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| Mt. Talamitam, Nasugbu, Batangas |
There are four (4) mountains in Batangas which are famous to trekkers/mountaineers and the mountains are Pico de Loro, Mt. Maculot, Mt. Batulao and Mt. Talamitam.
And I have decided to explore them all!
August 26, 2013
PAGASA forecasted that the low pressure area (which eventually developed into a tropical storm at the end of the day) was already in East of Virac, Catanduanes and all the weather forecasts in the internet forecasted moderate rain for the day.
But those weather forecasts did not stop me!
I even invited my friends to join me in my trek but I guess they wanted to enjoy the holiday that day. I was a lone trekker that day.
Anyway, I woke up as early as 3:45 am and got my bacpack and boarded a jeepney ride to Calamba, Laguna. It was freezing cold that day!
I did not even bother to take a bath... It was really cold that day.
How to get there
1. From Coastal Mall, Paranaque, board a bus going to Nasugbu, Batangas. It is a 2-3 hour trip depending on the traffic. Fare is around P120.00. Alight at Sitio Bayabasan, Barangay Aga, Nasugbu Batangas or it is popularly called Kilometer 83 (near the school).
The terminal of the van is in SM Calamba, Laguna. The fare going to Tagaytay is P70.00. Alight at Olivarez, Tagaytay City and then board a bus or jeepney going to Nasugbu. The jeeney fare is P38.00 and the bus fare (aircon) is P46.00.
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| Jump-off point |
The bus ride is less than 30 minutes. But the jeepney ride is almost an hour. So it is alot better if you take the bus. Alight also at Kilometer 83 or in Barangay Aga.
From the marker, you are 20 steps away from the jump-off point to Mt. Talamitam.
You can hire your guide either at this spot or at the registration area.
Guide fee - P300 / Night trip - P500
Registration fee - P20
Swimming fee at the river - P20
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| The Trail |
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| Registration Area |
Contact numbers
Registration Area -
0949-924-0867
Guide (Lougie)
0909-281-2304
0938-982-8368
0912-725-5751
The first one is cemented.
And the other one is made up only bamboo. Quite slippery but that is part of the thrill and adventure!
My guide that day was named Louigie and he told me that the old steel bridge was destroyed by a flash flood and the bamboo bridge was intentionally destroyed due to safety reasons.
It was a good thing they built this new bamboo bridge, otherwise; we would have crossed the river that day.
Well, I never experienced dehydration that day. But the rain was too much and the path was really slippery and muddy. It took me almost 2 hours before reaching the summit.
There are two (2) ways of going to the summit. Either through the center trail (as shown by my right hand) or the long and winding trail (as shown by my left hand).
Ascending we chose the center trail. The trail was a bit perilous, tiring, and gives you a quick ascent to the top. While the second trail is longer and filled with cogon grass.
I was at the base of the mountain when I was given (for a couple of minutes) the view of the top of Mt. Talamitam. It was foggy, raining and cloudy that day.
After 1 hour and 47 minutes, we reached the top and it was still raining. And it pays to have your waterproof camera while raining. The horizon was covered with clouds.
The descent was worse than ascending. Usually, the descent is good for an hour but due to the slippery road, it took us almost 2 hours.
I was trying my best not to lose my balance. But a couple of times I slipped and fell flat on my ass.
I laughed so hard and those slips added to the fun!
My feet were covered mith mud and I could barely walk.
Mt. Maculot has different terrain compared to Mt. Talamitam. Mt. Batulao is almost the same as Mt. Talamitam. When I climbed Maculot, I had a terrible hangover. While in Batulao, I suffered cramps. This trek I had a very muddy feet! hehehe
And so, I washed my feet at the river. Water was so cold. During summer, water is crystal clear and you can take a swim or a bath at the river. But today, washing my feet would be enough.
I enjoyed the trek at Mt. Talamitam!
Good thing I decided to do the trek, no pain, no gain!
Youtube links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fjxBBDQOhQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grA0gAYFISo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fjxBBDQOhQ
Related Links:
Mt. Maculot - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/two-mountains-in-one-day-mt-maculot-and.html
Mt. Batulao - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2013/05/mt-batulao-and-backpackers-our-4th-trip.html
Mt. Makiling - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/mt-makiling-trek-and-itinerary.html
Mt. Pinatubo - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/mt-pinatubo-trek-capas-tarlac-trail.html
The Neophyte Trekker - http://junvillegas.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-neophyte-trekker.html
Great!! Reblogging this on http://randomnotesfromtheroad.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Pete
I used to go to this mountain in the late 90's, before no guide nor guide fee were ask by the locals, just use your instinct, but now I've heared that the locals are charging to much. There's another trail there if it still exist via mangahan trees just look for the waiting shed before that km 83 or before the basketball court.. follow the road cross one big river and use the mountain as your bearing and turn left you'll be surprised you'll see two potable water source there then cross a small creek follow the mango trees and at the end of if you'll see a grass land with one Duhat tree in the middle climb the hill and thats the shoulder of mt talamitan and 5 to 10 minutes your in the summit.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the contact numbers of your guide. Because of that, we have a guide now going to the 4 mountains in Batangas. My 2 friends and I are going to conquer the 4 mountains after holy week. Good thing I don't have to worry about how to get a guide. Hehehe!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sir! More power to you.
Take care and GOD bless you.
Cheers,
Amy Legal
Glad I was able to help. Enjoy! =)
DeleteHi, sir! Alam nyo po ba kung anong oras first trip ng van sa SM Calamba to Tagaytay? Thanks! :)
ReplyDeletealam ko as early as 5 am
Delete