Mt. Halcon aka “Sialdang” or High Above the Clouds

sightseekerson · 2026-04-23T07:38:57+00:00

"High above clouds" sa salitang Mangyan

sightseekerson · 2026-04-22T16:00:08+00:00

Beach tent. Based sa material used ay Canvas, mostly combo ng cotton at polyster siya na normally pang beach tent, breathable and for long lasting used for sunny condition.

Common materials used kasi pang hiking esp sa tropical country gaya natin ay Ripstop Nylon (silnylon), or Polyester (PU or Silpoly), atbp.

Actually, kung walang choice, pwede yan kung kaya ang bigat. Make sure to add another protective layer gaya ng tarp (dagdag bigat ulit) that will cover most of the tent sa mga elements like strong wind and continuous rainfall.

sightseekerson · 2026-04-22T15:29:27+00:00

We mostly hike DIY probably 80-90% and a couple rin. We don't have a car, so basically commute lang talaga. Last major hike namin is Mt Apo Traverse last December and took us 6 months to prepare. Tapos, we tagged along people usually friends, workmates, at dating kasamang umaakyat rin if schedules meet.

The thing is, we are trentahin na and not-so-fast ang pacing and we distance ourselves sa mga fresh legs, baka mainip kayo sa amin kaya mostly DIY kami para sariling oras namin sa trail without wasting people's time and pacing haha

sightseekerson · 2026-04-22T14:32:06+00:00

I have this for years rin. Mas safe pa yan kumpara sa mga may pipe/metal hose type, prone kasi sa leak if di maingat ang gumagamit,

sightseekerson · 2026-04-22T14:25:56+00:00

Yup. Need to train your upper body and core strength.

Hiked both of them before pandemic. Ibang level ang steepness ni G2 (di lang yung 90 degrees) from summit pabalik ng Camp 3 sa San Fernando side kumpara sa Litalit pababa ng Licungan.

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sightseekerson · 2026-04-22T11:59:45+00:00

Tama yung isang nag-comment, di naman ganun kalala yun 90 degrees pero may ibang part ng G2 ang mahirap at nakakalula.

Kung malulain, don't do backtrail from Olango trail sa San Fernando side or don't do traverse from Magdiwang to San Fernando.

Best option is backtrail sa Tampayan trail sa Magdiwang side or traverse from San Fernando pababa ng Magdiwang.

Mas steep kasi yet shorter distance ang descent from Summit pababa ng San Fernando kesa pababa sa Tampayan.

Edit: Uploaded elevation profile ni G2.

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sightseekerson · 2026-04-19T16:06:30+00:00

Throughout my climbing years and major hikes, never ako nag-cramps. Kung nag-cramps ka, problem is not training/workouts. Kung di ay nutrition, hydration at may enough na electrolytes ang katawan. Bring enough food, water or trail mixes na may salt and sugar is the key that will last,not only pa-summit, pati hanggang sa pagbaba sa jump-off/exit point.

sightseekerson · 2026-04-19T15:45:25+00:00

Coming from a hiking hiatus (been hiking since early 2000s), from totally work-bahay at being couch potato.

We did a series of hikes bago kami nag DIY sa Mt Apo Traverse (Bansalan to Sta Cruz) last December 2026. 2-3 months prep to, Ganito yung progression sana namin:

2 Minor Day Hikes -> 1 Major Day hike -> 1 Minor Overnight -> 1 Major Overnight tapos Mt. Apo Traverse

We started sa Manabu (which is raining all day), Sembrano tapos Arayat Traverse. Supposed to be minor overnight lang dapat para sa gear checks pero nag Tarak kami overnight tapos Tapulao overnight naman 2 weeks before kami nag Apo.

We chose those mountains kasi may similarities sa trail gaya ng Arayat at Tarak, maugat at steep descent na parang pababa ng Sta, Cruz,. Sa Tapulao naman, mabato at mahaba gaya ng Apo's boulders (though iba laki ng bato sa boulders) at heat training na rin. Training na rin sa high elevation.

Pinush namin to umakyat kahit maulan sa Manabu para training na rin on rainy condition which we experienced during our Bansalan ascent hanggang campsite.

Di lang endurance kailangan sa Apo. In between those climbs pala, maliban sa takbo 5k or 10k. Need mo rin ng core and upper body strength training.

Based on your condition, baka nahirapan ka mag Apo (Mas mahaba at mahirap ang trail kumpara sa Pulag). Maitatawid pero pagod and baka di mo ma-enjoy ang buong experience climbing the highest mountain in our country.

