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Mt. TAPULAO

 




"The danger of an adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort." —Paulo Coelho

Since I don't have work on Monday and Tuesday, I decided to take a hike to clear my mind and evaluate where I am in life. I chose to hike Mt. Tapulao, located in Palauig and part of the Zambales mountain range. The hike started at 4:00 AM, with a beautiful sky in the background. The first 3 kilometers of the 18-kilometer hike to the summit (36 kilometers in total, since this is a back trail ) are on an asphalt road that was previously a dirt road.

During these first 3 kilometers, I was faster than my co-hikers, but I couldn't keep up with the first guide and the leading hiker. I found myself walking alone on a dark road, reflecting on many things while being wary of cars that could hit me. After 3 kilometers, the end of the asphalt road revealed the West Philippine Sea in the background, where I could spot Chinese ships. This made me think about how close the disputed territories are to the Philippines.

At km 5, we reached the first water source and a store named "7-11." (I wonder why almost all mountain stores are named that, lol). The hike to the top was long and required mental endurance. It was colder here than in other Zambales mountains, possibly due to the increased tree cover or because it’s the "bermonths" now. The trail was mostly gravel, likely because it was once a site for chromite mining (a material used to make stainless steel), and it was made for 4x4 conveyor trucks used for transporting materials.

From km 14 onwards, the terrain began to change, and I could see pine trees, making me feel like I was in Baguio. In fact, the word "Tapulao" refers to a specific type of pine tree (Sumatran pine) growing in the area. The continuous ascent was mentally and physically draining, which is why my co-hikers felt it was better to stop at km 15. Our guide had already warned us that we needed to return to avoid hiking back in the dark. However, one of my co-hikers was eager to finish, so I accompanied them to the mossy forest and all the way to the summit.

 While I was glad to have reached the summit, the rain soon began, and the water started gushing down the mountain. I slipped several times and almost got injured. We ended up hiking in the dark and just ride a habal starting from km 5 to finish the trail. Overall, I managed to complete 31 out of 36 km, but the descent made me question why I was on the mountain, soaking wet in the rain with water rushing around me when I could have been lying down and watching a movie. Nevertheless, I was grateful for the experience, as it made me feel very much alive. Onto the next trail!

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