Hiking Chronicles: Talamitam-Apayang Traverse

Mt. Talamitam (630+ MASL) - Mt. Apayang (652+ MASL) Traverse
Jumpoff Point: Km. 83, Sitio Bayabasan, Brgy. Aga, Nasugbu, Batangas
Exit Point: Km. 94, Brgy. Mataas na Pulo, Nasugbu, Batangas
Mountain specs: Difficulty level 2/9 (Talamitam), 4/9 (Apayang Traverse) | Minor climb | Trail class 1-4

FACTS ON MT. TALAMITAM AND MT. APAYANG
Contrary to their names, Mt. Talamitam and Mt. Apayang are twin or sister peaks rather than individual mountains of a range located in Nasugbu, Batangas.  Both peaks share a topographical feature and have soil and rock characteristics similar to each other. The word talamitam came from the words tala, a Filipino word for star and mitam, a tree that used to grow on the summit of the mountain. According to the locals, during night time, one can see a single star shining above the said tree. Though the tree does not exist anymore, the name talamitam has been used for generations to name the mountain.

The term apayang, on the other hand, was used by the locals to describe the usual engulfing fog that covers the summit of the peak. They also refer the mountain as Mt. Pinagbanderahan and Mt. Bakas na Paa, each of which are based from the historical accounts and folklore of the native locals in the area.

Though Talamitam has been a usual part of the hiking scene in the Philippines, the trails leading to Apayang was officially opened in 2010.

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Last December 19, I was invited by one of my friends to join their group on their attempt for a Talamitam-Apayang traverse dayhike with a side trip to Layong Bilog. Since I never had hiked both mountains for years, I didn't hesistate to go with them.

I met the group at Jollibee MRT Taft at around 03:00 AM. We left and rode an FX going to Calatagan, Batangas. Even though I felt different with the start of the itinerary, I adhered to it. Usually, the meeting place on a Batangas-bound hike is in Taft-Gil Puyat intersection. We arrived at the jumpoff in Sitio Bayabasan at around 07:30 AM. After eating breakfast, registering and securing our guides, we started our trek to the summit of Talamitam. The local authorities adopt a strict no guide, no hike policy.


Mt. Talamitam jump-off signage on the highway.

The first part of the trail is seemingly gradual, passing through some houses in the village. There is a makeshift bridge on the trail to allow you cross a river. According to our guide, the river is the same river found in Layong Bilog. Different from much of the rivers I encountered on my past hikes, the color of the river waters in Talamitam is brown, presumably because of soil runs. Despite the color, our guide reassured us that the water is clean and maintained. The guide also told us that the river part of Talamitam isn't yet that discovered and they were trying to explore the area as they were actually suspecting a presence of waterfalls in their land.

The unnamed river seen on the trail to Mt. Talamitam.

Fellow hikers crossing the bamboo makeshift bridge on the river.

After the river crossing, the trail commences with an assault to the highlands of Talamitam. It was covered and vegetated, mostly with bamboos and trees. After thirty minutes, we arrived at the rolling highlands of Talamitam. At this point, you need to endure the heat of the sun as the trail is open up to the summit. However, you won't really feel tired at all as the highlands are relatively flat with minor assaults and the views are breathtaking, making that New Zealander feels after all.

Talamitam highlands with Mt. Batulao on the background.

This part of the mountain serves as a grazing land for cows so don't be surprised to see land mines installed along the trail. There are also patches of plantation of cabbage, corn and vegetables in this area used by the locals. According to our guide, it is part of the Hacienda Batangas, a vast plantation of sugar canes in Batangas. There is an attempt to convert the whole area to sugarcane plantation but this was usually contested by the barangay authorities as it will then prohibit hikers to use the trail. However, the guide told us that unfortunately, the owners are successful to proceed with the conversion plan and they are expecting it within this year. I hope that the government of Batangas will do some actions to preserve the mountain's beauty.

Hey, you seem sitting pretty well there. One of the few cows we saw on the highlands.

The trail continues until it reaches the final stage to the summit. It is an entirely assault trail in loose soil, rocks and boulders and the trail is still open so you really have to survive the scorching heat of the sun.

Leaving the highlands to the final leg of the assault to Talamitam.

We arrived at the summit at around 11:30 AM. The feeling in the summit is superb - it offers a 360° view of everything you want to see from the summit. Talamitam's location is indeed strategic. You can see Batulao on the left, Marami and Pico de Loro on the right and sights of different things elsewhere - Tagaytay City skyline, Batangas coastline, Taal Lake, Mt. Maculot and the plains of Nasugbu, Batangas.

Foot selfie on the summit of Talamitam.

The blogger on the summit of Talamitam with Mt. Batulao on the background

The plains of Nasugbu and the coastline sights that extend to Calatagan, Batangas.

