I, Mark "Maj": Mt. Bahay Kalo UPM OD TC1 2012

August 25-26, 2012

Mt. Bahay Kalo, Lipa Batangas.
875MASL Level 1 Climb
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Trail: Covered forest, grassland and slippery muddy (if raining).
Trek Time: 3hrs 30mins - 4hrs Summit, 1hr Summit-Saddle Camp.

The Mt. Bahay Kalo climb categorized as a Level 1 climb is stretching it a bit. It can be a Level 1 climb but difficulty can cast a doubt why it is under a Level 1 climb. Blame the weather that made the trail muddy and slippery, the trail leading to the summit is moderately established for this is not the usual mountain on the list and only a few are familiar with the trail nor that it existed.

The trail from the summit to the Saddle camp is the difficult part of the trail and will require your hands and good judgment on footing on where to grip and where to land a foot to properly balance your self and not fall the almost non-existent trail which as been eroded.

As seen here, the summit view is blocked by cogon grass and in some areas trees.

This is Group 1’s group shot at the summit

The Summit can only accommodate 1-2 tents max (much smaller than Mt. Maculot's and Makiling's) and you have to descent to reach the saddle camp and have no choice but to go back to the trail back to the summit then down again to finally reach the jop (jump-of-point), it is also recommended (and required) that a sturdy climbing rope be made available (preferably at least 15meters) for the trail is very slippery and not much to hold on to so to make the hike more secure and fast.

Overall the climb was enjoyable not to mention the slide from the grassland hill to the campsite (likes of Mt. Sembrano).

Seen below is the saddle campsite, from there hikers will then ascent back to the summit the descent back to the jump-off-point or JOP

The campsite even if it will rain is shielded from the mud and water because the whole area is covered with cogon grass and its soft to lie down to (crediting that this is not part of the "main stream" mountains that are known and frequently visited.

Team Bahay Kalo’s Apps Group Shot

Apps with UPM members (TL, GL’s and Team X)

Sir Archie (UPM’s Physical Fitness Officer 2012) giving the usual warm-up stretching exercise, a must before every start trek.

Group 1 preparing dinner at the campsite

The groupings are always shuffled along the trail and when we descent back to the JOP. Now its Group 1’s time to be at the tail end after being the 1^st at the campsite the other day.

This is the JOP

Mountain 1^st Aid 101. Moral of the story, never assume that a knife is safe enough to be used as a can opener, best if you ask others first for a can opener before using the knife as one. He survived the deep cut and was happily stitched up (5 stitches to be exact).