Sagada Night Trekkers

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sagada Trek 2011

Sagada is a popular tourist destination located north of the Philippines with some 25,000 foreign and local tourists visiting the place in a year especially on the peak months from November to May. What attracts visitors here is attributed to a number of natural attractions found including caves, rice terraces, woodlands, limestone rocks, expansive views of majestic mountains, and waterfalls to add to a cool to warm weather during summer.

Sagada is a landlocked town of Mountain Province with elevation ranging from 1,313 meters above sea level from the lowest level along the Tetep-an Sur Bontoc border and 2,318 masl in Mount Kaman-ingel. It is 415 kilometers from Manila via Baguio, 150 kilometers from Baguio and 18 kilometers from Bontoc, the capital town.

The 9,969 hectare town is enveloped between the main Cordillera and Ilocos ranges. It is bounded on the north by Mt Sisipitan, a tri-boundary of Besao and Sagada municipalities of Mountain Province and Abra province; on the east by Bontoc; Mt Polis, Mount Bessang and Tirad Pass composing tri-boundaries of Bauko, Tadian municipalities and Sagada on the west; and Mt Kalawitan of Sabangan in the south.

The neighboring mountainous terrains of Bauko, Sabangan, and Bontoc towns cradle the watersheds of the mighty Chico River which feeds irrigation water into the lowlands of Isabela and Cagayan Region. Some of the watershed mountain-boundaries in these neighboring towns are Mounts Polis, Nintengley, Tinangdanan, and Babandilaan where this trek shall be.

PROTECT THE WATERSHED

This 6-day trek attempts to raise awareness on watershed protection including prevention of forest fires which begin early on February-March. Forest burning around the peripheries of Sagada including towns of Bontoc, Tadian, Sabangan, Bauko, and the other provinces of Kalinga, Ifugao, Abra, and Apayao has become a regular occurrence which leaves the mountains black and biodiversity disrupted killing young plants and animals in the forest. Due to the burning heat, rats run down from the mountains bringing more havoc in rice and corn fields. More alarming is the furtherance of depletion and drying up of water sources.

In Sagada, water sources are found in different locations of the town within the 19 barangays including Gosod watershed covering 200 hectares in the northern barangay of Aguid and from the ‘Mission’ waters in the Poblacion area. While water may be abundant in the rainy season, the dry season is a boon to the community as ricefields dry up due to scarcity of water and tourist accommodations experience lack of water. Ensuring the continuity of water supply has much to do with protecting and nurturing the watersheds around the town’s mountain boundaries. This includes planting trees and preventing forest fires.

Sagada Watershed Trek 2011 sends the message that watersheds needs protection to ensure a sound environment and water supply and a cool and happy environment to live in.

As part of its environmental cause, the sponsoring organization,Sagada Night Trekkers with the Sagada Environmental Guides Association (SEGA) shall be co-sponsoring essay writing and song writing contests to youth and school children in cooperation with other agencies. Some proceeds also of the trek shall be used for environmental management to include tree planting and education-information campaigns in schools; and organizing volunteers for barangay-based volunteers for environmental protection especially among the youth.

Sagada Watershed Trek 2011 makes up two packages one can choose from, a 6-day trek with a base camp in Gutang, Balintaugan and a 3-day trek passing through Marlboro, Suyo, Sagada. The trek covers sightseeing, bonfires, sharing trekking stories, caving, spelunking, passing through waterfalls and river trails. It starts a week before the annual Town Fiesta and Festival on January 29 - February 2, 2011.

6-Day Trek
January 23- 28, 2011

The 6-Day trek makes a Base Camp in Gutang. Gutang is a sitio of nearby Bauko town. The base camp is located atop a rolling hill near the barangay of Balintaugan. Abundant water is found here making bathing and washing a treat from hours of trekking. From Gutang, one can see a view of the historical Tirad Pass where General Emilio Aguinaldo made his famous escape from the American troops in 1899.

