r/PHikingAndBackpacking

Mt. Pinatubo via 4x4 Capas Trail, Minor difficulty, 2/9

First hiking experience (Mt. Batulao)

New trail + backtrail

2:00 am Jump-off point + preparations

2:30 am Briefing/orientation + warm up

2:45 am Start trek

3:32 am Peak 1

4:40 am Summit

7:00 am Start descend

11:00 am Greenfield drop-off

Hello, just wanna share my first ever hiking experience last weekend in Mt. Batulao. First thing that came into my mind was, "Bakit ngayon ko lang to ginawa?"

My first hike was a really humbling experience. I never expected it to be an easy experience in the first place but iba pa rin talaga yung feeling when you're already doing it. I'm used to long walks since me and my partner travels frequently. So far, we've been to 3 countries together in 2 years with an average of 15k to 20k daily steps during our travel. Before this rin, I would regularly walk/jog sa umaga for maybe about 1 to 2 hours. 2 weeks before the hike, I did minor workouts. I didn't really know what kind of preparation I should do but I did step ups, longer morning walks, and leg stretches all while wearing my hiking bag to prepare my legs and improve my endurance.

Despite all that, nahirapan pa rin ako especially from peak 9 onwards dahil sa sunod sunod na assault. I had to slow down dahil sa pagod and also because I was actually scared. Madilim pa that time but the trail was obviously steep and there were lots of narrow paths. I was so scared but I just kept going until di ko namalayan na malapit na kami sa summit.

So far, that was my most rewarding moment. Dahil maaga kami, we had the chance to watch the sunrise and OMG sobrang ganda ng view from the top. We started our descent by around 7 am. I would have loved to stay longer but dumarami na rin yung tao + ayaw namin maabutan ng tirik na araw. Di ko na natrack masyado yung time after that but by 11 am nakauwi na ko sa bahay (Greenfield drop-off).

For some reason, hiking never really crossed my mind before. I was never the sporty type but I would say that I am on a bit more of an adventurous kid growing up. I used to love obstacle courses dahil sa Legend of the hidden temple. Mahilig ako umakyat sa walls or kung saan mang pwede umakyat. My mom would also tell me stories about her travel/hiking experiences since she used to hike when she was younger. I have always been fascinated sa stories niya and she would also encourage us to explore the world paglaki namin. And boy, I did!

What I love about travelling/hiking is the wisdom that comes with it. It made me see the world in a different, or rather, a better perspective and I feel so honored to experience life this way. I find comfort in knowing that I am just a part of the world and whatever problem/s I have now will eventually pass. There are far more greater things in life and I have the whole world to explore.

Hello po sa lahat!

Link: https://gorpify.com/trailhead

We wanted to share lang po sana ung passion project we’ve been building for the local hiking community called Gorpify.

If you’ve ever joined an organized hike in the PH (mostly Luzon), you know the drill: scrolling through endless Facebook groups to find a slot, organizers losing track of GCash payments in their DMs.

We built Gorpify to bring some order to the chaos. It’s an ecosystem designed specifically for PH mountains that connects the three groups of people that make every weekend climb happen: The Hikers (Joiners), The Organizers, and The Drivers (Deltas).

You'll be able to set achievements once or more and download them to upload on your SocMed or share your profile achievements

Why did we build this? We love the PH mountains, but we wanted a cleaner, safer way to track our own hikes and find reliable organizers without the social media noise.

We’re still actively developing parin po for improvements and would love to hear from you. What features would actually make your life easier when planning or joining a hike here in the Philippines?

Let us know lang po if questions or trail recommendations!

Cheers!

Dahil sa nangyaring wildfire incident last April na ikinasunog ng famous natural fallen tree ng Mt. Kabunian. Napagdesisyon ng mga tour guides ng Poblacion, Bakun na i-restore ang fallen tree. Hopefully matibay ang ginawa nila at tumagal.

Photos from Bakun Municipal Tourism

Hiked my first two mountains last weekend. Although Mt. Fato is my mother mountain, Mt. Kupapey was sooo much more memorable :)

Hindi biro ang Mt. Kimat. Isa siya sa mga bundok na mapapa-respeto ka talaga sa trail.

