Adventures | Surviving Mt. Maculot Rockies

Mt. Maculot Summit
Mt. Maculot summit - view from the rockies
Mt. Maculot is one of the famous day-hike destinations near Metro Manila. It is located in Cuenca, Batangas and stands at the height of 930 MASL (meters above sea level) on the summit, 706 MASL on the rockies. It is considered a minor climb with difficulty level of 3/9 and trail classification of 1-3 (source: www.pinoymountaineer.com).

We planned our climb to Mt. Maculot end of September and scheduled it on the first weekend of October. A day before our climb, PAGASA issued a rain and thunderstorm warning in the vicinity of Batangas so I thought the plan would not push through, plus it's actually raining in Manila that time. However, a friend/mountaineer inquired from some of her friends if it's safe to climb Maculot when its raining and they said it's fairly safe, so off we go to Batangas the next day.

We were supposed to meet at Jollibee Buendia Station at around 5:30 - 6:00AM but one of my friends texted me at around 4:30AM telling me that they were still preparing their pack lunch (they'll be coming from San Mateo, Rizal) so I didn't rush out. I reached Buendia at around 6:30AM, super late but I still made it ahead of the couple who texted me...hehe!

From Buendia, we boarded the JAM Transit, left Buendia at around 7:00AM and reach Cuenca around 9:00AM. It could be earlier had the bus took the Star Tollway but unfortunately, it passed through the major thoroughfares of Batangas hence, the longer travel time. Anyway, we estimated our ascend to start at around 9:30AM so at least, we're still on schedule. And luckily, the weather was fine that day, it never rained though the sky's still gloomy. Thank God!

Mt. Maculot is an all-assault climb. I had more difficulty climbing this mountain than the Mt. Pico de Loro in Cavite, which has the same difficulty and trail classification level. But I was amazed seeing children hiking this mountain with ease. There were some who sell coconut juice, they set it up on almost every station along the trail going up. Some of these children are too young, as young as 5 years old (I think). Well, I guess they are used to climbing, some of them are the vendor's kids anyway, the owner of the so-called '7/11 store', dubbed as such because it sells almost everything, from coffee to softdrinks to hard drinks, with noodles and crackers and junk foods too. And during summer, they say he sells halo-halo too. 7/11 indeed! *hehe*

Anyway, it took us more than 2 hours to reach the campsite. And there were a number of campers there already, good thing we were just on a day-hike. We stayed here for a while, had our lunch in the kubo, rested more for around 30 minutes and then continued our way to the Rockies.

the "7/11" store :D
View of Taal Lake from Maculot campsite
I thought I would never make it to the Rockies. A friend apprised me beforehand that there is this bridge-like section less than a meter wide that we have to cross to go to the Rockies. Thankfully, the grass there is taller than me I didn't notice the cliff while crossing. But when I reached the other side and started my climb to the Rockies, I almost backed out. The rocks, or should I say the boulders are too big, I had difficulty climbing it. Thank God my friends never gave up on me, they threatened to leave me here encouraged me to continue and helped me all the way.

going to Maculot Rockies
See the boulders in the photo above? I had difficulty climbing those, they are so big my "long" legs couldn't make it over  the boulder and climb it. So to get through it, I used my knees, almost crawling over it actually; thus, I got bruises on my knees. Anyway, I'm glad I was able to make it to the Rockies. The view from there is so breathtaking! I had a panoramic view of the Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano as well as the province of Batangas on the far end. I wasn't able to take a lot of photos as am afraid of going near the cliffs, so these are just some of my photos.

Taal lake
Taal Lake and Volcano
With us on the Rockies, Taal Lake on the background!
the daredevils!!
We stayed here at the Rockies for over an hour. My friends enjoyed taking their photos on the cliff, daredevils they are! Poor me, I don't have a photo just like them. But I know my limitations, so I'm not envious really. I'm just glad I was able to conquer and survive Mt. Maculot Rockies!

After more photo-ops, we started our descend and reached the foot of the mountain at around 4:00PM. Had some halo-halo from the vendor there, did some chit-chat with them too. And I asked them why the mountain is called Maculot but they weren't able to give me a straight answer, just that the mountaineers were the ones who called it Maculot. He also said that this mountain was used to be called Macatmon by the locals.

Anyway, after finishing our halo-halo, we went to one of the houses there that offers shower for a fee; 15 pesos for a pail of water (approximately 5 gallons), if I'm not mistaken. We alternately took our shower there; had some rambutan too. The owner has a rambutan tree in front of her house and she offered us some to taste it, for free this time. Thank you ma'am for the free rambutan, and thanks for the free use of off-lotion too. :)

the shower rooms!! (inset: the rambutan tree)
~ oo00oo ~

Date of Visit: October 6, 2012

52 comments:

  1. galing naman nyo. Before I think na dabgerous mag montain hike dahil sa mga NPA, pero di pala. Ganda dyan:)I enjoyed the veiw.
    By the way do mind sending me your home address to my email ccount: syrin@tele2.no?
    Just want to send you a greeting from Norway:)

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    1. Thanks ms Joy, email po kita later. Safe na po umakyat ng mga bundok ngayon, dami na kase umaakyat.