Day 1. Trekking starts from Poblacion Sagada around 8 o’clock to reach Gutang after a 2 hour hike. Lunch is served here along with the setting up of the camp. The rest of the day is spent in visiting Balintaugan and viewing expansive sights of the mountains of Polis, Babandilaan, Nintengley, and Tinangdanan. Night goes swell with bonfire and jamming.

Day 2. This day starts the trek to Mt Babandilaan reaching an elevation of 2,365 meter above sea level. It takes two hours to reach the peak passing through mossy forests. Wild flora and species are found here including the giant pitcher plants. Lunch shall also take place at the peak of the mountain. From Mt Babandilaan, one can see a territorial coverage of the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Quirino and Abra.

Mt Polis

Day 3. Mt Tinangdanan with an elevation of 1,719 meters above sea level is a sight to behold. Wondrous and expansive sights of the towns of Besao, Sagada and Tadian can be seen from here. Trekkers shall be passing along the village of Maket-an of Tadian town where fresh water cress is found. Lunch shall be served at the peak of Mt Tinangdanan.

Day 4. After 2-3 hour hiking in open spaces and mossy forests, one reaches Mt Nintengley with an elevation of 1,861 masl which rewards views of Bauko and Tadian municipalities.

Day 5. Mt Polis with an elevation of 1,829 masl rewards the trekker with refreshing views of Bontoc town on the eastern side and proportional heights of Mt Kalawitan located in Sabangan municipality. Mt Polis is located between Mt Nintengley and Mount Babandilaan.

Bakkong Falls

Day 6. A refreshing trek back to town passes through a river trail and waterfalls in different locations- Bakkong, Mapuwa, Payas, Ma-ed, Pagalawa, and Bahi.

3-Day Trek
January 26-29,2010

This trek covers camping, sightseeing, and caving. From the trail going to Batalao along the Dantay-Sagada Road, trekkers follow a two- hour hike to Marlboro. Why it is called Marlboro is interesting as horses are found on the hills. One is reminded of the popular advertisement of the equally popular Marlboro cigarettes with Marlboro man Darrel Winfield on horseback lighting up the manly cigar. But hey...those horses yonder in Marlboro are slowly disappearing to nowhere?!?

Limestone walls are also a sight to behold. Along the trail, one is treated to a blue mass of soil cascading from a rock which gets naturally pulverized and spreads down the hill making the place called Blue Soil. Camping is set up here with bonfire and jamming in the two evenings. Trekkers follow the trail towards Alab barangay of Bontoc to catch a view of the winding Chico River and have some chats with pocket miners here. Caving follows and trekkers proceed to barangay Suyo of Sagada going to Balangagan Cave. A jeepney ride from Suyo gets the trekkers back to town after caving.

REGISTRATION

Registration at P1,900/day covers food in the camp, guiding fees, and a trekking certificate; and porter fees separately charged at P500/day. The cost is negotiable atdiscounted rates if in group. Partial payment is collected and the rest of the payment paid on or before the trek. Please take note that advance payment is non-refundable. The cost does not cover transportation fees as plane or bus fares; and meals/lodging fees while in town. The trekker is advised to bring his tent/camping gear.For interested trekkers to join Sagada Watershed Trek 2011, copy paste the Registration Form below, fill in the details, and send to night_treck@yahoo.com.ph. Contact Alwyn Piluden at night_treck@yahoo.com.ph for more details.

REGISTRATION FORM

Sagada Trek 2011

January 23-28, 2011

YES! I am joining:
______ 6- day trek
______ 3- day trek

Name:________________________________________________________
Age:_________________________________________________________
Gender:_______________________________________________________
Nationality:____________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________

Mode of Payment: _______ Western Union
_______ Bank Account Transfer

Note: Partial advance payment amounting to half of the total cost is not refundable.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Buasao and its mystic hues

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Trekking to Buasao was a rewarding four to five-hour hike with 17 members of the Sagada Environmental Guides Association on a kick-off to their 1st annual climb last October 11-12 this year.

