When my aunt invited me to visit her husband’s hometown in Talim Island last weekend, I googled for things to do and Mt. Tagapo appeared first on the feed. Mountaineers give it a difficulty score of 2/10, and since I survived Mt. Pulag (my guide gave it a 6/10 difficulty rating) last March, I figured Mt. Tagapo would be a walk in the park.
Also known as Susong Dalaga (maiden’s breast), Mt. Tagapo’s jump off point is in Baranggay Janosa, Talim Island, off the coast of Binangonan, Rizal. The peak of Mt. Tagapo stands at 438 MASL (mountaineering speak for “meters above sea level”) and it takes about 2 hours to reach the peak, and 1.5 to 2 hours to descend.
Because I had a place to stay in Talim Island, I decided not to camp overnight at Mt. Tagapo and just go for the morning hike. Prepping my hiking gear was easy because it doesn’t get too cold on top, and I knew I could leave my overnight stuff at my aunt’s place.
On me:
1. Light pocketable rain jacket from Uniqlo. It didn’t rain, but this jacket saved me from getting arm scratches while treading through sharp blades of tall grass.
2. Fisherman’s hat, which protected my newly colored hair from water elements and my face from sunburn.
3. Sports bra from Everlast. Ladies, you need all parts of your body to feel as comfy as possible, so leave the push-up underwire bra at home.
4. Black capri leggings from Forever 21. When climbing Mt. Tagapo, avoid wearing shorts unless you want mosquito bites and scratches from Mother Nature’s greenery.
5. Cotton tank top. Dri-fit fabric is best for sports and fitness activities, but I figured it’s a short hike so I can just change into my extra singlet.
6. Knee-high NBA basketball socks. Wearing ankle socks during long walks often give me knee pain, so I prefer men’s baller socks for protection.
7. Low-cut hiking shoes from Salomon. Your shoes can make or break your sport or workout. Choose wisely.
8. Bamboo walking stick (not pictured on the layout) to lessen my chances of getting injured while trekking
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In my backpack:
1. Toiletry kit, which contains hand sanitizer, sunblock, contact lens drops and case, Kleenex, some cash and my gadgets in a Ziploc, mosquito repellant patches, and wipes
2. Sunglasses
3. Extra singlet. A friend gave this to me when I visited Michigan for the first time last year. Thanks, Becky! Go, Tigers!
4. Snacks: sliced apples, a tuna sandwich, Snickers, and M&Ms
5. Sports water bottle
6. Emergency boy scout items: whistle, lighter, flashlight, personal meds, and plastic bags for my trash
7. Extra pair of socks
Stay tuned for my Mt. Tagapo hiking story.
September 30, 2015