Neopolitan Bike Ride

Our weekly ritual... like a new religion. Lol! This is to help us lose those ugly pounds. This morning we headed off to Neopolitan, about 8 kilometers from my house. Rode back and forth, and 4x around the oval. In total, we did about 18 kilometers. Not bad for a start.

The Sierra Madre Experience

Our hike from Licao-licao to Angat Watershed. It was supposed to be an easy and moderate hike, but without the trees, it was miserable. It rained constantly, and the mud kept clinging to our boots. It was impossible. The forest was bare, the trees were cut and burnt. Nothing is spared except the grass. There were no wild animals anymore, or if there were, they probably moved to another place. This is the reality of the Sierra Madre Region.

The Southern Sierra Madre Expedition

Finally, after months of anticipation and preparation, our Southern Sierra Madre Expedition will push through. Together with Jake Segui, we will establish a trail starting from Mt. Balabac in the city of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan all the way to Biac-Na-Bato, still in the province of Bulacan. It's a long, arduous, and ambitious plan that will take us 5-7 days to complete, hopefully.

Kovea Adventure Gas Lantern Review

I was introduced to bushwalking/tramping/hiking as a young child in Boy Scouts and through my school physical/adventure education. After leaving school, I mainly did short daywalks until recently when I have started to again re-walk some of Luzon's key hiking routes and try walks I have yet to attempt. I mainly walk in the dry months, in Bulacan's central highlands areas. I prefer light gear, extended walks (3-5 days) in a group of 3 or shorter walks (1-3 days) walking solo. I would generally carry a base weight pack of around 8 kg-10 kg (17 lb-22 lb).

SealLine Baja Bag Review

This is a great product for many marine applications but it is also great for storing electronics while camping and days at the beach. I spent an entire vacation travelling with this bag to keep my stuff dry whenever I went swimming, to the beach, to waterfalls, to lakes, wherever there was water and it worked perfectly and doubled as a great day-pack bag. This is a must-have if going anywhere where your valuables might be exposed to water. Saves hassle, peace of mind, and potentially, of course, your electronics.

My Early Morning Walk

Just a quick video of my early morning walk in the woods. A perfect way to shave off some pounds. LOL.

Coleman Exponent Multifuel Stove Review

I just love this stove and can't praise it enough. I bought mine some years ago after reading a rave review in Backpacker magazine. I used it mainly for extended backpacking. I have used this stove heavily over the years and it has performed flawlessly, reliably, and impressively.

Talk About Headlamps

Head lamps have come a long way since we were on our last scouting trip. No longer do you need to have a glorified Mag Lite strapped to your head, bobbing around and weighing your head down.

Hi-Tec's V-Lite Fast Hike Review

Talk about Hi-Tec's V-Lite Fast Hike shoes: Slightly deviating form the simplicity of Hi-Tec shoe designs, Hi-Tec packed as much technology into this shoe as they can. Built like a tank, in its mid cut version, this is a great shoe for anything from day hikes to light and fast trekking. It has rubber rands in front to help protect you from trail debris. The fit is great! The shoe is coupled with a lacing system that snugs your feet in the shoes special form fitting insoles. When your hike will last for at least half a day, this is the shoe that won't get you screaming in pain after only a couple of hours of trekking. Unlike other trekking shoes, the Fasthike needs little on no breaking-in period (although I suggest you still break-in every shoe that you purchase, just to be on the happy and safe side).

Locally Made Gaiters Review

I recently asked SAGKA (a local manufacturer of backpacking gear) to manufacture a pair of gaiters for me. Gaiters are for me, an essential part of my hiking gear. It helps keep dirt and water out of my shoes. It'd really be frustrating if you have a pebble in your shoe, or wet socks, wouldn't it?

The Coleman Exponent Avior X-1 Three Season One-Man Tent Review

The Coleman Exponent Avior X-1

The Coleman Exponent Avior X-1 Three Season One-Man Tent is a great little tent. It's light at just a little over a kilo, so it's great for backpacking and its fairly cheap. If you want to use it for solo backpacking, it's great as you have plenty of room to sleep in and keep all your gear inside!

DIY Ultralight Submarine Candle Lantern

In purchasing equipment for the outdoors, I always use the same thought process. How often am I going to upgrade my equipment based on the new radical improvements that the manufacturer will come out with? How long before my existing equipment will become obsolete and I will have to replace it? How long will it be before I have a disadvantage with my existing equipment? When the time came to choose a camping lantern, I decided that I would choose the best camping lantern that I could afford based on the use of the camping lantern. Currently, there are candle, battery and gas lanterns available.  

The Mountain Safety Research (MSR) DromLite Hydration Bag Review

The MSR Dromlite 2 liter and 4 liter Hydration Bags

I have recently made a move to lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring. I usually take a hammock withh a mosquito net and tarp, and enjoy hot meals at night. The Mountain Safety Research DromLite Hydration Bags (hereafter called the DromLite or bag) are collapsible, roll-able fabric water reservoirs. They are made of "MSR red" 200-denier Cordura which is welded together to seal the edges creating the envelope-type storage containers seen here. The fabric has a thick plastic-feeling coating on the inside. The MSR logo is applied to the face of the DromLites.

