This is just one set of how to go and hike Isarog solo.
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| That's me somewhere at Camp 1 |
2. Check the weather. In spite of the fact that we outdoor enthusiasts or mountaineer can bear with bad weather conditions like strong rain I suggest that you do this on a sunny day not just the sun is smiling and burning you… hehehe nah! Just kidding but because the fact that we want to have safer hike and away from the muddy trail. Yayks! Familiar with it? Therefore you want to plan your trek in hopes of summiting it in a clear day now, not through sea of fogs or zero visibility as is so often the case here.
3. Plan your hike. Decide on how you want to discover and experience this lovely place. There are 4 existing trails in which differ in difficulty and scenery. Kadlagan Outdoor Shop may help if you’re not sure how to approach the park, you can also buy or rent gears maybe from them look for sir Jojo. This can be done by day hikes or overnight camping. so all you need is the following:
- The Trail Map information – You can sketch it on a paper or just in your head and remember it. Just work fine with me
- A bus, Jeepney, Hiking necessities, Cash and LNT outdoor ethics.
Bintana/Summit
4. The cash. Almost everything in Bicol Region Mountains is cashless hike! Unless you want to rent a guide and required permits. For me as a habitué of this mountain I carry my own food, do the hike and camp if needed. My supposed overnight turned day hike just cost me around 350 pesos! coming from Legazpi City
1. 10php (Legazpi-Daraga jeep)
2. 120php x2 = 240php (Daraga-Naga, Naga-Legazpi bus)
3. 30php x2 = 60php (panicuason v.v jeep)
4. 15php (A hand of bananas after hike) this quite a good reward after your travail in the trail. Good for knees too! hahaha saraaaaaap.. “yummy”
5. 5php (candy) maxx
6. 8php (tricycle Centro Naga – Terminal)
7. 30php balut + itlog pugo “quill egg” on the bus going home
8. Guide = Free (they did not require a guide for me anymore just because a few of them already familiar with me)
9. Park Entry = Free (no man guard again on the gate) asan kaya sya sa mga oras na yun? “Where is he at that time?” lol!
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| Jump off signboard, what did you read? |
5. Buy/Prepare Foods. Hear the famous line “delata mountaineer kaba?” a term used for hiker who brings canned goods just to avoid cooking for he do not know how to cook, This time I was medium packs good for surviving for at least 3days I burrowed a stove so I am able to cook. There are no problem buying supplies; Naga has a local and a supermarket. I remember my recent hike last month with my mountain buddies worried and ask “may mabibilhan ba dun ng supplies sa Naga?” is there a place we can buy supplies at Naga? Hahahaha I just sarcastically replied “anung akala mo sa Naga napakaliiblib na lugar?” what do you think of Naga an unfrequented place? Buying and preparing foods here is not a problem. For me I always plan ahead so I already buy my supplies at legazpi a day before my hike.
6. Plan your accommodation. If you’re coming from other places let’s assume manila, I suggest you take panicuason trail for there has lots of camping sites from camp1 – summit if you’re going overnight. If you don’t want to camp you can take it by day hike.
Option 1: You can stay in a hotel, hostel and motel etc. (okay whatever comes over here) hehehe CWC or nearest beach is a good place.
Option 2: You can head back to manila or you place of belongings.
Option 3: Go to Iriga for Mt. Asog – Take a rest, repack, Plan and then hike on another day.
Best option: overnight camp and take side trip for malabsay falls when descending. It was on the right trail after the gate at the entrance.
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| Malabsay Falls photo courtesy by Victor Callos |
7. What, where to eat. Along the trail you can eat just be vigilant with “limatik” blood leech. A couple of them come out more particular when it rains. Better to take your lunch much faster maybe, a pack lunch is advisable here even you are overnight or day hike.
8. Transportation Issue. There are jeepney into the park everyday just be familiar with the time of cutoff’s. 5am – 4:30pm and they also need to fill the required set of passenger before leaving. In case you missed the last ride when heading back you need to find “habalhabal” a modified tricycle you rarely get this near jump off point so you need to walk a miles more if needed in the next barangay.
9. What to pack. When you’re hiking at Bicol solo, you need to keep what you need to carry, scale down your luggage on the amount you can carry and able to run it on the trail just in case some trouble pump in.
