1. I really don’t know much about outdoor, can I really survive camping in the wild overnight?You do not have to worry about the wild, as far as for basic camping, you will be spending the night in a well-protected camping park.If you’re worried about spending more time beyond your comfort zone (your air conditioned room, warm house, well-lighted cubicles), do not forget that you are not camping by yourself but with your colleagues, friends, or families. The natural breeze outside can keep you conditioned, friends to warm you up, and stories that could light up not just some square-feet area but your entire life. In camping, you will not be sleeping in a big soft warm bed you have in your room but instead a sleeping bag inside a tent. Modern sleeping bags provide enough warmth and thermal insulation so most probably you can still manage your way to dreamland.  Expand your comfort zone and be open enough to give your more definition about what makes you really comfortable.
2. What to expect in camping?It isn’t about what to expect but rather, should answer why are you going for a camp? If you want to relax and have fun in the great outdoor, most probably you should be having fun and not to worry much during camping. It will become more enjoyable if you are spending it with people you want to share the experience with. If you want some time all by yourself, a short hike around the camp would be a good idea. Think about how beautiful the place and avoid negative thoughts. Think about how you’ll be able to help maintain the beauty that surrounds. In that case, you’ll get to know more about nature and the longer you’ve been into these outdoors, the more you will enjoy. A happy thoughts always lead you to a happy ending.
3. What to bring? Here’s a list that one could bring during camping, you can take out or add more items depending on your needs but I’ll be naming those which I think are essentials:
   • Tent – provide you shelter
   • Sleeping bag – takes you to dreamland
   • Roll mats / insulation pads – something to put between your sleeping bag and the tent floor, can be use when sitting on grasses
   • Fleece jacket – to keep you warm
   • Comfortable boots or shoes – just in case you want to wander around the camp
   • Slippers or flip flops
   • Pair of socks – keep you warm especially on a cold night
   • T-shirt and long sleeved shirt with collar
   • Comfortable pants, long and short pants
   • Rain coat and umbrella – to keep you dry inside during rains
   • Personal care or toiletries
   • Flashlight with spare full charged batteries
   • Pocket or swiss knife
   • Warm scarf, gloves or mittens
   • Bush hat
   • Wool Bonnet
   • First aid kit
   • Medicines – in case you have colds, flu, or allergies
   • Water canteen
   • Plastic bags – to protect your things from wet and something to put in your garbages
   • Camera
   • Notepad with pen/pencil – taking notes for documentation would be a good idea
   • Foods and water
   • Match or lighter
   • Camping stove
   • Insect repellant

Camping could become really fun when you are well prepared for it. It is very important to read the regulations in the park and must be followed at all times!  Always observe cleanliness.

I just need to point out that my experiences in backpacking (hiking and camping) have lead me to write these things which work for me but might not necessarily work for you. Enjoy your camping.
]]> http://pinoyexp.com/the-outdoor-basic-camping/feed/ 6 http://pinoyexp.com/river-trek-to-mapawa-cascading-falls/ http://pinoyexp.com/river-trek-to-mapawa-cascading-falls/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:07:27 +0000 goma http://pinoyexp.com/?p=496 The hills and mountains in Cagayan de Oro conceal trails with green scenery and white waters, ideal for mountain bikers, trekkers, and to those seekers of nature adventures! The cascading waterfall in Sitio Mapawa is one of the favorite water destinations here in the city. Getting there only requires gutsy legs and a happy face.

September 5, Sunday. It was a fine Sunday morning, temperature was enough to warm you up as I rushed to Divisoria to take my breakfast in a fast food chain. I took a hitch on my klub buddies Khokitz with his eldest son and his wife, and Dropedz as we head on the meeting place – entrance gate at Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School, Fil-Estate Grounds in Barangay Gusa along J.R. Borja Extension.

We gathered ourselves for a short orientation by Karl de la Peña in front of Montessori and Fil-Estate entrance as we equipped ourselves with a powerful tool – PRAYER.

After a short orientation and a prayer, we started walking along J.R. Borja Ext. road, went straight ahead to Galaxy crossing section, passed by some quarry spots on the river side and hiked for about 2 kilometers until we’ve reached the starting point of the river trek.

Confident enough with my leather sandals, I didn’t hesitate to cross the cold crystal clear waters, as the current was manageable enough to allow us through it very smoothly. There were cases when some of us have to improvise their footwear by tying up with rubber band behind the ankles to prevent from getting washed out by the current and refrain them from slipping off the rocks and mud.