Having been a cyber tourist with the computer getting my attention for quite some time, the hunger to trek the mountains of this province where I come from was a driving need like the urge to trek the borders of Sagada’s adjacent towns of Bauko and Sabangan on the south, Tadian on the west, Besao on the north, and Bontoc on the east.

It was an invigorating climb up to Buasao watershed located in the tri-boundaries of Sagada, Besao, and Abra. Starting from Palidan, Bangaan with its lush watershed providing waters of Bangaan.

I noticed lush trees and vegetation with some traces of logging. People actually practice a kind of traditional means of guarding the forest through their lampisa (water guards) system. While the water guards make sure that water is evenly distributed to the households, they also make sure that the watershed is free from forest fires and destruction.

Yonder lies Ambagiw, Besao covered by clouds

They also ban logging for commercial purposes. Trees are only cut for purposes of building houses for households of Bangaan, Madongo, Aguid, and Fidelisan of northern Sagada, so I came to know from an elder here.

Further up the climb, we came across big blue pipes destroyed and laid at the side of the irrigation canals. I am reminded of the blue Watsan pipes laid out in this part of the town, a project of the provincial government, demolished some years back due to some tapping issues.

An agreement between and among leaders and officials from Sagada and Besao led to tapping only the lower stream and not the higher stream. Waters from the lower stream continue to be tapped by folks from Besao and primarily by northern Sagada barangays especially Tanulong where the waters naturally flow to.

The cool waters of Buasao

Water is a prized ‘ownership’ among the tribes of Tanulong. So precious for their primary use as irrigating their ricefields that sharing it freely is not fully given to neighboring areas. Barangay captain Suyun of Aquid said waters from Buasao are not that strong anymore since the big earthquake in 1992.

He is thus hesitant to let the waters flow to nearby barangays of central Sagada, he said during a meeting recently attended by local leaders in Sagada.

Back to the climb, an up-hill climb from Palidan was rewarded by a stunning view of Aguid barangay. Such a sight with houses clustered together and mountains enveloping the village, like any Igorot settlement.

Winding irrigation canals and blue pipes set aside along with mossy vegetation filled the route along Palidan till Masini. Such a wondrous sight. The spot opens up trails to Mt Sisipitan and Buasaw. Down on the eastern side are the villages of Fidelisan and Aguid and an expansive view of Besao mountains on the west. On the south opens up a beginning up-hill climb to Datakan watershed.

Towards Buasao, we proceeded through open trails interspersed with mossy sections of Mt Sisipitan.Temperature drops significantly upon entering mossy trails which soothed tired nerves and calmed heavy breathing having walked sun-filled open spaces.
***

Mt Sisipitan Ridge

Winding narrow paths with sharp cliffs finally led us to Buasaw. My imagination of an Amazon jungle with thick, huge trees and foliage was disappointed to find more open spaces, burnt trees and young trees. Rick Daytec from Besao recalled trees were then huge when they went camping in their elementary days in the 70s-80s. How much has changed in this once rich treasure of biodiversity?

Bernice A. See from Besao also recalled the mountains of Buasao together with Sisipitan were carpeted with moss. Orchids were plentiful and trees were thick and huge as well. That was in the 1960s.

Esperanza Baquiwet from northern Sagada also recalled in her childhood beautiful orchids and wild pigs and chickens still aplenty in the 80’s to the 90’s. Today is the 21st century and these rare species and thick foliage and trees are disappearing or rather, have already disappeared?
***

In the campsite, we found a huge closed stone structure and a foundation of lined-up finely cut stones obviously to erect a building. The stones resembled rock materials used in building St Mary the Virgin Church after the war in the 1940s. And so it was heard that there was this foreigner who stayed here and the rest is blank as to why the stone structure was built there in the first place. What would have invited such foreigner to come to Boasao? I couldn’t help connecting the once nearby mines to the unfinished structure. I came to know that small scale mining among the locals was active some years back in Buasao. Don’t know if some people are still actively doing small scale -mining here.

