Solo Hike: Mt. Batulao and Mt. Talamitam

Solo Hiking was part of my bucket list, taking chances while opportunity knocks allow me to take part and make it a success. This time, it was the Mountain of Batulao and Talamitam situated at Nasugbu, Batangas.

Mount Talamitam

Mount Batulao

Contemplating on what might be the errand on upcoming weekend give me the idea to do twin hike again with only me doing it alone, although it was rush hour when I try to invite some of my confidante so none of them agreed to accompany me. The relentless purpose of hiking alone can result to unknown consequences and fear of the unknown is inevitable, but that doesn’t stop my curiosity in pursuing it. My initial plan is to hike the Mt. Batulao first, then Mt. Talamitam come next which was followed orderly. Guide is not required on the 2 mountain, but it is advisable to hire one especially for the beginners who are not familiar on the trail.

The experience doing solo hike was well anticipated and a surprise for me, I was never been aware that I’ll befriended several strangers throughout the hike, and thankful enough that they’ve been part of my first solo hike for the reason that I may have been alone on the summit of Mt. Talamitam during that time if their presence do not exist.  It would have been a different experience without them; I owe them a debt of gratitude.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Saturday

0400am ETA at DLTB Bus Station

0430am ETD to Evercrest Golf Course

0600am Arrive at Evercrest Golf Course

0615am ETD to Jump-off Point

0630am ETA at Jump-off Point

0645am Register; Start trek

0745am Arrived at Camp 1 (Old Trail); Register, Rest

0800am Start trek to Summit

0830am Arrived at the Summit

0900am Descend to Jump-off Point

1015am ETA at the Jump-off Point; Tidy up

1100am Lunch, Rest

1230pm ETD to Sitio Bayabasan, Brgy. Aga

0100pm ETA at Sitio Bayabasan Registration Area; Rest

0130pm Start trek to Mt. Talamitam

0300pm ETA at the Summit; Rest

0315pm Pitch Tent; Exploration

0600pm Dinner; Socials

1000pm Lights out

Day 2 - Sunday

0600am Breakfast

0700am Break out

0730am ETD to Waterfalls

0900am ETA at Waterfalls; Rest; Tidy up

1030am ETD to Jump-off Point

1115am ETA Jump-off Point; Rest

1200am Lunch

0100am Back to Manila

How to get there

From Manila to Batulao:

Take a bus bound to Nasugbu – Lemery. Inform the conductor that you’ll be going to Mt. Batulao. Exit the bus when you get to Evercrest Golf Course in Lemery, Batangas. Travel time is roughly 2 to 3 hours depending on the traffic. Once you get to Evercrest, you can either walk or take a tricycle ride going to the jump-off point which is PHP 30.00 per head.

From Batulao to Talamitam:
Once you’re descended from the mountain of Batulao, wait for a bus or jeep at the national hightway near Evercrest Golf Course heading to Sitio Bayabasan and tell the driver to drop you off on the registration area of Mt. Talamitam.

Journey

Before the start of my trip to Nasugbu, Batangas, a prayer was voice-out for security and safety. It was already 3 am in the morning when I started to embark going to DLTB Bus Station in Buendia. As usual, all trips of DLTB Bus start at 4am in the morning, and I boarded on a bus with the signage going to Nasugbu, Batangas.

Landed at the Evercrest Golf Course around 6 am in the morning and had breakfast for a moment. Afterwards, I hired a tricycle ride heading to the jump-off point. Be noted that there are guide who are on stand-by at the store near Evercrest Golf Course and in jump-off point. At the jump-off point, you will be ask to register you name for registration purposes, no fee will be paid. As our discussion with some of the locals about my planned hike, they offer me assistance and they would gladly guide me to Mt. Batulao traverse to Mt. Talamitam but due to the duration of the hike, I did decline.

To expedite my hike to Mt. Batulao, I did walkabout after the registration. For the start, the trail was quite modest and you will pass-by a numbers of homesteads, while getting away you’ll expect a dense and grassy trail. What lays the beauty of the mountain is you can have a glimpse of the many peaks and the summit even on the farness of distance. There are 2 trails classified to old and new, in the course of my hike I did choose the old trail because of the challenges bestowed.

View of Mt. Batulao and its peak from the trail

Bringing your own pack of water is mandatory, a vital need of every individual embarking a long hike, although stores are abundant along the trail and in every peak and camp they sell drinks and foods.

