When you want to tune up for a major hike or train for a trail run event, Tarak Ridge is one of your best options.
🇵🇭TARAK RIDGE ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈🛳🚌 How to get to Tarak Ridge of Mt. Mariveles, Bataan:
⏺ Ride a bus from Metro Manila to Mariveles, Bataan (e.g. Genesis Bus; travel time is 3 – 4 hours depending on traffic condition and number/duration of stop-overs).
⏺ Alight at the barangay hall of Barangay Alas-asin.
⏺ Register and secure/guides.
⏺ Walk or hire a tricycle to get to the jump-off.
⏰⏳ SAMPLE DAY HIKE ITINERARY:
3:00 AM ETD for Mariveles
6:00 AM ETA Barangay Alas-asin / register
6:30 AM ETA jump-off / commence hike
9:00 AM ETA Papaya River
11:30 AM ETA Tarak Ridge / lunch
1:00 PM Start descent
5:00 PM Wash up
6:00 PM ETD for Manila
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler): Php 1,300 – Php 1,500
***Expenses may vary depending on guide fees and personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the guide fees.
One of my friends from the hiking community invited me to climb Tarak Ridge. Our assembly time in Cubao was 2:00 AM. Unfortunately, the first Genesis bus bound for Mariveles left at 5:00 AM so we arrived at the jump-off by 9:00 AM.It really was not good news for us. Most of the hikers do a two-day itinerary of Tarak Ridge since its trail is technical. A day hike would be possible but climbers should commence their hike early.We didn’t hire a guide since one of us had hiked Tarak Ridge twice so she’s already pretty much familiar with the trail. We had a lot of rest stops as we were scaling the relatively easy portions of the trail because we had a beginner with us so that’s understandable but I was already starting to worry if we would make it in time.My most favorite part of the trail was the never-ending technical assault and scrambling after Papaya River. It was so much fun. Definitely a perfect training ground for an amateur mountaineer.
📜✏ Tips/Reminders:
📌This mountain is not advisable for first-timers.
📌If it is your first time to hike Tarak Ridge, it is better to hire a local guide so you won’t get lost as there are forks along the trail.
📌The hike takes about 4 – 6 hours to summit depending on your pace.
📌There is a water source at Papaya River. This spot also serves as a campsite.
📌Bring enough hydration.
📌The trail is mostly covered.
📌Always check the weather first before scaling Tarak Ridge or Mt. Mariveles. Expect rain during monsoon season (June-February).
📌You may opt to join organized hiking events online.
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
We arrived at the ridge before 2:00 PM. We quickly had our lunch then took photos. I was already itching to go down by 3:00 PM. I didn’t want to walk through Tarak’s trail in the dark. Thanks to my hiker friends who told me some scary stories during their hike here.By 3:30 PM, we started our descent. And there I was moving like a ninja. I went ahead of my friends then waited for them at Papaya River. After resting, I continued my solo flight. For someone with sixth sense, running alone along a mountain’s trail was not really something I would consider exciting. Gods was I so nervous as the sun began to set. I slowed down then took out my headlamp from my backpack. I continued running and it actually felt like someone or something was chasing me. It felt like it was hopping among the trees behind me. Then I bumped into one of the guides who was about to deliver bottled water to some hikers I met along the way. I asked him if I’m almost there. “15 minutes,” he said. It was almost dark and it felt like the longest 15 minutes of my life. I was already hearing some weird eerie sounds around me. When I saw the registration area, I almost squeaked in relief. After all, I never stopped running and brisk walking after I regrouped with my friends by the river. At 5:30 PM, I was already chillin’ and eating, listening to some creepy stories of the locals while waiting for my friends.It was already dark when we washed up. We then found out that the last trip of bus bound for Manila already left. After eating our dinner, we waited at the terminal for the next trip of bus en route to Manila. It was an exhausting hike (with bouts of scary moments along the trail) but I had so much fun. Absolutely one for the books, I’d say.
***For more photos of Tarak Ridge, please click this link. For other destinations in Bataan and Central Luzon, you may visit this link.
