Pico de Loro: First Climb Fail

There's something with being unable to reach the summit after having trekked and endured the trail for hours. The feeling of heartbreak is the only thing that comes close. I stood at the foot of the famous Parrot's Beak, made a quick ascent by working my way to the first boulders that I had to step on. I haven't even reached the where the rope was (supposedly used for rappelling) when fear began to creep in. I decided, I had to back out.

Mt. Palay Palay is one of the most famous mountains in Southern Luzon. It is also known as Pico de Loro because of two rock formations on the summit that resemble a parrot's beak from a certain angle (I personally think that they look more like the face of a fallen giant.) It took us two and a half hours to reach the summit from the jump off point at DENR-Ternate. The trail is pretty straight forward. In addition to arrows, it also has plenty of trail markers such as paints on tree barks and ribbons tied to branches.

The trail is well-forested.

Banners hung at the first camp site.

Registration area, P20/head

The first camp site

One of the many markings on the trail

Bamboo Forest

The trail was mostly downward until we reached the first camp site. After the tree marked as "Alibangbang Park", the trail begins to morph into a more cardiac level with its rocky and slightly steep slopes. Trees will offer a constant amount of shade until you reach the last camp site. From there, it takes only ten to fifteen minutes to reach Peak 1 (the upper beak) and from Peak 1, the foot of the famous Peak 2 - the vertical monolith in which Mt. Palay Palay is famous for - may be reached by a quick five-minute descent.

The campsite near the summit. A vendor here sells
softdrink (8 oz for P20 and 12 oz for P30).

Great view at the campsite

Climbing the first peak. Some parts are too slippery it is advisable to grab the grasses.

Lloyd and Amber, the only two who got to the peak.

Just before reaching the rope.

The imposing monolith.

I'm coming back after you - you ****n monolith.

EXPENSES
Chartered jeep (Manila to DENR-Ternate and vv) P350
Registration P20 at DENR-Ternate and P20 at the first camp site

TIPS
1. You can take a shower at DENR-Ternate for P5.
2. There's a free-flowing water (actually, an open faucet) at the first camp site that can be used for cooking and drinking.
3. Bringing food/packed lunches is a must. A store inside the DENR compound sells meals, boiled bananas and drinks, but they ran out of anything to sell when we got there.
4. Navigating the roads of Cavite can be tricky. If your driver is not familiar with the area, bring maps with you to complement the directions you will get from locals.