Trekking Mt. Taraw, El Nido

[smallbird]

Lucky me, a local travel/tour company offers a guided trek to Mt. Taraw. The ideal group for climbing a jagged limestone formation like Mt. Taraw is two (2) climbers per guide. Despite enlisting in this trip on my first day in El Nido and until the day ( 4th day of my stay) of scheduled climb, the list bore a single name, my name.

We pushed through anyway, I was briefed with the scripted climbing orientation on our short walk to the base of Mt. Taraw. We started the climb and I noticed several nest hunters running up and down the trail. It was the harvest season for Swiftlet nest.

Swiftlet nest is made from the small bird's saliva is the primary ingredient in making bird's nest soup. The soup is served in the most affluent restaurants in Hongkong and elsewhere in the world. It's priced like a gem.

As the climb progresses, I felt that my knees and hands are shaking. Climbing a jagged limestone mountain is definitely not one of my faculties, prior climbing trips to Mt Pulag, Mt.Makiling and Pakil-Pangil peaks haven't prepared me for this one. I prayed and called every saint that I know and heard of, just for the strength to continue the trek (ironic huh! i even paid for the ordeal). There came a point that every stride is a struggle but quitting was not my option.
Half-way up ,we met another set of nest hunters guarding their post. We took some pictures and proceeded, the trail got even harder.

My initial apprehension was gradually converted to enthusiasm and to extreme eagerness to reach the peak as the view of El Nido town and bay from the top slowly reveals unto us.We finally reached the top, the view was breathtaking , no picture can actually capture the view and no amount of story telling can translate the feeling of being there, one must really go up there for the whole experience. At the peak, we took load and loads of pictures, and even sent text message my friends to brag that I made it to the top of Mt. Taraw.

After spending some quiet moments at the top of Mt. Taraw, I thanked all the saints I called while going up, little did I know that I'll call on them again on our way down. It was an experience that I will never forget.

Jagged limestone cliff/mountain is no easy to trek. Not for the faint-hearted