4th Hike: Mount Talamitam
October 22, 2017 - It's been almost a month since my last climb, and I haven't been able to follow up my first-ever hike with a Major climb yet, but it's okay, at least I can still pursue my hobby. I decided to join the reunion climb of my colleague from the company I work for. They chose to climb Mount Talamitam. I knew I might feel left out on the entire trail, so I brought my female cousin for this climb and my hiking buddy, Jaypee.
The call time was at 6:00 am, but what's tough is that the meet-up location was in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. We traveled to Laguna at 2:00 am with my companions. It was very early, and I just wanted to avoid being the cause of any delay in their event, so it was fine if we had to wait. Around 4:00 am, we arrived in Laguna and went straight to Jollibee. We were the first in the group, and I was proud of that! Lol!
At 6:00 am, we saw Sir Jon (a colleague of Sir Randy) and he was the first one we met. We slowly assembled at a convenience store, and once we were complete, we traveled to Nasugbu, Batangas via a rented van.
Upon reaching the jump-off point, we secured a guide and registered. Although we were many, Sir Melvin decided to have only one guide because the trail was relatively easy. We started, and of course, I was at the front with the guide.
The first part of the trail is almost like a residential area, where a van can pass through until the Layong Bato area. After passing the bamboo bridge, the so-called forested trail begins. There is a minimal ascent right away, and it's a good thing it wasn't raining, so the trail wasn't too muddy. We encountered some hikers descending from an overnight stay. As I saw in YouTube clips about Talamitam, the trail here is indeed relatively easy and can be hiked solo.
After a few minutes, we reached the foot of the "Grassland" of Talamitam. The trail here is wide and refreshing. According to our guide, we will spend more time in the grassland compared to other parts of the trail, truly making Talamitam a relaxing climb!
While the group was taking a break, my companions and I decided to head out a bit ahead on the trail. We first informed Sir Melvin and then started to move ahead of them. Upon reaching the "grassland," you will be amazed by the panoramic view of Mount Batulao. From the grassland, you can clearly see the vastness and several peaks of Batulao. It's also windy here, making the trail really refreshing. We took a lot of pictures until the group caught up with us, and then we returned to the trail.
We walked further in the grassland, encountering grazing horses, and not far off, sometimes they even blocked the path! The trail was straightforward, so we didn't get lost even without our guide. After a few minutes of walking, we reached the last hut. Here, the group decided to take a rest, and we stayed there for quite some time. Several groups passed us during our break.
After almost half an hour of rest, we started again on the trail - the "Assault" leading to the peak. Since we returned to climbing midday, we faced the intensity of the sun on the trail, compounded by the tall grass almost covering us, causing a sense of warmth as we ascended. I even had to push my cousin to keep walking. I could tell she was struggling, but of course, I was there to motivate her that we were close to the peak!
After a few minutes in the "assault area," we finally reached the peak of Talamitam! Here, the wind was strong, but you could still feel the heat of the sun as there was no shade at the top! There was a mini-store on the side, so I took a brief shelter there.
According to our guide, you could supposedly see Mt. Palay-Palay (Pico De Loro) and Halcon from the peak. But perhaps due to the thick clouds and my inability to follow his directions, I didn't actually catch sight of the mountains he mentioned! Lol!
The group started taking pictures once we were all assembled at the top. Fortunately, it was starting to get overcast, so we didn't struggle too much at the summit. Feeling like our climb was a bit short, I suggested a twin hike towards Apayang, but the group was tired and preferred to descend promptly. My cousin also declined to continue, so I didn't push it any further.
After spending almost an hour at the peak, we began our descent. Before going down, I took a last look at Mount Apayang and promised to come back to it as well!
Date of Hike:
October 22, 2017
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