10. What trail should you take? So there are 4 existing trail. I’ll try to provide you the itinerary.
MT. ISAROG (VIA PANICUASON TRAIL)
Naga City, Camarines Sur
Major jump-off: Brgy. Panicuason, Naga City
LLA: 13°40' N, 123°21' E, 1966 MASL
Days requires / Hours to summit: 2 days / 8-10 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 3
The commonly used trail, leading to the summit it’ll starts at Girl Scout headquarters just right ahead when you take off your feet on jeepney at Brgy. Panicason, Naga City
ITINERARY (Dayhike) Coming from Legazpi
Day 1
0330 Take jeep to Daraga (busay)
0400 Take Bus to Naga City
0600 ETA CBD Bus Terminal, Naga City
0630 Take jeep to Brgy. Panicuason jump-off
0730 ETA jump-off, Start Trek
1200 ETA Summit
1230 Start Descent
1530 Back at jump-off / Tidy up
1600 Head back to Naga City
1700 At Naga City, take return bus home bound to Legazpi
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ITINERARY (Our Overnight coming from Daraga)
Day 1
0500 Take Bus to Naga City
0800 ETA CBD Bus Terminal, Naga City
0830 Buy Supplies
1000 Lunch at Naga City
1030 Take jeep to Brgy. Panicuason jump-off
1100 ETA jump-off, proceed to DENR forestry
1130 Registration / secure guides
1200 Start trek
1300 ETA Camp 1
1600 ETA Campsite. Set up camp at camp 4
1800 Dinner / socials
Day 2
0400 Wake-up call / Breakfast / prepare lunch.
0700 Commence summit assault
1000 At summit, take pictures
1130 Campsite, break camp, take lunch
1200 Start Descent
1530 Visit Malabsay Falls
1600 Back at jump-off / Tidy up
1700 Head back to Naga City
1800 At Naga City, take return bus
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ITINERARY (regular overnight)
Day 0
0800 Take bus to Naga City
Day 1
0500 ETA CBD Bus Terminal, Naga City
0600 Breakfast at Naga City
0700 Take jeep to Brgy. Panicuason jump-off
0800 ETA jump-off, proceed to DENR forestry
0830 Registration / secure guides
0900 Start trek
1000 Visit Malabsay, Nabuntalan, and other waterfalls
1130 ETA Camp 1 / Lunch
1300 Resume trek
1700 ETA Campsite. Set up camp.
1800 Dinner / socials
Day 2
0400 Wake-up call / Breakfast
0600 Commence summit assault
0730 At summit, take pictures
0800 Back to Campsite
0900 Campsite, break camp, prepare lunch.etc.
1000 Start Descent
1200 Lunch at trail
0400 Back at jump-off / Tidy up
0500 Head back to Naga City
0600 At Naga City, take return bus
SPECIAL CONCERNS
More trek time may be transferred to Day 2 of the above itinerary to give more time for exploration of the waterfalls on Day 1. For such, a lower campsite (i.e. Camp 1) may be employed.
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MT. ISAROG/ PATAG-PATAG TRAIL
Tigaon, Camarines Sur
Major jump-off: Consocep Base Camp, Tigaon
LLA: 13°40' N, 123°21' E, 1966 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days / 6-8 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 3
The second trail called the Patag-Patag trail said to be the most challenging trails of the mt. isarog (said to be a misnomer because the trail is far from 'patag' (flat) but steep) aha!
ITINERARY (regular overnight)
Day 0
0800 Take bus to Naga City
Day 1
0600 ETA CBD Bus Terminal, Naga City
0700 Proceed to Brgy. Consocep, Tigaon
0830 Arrival at jumpoff
0900 Start trek
1200 Lunch along the trail
1600 Arrival at campsite / set up camp
1800 Dinner / socials
Day 2
0430 Wake up call / Prepare for assault
0530 Commence assault to peak
0700 Arrival at Patag-Patag peak
0900 Head back to campsite
1000 At campsite, take early lunch and break camp
1100 Start descent
1600 Back at jump off
1800 At Naga City, take return bus
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MT. ISAROG/ PLDT TRAIL
ITINERARY (regular overnight)
Day 0
0800 Take bus to Naga City
Day 1:
0600 - ASSEMBLY CBD BUS TERMINAL JC/FLORENCIA LINES
0700 - ETD CBD
0800 - ETA OCPO MUNICIPAL HALL REGISTRATION
0900 - START TREK
1200 - LUNCH heli pad.
1300 - CONTINUE TREK
1400 - CP SITE/ SUMMIT
1900 - DINNER/ SOCIALS
2000 - LIGHTS OFF
DAY 2:
0600 - WAKE UP CALL PREPARE Breakfast
0700 - BREAKFAST
0800 - BREAKCAMP
0900 - START DESCENT
1200 - LUNCH ALONG THE TRAIL
1500 - ETA JUMP OFF POINT OCPO. HOME SWEET HOME
Disclaimer: the said tips here are not liable in your trouble if you get lost in the wilderness. Diyos mabalos!
To be continued:
