This black and white series covers the time I had my Mt. Tapulao trek together with club members in Zambales two weekends ago.
Related posts:
Trekking preparations
Mt. Tapulao (aka High Peak) - 2037m, 1
Mt. Tapulao - the trek, 2
Mt. Tapulao - on being a sweeper, 3
Mt. Tapulao - trekking gears, 4
How did my gear perform?
The look of my new Columbia Panther Ridge trekking shoes when I arrived home.
Panther Ridge trekking shoes
This withstood the rigors of the trek. But frankly, not that technical. However, with the driving rain, water soaked inside but it still held out. Already washed, dried and ready for the next climb.
Columbia Challenger convertible pants
I wore the full pants when the first sign of rain was evident on the way up. It did protected me from the sharp grass and leeches but when night came, can’t wear it since it was still wet. Would have preferred it without the lower portion, as always. I also like this one. Its light.
North Face El Cap shirt
The patented Vaporwick did its job well. Its breathable and kept me cool while under the sun and after the rains, it easily dried. Its a great wear.
North Face Class V Panel hat
This was also a good buy and performed well. Quick drying.
Kovea Devil’s Eye head lamp
Unfortunately, it didn’t saw action when nightfall came. I was too excited when I packed up that when it was time to use it, I just realized that I forgot the batteries! Stupid me!
Kovea Blue Sky Mountain Stic
This was the best gear that I was thankful that I bought it. With the slippery slopes, rocks and vegetation, it helped me maintain balance, prevented slips (I fell only once, when I passed on a mossy rock) and distributed weight well. However, lugging it on a level surface proved cumbersome at times. But on inclines, well, it was great! There were only a few of us who had this one. A few hours later and especially during the downtrek, others were holding on to pieces of sticks found along the trail to support them. I fully recommend to invest in a lightweight trekking pole.
Around 39 climbers headed for Mt. Tapulao and we were grouped. I volunteered as the sweeper for group 4, a role that I haven’t done before. Hmmm. Sweeper. He who has to adjust to the pace of the last man. He who should have a heavy dose of patience. My role started when a lady member was behind the rest and I accompanied her, stopping when she stops, resting when she’s resting… its really a no brainer and it also allowed me to rest from time to time. After the first rest, another heavier member started to lag. Okay, I’ll have to leave the lady and be with the other. It was already sunny and at first I welcomed the constant rests we did every few dozen steps. But I soon realized that the other groups were already ahead of us while we were getting behind and behind that in an hour, we were already at the tailend together with the trek group’s overall sweeper. I just said to myself, that being the sweeper, I have to do my role.
After lunch, the downpour was quite welcoming but with the length of the trail, I started to get tired. I wanted to arrive at the campsite as fast as possible but couldn’t since I’ll have to ensure that the group’s last man is accounted for. Because of this, we arrived hours after the first batch. The next day was no different. My target was to arrive as early as 1700H but then, another lady member was now lagging behind, suffering from a sprained ankle as she fell four times while trying to catch up with a faster member in wet, muddy and slippery slopes under driving rain! Add to the fact that the trail’s last few kilometers was stony that further slowed us down.
1800H and the two of us were still at the stony trail. With no headlamp, I used my K700i mobile phone’s photolight to light the way while she used my penlight. I kept watching my phone’s clock. It was just so exasperating. I was very impatient already and silently cursing at that time, wanting to reach our destination the soonest as my feet already hurt but just can’t! But then, I’m the sweeper.
A little past 2000H and our pacing started to pick up when we passed by the first house. Then a couple of minutes more and we passed another and another. We were near! 2030H and two other trekkers showed up with their headlamps met us and in a few minutes later reached the store at Dampay Salasa. What a relief!
From the above experience, I guess, I’ll pass up of being a sweeper in the next trek sometime in August.
Scratches on my shins caused by the razor sharp leaves of talahib, a kind of grass that is abundant in more than half of the trail. I’m not really used to wearing pants when trekking since I find it hot and have just been used to it.
“This is utter madness!”