Unless, Buasao was meant to be a recreation area by whoever prospected the idea of building a structure here. Views here are real spectacular though. A panoramic sight on the southern direction opens up to Mt Ampakaw and Mounts Babandilaan and Tinangdanan on the Bauko-Sagada border. The eastern front opens up to the mossy forest of Sisipitan with its soft horizontal ridge seen from a distance. The northern face follows a river with its cool and refreshing waters that even the bitter San Miguel gin becomes smooth gin-tonic. ***

Buasao makes magic with the camera

Buasao is heavenly mysterious. Its moods change from one moment to another. In the early afternoon, the campsite exudes a warm and cool ambience with pine scented air. A little around 3 pm, mist clouded in making the once upbeat and sunny weather turn gloomy pale with mist enveloping the atmosphere. Such a sight to capture this moment which got more nostalgic with dead and burnt trees making a rustic subject for a hungry lens.

Evening is another spectacle as dusk sets in. Around 6 pm, darkness enveloped the campsite with only the stars blinking beckoning a romantic tone if you’re with someone you love. Nevertheless, friendly fires of the lighted dead wood and the petromax added more light and company to an already pitch-dark night.

Coming up to Buasao with a bunch of happy and adventurous guys makes the night enjoyable and a trek to remember. Someone came up with his G-string and entertained the tired trekkers. Tin pans were beat like gangsa and plastic bottles served as solibao (percussion). While on the sidelights, such scenario drew sharp criticism from some locals saying the wahnes (G-string) should not be used in inappropriate situations. Nevertheless, the cold night was treated with San Miguel gin and generoso with a chaser of cool Buasao waters.

Some guys claimed the alcohol will be their company to keep them warm the whole night through. Jamming with the guys could have gone further in the night but drizzles cut the merriment. We scampered inside the tent with double socks to keep the cold out. The night was already old and tired at 10 p.m.

***

Woke up to find out it was still 2 a.m. The night was long for dawn to come. Got out off the tent around 5:30 in the morning to find some guys already cooking dried fish for breakfast and warming up what’s left from last dinner’s pinikpikan and etag (smoked meat).

It’s parting time from Buasao around 8 a.m. and we returned to our trail supposedly to Mount Sisipitan. Giant ferns and rich moss hanging on every branch and shrub greeted us along the way and ending up lost in the thick foliage despite repeated attempts to climb the mountain.

Finding ourselves running around with no trail to lead us upwards, we scaled down the mountain slope clearing our way on trails seemingly not walked before. I imagined some snake or leeches greeting us along the way.

Good they were kind that time and no sight of them made a fright out of what already seemed to be a desperate state of finding a way to go up to Sisipitan. Seemed the spirits of Sisipitan did not want the mountain to be assaulted on a 90 degree angle. I heard later that the way should be on either end of the mountain.

Mt Sisipitan was then a battleground of New People’s Army rebels and government military forces some years back. The place seemed to be deserted of the reported elements. Whatever, the exploratory trail-making led me to find out that Sisipitan has a rich biodiversity of ferns, moss, and trees. I can only wish Sisipitan would stay that way with more births of flora and fauna and sustain nature here.

It was back to Masini with lunch cooked here, and prepare for a climb to Datakan. Datakan is equally a mossy forested area atop the northern barangays of Sagada, with lots of acorn trees. Temperature cools down after long treks in open spaces. Walking further led us to Langsayan ridge. Had an invigorating rest here to have a good view of Palidan in Bangaan where we took off the other day.

And so it was projected by some consultants and energy officials that a wind farm is to be set up here in Langsayan ridge which at the moment is pending due to questions of big time financing, energy consultant Engr Rufino Bomasang claimed. The western front of Langsayan was equally heavenly with expansive views of Besao and its towering mountains.

The group ended the two-day trek with planting of trees in Pilaw then trudged on till we reached the Besao-Sagada road going to Lake Danum. I am reminded of some boundary dispute between Besao and Sagada along these areas including Danum Lake as called by Sagada people and Banao Lake as claimed by Besao folks.

Before pursuing to talk about boundary disputes, I thank SEGA for this wonderful opportunity to trek with you. Cheers!