Hello, Hive!
The winds of May have finally blew our way. But before I celebrate this sweet month of flowers — and fiestas on my side of the Earth — I’d like to share with you an amazing April-ender climb I had with my friends.
Those who have been following my blog knows that I've been looking forward to this trip. In fact, in excitement, I even decided to re-live my first Mt. Talinis climb in a post. It was only a two-days-one-night climb following the Apolong-Apolong trail. The experience back then was a different kind of thrill. Aside from the fact that it is the second longest route, the pressure of reaching the summit within the day was on. We did succeed and witnessed the rare “clearing” at the peak but, in our haste, I felt that we missed a lot of things.
That’s why I told myself that I will definitely return to this mountain one day. And that’s what this post is all about.
Mt. Talinis, the second time around
Love is sweeter the second time around, they say. But I do believe that getting a second chance at love (of any kind) is one thing. Making it a better one — now that’s the trick.
My second affair with Mt. Talinis is a three-days-two-nights climb via Apolong-Panghilakan Trail. The event was organized by France of fv-photography who gathered 13 people for the climb. Aside from James, Kim, Alton and Ate Yen, and Gio whom I’ve climbed with in Mt. Madjaas, the rest of the gang were strangers to me. It was exciting and worrying at the same time. Exciting because I’ll be meeting new faces with new stories for me to hear. Worrying because I haven’t been properly practicing and I fear that I’ll be left on the trails. HAHA!
Anyway, I found that they were all fun and chill people. So let’s talk about the trail.
The Apolong Trail
It was 6:35 when we started the hike from the jump-off area. Our group was divided into two with James, Alton, Kim, Rhalf, Ate Yen and I in the first group, and France, Gio, Keight, Jive, Raych, Steven and Ram in the second group. As the map shows below, the initial part of the trail is actually the toughest since it’s a continuous ascent on a steep hill. However, once we made it through 1100 masl, what followed was an easy hike on rolling hills.
Apolong Trail is well canopied by trees so the heat was bearable throughout our hike. Unlike my first Mt. Talinis climb, there was no rush this time so I got to appreaciate the surroundings.
After an hour, we reached a spot where one of Mt. Talinis’ many waterfalls is visible. Lubas Falls is a horsetail waterfall surrounded by dense woods and shrubs. Even from afar, one can hear its loud roar and I wished there was a way for us to get closer to it. Hmm, maybe next time?
A few minutes later, we stopped by the viewdeck where we got to lay our heavy bags for the first time. This was one of the many things I missed during my first climb. The chance to rest longer, look around, and feast my eyes with nature’s many wonders.
We then proceeded with the hike after a breather and, by 9 AM, we reached a shallow river which indicated that we were getting closer to our next stop.
The Ranger Station
Ranger station took only 30 minutes of hike through a descending trail. From what I know, the guard house was managed by men who took turn every 15 days in looking after the pipes that supply water to the lowlands.
When we arrived, the first thing that greeted us was a group of cute cats and their meows. There were three of them — each with different eye color from ocher, green, to blue.
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We rested here for almost an hour before my friends and I decided to head to the nearby waterfalls while waiting for the second group to arrive.
The Twin Falls
The trek along the river bank was very short and would somewhat remind you of Cebu's Budlaan Trail with its boulders. After three minutes, we finally got a glimpse of Mt. Talinis’ Twin Falls.
To visit these falls was my first reason of wanting to climb Mt. Talinis again. I didn’t get to see it before due to heavy rain so I was happy that we were blessed with a great weather this time.
The main waterfall was just as beautiful as what most people see in pictures online. I found its dark rocky ledge particularly interesting as it added to the cascade’s appeal. One can’t help but stare at it for a long time and take a lot photos — which we all did.
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Its “twin” is a smaller waterfall located on the right side. The plunging water here is not as strong and wide. But it’s just as cold as the main falls. My friends and I climbed up to the upper section of the falls to get a free massage from nature.
After a well-deserved dip in the cold waters, we decided to trace our way back to the ranger station. The second group has arrived by then and after lunch, they went to see the Twin Falls too.
By 3 PM, the team decided to continue the hike to the campsite which was just 30 minutes away.
The Rancho Campsite
Rancho is an open area that is perfect when you’re camping with a large group. It is wide enough to accommodate a number of tents and is mostly grassy which is a relief for your aching backs. The availability of water source also made it convenient for campers who want to cook or refill their bottles.
Being the first group to arrive, my friends and I decided to go straight to the nearby Kaipuhan Sulfur Vents to see how it looks during sunset. It's an extraordinary place which I believe deserves a separate post of its own. Next time I'll show you why it made us feel like we entered a surreal world. 😁
You also can check parts 2 and 3 of our Mt. Talinis escapade below:
Mt. Talinis: Exploring its triple treat of delight
Mt. Talinis: Adventures and misadventures, and my first taste of Panghilakan Trail
Maria is a hopeless romantic who travels in pages and places. She is an INFP who loves sunrises and moonlight nights and reading books in between. On weekdays, she works for a self-publishing company as a copywriter. On weekends, she lives for life as a poet or hiker. She hopes to share her love for words and the world with you here on HIVE.
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