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  2. Huwaw! Ang sarap ng talaga ng feeling kapag narating mo ang taas ng bundok :) Makabuwis buhay oh makapagpapicture lang :)

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    1. Buwis-buhay talaga pero trip nila yan eh, dyan sila nagi-enjoy. hehe...

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  3. Naku madalas ko to marinig sa mga friends ko noon ang ganda ganda pala.. for sure mahabang akyatin yan but i know its all worth it kung ganyan naman kagandang view ang tatambad sau :)

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    1. Maganda talaga sa Maculot Rockies Leah, ang ganda ng view, promise. Akyat ka dito kapag umuwi ka ulit ng Pinas. hehe...

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  4. Congratulations! Magdadalawang isip din siguro akong ituloy kung ganyang kalalaking bato ang aakyatin ko haha. Nakakamiss pag hiking last hiking ko 2009 pa ata---ibang klase kapag narating mo na ang tuktok!

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    1. sinabi mo Inong, halos gapangin ko yan mga bato na yan, makaakyat lang pero sulit naman, ang ganda ng view sa taas eh. mag-hiking ka na ulit, sama ka kay supermario sa sagada this coming weekend, may hiking din dun eh. :)

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  5. Ang kulet lang ng 7/11.. Seriously, para saken ang galing mo na kasi na-survive mo ang climb na yan.. wala pa kasi ako na-climb ni isang bundok e, nuknukan ko nga kasi ng tamad maglakad e, sa climb pa kaya ako sipagin, haha.. saka takot ako kasi baka may snakes sa trail.. Nag-crave tuloy ako bigla sa halo-halo, hehe! Buti may shower area..

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    1. yan talaga ang tawag nila sa store girl, 7/11 kase nga daw lahat mabibili mo at wag ka, singmahal din sya ng 7/11, baka mas mahal pa pero sabi nga nila, dahil di ka na mahihirapan magbitbit pa ng pagkain/inumin para sa hiking, sulit na kahit gano kamahal. hehe..

      akyat ka na rin, ala naman mga ahas sa established trail eh, ala pa naman ako nabalitaan na naka-encounter ng ahas sa trail. mag-taal volcano ka na lang, madali lang sya at malinis daan, pede ka pa mag-horseback riding para di ka mapagod, bayad ka nga lang..hehe!

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  6. Breathtaking scenery! Ganyan pala ang tanawin dyan sa Taal Lake, ganda grabe. Buti ka pa nakakaakyat ng mga mountains dyan, ako kaya kaya ko pa ba? Ilang mountains na naakyat mo? May dream akong puntahan dito sa Norge sana by summer at sana makaya ko hehe, bigyan moko tips!

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    1. naman gurl, kayang-kaya mo yan, kinaya ko nga eh kahit gumagapang na, hahaha! pero wag ako tanungin mo ng tips sa hiking, ang kulit ko lang eh, sabi nila dapat daw mag-jogging at stair-climbing before the climb pero di ko ginagawa. basta kapag trip ko sumama sa hike, sasama na lang ako, alang preparasyon, bahala na si batman. hehe...

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  7. palaig tong pinupunthan ng mga first time at gmusto umakyat lng ng bundok :)

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    1. oo, dami nga umakyat nung weekend na umakyat kami eh, yun iba pami-pamilya pa.

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  8. wow! tapang nio sis!..taga-Cuenca ako pero hindi ko pa naakyat ang rockies..gang groto lang ako hehe..may nagaya na saken dati pero hindi ko talaga kaya iniisip ko pa lang nalulula na ko grabe lang..pero mukang worthit naman dahil sobrang ganda ng view based on the pictures..

    naalala ko lang may narinig akong nagsabi na kaya daw maculot kasi mukang kulot kulot daw yung bundok dahil sa mga puno hahaha..ikaw na bahala kung maniniwala ka..

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    1. mas matapang ka sa 'kin gurl kaya sigurado kaya mo yan, try mo lang. di mo naman mapapansin ang bangin eh, ang tataas kase ng mga damo, basta tingnan mo lang dinadaanan mo at mararating mo yun rockies ng safe. siempre, wag ka na punta ng mga gilid just for photo-ops kung malulain ka rin tulad ko. :)

      I think tama ka sa maculot, kung papansinin mo yun first photo ko, mukhang kulot-kulot lang yun bundok dahil sa mga puno, siguro nga yun ang dahilan. ;)

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  9. Ang ganda ng view sa tuktok! Sayang... pumunta ka pa sana sa gilid ng cliff for more breath taking shots haha...

    Pero galing mo rin ha, naakyat mo mga boulders na mas malaki pa sayo! Congrats!!

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    1. di kaya ng powers ko ang gilid ng cliff, alam mo naman ako, sobrang tapang. hehe... pinilit ko akyatin, iiwan daw nila ko dun mag-isa eh. ;(

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  10. Gusto kong ma try yan, nung bata pa ako maraming bundok kung saan ako lumaki yakang yaka ng mga legs ko hehehe.
    Ewan ko nlng ngayon since city girl na ako wala ng praktis hehehe.
    Congrats ang tapang mo kapatid:)
    Grabe breath taking ang view.

