My Fifth Climb- Mt. Tagapo

MounTrails # 5
Mt. Tagapo
Brgy. Janosa
Binangonan, Rizal
Feb. 28, 2010
Group: Take Five
Hikers

Following another dayhikable mountain that is near Metro Manila area, after our ultimate dayhike in Mt. Batulao, is the Mt. Tagapo located in Talim Island of Rizal surrounded by Laguna De Bay. This mountain offers not only the scenic views on top of it but also a glance on the livelihood of the people living in Talim Island.
My friend Aileen and I arrived in EDSA Central Crossing to meet our companions at 5:00 A.M. We left EDSA Central at 5:30 and rode a jeep bound to Binangonan, Rizal. We arrived in Binangonan at 6:30 A.M then waited for a friend of mine, Myrish, who will also join our climb. At 7:00 A.M, we were already in a boat, ready for off to Brgy. Janosa, Talim Island (jump-off for Mt. Tagapo), but the boat left Binangonan port at 8:00 A.M. The boat usully leaves the port when it is already full of passengers.

At 9:30, we reached Brgy. Janosa and met Sir Archie, our guide. After our registration in brgy. hall and managed our meal for lunch (Sir Archie offered us a very delicious meal at a friendly price), we started our trek to Mt. Tagapo at 10:00 A.M. The trek to the trail, considerably dry at that time, of Mt. Tagapo was not easy due to the heat brought by the sun. Unlike in some mountains, Mt. Tagapo is not covered by forest and resting areas are available on some parts of the trail, making mountaineers to apply sun protection as well as bring extra load of water. Trashes can also be seen along the trail, a major concern to our environment. Present were also some burnt cogon grass and woods, mainly because of the heat of the sun as what our guide told us. During our climb, we met a group named Haliparot who was doing a clean- up drive (thumbs up for this ^_^).
At 11:40 A.M, we were already at the campsite of Mt. Tagapo. At the campsite, we saw some trashes but these trashes could not even amount the views that can be seen. After a short break in the campsite, our group had its way to the summit. Due to our excitement, we ran along the trail on our way to the summit. When we reached the summit, the views were wonderful. We saw the fish pens in Laguna De Bay, the major living of the people of Talim Island. Mountains such as Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Sembrano can also be seen. At the summit, some trashes were also present and so as some burnt woods and cogon grass. After a short stay in the summit, we were backed in the campsite.
At 1:00 P.M, we trekked down to brgy. hall of Brgy. Janosa. Along the trail, we picked as much trashes as we could. At 2:10 P.M, we were already in Sir Archie’s house in Janosa where a very delicious meal, composing of bighead fish and a big tilapia, waited for us. Yum! ^_^. We left Brgy. Janosa at 4:00 P.M and reached EDSA Central Crossing at 6:30 P.M.

Kaisipan Pagkatapos ng Akyat

Hindi katulad ng ibang bundok na malapit sa Metro Manila, ang pagpunta sa bundok Tagapo ay nangangailangan ng pagsakay sa bangka na lumalayag sa Laguna De Bay. Ang mga bangkang ito ay may oras ng una at huling pagbiyahe papunta sa Brgy. Janosa at sa Binangonan Port. Kung hindi balak na magpalipas ng gabi sa kampo ng Mt. Tagapo o bahay ng kakilala sa Brgy. Janosa, mas makabubuti na lumulan sa biyahe ng bangka sa ika-lima ng hapon upang masaksihan din sa Laguna De Bay ang napakagandang paglubog ng araw.


_Cory_ Nov. 1, 2010