MT. TAPULAO
Palauig, Zambales
Major jump-off: Brgy. Damapay-Salaza
LLA: 15.4833 N, 120.1166 E, 2037 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 2-3 days / 14 hours Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 3
BACKGROUND
Hiking amidst pine trees in a semi-temperate climate is an experience usually attributed to the Cordilleras, Mt. Pulag in particular. However, Mt. Tapulao in Zambales possesses the same charms. In fact, its name, Tapulao, means pine tree in the local dialect, and it is truly an apt description. However, it has a character of its own. The trails are wide throughout, and there is mining activity all the way to the ‘Generator campsite’. As you near the summit, you will see piles of rocks, containing chromite ore. You will also encounter miners who are, despite reports to the contrary, very friendly. If you want, you can even hitch a ride in their yellow 4x4 trucks – and cut the hiking time from 12 hours to as brief as 3-4 hours.
Many hikers would prefer the long, “endless” way. After all, who wouldn’t mind climbing amidst the lofty, Sagada-like environment? If you start early, you can starting trekking through the open fields even before dawn, such that when the sun is already high, you would’ve already passed the two water sources and reached the ‘cool part’ – with temperatures ranging from 19 C to a nighttime, yearend temperature of 6 C. After the open fields a rain forest, with trees hundreds of feet high, ensue, before the pine forest. From the start of the pines, it will take three more hours to finally reach the bunkhouse. Here, there is a steep path that leads to the ‘secret campsite’ which guards the entrance to the forest line. If your group has 4 tents or less, it is best to camp here.
There are also campsites you will encounter before you reach the ‘Bunker’ (which has a water source). Alternatively, you can continue to the main road to reach the ‘Generator campsite’. It can accommodate more tents but recently, it is no longer advisable to camp here because of mining activity. The forest line, 1875 MASL, leads to the summit. It is a 45-minute trek through a dense, mossy forest. Here, as in the forest trail from ‘Generator’, the flora and fauna are marvelous! You will see numerous insect species, birds, as well as varicolored flowers and exotic plants. Foreigners, the miners say, go all the way to Tapulao to survey the rich biodiversity.
The peak, however, is unremarkable. It is marked by an open pit. Don’t expect to see any marvelous views, although South China Sea can be seen, along with the other Zambales mountains. Remember that you came to Tapulao for the trail scenes and the unique environments: the rainforest below, the pine forests midway, and the mossy forest at the higher altitudes. There is an alternate trail to Tapulao. On the way down, it forks from the main road at around 1500 MASL. The locals say it leads to a river system, takes you deep in the rainforest, and its highlight is a spectacular waterfall. They also say that wild animals like deer and monkeys continue to roam free in the slopes of Mt. Tapulao .
Mt. Tapulao , being closer to Manila , is being touted as an alternative to Mt. Pulag , and is dubbed as the ‘poor man’s Pulag’. The Tapulao experience, however, makes it much more than an alternative, but a destination in its own right, unique from the Cordilleras and special in its place as the High Peak of Zambales mountains. An emerging new trail, which passes by rivers and waterfalls, has recently been described. Finally, the Tarlac trail to Mt. Tapulao, pioneered by the Tarlac Mountaineering Club is now available in PinoyMountaineer - opening up the possibility of a challenging traverse.
Note:
Thanks to PinoyMountaineers.com owned by Dr. Gideon Lasco for the informations we used in this website.