Rough Groove

Mt. Marami - Cavite, 3

Lea tasting our meal of beef steak while Marvs is heating the rest

Team Tapang gathered for dinner

Before lights out at 2300H and after a few rounds of Jeff’s drinks concocted from gin and Tang (pomelo and mango flavors)

Jeremy holding his dogtag - proof of his membership, with Rex at the background. Both at the summit

SMC posing with Mt. Marami in the background

Batch 2 before breaking out for the climb down

Drops aka Armel signing Bong’s backpack cover

Here’s a link to the itinerary.

Related posts:

Mt. Marami - Cavite, 1
Mt. Marami - Cavite, 2
Series 15: Mt. Marami

Mt. Marami - Cavite, 2

Grace and Yumi, the mother and daughter team preparing their packs at Magallanes, Cavite.

Tina and Hardcore Marvs boarding the tricycle bound for Barangay Ramirez where the trek starts

Candy posing at the bamboo bridge a couple of minutes after the start of the trek.

Rest area near the Nuestra Sra. dela Paz chapel

At the bamboo “forest” where one has to pass low hanging branches as well as the grass’ sharp leaves. Gloves are recommended.

Batch 2 members posing at the summit.

Here’s a link to the itinerary.

Related posts:

Mt. Marami - Cavite, 1
Mt. Marami - Cavite, 3
Series 15: Mt. Marami

Mt. Marami - Cavite, 1

Last 27 - 28 August, my batch, the Batch 2 of Smart Mountaineering Club, had our induction climb at Mt. Marami (840m) in Maragondon, Cavite (but access point was at Magallanes). It was suppose to be Mt. Mabanban but due to the number of climbers, around 40, and the rains which swells the river - not so good when doing the river crossing, it was decided to climb, traverse would be the exact word, the former.

Its really an easy climb, compared with Mt. Tapulao with slopes being gradual and not that difficult. Paths are well marked and one can take it in 6 hours. The mountain’s summit is sheer delight to look at and kind of unusual: a series of vertical rocks clumped together, thus the name which means “many,” and jutting up that forms the so called silyang bato or rock chair. I suspect that this area have been part of an extensive volcanic system that has become extinct and as the series of millenia passed, the softer earth around these rocks just eroded thus exposing the pillars.

However, not so good for me:

- lots of mosquitos
- very few water source and may not be reliable
- I just don’t like the vegetation. Its a very disturbed place with bamboo “forest” near the summit proof of this, some areas are denuded (therefore hot) and just woodland, not forest
- trail became muddy when the rains started to pour at the point before reaching our campsite

but it does offer magnificent views of the surrounding areas and mountains like Pico de Loro, Mts. Maquiling and Banahaw and, as they say, if the weather conditions are right, Mt. Mariveles in the Bataan peninsula can be viewed.

Here’s a link to the itinerary.

The rocky summit of Mt. Marami

Three climbers atop one pillar with a view of Pico de Loro in the distance

A wonderful morning scene just before the mist competely disappears

Related posts:

Mt. Marami - Cavite, 2
Mt. Marami - Cavite, 3
Series 15: Mt. Marami

Series 15: Mt. Marami

Series at binary silver taken during our induction climb at Mt. Marami in Cavite via Magallanes. Not so high, not so steep but impressive rocky summit!

Here’s a link to the itinerary.

Simply Amazing Race 2

Just like Extra Challenge. Just like the real Amazing Race but on a minor scale. Me and my team were running like crazy in the UP Diliman grounds as we were getting from one point to another, from one marshal to another and from one clue to another as we were participating in the Smart Mountaineering Club’s Simply Amazing Race 2 (second such activity with the first done for the first batch of applicants, we were second batch). It was so tiring but the thrill, excitement as well as exhilaration in competing with other teams and clinching the second place was more than enough considering that I had only a few hours sleep.

Well, more such activities should be organized. It was just fun, fun and fun.

My team, Team Tapang (RED, really a homage to our muse, Lea Tapang :-)) reporting to Marshal Nick (A). We just found a few minutes before the hidden clue near the shrubs after orienting ourselves 100 meters and 170 degrees from one specific point.

Jeremy, though sick, still managed to participate and run followed behind by Rexel.

Reading the clue given by Jerry after doing the ropemanship challenge.

Consulting the map to the Oval for our next clue.

The second to the last challenge: packing a backpack.

Blue team, the victors, clinching the first place holding their malong prize. But on my opinion, our prize was better