There were already established tracks used by the local residence so trekking was really easy. But if you really want to trek on the river ‘mismo’, that won’t be a problem too. There were times when we have to climb some slipper boulders, turned around some washed logs, vines and twigs, and even the easiest single track can hurt when you’re lucky enough to be caught by thorns from small plants. With all these challenges, such activity is guaranteed that you’ll never get thirsty while trekking.

It is quite amazing how I was not able to expect such awesome place exist near the city. For about 4 hours of walking (approximately 4,300 steps from starting point), we’ve reached the cascading waterfalls located in Sitio Mapawa.

We took our lunch near a waterfall about as high as a 3-storey building and a green (if not raining) lagoon at the bottom. On the left leads you to another set of cascades and a man-made stairs to climb until you’ve reach the area which is already a part of the Mapawa Eco Park. The actual ascent could take you to the top of the waterfall. There were actually a lot of levels on these cascading waterfalls with lagoons and somehow we’ve managed to climb up to the 2nd level only. Dito daw madalas yung rapelling at dati’y nagshoot ang Extra Challenge a few years ago.

At around 2PM, we started to pack our things to leave. The gray clouds started to show up too and we’ll still have to walk back but this time, we’re not going on a backtrack but instead, we headed west to Indahag. We’ve crossed some cornfields, picked some guavas along the way as we follow the tracks to “Torres”, a popular biking trails here in the city that exits to Camaman-an.

Special thanks to ATTACK Outdoor Club for making these things possible.

Main trail starts with a bit rocky slippery ascent

It will just take about 8 kilometers from the city until you hit the trails in Malasag, situated along the slopes of Cugman watershed,  facing the Macajalar Bay in Cagayan de Oro. Mapawa Nature Park and Eco-Tourism Village are just one of the tourist attraction there. Aside from being host of religious activities during Holy Week,  it is also a perfect place for outdoor adventures like hiking, campings, and biking. The reforestration project in Malasag hills helps maintain the peaceful and rich sceneries of its forests, perfect in simulation for pre-climb mountain and nature trekking.

Taking our first stop near DENR in Malasag

It was a gloomy Sunday morning when the trek starts from the crossing highway of Cugman. It is a family outdoor activity organized by the klub. They brought their family and relatives with them. With my Camelback filled with pack lunch and extra dryfit shirt, handheld camera, water bottle placed in a beltbag and umbrella, everything was set as we headed up for about half an hour until we’ve reached our first stop near DENR. Everyone enjoyed the first few kilometers of the hike as the kids were amazed by the green surroundings.

Let's go-cart at starting trail!

Not just a kilometer away, after passing the crossing near Eco-Tourism Village, a PHIVOLCS station can be found. A few meters ahead, we found two young men with interesting rigs. They were taking a rest at the corner of the trail that leads to the forest. They were gathering woods and this home-made wood carts with wheel bearings and wooden steering helps them transport wood down the village. These look like mini-versions of the carts in Puerto! Onli in da pilipins!

Refilling from a natural water source in Malasag

After half an hour of hiking into the woods, we passed by this tubod with bottomless natural cold water. This serves as water source for the local people especially to the personels assigned on stationed telecom towers in the woods of Malasag. If ever you’ve consumed your water after the first part of the hiking, there’s nothing to worry as this refilling station is safe, natural, no chemical, cool, bottomless and it’s FREE!

Fallen logs found along the trail

It is common to see large fallen logs and vines along the trail and it is very important to look ahead to avoid hitting or caught yourself with these natural things. Enjoy the view. Take a look around. We went there not just for hiking but feeling the nature. It’s one of the closest thing we could experience the life in the wild. Malasag may not be as cold or as thick like Mt. Dulang-Dulang. It has already good established trails but still, we remained cautious sometimes. Malasag forest has lots of thorny vines and ferns.

We took lunch at the shed located in the highest peak of Malasag eco-park. Though the Macajalar bay isn’t visible from the place, we enjoyed staring over the hills of Bukidnon and the river in Catanico.

We had our backtrack after our lunch. Same trail but different pace. Views were different. It’s like taking another trail. The cool forest warmed up a bit in the afternoon. It doesn’t have it’s own weather unlike other mountain ranges. But it isn’t about how high a mountain or how far have you walked. It’s about the bond you are creating not just with the nature but also with your buddies. That hike gave me the chance to see and know more about these friends I’ve spinned with. They are dads with firm grip, quick mind and big hearts. Somehow, looking at them made me realize and take me a peek of what I wanted to become. Everything’s amazing.

Father and son.

