam along the area. Moreover, because of absence of trees upon approaching the mountain, temperature was totally increased, I tend to sat and hide myself  on tall grasses, hehe.

After forty minutes of walk from where we parked our car, we reached "Pinagbanderahan", (peak 3), place where flag was raised in english.

Pinagbanderahan Peak viewed from peak 2.

After taking pictures, we're off to peak 2

Gulugod Baboy Peak 2, The "gitna" or middle.

Panoramic view from Peak 2, with Peak 3 on left side and Peak 1 on right.

Actually when we saw the peaks, we were surprised due to proximity of those to each other, that's why I was puzzled about the itineraries written in blogs with about 40mins to 1 hour of walk (?).

After taking pictures at peak 2, we went to Peak 1.

Gulugod Baboy Peak 1. Well, It's just me, the grass and the baby tree. Poor plant, it went down by strong winds and dried by too much sunlight.

Enticing panoramic view from peak 1, with Sombrero Island and Maricaban Island floating over there. :)

This first day hike was nice, easy yet memorable because it's the first time were able to hike without anyone to follow, just ourselves (with fear of chance of getting lost), instincts and the trail. Sometimes its fun to be with your bf/gf in a certain place without any people knowing that you were there, but of course it's also fun in a group hike, getting laud and laugh a lot and most of all you won't have a hard time taking picture by yourselves. . haha.

DESCENT
After taking lots of pictures and experiencing Mt. Gulugod Baboy's peaks, we started our descent and took the same trail in our ascent.

We didn't spent too much time at the peaks 'cause we planned to hike our next mountain that day, Mt. Talamitam.

ITINERARY

CHECKLIST

BUDGET

Mt. Gulugod Baboy climb, November 30, 2011, our 5th mountain, was so memorable, it was our first time to do day hike and conquer two peaks in a day together, just the two of us. Because it's our first time here, I just noticed that the trail up is always left, so if you're like us (first timers here) better go with left path. On the other hand, this climb was romantic for me, me and my bf at the zenith!. :)