Bud Bongao, Tawi-Tawi's Overwatch and Sacred Peak

Tawi-Tawi is composed of 107 highlands and is known for its numerous sandbars that are spread along the shallow waters of the northernmost extremities of Celebes Sea. A mountain, in solitude, towers at 342 meters above sea level amidst the flat island of Bongao. It is a masterpiece of nature as it shows its prowess with vertical limestone rocks and lush forests. Bud Bongao stands as the sacred mountain of the land.

Tawi-Tawi: A mapping expedition to the Philippines Southernmost Sojourn

Tawi-Tawi is the southernmost province of the Philippines with about one hundred seven (107) islands scattered across the Sulu archipelago. It is bounded on the north by the Sulu Sea and the south by the Celebes Sea. The province is known to possess beautiful islands with powdery white and pink beaches, shallow turquoise waters, flourishing ecosystem and numerous sandbars. Hence, our original mission was to map the province for tourism development. Chain of events has made this expedition more complicated as we have originally planned.

Predict the Natural Occurrence of Sea of Clouds on Philippine Mountains

Mount Pulag is known for the magnificent view of sea of clouds when at its summit. Being the tallest mountain at the island of Luzon in the Philippines, no other mountains can hinder its magnificent view. However, not all are lucky to catch the sea of clouds. So when do we usually get this sea of clouds so that we get to have a glimpse of the wondrous view while on top of these towering mountains?

The Cordillera Great Traverse

The Cordillera Great Traverse is so far the longest trail network in the Philippines traversing the highlands of the Cordillera region of the Philippine's largest island of Luzon. Covering four hundred forty four kilometers, connecting all famous mountain trails of the region including Luzon's highest and country's third, Mount Pulag.

Tracking Your Travels - An important safety travel tip for the outdoor enthusiast

We have heard about horror stories of people missing on the mountains. Having lost for five days or more in the wilderness, where the family has been anxious about one's situation and location. We've heard people who were lost forever; where people close to that person have been deprived of closure. Asking what may have happened, where might he be. Yet, there is only one solution to this problem that every traveler or adventurer must adhere to before one take that first step to go out from the confines of our comfort zone... let at least one person know where you are headed. Yet, is following this "golden rule" of travel already sufficient?

Dwarf Cloud Rat of Mount Pulag

First discovered at the end of the 19th century, the Dwarf Cloud Rat only exists in the mountains of the Cordilleras exceeding 2,300 meters above sea level. Believed to be already extinct by the 20th century, hopes have been renewed as researchers have re-discovered the species last 2008.

Mt. Pulag - Sleeping among the clouds. Ambangeg Mapping Expedition

December 27-30, 2014
As a child, we seldom get the dream of sleeping on a puff of cloud among the moon and the stars at night. As we attain that dream and make it to reality, we scale and map the highest peak of the island of Luzon and the Philippines' third highest peak. Towering over the other mountains of the country's largest island and overseeing its whole landmass. Mt. Pulag makes all of this childhood dream come true. Standing over at 2,926 meters above sea level, the view is breathtaking and the memory shall remain as long as we live.

Mataas na Gulod - Palay-Palay Mountain Range Mapping Expedition (Marami to Pico De Loro Traverse)

December 20-21, 2014

One of the nearest jungles in the Philippine capital is the Mataas na Gulod - Palay-Palay Mountain Range that is being occupied by two provinces: Cavite and Batangas. Famous mountains in this range are Mt. Marami and Pico De Loro. Never before mapped and has only been traversed by handfuls few in the past year, Schadow1 Expeditions has explored this jungle by traversing across the mountain range passing through five mountains and crossing several rivers. This article is a journal of our mapping expedition to Cavite's jungle.

Mount Batulao, a Gateway to a Mountaineer's Heart

August 25, 2014

Mount Batulao has remained to be one of my favorite climbs and has never failed me a single time on freezing in awe with the scenery it offers from jump-off to summit. A mountain that is a hundred percent laden with grass which captivates every climber who walks along its path and traverses each of its peaks and camps.

Mount Pico De Loro: A Third Time and the Monolith Attempt

December 15, 2013
Every climb is a different experience. And that happens no matter how many times you climb the same mountain. It was the third time we climbed Mount Pico De Loro and the second time for this year. We have done it this time with friends who are first-time climbers. Though this is not the first, this makes it the first time for myself to become a mountain guide and the first time to scale the Parrot's Beak or also known as the monolith.

