The Backpack Adventures

Our adventure today takes us to Sto. Tomas in the province of Batangas to hike one of the major peaks of the Mt. Malinpuyo range - Mt. Manabu .  Mt. Manabu Mt. Manabu Details: The name Manabu came from the abbreviated word, " MA taas NA BU ndok" which means tall mountain. However, according to our guide, the mountain once had no official name and was referred to by locals as "Paligawan" or a place where grazing cows get lost. The name Manabu was coined by hikers who first "discovered" the mountain as a new mountaineering destination and since then the name stuck.  The "Rosary Trail" of Mt. Manabu Mt. Manabu is famous for what I dub the "rosary trail" (you can check out the photo above to find out why) or the loop trail. This trail is relatively straightforward and is mostly covered by a tree canopy. There are eight stations along the way. These stations serve as trail markers and some as rest areas. Here's what you'd se

Our mountaineering adventure today takes us back to Nasugbu in the province of Batangas. After conquering Mt. Batulao a few weeks back, we're back to the province to conquer its sister mountain - Mt. Talamitam . Mt. Talamitam Mt. Talamitam Details: According to our guide, Mt. Talamitam got its name from the talamitam trees that once grew at its slopes. Sadly,  these trees were cut down long ago leaving the mountain bald as it is today. Although there are plans to rehabilitate the peak, it still remains a plan to this day.   Registration area at Barangay Kayrilaw, Nasugbu Batangas Start hike Bye cemented road! That's Mt. Talamitam as seen from a distance Mt. Talamitam stands 630 meters above sea level (MASL) and is considered a minor climb. This made the mountain a favorite hiking destination of many, particularly beginners and weekend hikers. However, the mountain was closed for a few months in 2018 until early 2019 due to jurisdiction issues. It was r