Mt. Sicapoo Climbing Updates

Mt. Sicapoo viewed from summit of Mt. Timarid

A friend of mine was supposed to climb Mt. Sicapoo this long weekend. Unfortunately, there was some abrupt changes in the guiding and porter system. The family who do the guideship suddenly raised the prices. Guide is now 500 to 1000 and porter is 1000 to 1500 per day. From what I know the first climbers affected by  of these changes where the climbers who had their climb last December, and they knew the changes after doing the climb. 

ONe Degree Mountaineering Group (ODMG) is the pioneer in exploring this mountain and the group responsible in introducing to the mountaineering community. They are the one who set-up the guiding system, reservation on climbing, how many can climb per day and any other important matters to keep the mountain clean and minimize environmental impact. ODMG is now keeping their hands off on their matter, but I'm hoping they will would ask assistance from the locality to bring back a system and work things out amicably

Since the mountain is now unregulated, climbers are now going directly to the guiding family without following the system provided by ODMG. 

My friend by the way decided to cancel his climb. 

Below are the exact words of ODMGs Archie Pinzon that has been posted on FaceBook. 


The ONE DEGREE MOUNTAINEERING GROUP (ODMG) as of today, January 14, 2015 would like to officially announce our complete and absolute cessation of assistance and support to any and all individuals and groups - organized, freelance or legitimate mountaineering groups and clubs - seeking to climb Mt. Sicapoo and its subsidiary peaks of Mt. Simmagaysay, Mt. Timarid, Mt. Saulay, Mt. Bubuos, Mt. Balbalite, Mt. Pakpako and Mt. Matalidong, found in the town of Solsona, Ilocos Norte. This is in response to recent reports of events that have reached us regarding unrestrained escalation of guide and porter fees, due primarily to some hiker groups circumventing our advisory and documentation processes and going directly to the guides to arrange climbs. We are also aware that our suggestions for policies of a one climb party at a time and a maximum number of hikers per party have largely been ignored. Already, we are receiving reports of increased garbage and litter in designated campsites and along the trails and river crossings. Penguin Rock at the summit of Mt. Sicapoo now has graffiti and markings and have been repeatedly scaled despite our pleas for it to be left untouched.

It would appear that our efforts all these years, since 2009 when we first explored and summitted Penguin Rock on Mt. Sicapoo and shared this mountaineering destination to the community, have been in vain. Now, word has also reached us, that some who have trekked to Mt. Sicapoo already have advised other groups and their friends that they could arrange climbs with Tata Emilio and other guides directly and there is no need to go through ODMG nor follow our Trek Advisory. Our action now, it seems, is already belated and one that we should have done a long time ago. We have taken it upon ourselves for the past five years to document, arrange and control treks up Mt. Sicapoo primarily to ensure climbers’ safety and wellbeing as well as to preserve and protect the mountain’s natural pristine environment. This responsibility that we have done over the years is one that we have borne voluntarily and have done so in the same capacity – and one which we will no longer fulfill from hereon.

We would like to express our gratitude to all groups and individuals who have supported our efforts all these years to protect and preserve not only the pristine environment of this majestic peak but also the almost sacred and profound experience of each mountaineer which is our collective duty as fellow hikers.

Agyaman kami apo,
Agnes Pinzon for ONE DEGREE MOUNTAINEERING GROUP

Return to Mt. Balingkilat and the Bees

  It had been 4 years since my last climb to Mt. Balingkilat. Though I had not set foot into its trail for several years, the mountain has always been on my horizon everytime I went back to Nagsasa Cove. "It is great to be back" as what they say. And I am glad to be back to this mountain. As expected the mountain was as hot and humid as always. The grass is taller and it blocks any breeze in the mountain which make the climb more scorching. Plus add to the peril was that I was down with a fever a few days before the climb. Nevertheless the view is always mesmerizing.Unlike my previous climb, we make sure to pitch a tent knowing that a storm was brewing. When the rain came, we where snuggle on the comfort of our tent. The last time I was here, we were not able to summit due to incremental rains. This time we where able to set foot on the 1,100 masl height but fog was present. Sadly the 360 degrees view was not there.

Dry River

Sitting  beside a cliff

Group who climbed before us

Stiff Trail

Camp 1, the fog starts to set in

Camp Socials

Camp in the morning

Balingkilat version of "sea of clouds"

Waterfalls at 1000 MASL

 As we were traversing the mountain the next day, another group went well ahead of us. From a distance we saw them as if having an emergency, hurriedly we rush down to offer some help. Little did we know someone from their group went off trail and have stirred a wild bees nest. As they are moving away, we were closing in to the nest. From three bees at a time it began to become a swarm. Attacking us like kamikaze dive bombers even far away from their nest, they attacked us for almost an hour. I never thought I could sprint in that kind of location. The traverse trail normally takes 3 hours and we did it in less than 2. I think around 5-10 bees got me, one even went inside my mouth. I was thinking of crushing it with my teeth so that I can exact vengeance but decided to spit it out haha. In my long mileage of hiking I thought I have experience everything, little did I knew.


