Tarak Ridge (1,130+) | Page 1 of 365
Tarak Ridge in Mariveles, Bataan always hits close to home. Just a bus ride away from Manila, this hiking destination will always be every adventurer’s not so secret hiking spot.
Close to Home
Mt. Mariveles is a dormant stratovolcano with several peaks around its massive 2.5-mile caldera.
Tarak Ridge is the easiest among the crater peaks such as Pantingan, Vintana, El Saco, Garruchas, Bataan, and so on.
With the pandemic still wreaking havoc, it kept me from revisiting this mountain for almost 2 years. Moreover, it surprised me to see several changes as we made our way to the ridge.
I have visited this place annually since 2015 through different trails as a way to remember a late friend who introduced me to the life of adventure – with Tarak Ridge as my first major climb.
Way back in 2014, the main jump-off is at the highway after registering at the Barangay Hall of Alasasin. But, fast forward to 2022, the 3.6-kilometer paved road now stretches until past Nanay Cording’s Hut. To my surprise as soon as I woke up, our van was already at the hut with the tarpaulin wall already in a sorry state.
On to the Babbling Brook
The forested trail winding along the footholds of Mt. Mariveles remains as pristine as it was before, albeit the vandalism on rocks and tree trunks. Moreover, we hope this stays the same as the encroachment of humans and conversion of some forests to agricultural lands is now evident.
Papaya River, on the other hand, is still a welcoming sight after a few hours from Nanay Cording’s hut. This shallow stream with waist-deep natural pools is a perfect spot to relax before the strenuous ascent to the ridge.
The sun slowly broke out of the horizon, with the sky colored in shades of Veri Peri, 2022’s color of the year.
This steep ascent from the river to the ridge brought me back to the days when I experienced many firsts in climbing.
In between heavy breaths, I silently renewed my fondness for the mountains as we usher in the new year.
Wind-swept Ridge
The wind-swept ridge offers a panoramic view of the tadpole-like Corregidor Island, as well as Manila Bay and the mountains of Maragondon and Ternate in Cavite.
This time around, the wind along the rugged landscape was unforgiving enough that we can’t even stay for too long without getting blown away.
Our first Tarak Ridge hike here: Tarak Ridge (1,130+) | Mariveles, Bataan
Welcome, 2022!
Everyone wants this year to be a better one than the last, but as I am writing this, a new outbreak is now spiraling out of control.
The past year has changed us completely and escaping to the mountains makes us feel like we’re back to what it was before even just for a little while.
Knowing that this is going to be more challenging than before, I am ever so content for now and can only hope that 2022 will give us all that we couldn’t have in 2021.
Cheers to the new year!
New year – a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately, we write it. The choice is ours. – Alex Morritt
Updated January 06, 2022
