ONE FINE DAY AT THE BEAK On April 5-6, 2009; I was enticed to join Werner and Jasper in climbing Pico de Loro. I extended the invitation to Romel Cruz, one of my good mountaineering friend who eventually asked one of his fellows to join us. Using Jasper’s vehicle, we left Dasmariñas at before 6:00 AM and reached the DENR registration site at around 7:00 AM. We immediately registered, prepared for the hike and proceeded to the trailhead at around 7:30 AM. Initially, we passed through the reforestation area of De La Salle Philippines, to a secondary growth forest and eventually reached a hut in the middle of mango and black pepper farm. According to Rommel, we need to register again in the hut but no one answered us when we knocked. So, we decided to push through with the hike along the farmland until we reached the open area where we initially saw the beautiful summit of the mountain. |
Two hours after leaving the DENR, we reached the edge of the forest that marks the steep ascend towards the campsite. After few minutes of rest we pushed further inside the woods. This time, the trail became steeper but still manageable. Then we passed through large boulders and bamboo forest, and eventually reached the campsite. It was already 11:00 then, so, we immediately set up our tents under the bamboo trees to hide from the strong wind. Then, we had our lunch at 12:00 Noon while enjoying the view of the “parrot beak” and the monolith. We rested in our tents and waited for 3:00 PM, our summit assault schedule.
While others were at rest, I decided to explore the area… took some pictures and write something on my journal…
“God is embracing me right now! The beautiful forest, rugged terrain, the vast fertile and green farms below, the beautiful coastline, the dramatic clouds, the vibrant surround of birds and the chilling breeze all are delighting my senses! I am in the midst of beauty… I am in His arms.”
We extended our rest because the sun at 3:00 PM was still scorching! We started the summit assault at 4:00 PM… We passed through the woods again and eventually to the grassy slope of the main peak. At 4:45, we reached the summit… the view was very remarkable! With other mountaineering group, instead of proceeding to the monolith, we decided to simply wait for the sunset at the main peak... and when it came, I sat down and simply wrote something on my journal…
“Nothing is coming out of my mouth… I can’t think of anything to describe the beauty of this place. While my companions are shouting out of delight, I am here, sitting in a rock... totally charmed by the beauty of the surroundings… by the wondrous creation of God. Thank you Lord for the health and strength… for allowing me to be here to witness the beauty of your creation.”
While others were at rest, I decided to explore the area… took some pictures and write something on my journal…
“God is embracing me right now! The beautiful forest, rugged terrain, the vast fertile and green farms below, the beautiful coastline, the dramatic clouds, the vibrant surround of birds and the chilling breeze all are delighting my senses! I am in the midst of beauty… I am in His arms.”
We extended our rest because the sun at 3:00 PM was still scorching! We started the summit assault at 4:00 PM… We passed through the woods again and eventually to the grassy slope of the main peak. At 4:45, we reached the summit… the view was very remarkable! With other mountaineering group, instead of proceeding to the monolith, we decided to simply wait for the sunset at the main peak... and when it came, I sat down and simply wrote something on my journal…
“Nothing is coming out of my mouth… I can’t think of anything to describe the beauty of this place. While my companions are shouting out of delight, I am here, sitting in a rock... totally charmed by the beauty of the surroundings… by the wondrous creation of God. Thank you Lord for the health and strength… for allowing me to be here to witness the beauty of your creation.”
OUR PICO DE LORO CLIMB, APRIL 5-6, 2009
At 6:00 PM, fully delighted and amazed; we went down to the campsite. I descended with something unexplainable in mind and heart. Probably, that day was one of the most joyful moment of my life. At 9:00 PM after enjoying our breakfast, we retired in our tents...
I woke up at 5:00 AM and prepared the breakfast. We descended at 8:00 AM delighted and joyful… all of us promised to be in this rough terrain again soon.
I woke up at 5:00 AM and prepared the breakfast. We descended at 8:00 AM delighted and joyful… all of us promised to be in this rough terrain again soon.