Related links:

• Gardens of Malasag Cagayan De Oro
• Malasag Eco-Tourism

See some photos:

Stunning view from Mt. Dulang-Dulang peak

Mt. Dulang-Dulang, also called “D2″, is highest peak in the Kitanglad Mountain Range and the second highest mountain in the Philippines at 2,938 meters above sea level. This mountain serves as a sacred place and ancestral domain to the Talaandig tribe of Lantapan in Bukidnon. There are also sightings of rare species and endemic wildlife such as the monkey-eating eagle known as the Great Philippine Eagle.

How can a typical lowlander like me can withstand the cold and the stunning view from the top?

Day 1. June 12. It took us about 3 hours to travel from Agora Terminal in Cagayan de Oro  until we reached Binahon Agro-Forestry Farm and Lodging House in Songco, Lantapan, Bukidnon.  We met Cholo and Per as they shared us their “Linie Aquavit”. While waiting for dinner, some of us warmed up a bit with coffee, Tanduay, chicharon,  and mani, as everybody cheered “Skull!” At 8:50 PM, we had buffet dinner, served with organic lettuce salad, fresh native chicken soup, and dinuguan brought by our group.  After dinner, we had our final trek plan briefing. Lights went off at 11 and spent our first night in the cozy sleeping quarters of BAFF.

Day 2. June 13 at 8AM. Our trek starts with a send-off prayer in BAFF and walked a few blocks to the datu’s place. We had pictures with Datu Malunay and started our initial ascend to Mt. Dulang-Dulang.

Ascending to the foot of Mt Dulang. First part of the trek.

It was a fine morning when we started our trek on a rocky, muddy wide trail. We passed by some lettuce farms, polite local farmers, and caromata filled with harvested crops. There is also a long huge pipe installed in the ground that provides water to the local community below. While trekking, one could see another mountain range behind us and several farms are clearly visible along its slopes. After almost two hours of hiking, we came into a junction of an old concession road and had our first stop there.

Rest before entering the forest line.

1st stop. We were already at 5,750 feet and the sky started to gloom. We’re still not in the forest line as trees and tall grasses were still familiar and are common to see on lowlands. Conversations started like “how was the 1st hour trek? kapoy ba? (is it tiring?)” as we passed the trail foods to each other’s hands. A couple of minutes after, Cholo, Per, Henry Binahon’s team walked ahead of us while we continue chatting, resting, and crunched some trail bits. “See you at the top guys!”

Rain Forest. We’ve reached the forest line in Kitanglad mountain range and interesting sights started to appear. We walked over a long large fallen log as it seems to serve as bridge along the trail. There were logs lying across the trail and sometimes we need to climb over it carefully as some parts are mossy. Around 11AM, it started to rain. We grab our raincoats and continued our trek to the middle of the forest.

Lunch time. We stopped near a water source (50 meters estimate away from the water) and had our lunch with chili sisig. We were already 6,810 feet and temperature’s starting to cool down to 20 degrees. Some of us started to shiver as the rain’s pouring gently on our coats. Water containers, bottles, and hydration packs were refilled with a very cold spring water before we continued our journey.

Muds, waters, and colds. The rain continued to pour as waters started to erode some parts of the trail. Our shoes were covered with mud and some of us were soaked wet. We’re challenged by the large slippery logs that block the trail, loose soils, slippery roots, and the cold that slowly crawls within our arms and legs. It will still took us hours until we reached the camp site. We had our 3rd stop over under a fallen tree for a regroup and re-filled our water containers in a nearby water source.

Camp site. Finally, after hours of hiking with heavy, wet loads and clouded mind, I was relieved to see the camp site. I started to shiver as my hands started to numb while cutting and knotting strings for our tent. I was soaked wet that time (too bad I didn’t have enough thermal suits) but still managed to change dry clothes outside our tent. Cernan handed me a mug of hot coffee and took a sip as I passed it around the camp. Just when I started to shiver again, I hurriedly went inside our tent and felt unpleasant headache. Karl gave me a medicine and took a rest. Zzz…

““The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution” – Bertrand Russell

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Silent night, alcoholy night. Things started to heat up now. Laughter filled the cold ambience and cold spring waters were replaced with hard beverages. Though I passed the tagay, I joined the conversation and even laughed at some stories where starring ‘ko. There were jokes, serious topics.. hmm yeah, there were a lot of jokes! It was fun! We were playing with spotlights. I’m glad we made it to the top. We’re safe. That night, the comfort of the fleece covered me, with gloves and socks on my limbs, bonnet on my head, I slept very well.

