Major, major climb to Mt. Talinis

CEBU, Philippines - Mountain savvy  propelled me up Mt. Talinis (5,905 feet above sea level) on a September 25-26 Open Climb organized by the Cuernos de Negros Mountaineers Club, Inc. based in Silliman University, Dumaguete City.

Like other “connoisseurs of geologic form,” I was there among 54 participants from Tacloban, Bacolod, Cebu, Masbate and Dumaguete for the trek cum cleanup drive in line with the observance of the International Cleanup Month — only that this one was carried out on higher grounds for obvious reasons.

In an article penned last May 16, I shared about my intense desire to finally climb Mt. Talinis after four years of waiting. I’m so glad to have waited for the right time to be with the right people. At first, I had apprehensions I might not be fit anymore for some strenuous activity after going through a Caesarian Section. Because of the level of difficulty, all climbers are warned of the nature of the climb and are required to be in “good physical condition.”

Read: Mt. Talinis is a Level 3 mountain, signifying a major climb with a certain level of difficulty in terms of steepness of slopes, dense vegetation cover, and requirement of more than a day’s climb. And that though Bidyao (also spelled Bediao) Trail or Route 2 is considered the “tourist” trail which means relatively easier, average tourists may have difficulty climbing this trail. This may have been considered easier by the local guides because it takes less time to climb over the Apolong and Lunga Trails.

Well, I should be happy I was grouped with the participants of Route 1 which used the Apolong Trail for the ascent. This is of medium difficulty, while Lunga is reserved for the more experienced mountain climbers. I noticed trails passing by gullies and waterways which should have been avoided, being dangerous in the events of flashfloods and erosion. Whew! I also passed by four quicksand areas before reaching the camp.

However, I learned from Everest summiteers Romy Garduce and Peter Hillary (son of Sir Edmund Hillary) to “move at your own pace” and when in a situation, to “stick to your gun.” Their words of wisdom, sort of, assisted me in navigating the contoured trails for a total of eight hours, or two hours delayed from the estimated time of arrival at the base camp in Lake Nailig. Nevertheless, my arrival there despite the dragging half-steps is classic example of triumph of the human spirit!

It was a good thing I followed the advice to carry a lightweight pack to minimize difficulty in climbing and descending the mountain. Even food items I had to compromise. I contented myself with what is called trail food – biscuits and marshmallows – and carried a load of dark chocolate with mint to boost serotonin (feel-good brain chemical).

I also thanked the god of forests for conspiring with me at some points. Two trekkers from Bacolod City, Roy Domingo Raymundo and Brian Joanes, experienced thigh cramps the way I did, so we moved in the same pace. “Salamat, I have people to share the experience with,” I muttered.

Sometimes, I would walk in solitude from 30 to 45 minutes, contemplating if it was indeed mortal sin to have set aside the buddy system. “I should have hired a porter,” I self-talked. “Ma-shoot ko sa huyonghuyong ani wala gyoy mo-rescue nako,” so I went on in my soliloquy.

But the buddy system is one that applies only if you have a real group, this I had relearned. For such an occasion, wherein I was a freelancer, I have to literally walk the distance by myself and to rely on instinct should common sense fail.

Nevertheless, everything about the forest assured me that I was pursuing “a life.” Yes, climbing is a life! In fact, climbing has become the focus of my existence. In every conquest, I find myself appreciating all the more the grip climbing has on my soul as it provides most of what is missing for me in civvy street – the challenge, the deafening silence that gives that voice within a chance to speak, canvas after canvas of simplicity, and of course, the opportunity to meet again My God – the God of the Forest and Earth and Sky and River I know of, not the one shaped by religions, dogmas, doctrines; cults and occults; nor the one molded by pretentious philosophies and easy syllogisms.  

Good thing also that I did retain precious lessons in Scouting like reading trail signs. Route leader Arsenio “Onyot” Inoferio Jr. used orange ribbons to indicate the right path for every time the trail reaches a fork. I also noticed three smooth stones placed on top of one another indicating “danger.”

My! Spring water tastes so good and at Apolong Trail, sources are available after 30 minutes from jump-off point and three hours after, before the base camp. Dragonflies, by the hundreds, in royal blue and burgundy hues are such an awesome sight. I have never seen so many “alindanaw” in a very long time! And plant life from wild berries to centuries-old trees like the almaciga (its tallow is used as fuel), giant and thorny ferns, even the poison ivy, are indeed gorgeously clothed that not even King Solomon, in all his glory, had worn grandeur such as theirs.

By the way, Mt. Talinis has lured numerous visitors and mountain climbers every year to experience the adventure and challenge of reaching its famous twin peaks. According to a survey and trail mapping carried out by the group of Garduce in 1996 when he was yet with the UP Mountaineers, it was learned that these mountain peaks give the region its name, as they are popularly referred to as “Cuernos de Negros” or the Horns of Negros.

While it is relatively a small mountain, Mt. Talinis more than compensates for its elevation by offering challenging trails (80 to 85 degrees slopes and a 90-degree drop at the peak, providing an impression of a lifetime) through lush tropical vegetation, scenic views of Dumaguete and islands off the mainland, and up-close sites of volcanic activity like in Kaipuhan, as if reliving scenes from the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Mt. Talinis is also home to many endemic but endangered animal species such as the Visayan spotted deer, the warty pig and the civet cat or the “maral.”

Now for the shout-outs: I am grateful that club adviser Rochelle Marie “Che” Remollo and her team shared their hot Bulalo, Spam and rice with me, as well as warm water for my milk tea. I also have Michael Joseph Araula to thank for his patience along with his co-sweepers Alf Campos who shared his tent, and to Ludwig Val Salva who tied around my right thigh an ID sling when I complained of cramps. To prevent further spasms, I would from time to time pop into my mouth my precious “baon” – iodized salt. To fellow climbers Roy and Brian, thanks for clicking-a-click-a-camera so I could also have those memories frozen in the four borders of photographs now posted on Facebook even though I’m still pissed off with my account being phised!

The climb came with a cleanup drive as a prelude to 10.10.10’s TckTckTck Campaign. This is a global work party. Around the world, people and communities in 183 countries gathered together at 10:10 a.m. and rolled up their sleeves for local projects to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and show world leaders that our planet can’t wait for them (in all their silly, frustrating wait-and-see approach) to get serious about the climate crisis and race towards a low carbon future.

Green forests of Mt. Talinis are carbon sinks. It is the goal of the climb to raise a ground higher the awareness that we are all interconnected with the ecosystems of this “jewel of a dry earth.”