May mga assault, exposed sections, at knife edges na kailangan mong daanan kaya hindi siya yung tipong chill hike lang. Kailangan may tamang pacing, focus, at tibay ng binti lalo na kapag tirik ang araw o mahangin sa ridges.

Tapos dagdag mo pa yung naglakad kayo sa sementadong daan kasi nanghihinayang kayo sa ₱300 na habal. Akala mo makakatipid ka lang, pero bonus pagod pala yung nakuha mo. 😭😂

Pero yun din siguro yung charm niya. Yung tipong habang nahihirapan kayo, tawanan nalang din sa gitna ng hingal at reklamo. Hanggang sa pagdating sa summit, marerealize mong sulit lahat ng pagod, init, at paglalakad. 💗

Ganda talaga din ng Mt. Ulap 🏔️
My 5th mountain 🏔️🫶

Hello! Is anyone using Komoot app sa pinas? If so baka pwede nio ako ma add into your trailventures😊

Para syang strava. Pero Cyclist, Mtb, Hiking , Mountaineers & etc. You can plan Multi day routes. Asses Elevations prior. And share photos and feedback across friends with the route you have been. It would help alot din for me when I explore PH.

Foggy at KM16

I was looking for a mother mountain for my gf then and I saw this Mt Daraitan, I also asked my cousin kung okay sabi nya "beginner friendly." I was convinced so book and joined a tour.

The day came pagalis pa lang namin ng meeting point ayun paakyat agad, in between station 1 and station 2 my gf said to me gusto ko na bumalik. But I replied wala tayong kasama. We continued and endured the assault, there were 18 of us nung una nasa 1st pack pa kami habang tumatagal nasa back na kami.

You will test your whole body; it pays that you have a strong upper and lower body kasi nga kakapit ka sa bago, puno at ugat and mind u ang tatalas ng bato.

When we reached the summit it was breathtaking bonus dumaan pa kami sa Heart peak and we are all complete, walang nagquit.

I was palpitating nung ascent and going down was easier for me. But little did I know my surprise si Daraitan, i was thinking everything was okay till we reached the Tinipak river. She broke up with me completely, so I guess ganun talaga pero at least may mother mountain na sya.

So ung nagjowa dyan set the expectations mid-level climb ang Daraitan kaya talagang paghihirapan.

PS. It was a good closure very memorable di ba na ung babad ng tubig sa ilog para di obvious ung mga iyak ko. And FYI im also a woman di po bro. Sabi nga nila when one door closes a window will open baka di lang kami laan to be lovers but we saved the best thing we ever had, friendship and planning our next hike

Wantusawa clearing; May 2026 ❤️

After a rainy and stormy night, we were blessed with the golden glow of sunrise. From the summit, you can view Mt. Kalatungan, Mt. Kitanglad, and the Sleeping Lady (Mt. Piapayungan).

Halos kalahati ata ng akyat namin para kaming nag bouldering literal na rock climbing. Super naenjoy ko yung hike🥹

7 years ago I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and this had been one of the experiences I had enjoyed most in life. When I came back and returned to a "normal" life full of screens, I promised myself I would go back on a 5 month journey through the wild at one point. I am a nerd and I enjoy the "screen" but I also like wild spaces and simple pleasures. As everything in life, I believe there needs to be a balance.

7 years later, here I am, in the company of "Green pea" this time. We both quit our jobs in Nairobi, Kenya and packed a bag to a country where I had such fond memories of its nature and its people despite what can be seen in the news nowadays.

This is the story of our 150+ day journey through the most beautiful and brutal wilderness in the USA—from the desert of New Mexico, through the jagged peaks of Colorado, the wild nature of Wyoming and the grizzlies of Montana to finally reach Canada.

I am not sponsored and I don't monetize this video but if you like it, I'd be happy to get a thumbs up or a share 😄

Happy trails !

https://youtu.be/5JWNIL2QJQw