SI AYANG ANG ESKAPO : Mt. Batulao Traverse Old-New Trail -Back to our Home "The First Year Anniversary of ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS"

As we celebrate the first year anniversary of ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS. I decided to held our party in the place where the group started. Mt. Batulao was the first mountain the we hiked with the pioneers of the ESKAPO which has eight members who escaped from the work. We were all stressed out from our job and we wanted to unwind and relax by doing a nature adventure.When I was checking my facebok account I saw a picture of Sir Bryce in the mountain.I asked him where was that picture taken and he said it was in Nasugbu Batangas in Mount Batulao. Since college to be a mountaineer has been my dream but since you are just a student and you dont extra budget for this sports I told myself that after i graduate from college I will really pursue the mountaineering sports. A chance came along the way with no second thought I embraced it.!

ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS at Mt. Batulao 3rd time ^_^

Mt. Batulao is the favorite mountain of the group. The ESKAPO were here on November 2012- the first visit, July 2013- the second visit and the FUNCLIMB of the group and now since we were celebrating our first year Anniversary the best place to celebrate the group existence is on our mother mountain. -The Batulao

Tagaytay Olivarez (Traffic)

That day was a day of "delay". I started to be pissed off when one of the member who said and committed that he would be carrying all the supplies was not responding on any of my text and I even tried to call him but his two cellphones were "off". On all of my itineraries its usual that there are some instances that the time table will be adjusted but supplies and other important things for climb must always be secured. And because of him we were problematic because we dont have supplies like food,camping things,etc and knowing that in Evercrest(major jump off) there's no market or even convenience store there where we can buy like butane. But when we came to EVERCREST i got a call from him and he said that he will be doing a night trek to give us the supplies. I just convinced my self to be patient and understanding that time. I am just concerned on the survival aspect of the group on this climb and yet this is a climb for our Anniversary and no reason to be upset. But after the event I talked to him and apologized but explain why things that he did were not tolerable.

On the other side. When we reached "EVERCREST" around 11am and we decided to take lunch in the group's favorite carinderia there. I have noticed that when we get off from the bus there were locals offering "guides". Batulao has been one the favorite of many outdoor enthusiasts and hikers. Once this mountain was featured in the television. I have been visiting this mountain since 2012 and i saw a big difference.

We took a tricyle from "EVERCREST". One thing new, because before tricycle can only take you to the last "tindahan" before the entrance of the rough road but now there is already a terminal in Elementary School and its also like a 30 minutes walk before but now tricycle can take you there. I talked to our tricycle driver and he said that they are just taking advantage the condition of the road since its dry when we went there. Before when its raining there is always thick mud that you have to cross on this portion of the trail.

We were 9 in the first batch of ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS. I decided to come here early to set up our camp because I know that the campsite gets crowded on "saturday". And also to setup our "Party Place" for our anniversary celebration. The weather during that afternoon was very good. Sun was so high and humidity was fine.

Raden,Ayang,Narz,Diane,Rona,Bert,Albert,Bell and Nad

After 20 minutes of walk we had to stop because I felt I had to do "number 2"- When you need to "Poo poo" group called it "number 2"

While waiting for me. Stopover at first "bukuhan". There are so many coconut trees in Batulao that's why buko juice and halo halo are drinks that is being offered by different stores along the trail. But the "Mountain Dew" at the summit is the best and the most"epic" LOL

LOL. Sucessful! Thanks manong for allowing me to use your CR. LOL

We resumed the trekking. Behind is Mt. Batulao Ridge.

Mt. Batulao " Ayang"

Facing Mt. Batulao.

At "Fork" heading to Old Trail. Our favorite campsite is the Camp 1 in the old trail. For me this trail is more challenging way going to summit unlike the new trail.

We reached the campsite in less than 1 hour. Camp 1 Old Trail.

The Campsite 1 is bigger than the other campsites in Mt. Batulao. Unlike in new trail campsite gets crowded because most of the mountaineers new in Batulao settles there. The view of Batulao from here is spectacular than the view in new trail because here you will see the whole view and the ridges of this mountain.

Mt. Batulao View from Old Trail. Great!

That day we thought that the weather would be consistent because the day started for us, sunny and windy. But after we set-up our camp, set-up our area for socials which was very organized, lightning of the place was well because we had several lights to make the campsite luminous but the bad weather came. The wind that blows just enough suddenly became a strong wind that hits our tents and messed up our area for socials. Drizzle came next and after 10 to 15 minutes rain pours badly. Good thing after we had dinner these things happened. Other members came late midnight because of the weather condition. When they got to the campsite I gave them hot coffee and the "tinola" that we had for our dinner. We were inside our respective tents until the rain stopped around 4am.

Lord answered our prayer for a good weather on the next day

Muddy Morning!

Happy pa din kahit inulan ^_^

This is how we preprare breakfast. Trash Bag,Food,Halo-Halo, Kamay

Let's eat ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS

Busolved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After breakfast I distributed the Anniversary T-Shirt.

ESKAPO

Santa's Gift ^_^

I miss the other members. We are big in numbers but because of schedule differences I cannot gather them all. I am hoping on summer matuloy ang reunion climb on (May 10 National Mountain Clean Up day). Thanks to Narz, Jhordan, Bert, Nad, Bel, Diane, Rona, Raden,Albert, Daryll, Brian, Ephraim, Cherry, Jen, Blenda and Wendly for celebrating our 1st Year Anniversary.

Say "ESKAPO" the group sign

This is the start of Batulao Traverse From Old Trail - New Trail back to Campsite(OLD)

Passing Camp 2, 3 and 4

The Camp 5

The First Group

Sir Darryl guided the newbies Wendly,Cherry,Blenda and Jenny. They decided not to do the traverse because they need to leave early for work reason.

Camp 6 and 7 Old Trail

Assault to Camp 8.

Water Break

The Camp 8.

The Halo-halo break and the Mountain Dew Break. For the third climb I saw Nanay who was pregnant back in November 2012 selling mountain dew at Camp 6. Its so sad to hear that she had a miscarriage but shes still positive about her life.

Taken November 2012 on my First Climb in Mt. Batulao with Ate.

ESKAPO MOUNTAINEERS Group Picture at Campsite 8 waiting for our turn for assault because there was group ahead of us.

Picture before the Final Assault to Summit

Now Its my group's turn...!!!!!!!!

Happy Climb!

The Rope Segment is few steps away to the Summit. Its my third time to take this trail and I felt something different to the trail. Before the trail was really steep but now I have noticed that the trail was more manageable compared to the condition of the trail back in 2012 and early 2013. I guess due to several rains and mountaineers who passes here made the trail changed.

This is really the final assault ^_^ last na ^_^

As the lead of course I came first and I went to my favorite spot. Pray and Thank

TEAM BATULAO TRAVERSE

Start the Descend to the New Trail

The New trail as descent point is also challenging. The trail is very narrow, steep and the trail is literally along the cliff but good thing some parts is covered by grasses.

Muddy and Slippery Trail.

I was walking along the cliff. Before there was a graduating student who died here. She fell allegedly because she was taking a picture from the cliff. So for taking the new trail you have to be extra careful.

"Bakla Baklaan"LOL

We rest at kubo at "Fork of new trail and old trail. We ate goto with itlog na nilaga and halo-halo with melon,kamote and buko all gathered from their own crops. We had to go back to Camp1 because we still have our things unpacked. The group was very flexible and energetic asked them to run to the camp1 and it only took 15 minutes to get their.