In my opinion one of the most rewarding past-times is hiking. Not only is it a way to get fit without the boredom of repetitive exercise, but it offers the hiker a chance to really appreciate the beauty of whatever environment you find yourself in. It provides an ideal opportunity to escape from the stress of everyday life by getting in touch with the rhythms of nature.
Many years ago, more than I care to remember, I used to enjoy hiking in my home country of South Africa. There were many trails that could be explored; from the coastal trails of the Tsitsikamma to the mountain trails of the Drakensberg. So it was refreshing to discover that I could explore my old hobby again here in the province of Cavite.
A few weeks ago a few colleagues and I took on the relatively easy challenge of Talimitam. The starting point is pretty easy to find - admittedly having access to private transport and living in Imus does put it within easy reach. We left Imus soon after 5AM in the morning, had a leisurely breakfast at MacDonald's in Tagaytay and reached our starting point before 6AM.
It's a good idea to make use of one of the local guides if it is your first time. For 500 pesos a good guide sets the pace for you and ensures that you do not take one of the wrong footpaths. It's also a way of supporting the local community. If you bring your own vehicle you can be pretty secure in the knowledge that it will be well looked after for an additional fee of 100 pesos.
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| The first stream crossing. |
The trail starts with a relatively easy descent to the river - but do take care during the rainy season as the cement path that makes up this initial descent can be treacherously slippery when wet. Soon you will find yourself crossing a picturesque bamboo bridge across the same river and now the ascent begins through pretty dense jungle growth but the footpath is clear. The initial ascent is pretty steep and you may even start wondering at this stage whether hiking was such a great idea!
Luckily, after a while the ascent becomes a little easier, the jungle gives way to grassland and some kamote (sweet potato) fields cultivated by the local farmers. This part of the climb can be very hot if the weather is sunny but if you start the climb early, which I seriously recommend, you should not be in any difficulty.
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| The easier part of the ascent with a little campsite in the background. |
It is from here that the summit of Talamitam becomes visible and you will start encountering other climbers. Some who may have started of earlier than your group, or others who may have opted to camp overnight in tents.
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| Meeting fellow friendly climbers. |
One thing I find is that other hikers are incredibly friendly. Everyone greets each other with a cheery good morning and a "Take care" or "Ingat". It certainly makes the more strenuous parts of the climb a lot easier as you feed off of the positive energy of the other climbers.
The last part of the climb to the summit is steep and pretty rocky. You need to watch where you put your feet and take time to enjoy the wonderful scenery that gets better and better as you get closer to the summit. Do not worry if you think you may not have brought enough water - there are friendly vendors at points along the route selling additional water and even fresh buko (coconut) juice. As you may know - one of the best ways to hydrate and replace those essential electrolytes us fresh coconut juice!
The summit provides the triumphant climber with an unforgettable panoramic view that includes Tagaytay to the west, the coastline of Nasugbu to the east and Dasmarinas far to the north. The morning we climbed the wind at the top was surprisingly refreshing and quite chilly. Use the time to enjoy the vistas, hydrate, commune with the the hikers...and support the local vendors who have to transport their wares to the summit every day. Climbing Talamitam for them is a daily chore - not an enjoyable excursion as it is for us.
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| At the summit! |
Of course the descent is easier but do treat the first steep section with caution - it is steep and rocky. One misstep could lead to a sprained ankle or, even worse, a nasty fall. When we had finished this steep ascent, we rewarded ourselves with a well-earned buko juice and it gave us the necessary energy for the journey to the car-park. Do not get fooled that once you reach that bamboo bridge that your journey is over. That last ascent to reach the car park seems to go on forever and it is not the most interesting scenery!
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| The last challenging ascent to the car park and the end is in sight...almost! |
The times I have climbed Talamitam, I always find this last stretch the most challenging but remind myself that a hearty lunch awaits in Tagaytay as a reward for a tired hiker!
If anyone is thinking about trying their first climb, I would certainly suggest that Talamitam would be a good place to start. There are many sites to explore to give you great advice about tackling your first summit in Cavite!
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