We were only able to escape when a guide started a fire and created a smoke screen, sacrificing some stings in return. We when far away and safe, the adrenalin started to die down. It was only then that one of my buddy realized he lost his Rudy Project shades. Broke his pole when he fell down over me (almost pushing me to the cliff). We also lost his our appetite during our lunch, proof that we overworked ourselves. In any case, we were very happy we completed our trek without any injuries. 

This only prooves that we should always follow LNT Principles.  
Principle #2 says Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces - Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.Getting off trail get us into lot of troubles. For complete list of principles - click here.  

Traverse Trail, a group went ahead of us

The commotion we thought needed help

The bee I found inside my shirt

Pinaglabanan River

Rappeling 101 at Bitbit Bridge

  I had my few experience of rappelling (sort of)... growing up in a farm there were some work that sometimes you need to  hang yourself whenever I help my dad. I recall in my younger years I also had tried going down on a rope but without a harness.  I also tried wall climbing which in some way, is rappelling. 
So last week, we organize a rappelling activity in the office. We were a group of 10 weekend warriors. The location was in Bitbit bridge in Norzagaray Bulacan. A 100-foot bridge (approx. the height of the 10 storey building) along the Angat and Ipo dam reservoir. We hired a rappelling instructor who has 14 years experience in ropes. 

   Basically, after the provider giving us a short lecture on how to rappel properly,  we went to the bridge. The jumper master  (that is how they are normally called) anchored the ropes on the bridge and started placing the harness on those who are ready to do the jumping. 

  

Gearing up

The Traditional Rappel

 The Aussie Rappel

Game Gals!

View from Below

 Traditional (Walled) Rappel

Loading up after a fun filled day!

 All in all it was a fun experience. The most difficult part is starting your jump and getting off the platform specially on the 'aussie' style of rappelling. Each jump I can always feel my heart beating fast. I guess I am still human after  all. 

Mountains and Trails Trek Distances

My friend Bambi Guevarra who has a long mileage of treks, shared to me his record of the mountains/trails he had done. Reading the record, it amazing to see how much distance you'll have to trek to cover a mountain/trail route. Like in Sicapoo where the ascent and descent was huge, we walk a total of 26KM ( possibly +40%). Below is the recording he sent me. 

Notes on distances, altitude ascents and descents of PH Mountain trails 

    by Victor Guevara Jr.

The distances are based on waypoint to waypoint distances from my gps readings. The actual distance will be longer by 20% to 50%, depending on contour of trail.  For example, the distance of the Bokod trek is 17.6, while the distance published by Bokod is 26km, or 48% more. My actual reading of the trail to pico de loro is 5.6km while the waypoint distance is 4.2 or 33% more.  I also have actual reading of half of the bokod trail and the actual is 35% more than the waypoint distance.

On altitude gains and losses, most are based on the readings I got from my casio watch. Some were taken from my notes on altitude recorded every 15 min by my casio watch. The numbers are in meters

These notes will give the reader a good idea on the level of difficulty of the treks recorded. You will be able to choose what trek is appropriate for your fitness level.

These numbers are best estimates. Please notify me if you discover some big disparity.

Trails/Mountains routes	KM	KM total	ASC (m)	DSC (m)	Comments
San Cristobal	2.9	5.8	750	750
Pico de Loro	4.2	8.4	550	550	actual track is 5.6 or plus 33%
Pulag from babadak	4.9	9.8	550	550
Tarak from Alasasin	6.4	12.8	850	850
Banahaw from Kinabuhayan	7.1	14.2	1500	1500
Ugu from Tinongdan	12.3	24.6	2000	2000
Halcon from Lantuyan	12.3	24.6	3000	3000
Tapulao	13.0	26.0	2000	2000
Napulauan			1500	1500
Dulang Dulang			1500	1500
Kitanglad			1570	1570
Everest Base camp (Kalla Patar)  from Lukla	43.2	86.4	3500	3500
Traverse routes
Talinis – Dauin to Valencia		11.4	1000	1200
Dulang to Kitangland traverse		16.5	2250	2150
Bokod - Japas to Pethel		17.6	1230	1600	per Bokod tourism, 26km or +48%
Amuyao – Barlig to Battad		17.5	2290	2450
Apo Edc to Kapatagan		10.4	1300	1600
Apo Kapatagan to Kapatagan via Century tree		18.0	1600	1600
Apo   Kapatagan to New Israel		18.5	1780	2325
Pulag Akiki to Babadak		12.5	1950	750
Pulag Tawangan to Lusod to camp 2 to ranger station		17.2	1400	600
Pulag Akiki to Ambangeg		19.7	1950	1850
Pulag Ambaguio to Babadak (no summit)		23.5	2070	175
Pulag Ambaguio to summit to Babadak		33.3	2620	725
Ugu   Kayapa to Tinongdan		23.1	1500	1650
Ugu   Tinongdan to Amabasa to summit to Lusod		24.3	2175	2175
Kibungan			1600	1600
Sicapoo  up to Pakapako camp		26.1	2500	2500
Sicapoo Up to summit		30.5	3300	3300	per pinoymount, 49km or +60%
Around Annapurna, Nepal		175	8400	7700	per backpacker 2009, 128mi  or  206km,  or 18% more