Mt.Talamitam
Brgy. Aga sitio Bayabasan , Nasugbo Batangas
Elevation: 700 + masl
BEN GURION BABIERA

Mt.Talamitam-Located in Nasugbu Province towering at a height of 700 + Meters above sea level. Mt. Talamitam is not really new in the eyes of our Team. We often see it during our travel home from a climb, since its visible from the highway. As one try to assess the mountain during day time, you would really feel its soo easy to climb. With trails visible viewed from afar up to the peak,Getting lost would not really be a question.. There were some slight forest visible but mostly the terrain was bare or dotted with wild grass. Guess MMS was right in naming it the Mini Pulag, for it really looked like one. Baks Ben and Baks Chris already made a pre climb here last August 23, 2003 to scout and assess the area.

On September 20, 2003 Trek Sierra decided to formally organize its group on top of Mt. Talamitam.With its area very accessible, travel distance acceptable, and Trek Time bearable,it was the perfect Mountain for us to induct the first Member of TREK SIERRA ADVENTURE TEAM.Attended by Baks Ben, Chris, Danny, Ahl, Garry and Rodel we all started our trek officially at 8:00 P.M. at Caltex Paseo Station, Sta. Rosa Laguna. With Baks ahl coming from Balibago, hiring a small jeep for a price of 250 pesos that would delivery us up to Tagaytay. Arriving at Olivares Mall we then alighted and proceeded to Jollibee for Dinner. Around 9:30 PM we were able to get a bus ride and arrived at Brgy Bayabasan jump off point at 10:30 PM.

Our trek from jumpoff point to Mang Nick?s house was smooth, except from some muddy portion brought about by a recent rain. Registered and paid 20 Php per person, we then proceeded with our trek. We followed the dirt road and turned left for the 2 small bridges. It was really nice having someone who had previously climb, for the road to the bridge was not really that visible. As our flashlight were getting low in power early in our trek we were almost groping in the dark. We tried as much as possible to conserve our battery. First ascent of our trek started around 30 min after our jump-off. Baks Ben and Danny made a wrong turn but ended up with the right trail and rejoined the group. The forest trail was really getting muddy and giving the Baks a hard time ascending. After an hour we were already up in the clearing, and the rain started to pour. We made our way up trying to find the right trail thru plowed dirt.Sometimes we were able to find the trail but not sooner later it just ended up. With rain starting to get heavier some of our baks were already claiming that were lost. It started to get foggy just like the last climb here. The peaks were no longer visible, giving us a hard time estimating where the trails would be. With drench clothes, souls and continued hard pouring of rain we made our way thru plowed land.It was so hard walking on it, plus the fact of a possible injury since it was not flat and it was so dark.I guess Mt.Talamitam is a different mountain at night, it was not what I expected just like our previous climb. Hard rain and total darkness contributed much to our hardship.

More image from Mt.Talamitam 2


Around 11:30 PM we were able to see a camp light just ahead of us and with luck the rain slightly subsided.It was only Baks Rodel that was not wet due to his Poncho ( Kids size hehehe a great help ). We proceeded to the light and later found the right trail. The camp was still halfway from Peak. Composed of 17 mountaineers. After the campsite we took some rest for at least 10 minutes and proceed with the trail.The trail was easy to follow up to the peak except for its extreme heart attack steepness. I guess we arrived at the peak around 12:30 AM and found out there were already campers composed of 19 mountaineers. Suddenly the rains started to pour hard again. Upon finding a good campsite we were having problems on how to setup a tent. We device a method and started with Baks Ahl?s tent and then followed by Baks Ben?s tent. I remember planning to have our induction that night but I guess we were so tired and drenched that we decided to take a rest and just do it tomorrow. Inside the tent during the night, we were having difficulties in sleeping due to water leaks inside. Some of us especially in Baks Ahl?s tent tried to sleep sitting. Baks Ahl even got a fever that night. In Baks Ben?s tent we were able to sleep lying, but restricted to one side of the tent. The floor was so cold, and our sleeping bag wet, but thanks God we made it in the morning. I guess there are so many lessons learned that night. Alas we had a first spaghetti cook in the mountains for our breakfast. Or so I think it was a spaghetti. Hmmmmm..I guess it was suppose to be a spaghetti.. Nonetheless we enjoyed our breakfast especially with dried fish. After a couple of picture taking, contemplating and chatting we then proceeded with what we really came here for.. to formally organize Trek Sierra Adventure Team. At 7:00 Am we had formally established a Team and swear our commitment to our group and to our environment.

We, Baks Ben, Baks Chris, Baks Danny, Baks Garry, Baks Ahl, and Baks Rodel are formally the founding member of Trek Sierra Adventure Team on this date September 21, 2003 at the time of 7:00 am in the peak of Mt. Talamitam.

After discussing some topic, rules and proposals we then had to break camp.It was a fine day, no rain, and partly cloudy making it so conducive to trek. We took the steepest and shortest trail just ahead of the blessed Virgin Mary?s Statue. It took us only 15 min to go down what at most took us 1 hour last night to Trek.After the steep descent it was a smooth and gradual trail. We tried a different route going down, knowing that all trail would lead us to the same way to Mang Nicks house but later on we found out that it did not. We passed by a longer bridge going down, I guess it was the same river last night that we passed with 2 bridges. We stayed and rested there. Many of us even went for a swim.. It was so refreshing and rejuvenating. Continuing with our trek, it was only at most 15 min travel we were able to reach the main highway. This was a total different route that it lead us directly to the highway, bypassing Mang Nick?s House. We took a jeep back to Tagaytay Olivares, to Tagaytay Market, and another to Paseo Sta. Rosa Laguna.
I Guess that sums up all our activities that adventure.
MABUHAY?Trek Sierra Adventure Team?GET OUT AND STAY OUT

DRAWBACKS - Be aware that the slope of Talamitam is a farm land and are privately owned by the locals so extend courtesy to them.