"MT. TAPULAO:on top of CEntraL LUzON" Palauig by missmarianne

Iba, Zambales
Major jump-off: Brgy. Damapay-Salaza
LLA: 15.4833 N, 120.1166 E, 2037 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 2-3 days / 14 hours
Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 3

TRIVIA
Americans used to call Mt. Tapulao ‘High Peak;’ only during the 1960s did the native name Tapulao come to general use.

An excellent sidetrip to a Mt. Tapulao climb is an overnight stay at Capones Island in San Antonio , Zambales. Just in front of the island is another mountain, Mt. Anawangin , which is gaining popularity even though it is just a half-daytrip.

Climbers complain that the trail is endlessly long (15 kms to Bunker), and some may find a two-day IT too short to do a comfortable hike. You may either space it into three days, or hitch a ride with the miners, even for a short segment of the trip. The three water sources are good throughout the year but it is still advisable to bring 3 L.

Evenings at Tapulao are very, very cold; beginners have to be warned that thermal clothing is advisable and a simple, single jacket is not enough.

The registration area has a shower, some sockets for charging cellphones, and a place where you can leave some of your belongings before climbing. There are two water sources along the trail and near the Bunker; it is also possible to sleep in the Bunker. Cellphone signal is present in most parts of the trail.

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