TALAMITAMis ng Pag-Ibig

It's been a month and...I have to hike another mountain. (Not what you're thinking right now. Haha.) This time, with individuals I've met from various places I've been during different points in time.

From L-R
(top)
Kuya Eman and Ate April (college seniors),
Bianca (HS classmate),
Brain Fart,
Erika (college batchmate, Eytschhh :3)

(bottom)
Nikki (Bianca's co-worker and also a UPM alum! :D),
Jecica (Sev's-goer who is yet to perform in an open-mic :P),
Mio (we were in the same hike group that conquered Pulag last April! :D)
DJ (college batchmate, Eytschhh :3)

Hi, hike group! :D
(c) Lopez

Another Batangas hike, Mount Talamitam is just 1.5-1.75 hours from DLTB bus terminal to Barangay Bayabasan for 129 pesos via a Nasugbu-bound bus. The bus conductors know that hikers frequent the area since Batulao goers drop by Evercrest, a few kilometers away from Mount Talamitam's jump-off point at KM 83. 

From the kilometer marker, you just have to walk a few meters towards a nipa hut where you have to register for 40 pesos per person. You can get a guide here, too. They don't have a 'base rate' but - according to our guide - hikers usually pay them 300-400 pesos (we paid a bit more because of our large group). Aside from my personal rule to ALWAYS get a guide, I highly advise you to get one because there are many trails leading you to the summit and on your way down, too. Moreover, they know the way to the river side trip which is worth every peso you pay them. We were lucky and very honored to have Kuya Pol as our guide. Aside from being an awesome guide, he's good with taking pictures and he's really nice to our group. He also guides hikers along the trails of Batulao and Pico.

The trail transitions from concrete road to an unpaved one to rocky in a short time. We were lucky that the rains stopped hours before we started our trek so we just had some firm mud dirtying our shoes. Early on the trail, you will cross a bamboo bridge that can support utmost 3-4 people at the same time so if you're hiking with a large group like ours, make sure to keep this in mind. 

The bamboo bridge looks sound enough, just be careful. Oh, hi, Erika!
(c) Lopez

You will then enter a bit of woodland before you reach the New Zealand-esque plains of a plateau. Complete with cows and horses! From here, you have a beautiful panoramic view of Mt. Batulao (Batu-WOW for my group, no-thanks to my Batulao post haha). The plains will provide you a reprieve from the humid woodlands you just entered and prepare you for the high-angle assault you'll be trudging to reach the summit. Make sure you are well-hydrated because the lack of a tree cover exposes you to more heat = more insensible water loss. We're lucky that clouds (rain clouds, boo!) were starting to roll our way when we reached this part of the trail. 

Guys looking serious as shit! Hahaha!
(c) Lopez

POOOOOOOONYYYYYYY!
(c) Planas

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! Oh, hi, DJ! :D

Sadly, these very rolling slopes are slowly being turned into agricultural fields by the locals to supplement their daily needs. Help them have other sources of income, i.e. as hiking guides, and be a responsible enough hiker by taking care of our mountains for the later generations to enjoy.

After resting and taking in the beautiful view offered by the rolling hills, we took in the penultimate challenge of doing the assault to reach the summit. Aside from the fact that I have a self-imposed time constraint because I was still on night duty that same day, gray clouds were starting to roll our way and it would be more difficult if the rains caught us in the steep slopes of the assault. At first, I thought it would be easy but the pleasing walk along the plains never prepared my legs for this high-angled hike. Add to that the tall cogon grasses that grow along the trail. It was just good timing that most of my hike group found safety under a shed built atop the summit before the skies had released its fury of rain and wind. 

Silent....Mountain. K.
(c) Lopez

Thanks for whoever made this shed at the summit.
We were not drenched (just a bit) while it rained.
(c) Planas

After a few minutes of rain, the skies cleared in time for us to enjoy the view from the summit and, boy, is it worth the climb! The view of the town of Nasugbu laid below bordered by Batulao is a sight to behold. Other dayhike-able Batangas mountains are also within sight, with Pico de Loro peeking behind a cover of clouds in the horizon. There's also a Mama Mary grotto that will greet you upon reaching the summit, a refreshing feeling after what you've been through. 

We did it guys! :')
(c) Lopez

It took us about two hours to reach the summit from the jump-off point, which is not bad enough as we took our time in the comforting slopes of Talamitam. The descent was faster (as always) but we took another trail which led us to our river side trip! 

Side trips are ♡
(c) Coronel

Local kids were already doing dives from a cliff (and one brave soul even jumped from a branch of a tree!) but being the non-swimmer that I am, I just enjoyed the rapids and the shallow pools formed along the river. Of course, if you can swim and want a bit of adventure, you can try cliff diving in the deeper waters of the river. 

After getting our swimming fix, we continued our return to the highway, which was just a 15-minute trek from the river! And to make it more awesome, we were 'welcomed' in the highway with a store selling fresh buko for 15 pesos apiece! A 5-minute walk from this part of the highway will take you back to your jump-off point where you can enjoy a 50-peso lunch while the other members of the hike group enjoy a good bath at 20-pesos in one of the houses near the area. We then took our leave back to Manila by hitching on a Pasay bus along the highway for 129 pesos.

Overall, the first hike I (kind of) organized was a success! Seeing those beaming and happy faces of the people I invited in this hike despite the rain was worth the effort to organize it (which was basically just making a FB invite and clicking the 'Invite Friends' button. Hahaha. NOT!). As for the mountain of choice, Talamitam offers the right elements of a 'chill' climb offered by its gentle slopes before challenging you to a steep assault which is rewarded by an awesome view of neighboring Batangas mountains at the summit. Add to that is the awesome side trip that, despite burning me to crisp, will complement the hike with a water-based adventure. Will be definitely back in Talamitam with my improved swimming skills *fingers crossed*.

Aside from being a cool guide, Kuya Pol has awesome jump shot-taking skills, too!
Hire him! Hire him!
(c) Lopez

And take decent shots, too.
(c) Lopez

Until the next trip!

- Paulo

*faces the North*
Sierra Madre Range, you're next!
(c) Lopez