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    1. kaya mo yan gurl, basta praktis praktis muna, jogging or stair climbing muna at ng masanay tho di ko rin naman ginagawa, ako na ang pasaway. hehe...

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  11. Hi sis. Ipadala mo sakin ang iyong address. archieviner@gmail.com :)

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    1. haha...nakita mo ba comment ko kay Gracie? nagbibiro lang po ako, dyuk (pahiram nito ha?) lang yun! ;)

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    2. nagbibigay talaga yan si archiever. hehehe

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  12. hanep ang view... sana ma experience ko din ito... mukhang nakaka enjoy ito..

    Ganda ng mga pics... lalo na siguro sa actual... sabi nga kahit gaano ka kapagod... pag narating mo ang dulo.. mawawala lahat ng pagod mo...

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    1. tama ka dyan sir, sulit ang pagod kapag narating ang dulo. akyat ka na rin sir... ;)

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  13. ay! grabeh! diko kakayanin yung boulders na yun. pano mo nagawang yung descend? yun ata mas nakakatakot.

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    1. mas madali pababa sis, magpa-slide ka lang ng unti at hawak na mabuti, nasa baba ka na. mahirap talaga umakyat kase nga ang lalaki nila at di ko kaya hakbangin, ang haba nga kase ng legs ko. hehe...

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    2. talaga bah? pero nakakatakot naman bumagsak.

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    3. sa case ng maculot rockies, di naman actually slippery yun mga bato, meron ka pwede hawakan habang bumaba. unlike sa paakyat, kelangan buhatin ang sarili at hakbangin yun mga bato eh, ang hirap lalo na kung sobrang malalaki. akyat ka na rin gurl, try mo lang. :)

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    4. actually kaya konasabi yan kasi last week na try ko talaga limit ng self ko. hindi naman yung mga ganung adventure kalaban ko,yung self ko. kakaloka. nanginginig binti ko. so di ko maasahan. ginawa ko yung sinabi mong tuhod at katawan yung parang gumagapang style. ang sakit sa katawan

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    5. hehe...ganon nga girl, bugbog din katawan ko after eh, di kinaya ng alaxan, haha... ulit-ulitin mo lang, masasanay ka rin, ganyan din ako nung una, nginig-tuhod, medyo ok na ngayon pero siempre takot pa rin ako kapag sobrang tataas na, nalulula kase ko. ;)

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  14. Great blog sweetie. I´m your new follower on gfc. Feel free to follow back. Kisses

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  15. Superb! worth lahat ang pag-akyat mo kasi ang ganda ng view.Di ko yata makaya yang ganyang hiking, but I wish I could do hiking this summer baka 10 minutes lang makaya ko.hehehe

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  16. Hi Manong Unyol, thank you for visiting here, will check your site later. Thanks again, see you around. :)

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  17. Dropping by again:) do you mind giving me your home address? You can send to my email add: syrin@tele2.no
    Just want to send you a greeting from Norway:)

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  18. Naku parang ang hirap nga akyatin sa laki ng boulders! Hihingalin ako dyan. heheeh! Pero wagi ang view! Ganda!

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    1. hiningal din naman ako eh pero keri lang, kelangan maakyat kundi eh iiwan nila ko. hehe...

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  19. LOL I believed "threatened to leave me here" more than "encouraged" is the one that motivates you to continue the the climb ha ha.

    Amazing photos! Congrats on another successful climb. Err... hindi ka naman aakyat ng bundok sa Christmas neh?

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    1. haha...korek ka dyan sis, pero not out of fear, more of inis kase iiwan nila ko. hahahah...

      mamumundok talaga ko sa Christmas, bundok lugar namin eh. ;)

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  20. kailan ka umakyat sa Maculot?

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  21. Ang ganda talaga sa rockies!
    Nice adventure Ma'am.

    Looking forward to hike with you and the rest of the bloggers.

    Cheers! Happy Hiking. ^^

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    1. agree, maganda talaga sa rockies, kahit medyo mahirap din puntahan, sulit naman sa ganda ng view. anyway, thanks for dropping by Ella, happy 2013, happy hiking. cheers!!! :)

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  22. Replies
    1. Hi Thacks, thanks for visiting here. I'm not a hardcore mountaineer, I only join friends from time to time but if you really want to tag along, pls pm me and I'll refer you to them. Thanks... :)

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  23. WOW! Ang ganda!
    Kudos for making it on top.
    Super worth it ng climb niyo :D

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  24. Great shots! :) Sana makasalubong kita sa isa sa mga bundok! :)

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  25. Great shots! Sana makasalubong kita sa isa sa mga bundok! :)

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  26. can i ask.... ano po byahe sasakyan sa buendia and san bababa .. tnx po :D

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    1. Hi Ryu! Take lemery-bound buses (lemery via slex), tell the conductor or driver to drop you off at Cuenca, sa may palengke, may mga tricycle na dun papuntang jump-off. Ingats sa climb nyo... :)

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  27. hi.. ask ko lang po ano byahe sasakyan and san bababa .. tnk u po

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