Mt. Maculot Climb (Where "Love Conquers All" Originated)

We haven't had the chance to climb a mountain for the month of May so this Mt. Maculot climb on June was our first climb since our killer Mt. Apo hike. Of course, after the Mt. Apo Climb, I told myself that mountaineering was just too much for me. Then, I realized the countless times I told that to myself before and also the times I've broken my word everytime I said that.

Again, there were only three of us, girls, in this climb. And just like the Mt. Palay Palay (Pico de Loro) hike, we didn't hire a guide, though we were all first-timers in Mt. Maculot. Since June  was a rainy month, I expected rain. But the weather could be just as unpredictable as it could be and so far, our Mt. Maculot climb had been the best in terms of the clearing and the views. It had been memorable because we were blessed with an unobstructed view of Taal Lake.

the three of us at the Mt. Maculot Rockies

Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas is one of the mountains recommended for newbie mountaineers since the trail is relatively easy and there are no extremely steep parts. The most remarkable feature of this mountain is the "Rockies" - a part which consisted of boulders and offers the best view of Taal Lake. The "Rockies", at 706 meters above sea level, is an even more popular end destination than the summit itself. During our climb, we did not push through going to the summit since fellow climbers that we met on the path, as well as a local told us that the trail to the summit was unkempt and quite unsafe because of some obstructions. Nonetheless, a Mt. Maculot climb is actually not about having to reach the highest point but being able to reward yourself with a fantastic and breathtaking view combined with the calmness and coolness of the wind that makes you feel one with nature - the exact reason why I love mountaineering so much though it's extremely exhausting.

view from Maculot part 1

view from Maculot part 2

view from Maculot part 3

view from Maculot part 4

I met with my friend at Jam Liner Cubao at 5:00 AM, and boarded a bus bound for Lipa. We paid a fare of P 150, and got down at an intersection where we had to ride a jeep (with fare of P 28/head) to Cuenca Town Hall. We bought our lunch at an eatery along the highway. Mt. Maculot could already be clearly seen from the road to Cuenca Town Hall. The Town Hall looked and felt creepy when we arrived as we were the only persons there while we waited for another friend. When our friend arrived, we rode a tricycle to the jump-off point (worth P 30 fare). Along the way, we were approached by a man who asked for our registration details and payment. Registration fee for Mt. Maculot is P 10/head.

where we bought our lunch

Mt. Maculot's view from the road to Cuenca Town Hall

Cuenca Town Hall

At around 8:30 AM, we were already starting our trek. Being first-timers, we were not even aware if we were on the right path since we got off at a residential location, but upon asking, we finally reached the start of the trail. While starting our trail, there was a fork where we had no idea which side to go to, and it was a good thing that we found a local who passed by and asked him. The trail type was consistent - characterized by tall grass and some trees.

the marker at the start of the trail

photo taken as we were starting our trek

at a marker somewhere along the trail

creatures like him is not uncommon in Mt. Maculot

thick grass somewhere on the trail (I got cut!)

same photo, different angle (and different camera)

scenic view of Mt. Maculot

My precious!

Since we had a month gap from our last climb, I easily got tired and being the take-5 girl that I am, I asked for time to rest, and it became the official start of the "Love Conquers All" campaign. Having met Boots in Mt. Apo two months ago, a friend asked him to join us in that climb. Because he got shy, he declined the offer. While I was resting, I asked my friend to send an SMS to Boots and ask him for motivation to push through. Boots replied in amazement, saying what could a simple SMS from him do to motivate me, and out of nowhere, I told my friend to tell him "Love conquers all". He didn't believe that it came from me, yet he replied, saying that I could do it and it would be easy, because I was able to hike Mt. Apo beforehand. Upon hearing those words, I became fully recharged and was smiling all throughout the hike.

take five at a bench somewhere in the trail

take five even if there were no benches around

We trekked further, being amazed and preoccupied with the view of Taal Lake on our way up. Hence, we reached the Rockies before we knew it. Since we were blessed with a very good weather, we were able to spend much time on the Rockies - just relaxing and enjoying the view (and taking photos, of course).

Taal Lake view from Mt. Maculot Part 1

Taal Lake view from Mt. Maculot Part 2

Taal Lake view from Mt. Maculot Part 3

Taal Lake view from Mt. Maculot Part 4

Taal Lake view from Mt. Maculot Part 5

Taal Lake view from Mt. Maculot Part 6

Taal Lake view from Mt. Maculot Part 7

Enjoying the Rockies of Maculot Part 1

Enjoying the Rockies of Maculot Part 2

Enjoying the Rockies of Maculot Part 3

Enjoying the Rockies of Maculot Part 4

This is Freedom. (angle 1)

This is freedom. (angle 2)

This is freedom. (angle 3)

At around 2:00 PM, we were already back where we began, and it was just timely because rain clouds were starting to form already. We had an unforgettable funny moment when two ducks approached us and we could never move on, because they were attacking us (talk about conquering mountains when we couldn't even get past these ducks :D).

they instantly became the most unforgettable part of our journey

Important tip for Mt. Maculot climb:

Wear an arm guard and pants (or any light material that could cover/protect your skin) because the grass are sharp (I got cuts all over my arms after the climb).