Ash and Ruth

I had a great time hiking with them! Sino kaya ang susunod na maka-hike? Abangan!

Featured Hike: Malarayat Tri-Province (Batangas, Laguna, Quezon), March 08 2026 Orga: Travel Buddies PH21

Please watch out for the full video later on my YT channel, Ash and Ruth
https://www.youtube.com/

😎Hiking mountains isn’t just about reaching a summit—it reshapes how you think, feel, and experience the world. ⛰️🌄

Here are five genuinely compelling reasons to get out there:

1. Connection—to nature, others, and yourself
Whether you go solo or with others, mountains encourage meaningful connection. You notice your breathing, your pace, your limits. If you go with others, shared challenge often creates stronger bonds than typical social settings.

2. Physical fitness that doesn’t feel like a chore
Hiking or climbing engages your whole body—legs, core, lungs, even balance and coordination. Unlike repetitive gym workouts, mountain terrain constantly changes, keeping your body challenged and your mind engaged.

3. Mental clarity and stress relief
Time in nature has a powerful calming effect. Being surrounded by mountains—far from screens, traffic, and noise—can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Studies in Environmental Psychology show that natural environments help restore attention and improve mood.

4. Perspective shift (literally and mentally)
Standing high above everything changes how you see the world. Problems that felt overwhelming can seem smaller. Many people describe this as gaining a “reset” or a clearer sense of priorities.

5. A built-in sense of achievement
Reaching a summit gives a tangible, earned reward. It’s not handed to you—you work for it step by step. This taps into what psychologists call intrinsic motivation, making the accomplishment feel deeply satisfying and memorable.

🤔If you’re deciding whether it’s worth the effort, the honest answer is, it’s not always easy, and that’s exactly why it’s valuable. The discomfort is part of what makes the experience stick. 👍

"Toblerone" in the Philippines? Yes, no need to go to Switzerland!

Along the 4x4 trail to Mt. Pinatubo in Crow Valley, Barangay Santa Juliana, Capas, Tarlac can be found Toblerone Hills, a unique landscape. Resembling the shape of Toblerone chocolate bars, these lahar-formed hills are popular attraction and stop.

Please watch out for the full video later on my YT channel, Ash and Ruth
https://www.youtube.com/

How can the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines turn into a beautiful disaster?

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo is often described as a “beautiful disaster” because it combined immense destruction with striking natural transformations and even global effects that people later found awe-inspiring.

First, the disaster side was very real. The eruption—one of the largest of the 20th century—devastated nearby communities, buried villages in ash, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. It also caused deadly lahars (mudflows) for years afterward, especially during heavy rains.

But alongside that destruction, several “beautiful” aspects emerged: dramatic landscapes, spectacular skies worldwide, global cooling effect, ecological renewal and human resilience and cooperation.

So, it’s called a “beautiful disaster” not because the destruction was positive, but because out of a catastrophic event came striking natural beauty, global atmospheric effects, and long-term renewal—showing both the power and the paradox of nature.

Please watch out for the full video later on my YT channel, Ash and Ruth
https://www.youtube.com/

Boss, di ako makakapasok sa work today...masakit kasi ang katawan ko at paos ang aking boses. Kaya pala, the previous day - apat na peaks ang inakyat at nagsisigaw pa sa huling peak. Kayapa Quad Peaks Hike, Alang Salacsac, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya / March 01 2026 / Biyahe ni Ray

Featuring: Top One, Powerpuff Girls, Power Couple and Yours Truly (Ash) 😎

Please watch out for the full video later on my YT channel, Ash and Ruth
https://www.youtube.com/

Live a life filled with “I can’t believe I did that” moments - not regrets of “I wish I had.”

In just under six weeks recently (February 13 to March 22), I pushed my limits across the Philippines. I trekked through mountains across Luzon, climbed steep trails, crossed rivers and waterfalls, and stood on peaks and summits that once felt out of reach. In between those adventures, I completed three races: a full marathon (42 kms), an ultramarathon (64 - 65 kms), and a half marathon (21 kms).

I share this not to boast, but to remind and inspire of what’s possible. I’m a senior citizen, and I’m living proof that age is not a barrier - it’s just a number. It’s never too late to chase what sets your soul on fire, to be physically active and to live with energy and purpose.

I’ve always believed in the spirit of this idea: a life without a little madness, risk, or boldness is hardly a life at all. When we allow ourselves to be wild, imperfect, and daring, we step into something real - something deeply, unapologetically alive.

Please watch out for the full video of each adventure later in our favourite YT channel, Ash and Ruth 😎😘https://www.youtube.com/

On the first day of March 2026, under a relentless tropical sun, 42 hikers set out as the sun rises with a shared goal: to conquer the four rugged peaks of the Kayapa Quad aka Alang Salacsac Quad in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya. What began as a simple climb quickly turned into a test of endurance, grit, and camaraderie.

The trail wasted no time. From the jump-off point, our group was greeted by moderate to steep, lung-burning ascents—what seasoned hikers jokingly call “assault trails.” Fallen pine trees and exposed roots through forests forced careful footing, while uneven sections demanded both courage and balance.

By mid-morning, the heat was unforgiving and legs began to protest. Yet morale held strong. Jokes echoed through the trails, strangers shared snacks and stronger hikers instinctively slowed down to support those struggling behind. It became clear that this was no longer just a physical challenge—it was a shared journey.

Then came the rewards. At each summit, the exhaustion melted away, replaced by awe. Endless mountain ranges rolled like waves into the horizon, valleys blanketed in green and brown, and clouds drifted away as if the group had stepped into the sky itself. The views were raw, untouched, and worth every drop of sweat. Cameras clicked, but no photo could fully capture the feeling of standing there.

Finally, the final peak was reached—legs trembling, bodies drained—but it was also the most meaningful. One by one, most of the forty-two hikers reached the top. Cheers erupted. Some stood quietly, taking it all in; others laughed in disbelief. We had done it—together. For some reasons, a few did not make it unfortunately.

The descent, though easier on paper, brought its own challenges: tired knees, dusty and slippery paths, and the quiet realization that the adventure was ending.

By the time we reached the base, sunburned and exhausted, we carried more than just memories of peaks conquered. The group carried stories, inside jokes, and bonds forged through shared struggle. Friendships that began on dusty trails and steep cliffs would continue long after the hike.

And as we looked back at the towering silhouettes of the four peaks, one thing was certain: the mountain had tested us—but it had also brought us together in a way only such journeys can.

Orga: Biyahe ni Ray

Please watch out for the full video later on my YT channel, Ash and Ruth
https://www.youtube.com/

A hike of more than a thousand steps and four peaks begins with a single step and a couple of drone shots. Kayapa Quad Peak aka Alang Salacsac Quad Peak - Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya 🇵🇭 March 01 2026

Orga & Drone Shots: Biyahe ni Ray

Please watch out for the full video later on my YT channel, Ash and Ruth
https://www.youtube.com/

Nag-hike, napagod, nagpahinga, nag-cheer! MABUHAY from DRT Penta Exploration Dayhike, Dona Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, Feb 25 2026. Orga: DIEhikers Unlimited

Please watch out for the full video later on my YT channel, Ash and Ruth
https://www.youtube.com/

A Filipino-British and a senior citizen's first experience of running in his own hometown, the inaugural Cabanatuan Half Marathon held March 22, 2026.

Please watch out for the full video later on my YT channel - Ash and Ruth https://www.youtube.com/