Happy Campers in Mount Everest

The Board during it's year end drinking session have decided that Happy Campers Pilipinas (HCP) will send a team to Mt. Everest in 2010. In a resolution witnessed by a bottle of brandy, 2 bottles of scotch, 5 bottles of red wine and dozens of assorted beer... Cho and Tita Merly will lead the fund raising activities which include prosperity dances in leading public markets nationwide. Kick off activity netted HCP a couple of thousand pesos courtesy of market vendors in Clover Leaf Balintawak.

Interested members who would like to be part of Happy Team Everest please signify your intention by posting on the comment section below. It will be an all expense paid trip for qualified aspirants plus a complete DVD dance instruction of Material Girl. Good Luck!

Mt. Batulao... Happy Campers' Lechon Party!

It was meant to be an induction climb for some of us, but it turned out to be a party.

We started our hike by choosing our would be guide amongst the young boys waiting at the jump off. Melvin 9 years old proved to be the perfect guide. He was courteous, knows the trail well and can even turn a mountain flower into a musical instrument. So while we huffed our way through the rugged trail,he was making sounds from a flower that reminded us of a bird chirping or a cat in heat.

Happy Campers tried the "new trail" and the view is magnificent. We also met some interesting people along the way but we'll never forget... the future Mayor of Batulao.

The campsite just below the summit is a good place to rest. The view...superb! One of us could not resist the cool mountain air and dream his way to the summit.

Climbing Mount Batulao is fun and rewarding.... crispy lechon and cold beer on the house!

Mt. Amuyao Night Trek

Night Trek in Mt. Amuyao is not only a possibility, it's a reality! How did we do it? here's our story...

We were booked on a 9:30pm autobus but missed it. We were hurled like sacks of potatoes on the next bus squeezing ourselves on it's center seats. From Manila to Banaue we were threatened not to move nor breadth because doing so will cause a dangerous weight imbalance to the bus. For 10 long hours we kept still, managing only to blink ones a while and smile :) ....thinking that one of us will get the shocked of her life we she find out that we are going mountain climbing and not to some beach resort in Zambales.

Reaching Banaue with sored butts and numbed limbs, we managed to have a hearty breakfast in Las Vegas Restaurant. Here, we met the jeepney driver that will take us to Barlig (jump off point). Funny, but this driver and his know-it-all assistant have not seen Barlig in their entire life. Tough Luck!

Since our guides are clueless to our destination, we stopped more often than not to ask for directions. One of the girls could not control nature's call during the trip, so we made an emergency stopover for her to take a leak. Next time we saw her she was wet all over and has to change clothes right in the middle of the road. We took some pictures of her while she undressed in front of us but could not post it here. Those interested to see her pics can buy Maxim and FHM magazines next month and look for the article "Slipped and Stripped".

It was already raining when we started our ascend around 4pm. We have about an hour and a half of daylight before darkness sets in. The steep trail are so slippery we crawled our way up. Mountain Crawling....anyone?

Nobody quit in Amuyao. Our sweepers reached the summit at 3am. Tired, wasted but Happy. The hot and delicious pork "sinigang" was a treat!

Is a night trek in Mt Amuyao possible??

Happy Campers Did It!

Happy Camper of the Month... Queen Sophie

Sophie is a Queen. You can tell it in the way she handles her food in the wilderness. A royal blood... always prim and proper. She uses the center seat of the autobus when traveling from Manila to Banaue, and has sore butt to prove it.
Leeches love to suck her dry. It's the sweetness of her royal blood that they like. Commoners do not have to fear leeches again when they are in a company of an Aristocrat like Sophie. These parasites hate sweaty skin.
Our Queen recently climbed Mt. Amuyao. The dead nails on her feet are proof that she enjoyed it. She swears that she likes mountaineering than golf. She's selling her golf clubs to pay for the badly needed nail replacement.
We all want to see you in our next climb Sophie. May your nails Rest In Peace...
Long Live the Queen!

Happy Halloween...ooops Happy Camper of the Month

Who would think that this 55 year old granny can still climb mountains? Naysayers said she's just too old and should stick to cross stitch and her rocking chair. Hell NO! The First Lady of Yokogawa Philippines recently climbed Mt. Dulang Dulang... the second highest mountain in the country. When her doctor told her to stop what she's doing because of lumbar problem... she made sure to get another doctor and slapped him. Our Happy Camper does not need a porter to carry her bags. She needs a good looking porter to carry her during climbs. She's 'very energetic and can even make KC Concepcion run for her money.
She swears she'll never climb Mt. Cristobal because it's the Devil's Mountain. Me thinks she'll drive away all the evil spirits in the mountain when she sets foot on it. Tita Merly is a woman who's always in a hurry... to buy souvenirs. She arrives early in the meeting place well ahead of everybody. Occasionally, she'll arrive one day ahead. I just dont know if it is the early bird mentality or alzeihmers catching up on her.
Keep smiling Tita Merly because you are our Happy Camper of the Month!

Tales of Mt. Dulang-Dulang & Macau

The Gang left without me for Mt. Dulang-Dulang. I was in Macau... how could they do this me! While they sip their wine staring at the starry night, i am drinking my beer getting dizzy with the glittering lights of Lisboa. Totally Unfair!!!

They trekked the mountain trail led by the Pied Piper while I huffed and puffed catching the trains and ferry that will take me back to Hong Kong. These people are my friends they say...huh! I am sourgraping alright, but who would'nt? The pictures they showed were AWESOME to say the least and they even managed to smile doing this while i bit my lips in envy grrrrg. I am a Happy Camper, but camping in Macau is not funny while the Gang is having a grand time at the summit of Mt. Dulang-Dulang!!!

