Before,During and After Mt. Capistrano

I can never be ready...

This is one of my first Mount Expedition and I had no regrets after (even until now).

My highschool friend suggested it and I was just on the sidelines engaging in the conversations but I didn't expect to be on the actual hike because I would be in Cagayan de Oro the night before the climb for a family dinner with my BBFF. Knowing dinners, they usually end up late and call time for the climb will be at 4 am at Malaybalay so that would mean a sleepless travel-tired-me about to climb a Mountain early morn the next day.In my mind, it's a no-no and I didn't had to argue with myself about the non negotiability of compromising self preservation with adventure just for fun.


...I can only give it my best.

But shit happens. Just kidding. I just happened to change my mind. I don't know what made me change my mind, maybe I missed being with my highschool friends (we hadn't seen each other for so long and we haven't had these kind of adventures when we were younger) or maybe I just wanted to take the opportunity to experience a new place with people  (take the chance while the company is still there) or maybe I just wanted to take my mind off from a recent heartache or could be that I just wanted to do something different for a change since my life had become boring or maybe,just maybe, my inner girl is surfacing (they say  girls has all the right to change their mind) or might be a mix of it all.


Whatever made me decide to climb that mountain led me to an impromptu shoe shopping. Buying a pair of new shoes is not in my budget list.My BBFF helped me scourge the mall for affordable shoes that grip. Dinner ended at 9 in the evening and I arrived in the boarding house at 10. I readied my backpack and it was past 11 already when I finished. Our target meetup at Malaybalay terminal is at 4 AM and the plan is to take the 1 AM bus from Cagayan de Oro City. So there's no ample time to have even a power nap. With a full dinner but with no sleep I stood on my ground that I'd still be climbing that mountain. There's no turning back.


Hailing and riding a taxi at almost midnight,I think, is the scary part but I braved it though. I don't like travelling at night because I can't see what's outside and it gives me motion sickness. Fortunately, the night travel went fine and we arrived safely and surprisingly early at Malaybalay City Bus Terminal.

12:45 AM  Departure time from Agora
                   Terminal
                   Bus bound for Tacurong
                   Fare: Php 150.00
03:00 AM Arrived at Malaybalay City
                  Bus Terminal
Past 4:00 AM  we took a multicab en route to Aglayan Crossing.
Fare: Php 15.00

From Aglayan Crossing there are Habal Habal for hire that took us to Brgy. Simaya.
Fare: Php 30.00




The wind was cold and crispy on our faces and the sun hasn't shown up yet. Which was good since we wanted to climb up while it's still cool.

When we arrived there. We wrote our names in the log book. Rid our backpacks of with non-essential heavy things and left them at the sari-sari store for safekeeping. Environmental fee is Php20 per head.

It is a requirement to take a tourguide . The fee is Php500 for one tourguide. We split the fee among ourselves,got introduced with our assigned tourguide and proceeded to the foot of the Mount


At this moment I lost track of the time. I am definitely trying my best not to be overwhelmed and be overwhelming while writing this post. I will keep the descriptions short just to give you an idea but not spoil you of the experience you are yet to have.




The climb started off with the stairs composed of 298 steps.




Next would be the one with a rope to hold on and help you pull yourself .




This is followed by a trail with no more ropes.




Then the view starts getting bigger and better .




We then started spotting shrubs that bear these. They look like wild berries.








The trail with no rope led us to the trees. Then we encountered  rocks and then started seeing big rocks. One sure sign that you're almost at the top is when you start seeing big rocks.


People can't get away with vandalism though,even up in the mountains *tsk tsk

There's a campsite up there too.
Upon reaching the point of big rocks, the sun is already up but not yet scorching. The view was a sigh and a sight.

Since we've managed to arrive at the top,one should not go home without a good picture to remind us and maybe something  to boast off that we had done something new and something beyond our comfort zones.




To arrive at that picture perfect spot, we had to go around rocks.




Climb through bigger rocks and one last time,climb that rock.







Then you can take those selfies you can be proud of...


The view of the rice paddies,the mountains yonder and the cliff on our sides.. they don't look different up there. But the way you see it when you're up there, there is a big difference.




Getting down from that picture perfect spot rock was the tricky part. I had to admit,my knees went gooey that I almost do not want to come down for fear of falling or tumbling down. But I cannot remain up there either so with helpful hands we managed to bring me down. Makes me shake my head when I remember that part. haha.

After a light breakfast we went down the trail we took earlier meeting more and more friendly faces (like us) on our way down.

After Mt. Capistrano we had a side trip to Nasuli Spring to rest and cool down.

We rode the habal-habal from Mt. Capistrano to Nasuli Spring.
Fare: Php40
Entrance Fee: Php30





and...after that we traveled separate ways each leading us back to home.


We were blessed with good weather and a great sunset. I was very prayerful and reflective all throughout the day and I was again reminded that I am, I can and my God is great and mighty and that He made all things wonderful (that includes me and my circumstances).


Meet the blogger: with Wind blown hair,Sun kissed skin,Tired Feet but Happy

All photos here are not mine. All Credits to Nagi.😉