Mt Isarog : Panicuason Trail

Warned by a friend that this mountain is a major climb and since I love adventures, I give it a go. honestly, I have no idea what a major climb really is. Despite having nervousness in mind, I see that this would be just another challenge for my climbing stint.

It was June 2013 when we climbed this mossy and lush rain forest mountain. From the Naga City Bus Terminal, we took a tricycle going to the city public market area where we took a jeepney going to Barangay Panicuason. At the jeepney's turn-about we met our tour guide and started our trek to the majestic mountain of Naga City. Trees are everywhere! This is why I so loved this mountain. But adjacent to this realm is the high presence of "limatik" or parasites up to their so-called base #2. There is also a part of the trail where only huge and tall bamboo trees are all over the place. Oftentimes, you would also jump or hop off large fallen trunks of trees along the way. Another major feat of this trail (for me) is to like rock climb about one-storey high rocks or boulders which is almost 90 degrees inclined; going down this steep part is my most unforgettable part in this climb.  There are also water sources along the trail, particulary in base 2 (?) and base 3 where we camped.

base #3 is the last and topmost base where you can camp overnight

We started our climb from the jump-off at about ten in the morning and reached base #3 at around four in the afternoon. I think it would be faster if I didn't had minor muscle cramps which partly delayed the group. Water wasn't really an issue during the climb since (1) the trail is almost purely covered with trees and (2) it was cloudy at that time. Actually, we forgot to buy some rice at that time yet survived the whole day trek without any carbo-loading from rice. The next day, we hiked on to the summit for two hours from base 3; leaving our bags and things there.

at the summit, still surrounded with trees

no clearing for us on that day

parts where you can hardly see the trail

Before reaching the jump-off on our descent, we made a stop-over to its falls; i just forgot its name. Entrance is free and many locals are having their family picnics here. The water is really cold and gets very deep near the falls.

the falls right next to jump-off