Hiking Talks #08: Traverse Day Hike- Tampurong Peak ~Mt. Tampurong

 

MINOR CLIMB| Mt. Tampurong is the third mountain among the said "Apo Trilogy", with Mt. Talomo as the mother, Mt. Apo as the father and Mt. Tampurong as the son. The mountain is a good choice for a training climb. Rising to 1682 MASL, it is a bit challenging. Ascending to grassland slopes, crossing streams and a hanging bridge, passing by vegetable farms and then the highlight--the mossy forest.

However, it is still underrated and rarely climbed. In fact very few people bother to climb this mountain making the trail less established, especially upon trailing to the forest up to the summit.

Some locales may climb but only until Purok Tampurong where there is a Church/Chapel. They only do so, when special events are done in the Purok.

Nevertheless, climbing Mt. Tampurong is also rewarding as it offers a more intimate and relaxing glimpse of life in the highlands. With its fresh and cool air, the view of simple hardworking people harvesting potatoes, cabbage, onions, bananas, and the like and as they cultivate their farm and perform many other facets of agriculture, it gives you the feeling of a simple provincial life. Away from the hassles of the city.

The view of Mt.Apo will catch your attention along the trail; you can see the volcanic vents effusing something white--the sulphuric steam at the Boulders. You can also view the Kapatagan community and Banana plantations that surround the Kapatagan area.

All these make Mt. Tampurong an interesting mountain to climb in Mindanao.

HIKING

 Sitio Matti still evokes memories of the infamous "Digos massacre". Way back June 25, 1989, during a Sunday Mass in the Chapel of the said village, about 40 individuals were mercilessly murdered by almost a hundred armed Maoist Communist Terrorist- New People’s Army, led by Benzar ( Armado Payot). A memory indelibly-etched among the residents of the village.

However, Sitio Matti and purok Tampurong in particular, are quite safe for hiking nowadays.

Hanging Bridge connects to Sitio Tampurong

The Trek starts at the Day Care School; follow the wide rough trail down until it leads you into the single trail. This trail leads you to Purok Tampurong. You can cross the river through the hanging bridge. From there, prepare yourself for a partial and continues assault up to Purok Tampurong with some open trail that is exposed to natural elements, sun and water. Water source is located just before stepping into the bridge. It takes 2.5-3 hours of trekking in a moderate pacing up into the purok.

Sitio Tampurong/ basketball court

From the the purok you will cross the farm fields until into the trail entrance of the forest ascending to the summit and it takes 1.5 hour in a moderate pace. You will most likely arrive the summit at lunch time. Have a break and indulge yourself into the forested summit scene. 

Summit/ Forest

Commence traverse to kapatagan, notice “Rattan” and “Romblon”, a material being use to produce Native Chairs, Baskets and etc. Then trail into the vegetable fields and down into the Banana Plantation. Hence, when you arrive the location where Banana Plantation is, you are nearing the community that is a part of Kapatagan. You can observe locals transporting bananas using horses, and locals harvesting and spraying the banana tree. You may also ask for a Banana to bring it with you or just eat right then and there. And it’s for free! Indeed, the best things in life are free.

Traverse trail

The traverse from the summit to Kapatagan takes 3.5-4 hours in a moderate pace. We ended our trek with a simple Salo-Salo in the carenderia, rode a Habal-habal going to Kapatagan Poblacion Market and transferred to a service “AIR-CONtinuous” van going to Digos,City proper.

DETAILS

Digos, Davao del Sur
Entry Point| Sittio Matti, Bgry. Binaton
Exit Point| Bgry. Kapatagan Poblacion
LLA| 1682 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 4-6 hours
Specs| Minor Climb- 5/9Difficulty –Trail Class 2-4
Features| Stream, mossy forest, wild flowers, view of Mt. Apo

TRANSPORTATION
From Davao City ( Ecoland terminal),you may either  take a bus bound for Digos,City or one bound for General Santos, City. Stop at the Digos Bus Stop Terminal (100 fare-aircon|75 fare -non aircon). Catch a Haba-habal or a tricycle going to Bgry. Cogon junction going to Kapatagan or you may negotiate for a Habal-habal ride that will bring you directly to Brgy. Binaton (not advisable to pick a ride direct to jump off as it is so expensive)

Make a double ride, from Bus stop terminal to Bgry. Cogon Junction via tricycle and from there, get a habal-habal ride up to Brgy.Binaton,Sittio Matti (100/head-fare is a reasonable price. )

From the community to Kapatagan Market, ride a habal-habal (10php). From there, transfer to a Service Van or Haba-Habal descending back to Digos,City (100php) and then catch a bus or V-hire heading back to Davao,City (v-hire fare is 90php)

PHOTOS

ITINERARY
I don’t post a detailed itinerary because I believe such should be experienced by nobody else but you yourself. General time frame in every stops are shown in the transportation and hiking part of the article.