DAY HIKE AT THE BEAK
Part of the series of DMS Training Climb is the Pico De Loro Adventure which we did on March 9, 2012. Together with fellow applicants, we arrived at the DENR Registration Center at around 7:00 AM and immediately proceeded to the trail head (It should be noted that today, there is a new trail to Pico De Loro, coordination with the registration personnel should be properly done). At around 7:45 AM, we reached the second registration hut after passing through the woodland. Then, we proceeded further and arrived at the forest edge at 8:10 AM. We then entered the forest and dealt with moderately steep but manageable trail. We reached the area with large boulders after 30 minutes. At 10:15, we reached the campsite and rested for a while before enjoying our lunch.
Along the trail, all you can hear were jokes, light stories, laughter and expressions of awesomeness. Everyone was enjoying… all were in connection with the essence of nature.
I was so happy to realize that there were group of climbers in the mountain that time… they were seminarians from the major seminary of the Diocese of Imus. That time, I was totally delighted because while trekking, I am contemplating on my life inside the formation program of the De La Salle Brothers. I was about to enter the Postulancy Program of the Brothers in May that year... there were some anxieties or apprehensions. But when we joined the group’s celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, I was at least pacified that time. I still recall the homily of the priest about “mountains of our life”… that there’s a lot of uncertainties in the trail… there were unknown things but that should be lifted and offered to God”.
After the mass, we regrouped and started to assault the summit. We reached the main peak at 2:00 PM. After delighting ourselves with the spectacular view, some of us decided to climb the monolith. While others remained on the main peak to enjoy the view and take pictures; we dealt the 90-degree rock wall of the monolith. We all reached the top at after thirty minutes.
There was an unexplainable feelings of joy and delight on top of the monolith… my companions were shouting “yahoo”… while in my case, I laid down the rock surface, stared on the beautiful sky and whispered “thank you Lord for this wonderful life”. I then joined and enjoyed the “groufie” and “photoexplosion’ of my fellow climbers on top of the monolith.
We went down the mountain at 4:00 PM, all tired but very happy and accomplished.
He was there in the mountain… in flesh through the Host, in essence through the beautiful natural wonder, and in the heart of the climbers… I had a chance to be in communion with Him.
Along the trail, all you can hear were jokes, light stories, laughter and expressions of awesomeness. Everyone was enjoying… all were in connection with the essence of nature.
I was so happy to realize that there were group of climbers in the mountain that time… they were seminarians from the major seminary of the Diocese of Imus. That time, I was totally delighted because while trekking, I am contemplating on my life inside the formation program of the De La Salle Brothers. I was about to enter the Postulancy Program of the Brothers in May that year... there were some anxieties or apprehensions. But when we joined the group’s celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, I was at least pacified that time. I still recall the homily of the priest about “mountains of our life”… that there’s a lot of uncertainties in the trail… there were unknown things but that should be lifted and offered to God”.
After the mass, we regrouped and started to assault the summit. We reached the main peak at 2:00 PM. After delighting ourselves with the spectacular view, some of us decided to climb the monolith. While others remained on the main peak to enjoy the view and take pictures; we dealt the 90-degree rock wall of the monolith. We all reached the top at after thirty minutes.
There was an unexplainable feelings of joy and delight on top of the monolith… my companions were shouting “yahoo”… while in my case, I laid down the rock surface, stared on the beautiful sky and whispered “thank you Lord for this wonderful life”. I then joined and enjoyed the “groufie” and “photoexplosion’ of my fellow climbers on top of the monolith.
We went down the mountain at 4:00 PM, all tired but very happy and accomplished.
He was there in the mountain… in flesh through the Host, in essence through the beautiful natural wonder, and in the heart of the climbers… I had a chance to be in communion with Him.
OUR DMS TRAINING CLIMB AT PICO DE LORO, MARCH 9, 2012