Mount Maculot Rockies Night Trek

July 13, 2015

After a good night at Mount Batulao, we immediately went down towards the jump-off point using the old trail this time. Met some day hikers and drank some expensive buko juice. Once we arrived on the restaurant where everyone meets from the hike, we took a shower since there were shower rooms there and I might have forgotten the price for it. lol... After the quick shower, we ate our breakfast and lunch and got on a bus going back to Dasmariñas Cavite.

Robert sent us to the nearest van-for-hire terminal bound for Lipa City. He will not be joining us on the Maculot trek. And it rained so hard that time. We will be getting of on na town with a junction going towards Cuenca and to Mount Maculot Jumpoff. He told us that guides are not necessary.

The Mount Maculot View

MT. MACULOT

Cuenca, Batangas

Major Jumpoff: Mountaineer's Store, Brgy. 7 "Siete", Cuenca

Exit point (traverse): Brgy 5 (to Grotto), Cuenca

LLA: 13°55 N; 121°2 E; 706 MASL (Rockies) / 930 MASL (summit)

Days required / Hours to Rockies / summit : 1 day / 1-2 hr / 2-4 hr

Specs: Minor, Difficulty 3/9 (Rockies); 4/9 (Traverse) Trail class 1-3.

Features: Scenic views of Taal Lake, rock formations, forests - pinoymountaineer.com

Once we were in Lipa City, we bought some food for the night and in a hurry since it is getting dark soon. We got on a jeepney bound for Cuenca, Batanggas and asked the driver to drop us at the junction near the jumpoff.

We then took motorcycle ride going to a logbook site and wrote our names there. We paid some entrance fee and we were all set.

As soon as we found the site with some closed sari-sari store and a comfort room, we were on the right path. We asked a random stranger which way is the trail and off we go.

With no knowledge and not familiar with the trail, we just followed to what seems to be "trail signs". It was just recently that there was some hiker that died there.

Anyway, the trail was not that hard. But daylight was fading fast. We arrived at the campsite late and the wind was howling. Cooked our ready to cook meals and headed off to bed. And think about happy thoughts.. lol

The next day, we took another path towards the rockies with the beautiful view of Taal Volcano. Took some pictures and met two hikers there. After some greetings, we were set to get back to civilization.

Had a quick shower at the jump-off and ate a good breakfast. The motorcycle guys took us back to Cuenca and showed us the bus bound for Manila.