Conquering the Cawag Hexalogy: A Revenge

 “It is always possible to do a thing better the second time”. 

HENRY FORD

I failed my first attempt to complete the Cawag Hexa “hell hike” on November 4, 2023.
It was painful. That day felt like a huge personal failure, and I knew I needed a revenge hike—I couldn’t end 2023 without finishing this legendary Zambales Hexalogy.

How I Discovered the Cawag Hexalogy

A friend and officemate, Allen, introduced me to this trail.
He said it was a six-mountain dayhike designed to test your endurance—exactly the type of challenge he wanted for his birthday.

I searched online and found a blog titled “The Infernal Peaks of Zambales: Cawag Hexalogy.”
The words Infernal Peaks immediately grabbed my attention. I read multiple blogs and almost all described the same things:

• endless tall talahib
• brutal heat
• zero shade
• six peaks that push your limits

And I asked myself:
“Can I really do this?”

I took the risk… and failed my first attempt because of the extreme heat.
I was an 85-kg, middle-aged beginner with no real training. My only “preparation” was a failed Mt. Arayat Quad Peak attempt.

My First Attempt: A Hard Stop

Before 10 a.m., I almost fainted.
I knew pushing through would be dangerous. Out of eight joiners, only Kuya Marc and I took the Cawag Hexit—the early exit trail.

I promised myself one thing:
When I come back, I will complete all six peaks—no shortcuts, no injuries.
But first, I needed to lose weight and build real heat and endurance resistance.

How I Prepared for the Revenge Hike

My close friend, Novy, does jump rope regularly. I admired her discipline, so I bought a home workout set online for only ₱999—jump rope, ab roller, push-up board, sweat belt, mat, and grip trainer.

I started every single day with:

• 1,000 jump rope reps
• 10,000 steps
• 16/8 intermittent fasting

I got sick after a week (November flu season + my body adjusting to exercise), so I rested and continued again.

One month later—I lost 5 kg.
My tummy was smaller, movement felt easier, and I could do 200 consecutive jump rope reps without errors. I also did two hours of brisk walking under direct sunlight for heat conditioning.

I finally felt ready.

The Cawag Hexa Revenge Hike — December 10, 2023

We checked the weather forecast—clear skies. Perfect for a long, difficult hike.

We left Mandaluyong before 8 p.m. and arrived late due to getting lost in Bataan.
We began trekking at 2:22 a.m.

I walked slowly and took the role of sweeper. The rest of the team—Jayr, Jeyps, Allen, and Ate Mara—hiked fast and waited for us at rest points.

Peak 1: Mount Balingkilat

After hours of walking through tall talahib, we began the steep ascent. The assault took almost four hours.

Just before reaching the summit, the sun rose—an orange glow that felt like a reward.
Moments like this remind me that not everyone gets a clearing, and I was grateful.

We stayed at the summit for 30 minutes and enjoyed the 360° view of the West Philippine Sea.

---

Peak 2: Mount Bira-Bira

The descent from Balingkilat was intense—knife-edge trails and sharp boulders.
The sun was rising and the temperature shot up. I drank small sips of water every few minutes to avoid dehydration.

We pushed through three hours of hiking with zero shade until we reached the second summit.

Our water supply was running low, but everyone was still determined. No one chose to exit.

Peak 3: Mount Naulaw

After an hour or two, we reached the third peak, took quick photos, and left immediately to find shade.
Halfway to the water source, we found a small tree and rested for 15 minutes.

Two hours later—finally, water!
We ate lunch (I had tuna and an apple) and rested for 45 minutes.

Peak 4: Mount Dayungan

This peak was a long, steep assault—almost three hours uphill. The views of Mt. Balingkilat during this ascent were breathtaking.

Dayungan is known for its stunning sunset view over the West Philippine Sea.
We arrived just in time, stayed for 30 minutes, and began descending before dark.

Peak 5: Mount Cinco Picos

The trail was easier, but fatigue made everything harder.
The grass got taller—some reaching above our heads—and many of us had small cuts from the talahib.

We reached Cinco Picos past 8 p.m. Exhaustion was real.

Peak 6: Mount Ridondo – The Final Peak

This felt like the longest walk of the entire hike. Even our guide fell asleep during one rest stop.

Right before the last summit, some wanted to take the shortcut trail.
But Ate Mara, Jay R, and I insisted:

“We’re already this close. No shortcuts.”

Near midnight, we reached the final summit.
We were exhausted, drained, and hungry—but proud.

We made it. The Strong Seven.

We still had a 2–3 hour walk back to the jump-off, but the hardest part was over.

My Biggest Takeaways from Completing the Cawag Hexalogy

1. Weight loss changed everything.

I was 85 kg during my failed attempt.
For the revenge hike, I was 79 kg—and it made a huge difference.
I’m still working toward my ideal weight of 65–70 kg.

2. No one succeeds alone.

The group motivated each other.
I wanted to quit at times, but I didn’t want to disappoint them—or myself.

Shortcuts would have made the accomplishment meaningless.

3. Real success has no shortcuts.

We had three opportunities to take the shortcut trail:

• after Balingkilat
• before Dayungan
• before Ridondo

But we never took them.

Pain, sweat, and discomfort are part of the journey.
Just like in life—everything worth achieving requires endurance.

As the quote says:
“Success is when preparation meets opportunity.” — Zig Ziglar

I prepared. The opportunity came.
And I finished the hike the right way.

---

Final Thoughts

The Cawag Hexalogy changed me.
It transformed my mindset and taught me discipline, patience, and resilience.

If you plan to hike this trail:

• Bring plenty of water
• Pack energy bars
• Train your body
• Strengthen your mindset
• And stay motivated

Find your reason to complete it.
Mine started as a challenge… and ended as a life lesson.

See you on my next hikes and stories!
If this helped or inspired you, feel free to share it with other hikers or beginners. 🌄💪