09 March 2013
Certain places are named based on their characteristics. So when the team declared a plan to climb the Tayak Hill, I
envisioned messy trails being a Pangasinense, where the term tayak
means muddled/scattered or something related to high disorder. But actually, tayak actually refers to the green grass abundantly & onrganize-ly growing on the trail up to the hill.
We rode off a jeepney southward 'til Brgy. Tala Rizal and started walking a long paved trail contrary to the usual muddy,
slippery, and grassy hike most mountains offer. We go on with
the stroll that quite seemed to go on forever. The absence of tall trees to shade the path denied us the luxury of
having a shady trail ending up sun-soaked throughout and left with toasted
skin by the end of day.
A few
more walks lead us to the main jump-off point (Tayak Nature and Adventure Camp)
towards the hill where we spent lunchtime. We opted to buy some drinks from an eatery at the site since we have our packed lunch ready with us. Then treated ourselves the much-coveted rest before pursuing the final push of the climb. We also had the chance to meet a few other hikers who were on their way for a camp-out to Mt. Cristobal.
As we
resumed climbing right after the quick break, sudden rain shower blessed our way uphill, which eventually ceased after a couple of minutes. It wasn’t hard to notice that we’re
really nearing the peak as the famous white cross landmark’s already greeting us
from where we’re standing. At the summit, the wind started to blow harder complementing the stunning scenery making all the hardships we had
off the long walk all worth it.
For another time, I caught myself sighing in awe and
relief. The view up there was exceptionally heart-wrenching,
overlooking the magnificence in the neighborhood as Laguna’s seven lakes,
Mt. Makiling, Mt. Kalisungan, Mt Malipunyo, among others boasts afar. Right behind us was Mt. San Cristobal mysteriously blanketed in blue.
Tayak
Hill wasn’t much of a hard climb. But it surely disproved my first
impression of it based on its name. The place was a state of orderliness contrary to
what I initially pictured in my head. Truly a great reminder to never judge without knowing the real score firsthand. Much to the green tayak grasses thriving on it is also a
much further colorful history behind it; that which made this whole outdoor
thing worth more than a weekend lying in bed.
The
sky was overcast and a threat of afternoon showers was very evident already so
we decided to descend. Good thing it didn’t rain as we go down. Unlike the
other climbs where we went home with shoes and pants caked in dried mud, this
time, we did arrive home clean and dry.