Happy Lawyer is a Happy Camper

Atty Joel proudly shows off his bruises and insect bites in his first climb. Although he regularly goes to the gym, mountain climbing proved to be a different world. He threatened the mosquitoes in Mt. Arayat with litigation if they did not stop attacking him. The insects responded by ganging up on him. He debated with the steep trail to cooperate. The trail became a "slippy trail" and knock him out 25 times. The law school taught him to fight it out, the mountain taught him to accept and adapt. At the end of the day it does not matter how many times you are proven right, it's how you live your life. Atty Joel will be climbing more mountains... and he deserves to be our Happy Camper of the Month!

Voltes 5 conquers Mt. Arayat

Dr. Armstrong called Voltes 5 for a mission. Destroy all forces of the Bohemian Empire hiding in Mt. Arayat. Steve, Mark, Big Bert, Jamie and Little John did not disappoint the good doctor. With sheer determination, the gang's wobbly legs scaled Central Luzon's highest mountain. They did not find a single bohemian... only swarms of pesky mosquitoes that treated "Off Lotion" as dessert.
Luckily, these courageous heroes came prepared. They got drunk the night before the climb and the smell of alcohol proved deadly to the insects.
To all mountaineers that are planning to climb Mt. Arayat in the future... take the necessary precaution. Insect repelants do not work there.
A little booze and a Big Smile will do. Voltes 5 are Happy Campers in Mt. Arayat!

Chef Don in Mt. Manalmon

Our featured Happy Camper for this month is Don. The veteran outdoor chef who likes to cook "papaitan" and "sisig". His camping cuisine are excellent...to hungry, dehydrated and tired hikers. He profess that he never uses MSG in his cooking. Magic Sarap Ginisa is what he use.
Interested parties who would like to get his services may contact this blogger. He promise to give 10% of his fee to this blog just to be featured as Happy Camper of the Month.

Daylight Come & We Wanna Go Home

We barely know each other when we started the climb. The mountain trail gave us a chance to engage in small talks and "getting to know you" conversations. By the time we reach the summit we have become buddies. We have conquered the mountain and we made new friends.
Daylight Come...&
A group picture before descend is an SOP. Smiling Happy Campers,

I'll see you in my next climb...
We Wanna Go Home

Preparing for the Next Climb

Are you bored waiting for your next climb?
Be guided...

1. Build up your stamina. Jogging, aerobics and what have you may work but hell it's not fun. Conserve energy... SLEEP! On rainy days like these, would you rather get wet or cuddle your pillow?

2. Lift some weights. Buy a six pack and do a bicep and tricep exercise with it. A 3 set 20 reps will do. After your workout, put it in a freezer and cook your favorite pulutan. Call a friend, and viola... you'll not only enjoy lifting it again, it will relax you as well. Be sure to do it slowly so it will build up your muscles.

3. Do breathing exercises. High altitude sickness happens because of lack of oxygen. How are you going to simulate it then? A pack of cigarette a day will do. This will not only prepare your lungs for worse condition in a climb but nicotine will also wrapped it like a shield against bacteria.


Caveat... this works for me and may not work for you.

Toothache, Getting Lost and Mt. Mabilog

It was a friendship climb organized by Outdoor Addicts. Trail was relatively good and the weather is fine. My toothache is a curse during the trek. A couple of Alaxan FR and half a liter of "lambanog" took it away. The view at the summit is great... we never felt we left home with Mt. Cristobal nearby. Going back to our base camp took us to another (mis) adventure. We got lost and unexpectedly made a traverse. Thanks to the locals for showing us the way. At the end of the day, having a toothache and getting lost during a climb is nothing...if you keep smiling like a true blooded Happy Camper!

Happy Faces

We've been smiling since our first climb in Mount Daguldol. We'll climb more mountains and smile more often as we grow old. Thanks to Outdoor Addicts for adding color to our colorful lives. Hakuna Matata!

Picture Perfect in Mt. Pulag

Don't you wish you were in the picture?
Here are some tips to guide you...

1. Never climb on a bad weather. You might be successful in reaching the peak but w/ no proof to show your friends...well, they'll just probably doubt everything that you've said.
2. Always bring a good camera and spare batteries. Those cheap cameras may get you your proof but... hey, it wont look as perfect as this pix.
3. Dress appropriately. Temperature on top will be very cold and the camera might catch you shivering instead of smiling.
4. Smile. Frowning will ruin a perfect picture.

Cupid in Mt. Maculot

We have different reasons why we climb mountains. Some of us find this as a good reason to stay fit. Others love the outdoors and everything that goes with it. I know a very healthy person who love the outdoors and finally find his true love at the summit of Mt. Maculot. Cheers!

The Truth Behind The Picture:
We did not reach Mt. Pulag summit. It was damn cold and we're all dripping wet. It was raining hard since we started the trek and no amount of praying/cursing would stop it. Some of us cried over spilled coffee, others spilled gin into their belly. Happy Campers squeezed into the remaining dry portion in the area. It was a 4ft by 3ft plywood. There were 14 of them. Cant show you the pics of our miserable night in Pulag, after all this is a Happy Campers Blog. We look very happy in the picture.... we're on our way home!

hello there. just starting my blog and this is my first post. dunno when i'll get the hang of it. this is Happy Campers blog in the Philippines and it's all about...what else but camping! the group's (mis) adventure will be featured for real and pretending climbers. may you all learn from our mistakes. hahaha. hey, i'm starting this blog because the Happy Campers are too old to learn how to blog and some are too poor to buy a computer.