Sulfatara

           Sulfatara is located in Mt. Mandalagan in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Literally, sulfatara means a source or place of sulphur. Actually, there are two Sulfataras in Mt. Mandalagan - Sulfatara-Daku (the Greater) or simply Sulfatara and Sulfatara-Gamay (the Lesser).
            Sulfatara-Daku is situated to the east of Marapara Peak, the highest point in Mt. Mandalagan. Sulfatara-Daku is a valley region, about 5 hectares, in the middle of Sirab Peak (west), Natiphagan Bluff (east) and the rock-wall of Magkurog Peak (south). To the north of it lies the greater part of the valley where runs the Malirong Brook and Aslum Creek - tributaries of Malogo River. It is a region of sulphur springs and steam-spouting sulphur vents - the evidences of the volcanic nature of Mt. Mandalagan.
            During its last stand in World War II in Negros Island, some elements of the Japanese Imperial Army forces happened to see Sulfatara-Daku. However, it is not certain whether the Japanese soldiers were its discovers. Mountaineering came into the picture in Sulfatara-Daku only in the 1980's following the treasure-hunters and hunters of deers and wild boars. Today, a 9-hour trail links Patag, the nearest seat of civilization, to Sulfatara-Daku.
            Sulfatara-Gamay is situated to the west of Marapara Peak. Very much accessible, it is linked by a 2-hour trail from Patag. About half of an hectare, it has only two sulphur vents.

       With Gildo Faldas of Patag as guide, our trekking party was composed of the early members of the Singarong Backpackers - Dennis Ella, Joel Berina, Nathaniel Dichoso, Pedro Palabrica and June Cristal.
        On Sept. 17, 1997, we started from our trail-head in Patag at 11:30 a.m. which is a considerably late departure considering that departure to Sulfatara normally starts at 6:00 a.m. The Patag-Sulfatara trail is a 9-hour trail traversing across the forest of seven mountains. The last of which, Sirab Peak, offers the most demanding challenge.
        A fast-paced party, we reached the base of Sirab Peak at 3:30 p.m.

Although very strenuous, our scramble up to the cogonal summit ridge of Sirab took us only one hour while our descent over the other side demanded 1 1/2 hours of careful steps. Normally, fixing of line for protection on this steeper side is practiced by most mountaineers. Without any rope, we learned its wisdom when Nathaniel nearly fell down to a rock 20 feet below him when he slid while traversing a narrow ledge. At any rate, we reached our camp by the side of Malirong Creek at dusk thereby setting the fastest record trek to Sulfatara among mountaineers.
For two nights, we camped in Sulfatara and returned to Patag on the 19th. We spend another night in Patag and returned home on the 20th. If not for the insistence of three members to get back to Patag as early as possible, we could have scoured the environs of Sulfatara which, we venture to say, is one of the most spectacular mountaineering destination in the country.

             We had a lean party (Dennis Ella, Mariebelle Porras and Ernina Defino) with an excess in porter-guide services (Rene and Ryan). We arrived in the old hospital in Patag with no certified guide interested to guide us to Sulfatara-Daku (the original destination in our plan). Most guides find the trail to Sulfatara-Daku very difficult, citing the overgrowth of the rainy season and the possible ladslides along the way. Listening to the suggestion of some Patag residents, we tried instead to go to the more accessible Sulfatara-Gamay.
             Climbing mostly the ridge of North Ridge (of West Peak adjacent Marapara), we reached Sulfatara-Gamay in two merely hours. We didn't regret our change of mind for we found another spectacular sight in Mt. Mandalgan.
             According to our guides (Rene and Ryan), our party set the first record of camping in Sulfatara-Gamay. This we did not for one but two nights. Our jungle hammocks and tarps serving as shelter answered tfor the congested space in a swath of forest beside the sulfur.
             By the second day, Dennis had his fill of climbing the West Peak of Marapara. With two guides, he hacked a trail up to the summit (elevation is about 5,500 ft.) which is mossy and is strewn with artifacts of World War II - a spool of wire, battery packs, rusty nails, empty bottles and a boot sole, likely of a Japanese soldier.