I asked the guide why Talamitam's landscape such. He mentioned that the locals tried planting trees for many years only to see that these seedlings don't survive. You will also notice that a side of Talamitam is bare whereas the other side facing the Palay-Palay range is forested.The same can be observed in Apayang, just reverse the sides of the bare and forested.  It goes down perhaps to the role of the location, weather and natural activities like rain, wind pattern etc. to the mountain.

We stayed there for an hour, after which we commenced to the traverse to Apayang. There are actually two options - either go summit-to-summit or do the traverse. Our guide gave us a heads up that the traverse trail is far way more difficult. We proceeded with the traverse as planned.

The Apayang peak is connected to Talamitam peak by a single ridge where the traverse trail passes through. It took us twenty minutes to reach Apayang.

Group photo at Mt. Apayang with Talamitam on the background.

There is a bamboo shed in the summit where one can take rest before proceeding with the traverse. Our guide mentioned that the locals know Apayang more of Mt. Pinagbanderahan, similar to that found in Quezon. The local accounts are similar to that in Quezon, that during the World War II, American soldiers placed the Philippine flag at the top of the mountain to mark their territory and vicinity. You can also notice an encryption on a rock on the summit that reads 08/26/58, probably pertaining to August 26, 1958. The story about the carved rock is still yet unclear but history tells that the late 1950s has been the era of communism and rebels started to hide out on mountains. Apayang has been a haven for these people and perhaps, that provides the story on the encryption on the rock. But again, this single historical deduction is one of the many possible stories behind the rock and we are yet to find out the real narrative behind it.

We commenced the traverse and it was truly different and more difficult than the previous one. There are a lot of steep descents along the trail. The good thing, however, is that the entire trail is covered with trees and bamboos. Since the trail was relatively new and wasn't that explored much, one will be amazed to feel on the forested character of the trail - like we were the first to touch that part of the mountain. Yay!



Hold on to that branch! The challenging trail of Apayang traverse.

According to our guide, the traverse itself crosses two minor peaks. There is also a river crossing along the traverse trail.



The river crossing along the trails of Mt. Apayang.

After three hours, we reached the sugarcane plantation on Brgy. Mataas na Pulo, signaling the end of the traverse trail. We walked our way to the barangay hall and registered there. We took a tricycle off to the national highway and rode a jeepney back to Sitio Bayabasan where we had ourselves washed. Since we arrived late, the guide told us it is not advisable to explore Layong Bato anymore. Anyway, the whole traverse trip is a statement to itself and I really enjoyed the experience. We had a postclimb dinner at Tagaytay and of course, who would not miss the famous bulalo of that city.

One with the sky and mountains. Survived Talamitam-Apayang traverse hike!

ITINERARY

Note: The itinerary below is the recommended one for a traverse hike, very much different from what we had on this hike.

Mt. Talamitam – Mt. Apayang Traverse Dayhike
04:30 AM	Assembly at LRT Gil Puyat.
05:00 AM	Take bus bound to Nasugbu and Lian.
06:30 AM	ETA Sitio Bayabasan. Register and secure guides
07:00 AM	Start trek.
08:15 AM	Arrival at highlands
10:00 AM	Arrival at Talamitam summit. Explore viewpoints.
11:00 AM	Start traverse to Apayang.
11: 30 AM	Arrival at Apayang summit. Explore viewpoints. Lunch.
12:00 PM	Start descent.
02:00 PM	Arrival at coconut house.
03:00 PM	Arrival at Brgy. Mataas na Pulo hall. Register. Tidy up.
04:00 PM	ETD Nasugbu, Batangas
06:00 PM	ETA Manila

SPECIAL NOTES

Transportation: Going to Sitio Bayabasan is accessible via bus going to Nasugbu, Batangas. For private cars, either take Aguinaldo Highway or SLEX-Sta. Rosa Exit to go to Tagaytay and follow Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway. Bus fares from Gil Puyat to Nasugbu is Php 124.

Registration, guides and porters: There are two registration points if doing a traverse - one at Sitio Bayabasan and the other one at Brgy. Mataas na Pulo, both of the fees cost Php 20.00. Guides are required and rates are fixed at Php 400 for a group of ten persons for a Talamitam dayhike; an additional Php 300 per group is collected for a traverse hike. Make sure to inform the registration officer on your jumpoff point if doing a traverse hike to relay the information to the registration officers on your exit point.

Hiking and camping notes:

1. The assault to Talamitam is an open trail. It can be muddy and slippery during rainy season. Wear appropriate clothing. Prepare accordingly.
2. Cellular signal is present throughout the Talamitam trail; is sporadic on the traverse trail to Apayang.
3. There are camping sites available in the highlands and summits of Talamitam and Apayang.
4. Remember to walk on single file when traversing the highlands as some areas of it are used as plantations for the locals. Talamitam usually changes its trail to adapt to the agricultural activities of the locals. Do not step on these areas.
5. The last water source for the entire trail is located at the campsite near the creek.

Estimated budget: Php 500 - Php 700

Credits to Mikel Angeles for some of the photos.