I said to myself while pacing myself one step at a time in the seemingly infinite trail leading to the campsite of Mt. Tapulao at the bunker. While I have no qualms about the trail since its generally rolling and inclines doesn’t go beyond 45 degrees, its the distance that takes its toll on you given my limited mountaineering experience plus that physically, I’m not really that prepared. Of course, I’ve climbed mountains before (but not that many):
- Mt. Hibok-hibok in Camiguin (in high school :-))
- Mt. Maculot in Batangas
- Mt. Banahaw in Quezon, twice
- Mt. Nagcarlan in Laguna
- a nameless peak in Bukidnon that is part of Mt. Kimangkil
- more than halfway of Mt. Iraya in Batanes
- Bongao Peak in Tawitawi
- Mirador Peak (Pinagbanderahan) in Quezon
- and countless hikes in the course of my collecting over the years in different islands of the country
But its the first time that I have been walking for 12 hours (approx 0530H - 1730H) up and 9 hours (approx 1130H - 2030H) down and in both instances, we were under sun followed by pouring rain that made the trek all the more difficult, painful and exhausting (note that I volunteered as the sweeper for my group and have to follow the pace of the slowest member). While the downpour cooled the trek, it was no fun being soaked from head to foot. The trail also added to the challenge as it was rocky and in most parts, slippery because of the mud and rain. Not only that, you’ll have to watch out for the forest leeches and luckily for me, I was not bitten.
I also carried with me 4 liters of water but it was not enough. Fortunately, there are three water sources: two along the trail and one at the campsite (but this one, is not existent during the summer months).
I was targeting of reaching Dampay Salasa at around 1700H but with one of my group mates having a sprained ankle and, being the sweeper, I have to accompany her. Since it was already dark while we were on the trail, she used my penlight and me my mobile phone’s photolight that we only arrived at the area at around 2030H.
2200H and we hopped on a bus bound for Pasay and I came home sleepy and tired.
The trek was quite demanding, but I was proud of myself that I was able to conquer it. Will there be a next time? YES. Given that I have ample preparation physically.
0300H. At the Iba terminal while waiting for the tricycles being negotiated that will bring us to Dampay Salasa, Palauig.
Loading our packs at the tricycles with 3 - 4 passengers each at P100 fare.
A few minutes from the start of the trek, everyone was in high spirits.
At the bunker area of the old mine where we set up our camp.
Savoring sweet victory of conquering the summit of Mt. Tapulao.
On the way down, rain poured heavily on us that the trail became a rivulet that we just have to negotiate.
The whole batch two of Smart Mountaineering Club posing before our trek down.
Related posts:
Trekking preparations
Mt. Tapulao (aka High Peak) - 2037m, 1
Mt. Tapulao - on being a sweeper, 3
Mt. Tapulao - trekking gears, 4
Mt. Tapulao, also known as High Peak, rises at 2037m, the highest in the Zambales Range (that forms a contiguous chain of mountains starting from Pangasinan, across Zambales, that includes Mt. Mabanban and Mt. Pinatubo, then connects with Mt. Natib and Mt. Mariveles in Bataan). This used to be an old carbide mining area that following the old mining trail, you can’t help but find remnants of its past. The trail is on rolling and gradual terrain that takes you through a number of distinct ecosystems: from lowland grass and scrubland dominated by talahib, a kind of grass, pine forest, tapulao in Zambal, the native tongue, to stunted, moss draped alpine forest above 1800m. On its flanks are secondary to primary forest that extends to the adjacent mountains.
From the terminal at Iba, one can take a tricycle, (P100 per person at 3 -4 passengers each) to Barangay Dampay Salasa, Palauig. No permit is needed but you’ll have to log at the store at the start of the trail behind the school and pay a fee of P10. Trek is around 8 - 11 hours depending on one’s pace as you need to negotiate around 3 minor mountains before reaching Mt. Tapulao. Usually, mountaineers camp out at the former mining bunker area and do the summit assault the next day.
It should also be noted that during wet weather, limatik or forest leeches abound especially near the streams along the way. When it rains, parts of the trail become rivulets that trekkers easily attract these critters without knowing that they’ve already been bitten.
But what the heck, especially at the upper elevations, views of misty pine and forest clad ridges and mountain flanks are just too beautiful to miss and worth all the blood, sweat and tears.
The small marker at the summit of Mt. Tapulao placed by the Nature Explorer’s Society of Tarlac.
Stands of tapulao or pine trees in the native Zambal tongue abounds in this area. It should be noted that the same Pinus sp. can be found in the higher elevations of Mindoro.
The trail leading to the summit is slippery and moss covered, dominated by stunted trees.
At the summit, a large area of stunted twisted trees can be found.
The mountain’s forested flanks with a view of the power plant, possibly in Masinloc, Zambales.
Related posts:
Trekking preparations
Mt. Tapulao - the trek, 2
Mt. Tapulao - on being a sweeper, 3
Mt. Tapulao - trekking gears, 4
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