Mention Makiling and you conjure up images of limatik, that leech-like thing that abounds in the Makiling forest, breath-taking greens and cool, fresh air. By luck, found the weekend free and made a last-minute decision to join my MFPI buddies, Tina, York, Ronnie, Ghanie, Ricky and their invites for a trip traversing Mt. Makiling (from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to up Los Baños). Started trekking before 11am sat and e-camped by 4pm when the fog was rolling in. cool, foggy weather was conducive to a dinner of Sinampalukang Manok and the socials. After a breakfast of fried dilis, tomato & red eggs, macaroni soup and Ricky's Kapeng Barako, went for peak 2 before lunch Sunday, But not after getting lost at least twice. descended to UP Los Baños around 4.30 and had lunch cum dinner at around 6. A fun climb really with a bunch of fun friends, worth forgetting my sideline work for the weekend, hahaha. Sa uulitin!
Climb details: how to get to Batangas jump-off: ride bus headed for Sto. Tomas (e.g. N. dela Rosa Transit in Alabang); fare: roughly P77-80; arrange for jeep transport to Brgy. San Miguel (around P250-300); register at barangay hall, reg. fee around P20 • trek to campsite - approx. 4-5 hours • campsite to peak 2 - approx. 2 hrs. • summit to uplb - approx. 3-4 hrs. • potable water sources along sto. tomas trail: yes • difficulty:need for guide: yes, plenty of trails can mislead hikers • how to get back to manila from uplb: ride jeep out of uplb, catch bus from Sta. Cruz going to Alabang/LRT-Taft or Cubao (fare roughly from P80-90) moderate, Sto. Tomas trail is the more difficult one