At the top of the bag is metal grommet that can be used to hang the bag on a nail or hook. A small carabiner, piece of cord or webbing can be placed through the grommet too. I have a hang strap from MSR on my 4 L bag.

DIY Alcohol Stove

For hiking, camping, biking, boating, Scouting, RV-ing - used by homeless, survivalists, search & rescue, disaster and third world relief.

This plan is human ingenuity at its very finest. For the cost of a few sodas, you can build yourself a camping stove like no other... lots of scientific data to back up the claim that it's the best travel stove for any money.

I built the alcohol stove last summer and used it on extensively on camping trips all over the country. It worked every time, 100% of the time, rain or shine. It is the perfect stove, especially for international use. If it gets confiscated at security, it takes about 30 minutes to make a new one. Fuel can always be found. Simmers perfectly.

Last year I posted the original instructions for a stove that I had been developing for years - one that is dependable, safe, lightweight, fast, efficient, but is still simple to make and use. This site documents the response to the first alcohol stove that is good enough to compete with gas stoves and keep canisters out of landfills. It will bake scones, or simmer a pot of real rice for 20 minutes with 2/3 oz., and make tea for two with 1/2 oz..

The MSR Dragonfly Stove Review

The MSR Dragonfly Stove

I have had my eye on a petrol stove for a while, as I have used gas stoves before and have some issues with these. Their performance in the cold can be poor, and of course you are always trying to gauge how full the gas bottles are and how many to take. I though a petrol stove would solve all these problems, although I was not so sure. I have heard they are noisy difficult to simmer with and on occasion temperamental.

After some research, I got my hands on an MSR Dragonfly because of the good things I heard about it (a good simmer control, and a good reliable stove).

The Victorinox Forester SAK Review

The Victorinox Forester SAK

Victorinox has a highly-functional lock-blade design in its larger folding knives. Cutting out the clutter of redundant blades, nail files, magnifying glasses and other such non-essentials, the Forester knife is left with a fairly long, very sharp single usable blade, a small saw, a corkscrew, awl, can opener, bottle opener, and slotted screwdriver (and, of course, the ubiquitous toothpick and tweezers, which I might add are handier than you would think).

The MSR Miniworks Water Filter Review

The MSR Miniworks Water Filter

This is without a doubt the best filter for anyone planning on attacking a major hiking trip. The bottom screws onto my MSR Drommlite bag and my Nalgene bottle. It is long lasting and easy to clean if you ever get to that point.You only have to clean the outside of the filter, and only use clean water to do so. Soap is a cloggy substance and will be unforgiving to the carbon granules inside the element.

Balagbag Falls Through Hike (Sierra Madre Mountain Range - Montalban to Bulacan)

A gradual and relaxing hike of a part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range is the Montalban - Bulacan thru hike. This trail is a bike trail that spans 72.89 kilometers (45.29 miles) of dirt and paved road. When hiking on this trail, I suggest you wear running shoes instead of your hiking shoes as it is more comfortable due to the distance of the hike. No need to worry about traction because, like I said, this is a bike road so there are no steep hills to cross. Start early (about 4:00am) to get to the midpoint before setting camp. Pack light! This is a long hike.

GSI Outdoors Lexan Drive Bottle- Apricot Orange

GSI Outdoors Lexan Drive Bottle- Apricot Orange

This was given to me as a freebie when I purchased my tent and my stove some time ago. Immediately I was curious as it seemed a bit fragile. I personally have used a couple of Nalgene Bottles before, and this is something new that I just have to try it.

Casio Pathfinder PAG40B-2V Review

The Casio Pathfinder PAG40B-2V

Talk about the Casio Pathfinder PAG40B-2V. It's a very, very good watch if you're looking into buying something that you will use for a very long period of time. I've had mine since 2000, and I must say, aside from replacing the batteries every 2-3 years (depending on usage), it hasn't had anything repaired on it yet. Of course there are some minor scratches, but the triple sensor system is magnificent! It's almost like having a weather station attached to your wrist! The only thing you're missing with the Casio Pathfinder is a GPS feature.

Mount Daguldul Climb

San Juan Batangas is 115 kilometers from Manila, a two to three hours drive depending on traffic situation and routes taken. When commuting, there are two options to get there. The first, common and easiest way to get there is via Lipa Batangas. From Manila you can take either Lipa, Cuenca, Batangas City or Lucena bound buses. From Lipa bus terminal (Big Ben, Jolibee, Mc Donalds) take a tricycle ride to the Lipa City Public Market. From the main road, CM Recto corner Mercury Drug Lipa is where jeepneys plying San Juan Batangas passes by. Alight at the San Juan Batangas Public Market (Petron Gas Station). From that road, the second corner is where jeepneys plying Barangay Hugom waits for passengers. The second option is via Batangas City. From Batangas City there are jeepneys and buses plying San Juan Batangas.