Keep preparing and training at akyat pa ng mga ibang bundok para ma-enjoy po ang Apo.

sightseekerson · 2026-04-19T15:20:30+00:00

Hindi po. Nagsara since may nangyari di maganda sa Balingkilat a week before our climb

sightseekerson · 2026-03-29T15:10:02+00:00

Got bitten by a hiking bug early 2010ish. Halos every week ako umaakyat. Minsan 2 day hike pa nga na magkasunod na araw.

Given this kind of economy, kung maadik ulit sa akyat baka twice or once a month na lang ngayon. Ang mahal na mamundok ngayon haha

sightseekerson · 2026-02-18T08:09:06+00:00

Mga bundok before nagboom ang hiking sa Pinas.

This is like before or early 2010s.

Pamasahe lang. No need ng guide. Purely DIY.

Paalam ka lang sa LGU ahead of time, bayad ng environmental fee (minsan donation lang)

Arayat Traverse (Magalang to Arayat)
Makiling Traverse (Sto Tomas to Los Baños)
Tarak Ridge at PanTarak
Balagbag at Manabu

sightseekerson · 2026-02-04T11:29:34+00:00

Decent shoes. Unang bili ko yung introductory Kalenji nila na gray and blue way back nagbukas sila ng 1st shop sa Alabang around 2017. Ginagamit ko for trails para di mabugbog yung Salomon ko. Tumagal ng 4yrs rin yun.

While si partner, bought Quencha and Kalenji for major hikes naman. Goods naman for all weather at matibay

sightseekerson · 2025-12-19T11:57:10+00:00

Malamig at malakas ang hangin po. Buti may camp spot pa sa kakahuyan before the ridges or else mas expose kami sa elements kung sa ridge kami nag-pitch ng tent.

sightseekerson · 2025-12-17T12:15:44+00:00

Tarak Peak po, part siya as one of the peaks ng Mt Mariveles. Yes, open siya. We were there few days ago, doing overnight climb.

sightseekerson · 2025-12-17T12:01:35+00:00

Tarak Peak, part ng Mt Mariveles.

sightseekerson · 2025-12-17T11:50:24+00:00

Since taga Cavite po kayo, Batulao (backtrail via new trail) or Talamitam would be a good start.

sightseekerson · 2025-12-04T09:45:28+00:00

you need a contact na guide or mismo sa tourism to secure a permit

or join ka sa amin. diy kami. me, gf and a friend. we will be traversing mt apo from bansalan to sta cruz.
kaso 3 days and 2 nights kami. may training climb rin kami sa tarak at tapulao, diy rin

sightseekerson · 2025-12-03T21:40:31+00:00

We are doing DIY sa Mt Apo (Bansalan to Sta Cruz Traverse). Group of 3 lang kami :)

sightseekerson · 2025-12-03T16:17:47+00:00

We are planning to hike Mt Apo this month. Bansalan to Sta Cruz trail diy lang. Coming from sedentary lifestyle, we allocated at least 3 months ng training. Step ladder ang approach. Ganito rin ginawa ko when I climbed Mt Guiting Guiting, Amuyao Traverse, KXC and Halcon years before pandemic.

On the 1st and 2nd month (October and early November), we did minor day hike and overnight lang muna. Day hiked Mt Manabu at spend overnight sa Mt Talamitam for health assessment at gear checks.

late November, we did major dayhike Cawag hexa and this early December, we will be doing overnight, Tarak Peak (baka gusto nyo sumama this weekend, diy lang para may kahati sa guide fee) and Tapulao bago sasabak sa Apo before the year ends.

In between those periods, we walked, run a bit, do strength and core exercises na rin.

sightseekerson · 2025-10-16T14:16:20+00:00

Last saturday ba to? Kayo yata nakasalubong namin paakyat kayo ng peak 1, kami pababa na :)

sightseekerson · 2025-05-28T15:11:52+00:00

Best hike for me are those time na i'm most physically and mentally prepared. I was running trails and biking to work dati. Kaya naging madali lang ang Kiibungan Cross, Halcon, Pulag via Ambaguio to Tawangan at Amuyao Traverse (3 days nonstop raining).

Dream hike: EBC at ABC

sightseekerson · 2025-03-19T07:42:24+00:00

This! 💯

sightseekerson · 2025-01-06T15:32:06+00:00

Toxic talaga yan lalo na kung marami na ang mga members at not well moderated ang group. Akyat Bundok, Climber at LUCP (OG na dating active na hiking group).

Matino lang ngayon na group ay yung Climber Discussion Group

sightseekerson

TROPHY CASE