Sunrise at Mt. Dulang-Dulang peak. Day 3. Woke up around 5AM, I hurriedly grab the cam and joined the guys to the summit. It’s just a few steps away from the camp site and from the bushes and mossy trees, a stunning overlooking scene was revealed. A reward that awaits to every mountaineer who surpasses all the challenges. Priceless. Stunning.

Sunrise. View from Mt. Dulang-Dulang summit.

You can view more Mt. Dulang-Dulang pictures here.

Pre-climb at Malasag

Big day tomorrow. It’s our country’s Independence Day. Freedom. Another adventure in Bukidnon, one of my favorite places in the country, for the Mt. Dulang-Dulang – Mt. Kitanglad traverse. Things are ready, ahh medyo ready. Even if things at the workplace were stressful, I should not wear out. Expect for the worst. Windy and cold rains on those mountains, I should be strong even in wet conditions. Still there are questions unanswered. There were mixed of feelings – excitement, nervous, worries, paranoias. It’s like having a first epic cross-country mountain biking. What it’s like to cross over unknown terrains? Am I prepared enough for such outdoor activity?

Conquering the peak of Mt Dulang-dulang(2nd) and Mt. Kitanglad(4th) is one of the quests a Pinoy mountaineer can have. Aside of being listed in the top 5 highest peak in the Philippines, these two giants serves as home to different wild species like uhm.. a wild man looking for his water bottle?

There’s nothing wrong with thinking too much about the risks and expecting the worst. Plan ahead. Easy to say, but not quite hard to do. Perhaps I should not forget about the reason behind all of these tiring outdoor activity. The pleasure of being alone with the nature, the calmness when you get at the peak, the green surroundings that gives you enough energy to enjoy life more and cleansed our tiring souls. But that’s when you reach a camp, after a long trekking, with forest rains expected, muds on faces and limbs, sweat and to these natural cuts from sharp grasses and leaves. Thought about getting rest for weekend, why it seem everybody’s wearing themselves out. It’s hard to explain. There are cases that I personally whine about how steep a hill or how far the destination is. The thought of being THERE maybe one of the reasons why I’m so in love with outdoors. It’ll gonna be awesome!

View from the highest point in Malasag, facing Bukidnon. Clouds covered Mt. Kitanglad.

mountaineer equipments

In preparation for the D2K (Mt. Dulang-dulang to Mt. Kitanglad) Traverse mountain climbing this coming June 12-15, ATTACK decided to organize an event for the benefits of the members – the BMC or basic mountaineering course. Though the group have been into mountaineering for the past years, it would be necessary to have this course where most of the mountaineers here in the country (or even in other countries) serves this as a prerequisite before a major climb.

Mt. Hibok-hibok climb

The feeling of being out there alone in an unknown territory gives me the chance to see and experience nature to its almost untouched state. The music of the feathered friends, accompanied by the swaying leaves, seems ike an orchestra playing in front of me. What it’s gonna be like for a lowlander like me?

I have been a fan of outdoors ever since. The feeling of being out there simply gives me a kind of freedom where I am one of the surroundings. Well, it’s just that I don’t want errands when I was a kid so I rather skipped from home and get lost within the trees. When I was in college, I always thought of joining a group of mountaineers. Sad thing was, my P50 everyday allowance is just enough for my 2-hour online gaming, foods, and fare. Not enough budget. Discouraged. It’s not for me anyways. It’s a career. A commitment. It’s their job, I guess. I am not qualified. I was just a student then.

What I thought was wrong.

The klub I have right now is not just for bikers. It’s for those who love the outdoors. It’s for the all-terrain trekkers. Even before I joined them, they’ve already set foot on known peaks in the county like Mt. Apo in Davao, Mt. Dulang-Dulang in Bukidnon, and Mt. Lumot in Misamis Oriental. Now, I’ll be able to join them on my first mountaineering experience – the climb to Mt. Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin Island.

I’ve been into climbing mountains and I don’t feel worried. I’m good at it. But that was when I was just a teen. Looking back at those what seems to be mountains, I realized, those were just hills. But they were so high before! What happened to them?

Mountaineering requires endurance, discipline, strength to carry on heavy packs, patience, and strong heart and lungs. I once talked to a buddy, a Mindanao terrain extreme explorer from Iligan, he says, “You guys have big lungs and heart. It’s already an advantage being a cross-country mountain biker.”

That gives me confidence. Still, taking advices from my experience klub buddies can be very helpful. Jogging may be a good way to warm up your body a bit. Going up and down the stairs is a good climb simulation, too!

Physically and mentally, I am ready. I am confident. The peak of this volcano, Mt. Hibok-Hibok, is probably waiting for me. It’s the excitement that reddens up my guts!