Chased by a Lightning - Conquering Mount Marami

August 17-18, 2013

Mount Marami is located at Maragondon, Cavite to which the jump-off starts at Magallanes, a neighboring town of the same province. Marami is actually a cliff-area of Mount Mataas na Gulod to which its elevation is 510 633 MASL as compared to its real summit at around 622 642 MASL. The feature of the hike would be crossing 2 major rivers and mountains before you can reach the summit. This is an account of Schadow1's solo attempt of scaling Marami and its mapping expedition as typhoon Maring (intl. Trami) looms.

Palaui Island and the Serene Cape Engano, a mountaineer and a beach bum's Paradise

March 27- 28, 2013

Palaui is an island located just right at the northeastern tip of Luzon. Protected by a Presidential Proclamation as a natural reserve of the country, its resources are maintained and one can expect that here, nature is more supreme than technology. The island features white beaches. forests, rolling mountains not exceeding 300 MASL, and grazelands. Being located at Balintang Channel where the Pacific Ocean meets the West Philippine Sea, the shores and its waves are magnificent.

No To Stairs To Apo

Kidapawan - Kapatagan Trail
(Apo Traverse)

Mt. Apo is a national treasure. Having tagged as the highest peak in the Philippines, towering at 2,954 MASL, this mountain is not only a symbol for the people of Davao and Cotabato but of the whole country and its countrymen.
Recently there is a plan to construct a 16,620-step stairway to its summit and here is Schadow1 Expeditions' official stand on this move.

Mt. Vulcan Trail 580 MASL

February 27, 2013

Mt. Vulcan

Mt. Vulcan is a volcano that erupted furiously during the 19th century and has dramatically changed the land feature of western Camiguin Island. Before the eruption, the area was one of the thriving settlement during its Spanish colonization not until it was completely buried and is a part of the Bonbon town of Camiguin presently.  Schadow1 Expeditions went out for about an hour trek to map the path of this 580 MASL inactive volcano.

Conquering Hibok-Hibok Volcano 1337 MASL

February 28, 2013

Camiguin is known as the island born of fire as it is an island formed due to volcanic eruptions of its 7 volcanoes. The latest activity of which is from Mt. Hibok-Hibok that erupted 1951 that shaped one of its local attraction, the Sunken Cemetery. Schadow1 Expeditions climbed this volcano to map the Yumbing trail and extend it for a traverse trail to Ardent Hotsprings. A total of 14.7-kilometer traverse hike. The following is the account of climbing this 1337 MASL volcano... the H2 Traverse.

Conquering Mt. Cristobal 1470+ MASL

February 16-17, 2013

Mt. Cristobal is one of the towering mountains of Quezon, bordered by two provinces namely Laguna and Quezon. It is a dormant volcano and is known to be one of the challenging climbs in the Philippines due its forested trails, continuous 9-kilometer assault varying from 60 to 90 degrees inclination. And this climb happened to be the first major climb of Schadow1 Expeditions for its mapping advocacy.

Schadow1 Expeditions Lifetime Climb Log

Schadow1 Expeditions' Lifetime Mountaineering Log

First-ever completely mapped Mountain
Range by Schadow1 Expeditions

Mountaineering is part of Schadow1 Expeditions' advocacy as we create and/or trace trails and upload to +OpenStreetMap Philippines for future use of mountaineers who plan to climb the mountains guided with a GPS.

Pico De Loro Summit 664+MASL Part 2

January 4-5, 2013

It was the first climb for this year and is part 2 of climbing Pico De Loro coming from a failed attempt to scale the summit last August due to the weather. This mountain is an inevitable climb. Being one of the nearest mountains in Metro Manila that offers 360 degrees of beautiful scenery. Every Filipino mountaineer should climb this mountain.

Conquering Mt. Talamitam 630+MASL

December 26, 2012

Our climb to Talamitam is actually a side trip and is unexpected. Talamitam is just about 12 kilometers away from Batulao as we were actually at Mt. Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas for the second time and the main purpose was to give away donations to the youth of Mt. Batulao. As it happened, then December 26 became a twin day-hike climbing both Batulao and Talamitam.

Conquering Pico De Loro 664+MASL

August 19-20, 2012

Pico De Loro

Another long weekend. It was 24 years ago since I last climbed a mountain. I was 8 years old back then. Having this scar on my lower left leg reminds me of my first ever climb in Mt. Banahaw and since then, my instinct has been telling me to get back to who really I am... to unite with nature and feel the grandeur of setting foot to elevations not meant for a regular man to take foot often and enjoy the peace and fresh air at this altitude. It is the right time to re-unite with the mountains and conquer Mt. Pico De Loro.