Mt. Batolusong (known by locals as “Batonglusong”) had been in my itinerary since last year, but various circumstances have prevented me from scaling this part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Three attempts, to be exact. After every failed attempt, my curiosity grew stronger. Ano bang meron sa Batolusong at ayaw akong paakyatin? (What is in Mt. Batolusong that’s preventing me from climbing it?)

Before Batolusong

In between attempts, I hiked several mountains to keep myself in shape. I scaled Mt. Pico de Loro and Mt. Daraitan. I visited the Pinatubo crater that included a thrilling 4×4 ride. I did my first sunset hike in Mt. Gulugod Baboy (this deserves another story because I need to go back there). I pulled myself up to Nagpatong Rock formation.

Then the good news arrived: my time for Mt. Batolusong has finally come! I must say that the waiting was all worth it. The memory of the experience lingered for days, longer than the pain in my thighs and calves (but n a good way. Haha).

The first three phases

Mt. Batolusong has 4 phases and three peaks. The first three phases will take you through mostly dense forests enriched by a variety of fruit-bearing trees and wild flowers. It would have been the chill part of the hike since you’re going to be beneath the shade of trees, but the time of our hike was humid. The air was thick, making us tire easily and for us to have a more difficult time tackling the assaults. Although we started the hike at 4:30 in the morning, I found myself removing my windbreaker even before we reached the first phase. I was already drenched in sweat way before we took our first break.

What I love about this part of the hike is the sound of the forest. This by far is the loudest I’ve experienced. They’re not just from crickets, birds, and rustling leaves. There were banshee-like sounds that at times sounded like chainsaws. It wasn’t creepy at all — just unique and mystifying.

By the time we reached phase two, we heard about a hiker who decided to go back. I felt sorry for her, but that’s part of hiking. You challenge yourself and test your limits, but at the same time, you also need to listen to your body. That’s why you shouldn’t try to keep up with the rest of your fellow hikers. Always stay with your pace, and you’ll get farther than you could ever imagine.

Somewhere between phases two and three was a delight. I got my first sneak peek of what’s in store for us. Between the cracks of the forest, by the bamboo railings in one of the many assaults, I saw a glimpse of the sea of clouds blanketing over surrounding mountains. That was my first wow moment, giving me a boost of energy that no water or trail food could ever replace.

But hey, take sips of water every now and then. Hydration is still key to hiking success.

The fourth phase is the doorway to the open trail, so I prepared myself for the heat of the sun. Fortunately, storm clouds were there to block the heat from time to time. It was as if the sky was taking breaks along the way, making sure we have enough energy to see ourselves through.

The rolling grassland

As we exited the forest part of the trail, we were greeted by a wide expanse of tall grass. This is where the first two peaks, Duhatan Ridge and Mapatag plateau, are located. These parts gave me a couple more wow moments as the wide open views were absolutely spectacular.

Duhatan Ridge still has a few trees and offers the best view of the sea of clouds. Mapatag plateau is the second peak, which gives a preview of the summit. At this point, the summit looks intimidating because of its steepness. It’s the point-of-no-return, knowing it’s going to be assault after assault all the way up to the summit. It was somewhere here when another hiker decided not to complete the hike because of a knee pain that she got from the previous assaults.

Glory at the summit

The first few meters after Mapatag plateau was all grass and sculptured trail. The tall ones were itchy on the skin, though not sharp enough to cut you. I kept scratching and raising my hands throughout, but the sight of the sea of clouds by the side of the trail was comforting.

By the foot of the summit, we were welcomed by shady trees as if to distract us from the final series of assaults. The final assault was a steep climb all the way up to the fourth and final peak, Rangyas. There was a rope to guide hikers through, which to me was not really necessary since there were steps wide enough to keep the foot in place. It’s important for safety reasons, so I used the rope.

Standing at the very summit of Mt. Batolusong, the Rangyas Peak, was the end-all and be-all for me. Everywhere I turn, the place gave me the different characters that this part of Sierra Madre offers. From here, I had glimpses of Bundok Susong Dalaga or Mt. Tagapo (Breast Mountain), Mt. 387, Mt. Mapalad, Mt. Maynuba, Mt. Irid, to name a few.

As I looked down at the grassland trail, I was reminded of the strength and endurance that the Lord continues to give me at my age. I marveled at how far I went — how at certain points during the hike, I felt my thighs tightening and telling me how these will hurt in the next couple of days. I would have stopped and turned back like the other hiker, but I was filled with the spirit and a mindset that there was a reason why God chose this day to make me experience Mt. Batolusong. The weather was perfect, the sea of clouds was consistent, the clearing was picturesque. All glory to God!

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On the way back, our guide told me that there would soon be a construction for wind turbines around the area. While it’s good for renewable energy, I hope they don’t ruin the landscape of this side of Sierra Madre.