Towering at 1900+ MSL, a difficulty level of 7/9, and a trail class of 2-4, Mount Talinis sends its hikers to a challenging feat of ascent through its forest, lakes, and waterfalls. Apart from its diverse flora and fauna within its territory, a unique geological land formation is worth exploring and that is the Kaipuhan Sulfur Vents. Mount Talinis also known as "Cuernos de Negros" got its name from its horn-like peaks and is a "potentially active" volcano. All this combined makes Mount Talinis a sought-after mountain to conquer.
However, conquering Mt. Talinis was never on my bucket list. It just so happen that a good friend insisted on my companionship as he didn't want to be a solo joiner for a group climb. Considering as this would be my second major climb, I happily obliged.
Mount Talinis is situated in Valencia, Negros Oriental. From Cebu City, it took about 5 hours of bus ride going south to Liloan Santander Port. Then another hour of boat ride to Dumaguete City where my friend King waited for my arrival. I later on found out that another person named Jong (who later on became a friend too) was joining us for the climb. It was a 3D2N adventure so we had to make sure that we were all geared up and food supplies were enough.
An climbing organization based in Dumaguete did all the preparations. Thus, it was expected there would be other small groups joining in on the fun. I just wasn't expecting that we would be over 25 pax! The biggest climbing group I've been with. These people came from different parts of the country. And I was really amazed to have met and interacted with most of them.
Bediao-Apolong Trail
Came the 1st day of the climb, we all huddled at Valencia, Dumaguete early in the morning. Once attendance was complete, we proceeded to our entry point in Brgy. Bediao, Dauin. We were to traverse Mt. Talinis using the Bediao-Apolong trail which they say was a long but comprehensive route to take.
We were divided into 3 groups, each with a local guide. As one of the slow climbers, I asked King and Jong that we would be among the last group to ascend. Knowing my capacity and limits, it would be best for me not to push myself hard to reach the summit ahead of time or ahead of others. It would just drain my energy right away and I wouldn't get to enjoy the surrounding nature as we climb.
From the jump-off point, it was already clear that we wouldn't have a bright sunny day as a thick fog had enveloped the mountain slopes. The hike itself started with a few kilometers passing farmlands and in just about 30 minutes, the ascent became steeper as we were entering one of the mountain's thick forests. The giant ferns, slippery ground, and mossy rocks started to prove that its trail was no joke. And because it was proving to be a grueling hike even during the start, constantly taking my camera from my backpack just to take photos was not an ideal thing to do. We had to be careful with every step we take and there were but limited breaks along the way.
Lake Yagumyum
More than an hour inside the forest's belly, we entered into a ridge where the slope was steep. Here we rested for a few minutes. Then it was another round of making our way into rough terrain with tall bushes and trees. A sigh of relief came to me as my eyes settled on a small lake just as we came out from the forest. Lake Yagumyum was our first stopover.
The first two groups arrived some minutes before us. They were already settled and munching on their packed meals at the open space near the lake. We had an hour's break to eat our lunch and rest. As for me, I couldn't help but spend more time admiring the lake. With the thick vegetation surrounding its waters and the mist making its way towards our direction, Lake Yagumyum surely imbues some mystical feeling and serene beauty.
Kaipuhan Sulphur Vents
The second half of the climb was another exhausting hike through the tall canopy trees, giant ferns, and slippery trail. Giant roots although moss-covered, slippery, and an added obstacle to a smooth trek was a blessing in disguise. We clung to them when the trail starts to become steeper. There were also fallen trees where one has to climb under or above them which proved to be fun but time-consuming.
Not so sure if it was just an hour or more, but we finally came to a clearing where the sun was out and about. But it was not just your ordinary clearing, this place was the famous Kaipuhan Sulphur River full of solfatara or natural volcanic vents which emit sulfuric gas and hot water vapor. Due to years of exposure to these vents, all living things near it died. Dead trees everywhere. The ground and rocks turned white. The air smelled like rotten eggs but we didn't mind because it was a fascinating sight to behold. We were like in a dead zone just waiting for zombies to come out.
Rancho
We were way behind from the other groups so we left the sulfuric vents and proceeded to our first campsite called Rancho. In 30 minutes, we arrived at an open space with a small house. Most of the hikers have already pitched their tents and we followed suit. It was likely to rain that night so everyone got prepared and had an early dinner before darkness came in. Everyone was in good spirits after being able to rest and had their stomachs filled. New friends were made and stories were shared.
Lake Nailig
Day 2 started with a sumptuous breakfast paired with hot coffee. We took our time to unpack and started to ascend late in the morning. There was still drizzling so we wore our rain gears as we tackled a few hours amidst the forest. The trail was more slippery than yesterday so we had to take it slow and be more careful. Nonetheless, nature still provided us comfort and freedom. Imagine being in the middle of a huge forest just filled with nature's energy, I wouldn't want that feeling to end despite the struggles of ascending.
Lake Nailig was another mesmerizing view to be immersed in. Despite the fog lingering around and the chilly weather, it was still undeniably beautiful in its own way. Larger than Lake Yagumyum, one couldn't capture the lake's entirety in one photo unless taken from the summit. Hikers used to swim here years ago especially when the weather was bright and sunny. There was only a small spot beside the lake where we could gaze at its beauty. If lucky enough, the fog would clear up for a short period of time and reveal the surrounding beautiful scenery. And that was already enough for me.
Once we found a good spot, we put up our tent and had our meals prepped up. We had ample amount of time to eat, rest and interact with the other climbers. It was a great time and we were all thankful for a "could-be-worse" weather. And about 4:00 pm, some suggested heading to the summit. Knowing that we wouldn't be able to see anything because of the thick fog, I tagged along.
Nacolon Peak
It was about 30 minutes hike but this time, it wouldn't be too daunting as we didn't bring heavy bags with us. It was an easy climb indeed. Once we reached Nacolon Peak, the only thing visible was the big tree which they said was the perfect spot to get a breathtaking panoramic view of Mt. Talinis and its lush forests, Lake Nailig with its emerald waters and the surrounding mountain ranges. We never got to enjoy such a view. Nonetheless, we could still say we conquered Mt. Talinis' peak and it was already more than we could have hoped for.
On our last day, we bid Lake Nailig goodbye after packing and cleaning up. And just like how backbreaking the ascent was, the descent was nothing short of challenging too. We still followed the same trail just up to the Kaipuhan Sulfur Vents then it was a new trail going further down. We then stopped at a nearby stream where some of the hikers washed up and enjoyed its cool waters. My friend King didn't hesitate to join them. After 30 minutes, we joined in on the rest of the group at the exit point.
Despite not having the perfect weather for this adventure, we had the best group of people to enjoy every step of the way! We made lifelong friends and we had fun stories to tell and amazing memories to reminiscence. My story ends here! 😉
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