Store in Camp 1

After an hour of continuous hike following the old trail reaching the first registration area, you would be asked to register your name and pay a fee of P10/head. Next, for the mean time I settled at Camp 1, registered and pay a fee of P20/head. Eventually, we chatted with Nanay about the history of Batulao and its discovery, knowing that the mountain was used to be a training ground of military soldiers 20 years ago and the trail was established by them. After the duties of the military, the locals adapt the trail created and named the original trail as old trail after the establishment of the new trail.

A view of the campsite area at the old trail 

A view of  Camp 1 area from Camp 2

The urgency to do trail running drives me to try, leaving all the belongings at camp 1 and trusted it to Nanay, and only necessities were brought. The run was roughly 20 minutes long until the summit of Batulao. Due to raw weather, the fog engulfs the summit hindering the view.  So I was not able to have a pleasant glimpse of the scenery that resulted to my brief stay at the summit.

Taking a selfie picture before verging the summit

The summit area

Contrary to my stay at the summit, I spends long hour of rest, a conversation with locals, and discussion with some mountaineer at Camp 1, knowing it was a perfect timing meeting some strangers at the registration area going to Mt. Talamitam whom become a buddies throughout the whole hike.

The minutes I reach the registration, there was this period of determination clinging in my head whether I’ll continue or back out my 2^nd mountain hike because of my inner angst knowing that there were not much mountaineers camping overnight. 

The registration area

It was pure coincidental that these strangers comprise of 4 amazing people was on the same plan to camp overnight at the summit; I hurriedly approach one of them and convince if I could join as their companion throughout, and he gladly agreed with a welcome smile. There I met Sir Christian, Sir Jecean, Madam Rose, Miss Princess and tag along was our guide Kuya Ramel.

From left to right: Princess, Rose, Jecean, and Christian

In a nick of time being with them, an imminent conversation followed with immense topic about their experience in hiking and their future hike. There was a quick blend of relationships with them, the enormous feeling that you’ve known them for years. From the trailhead to the Campsite, we plunges in exchanging ideas and some sort of inquiry of our personal life and experience in hiking, plus, we took groupie photos along.

Now, let me introduced our guide Kuya Ramel, a diligent guy who manage to dwell on guiding us throughout our hike with a persistent mind set in terms of handling his client. He is the definition of a true Guide due to his supportiveness and perseverance. Contact number: 09128191182.

A bridge made out of cement and bamboo will be pass-by before tackling the slippery and ascending trail until the plain grassland, also a campsite area. 

A bridge made out of bamboo

Along the way, a different variation of wild fruits are noticeable especially the guava one, picking fruits with no permission from the owner is strictly prohibited. Starting from the grassy trail, we pass through a plain path until the trail ascending to the summit. There are two trails to be followed, the left side trail facing the mountain is pure ascent and the other is considered a minor one with a slope part in it.

A partial look of the plain trail and the mountain

It was already 3 pm in the afternoon when we set foot on the summit, welcomed by brisk air and cold weather.  The entire summit is grassy and plain tantamount to Batulao summit but with an abundant space for camping. There was not much presence of trees because the mountain was a pasture land of horses and cows. 

Horses in the pasture land below the mountain

Due to weather condition, we hurriedly fetch our tents and then waited for the rain to stop pouring. Afterwards, we continue to wander the entire summit and took photos and videos, unluckily during that time; the entire summit was covered by fog which burdens the view of the nature scenery. Mountains such as Mt. Batulao and its range, the Pico de Loro and the Mt. Makiling are visible from the summit of Talamitam.

A glimpse of Mt. Batulao

A view of the campsite on the summit

The night comes when we group ourselves and allow our self to indulge in an endless conversation engaging into different topics about mountaineering and life; had dinner and downed a little booze.

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As the morning comes on my 2nd day of my solo hike along with the 4 amazing people, we took our breakfast and had a taste of coffee. In a nutshell, we took Photos together at the summit and hastily descend, upon descending, Kuya Ramel caught up with us and provides a specialized bamboo trekking pole to assist us on the slippery trail extends until the waterfalls. 

By cause of weather condition, we were not acknowledge to visit the waterfalls but instead we stand-by just below to tidy up and had launch before going back to the registration area. In registration area, we rest for a while, and bid goodbye after.

The perks of my solo hiking was that I made a social acquaintance and befriended few strangers, although it is not advisable to do solo, a safety precaution should always be observed when attempting to do so.

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Photo Credit: Christian Marquez