It’s been 3 years since my last hiking romance with nature and I miss it so bad. To be honest, the call of nature adventure remains loud despite the fact that I have shelved the call after my Byaheng Mindanaw team disbanded. The scent of the mountain is a breath of life, a respite, a medicine, an addiction of which I can hardly get over with. And from time to time, I look back to my photographs, wondering when will I have another chance to immerse with the outdoors. Yes, I still wander. I sometimes plan a trek but it can be easily traded with the beach as my set of friends prefer it over an exhausting hike.
Just last weekend, I fed my soul hungry for outdoor adventure after we trekked the mountains of Karalangan in Baguio District, Calinan, Davao City. It was an invitation my subconscious mind rejoices.
The plan was to visit the recently recognized “Mini Asik-asik falls” in the dense mountains of Brgy. Carmen. The idea came from our neighbor Carlos who now lives near the place. He offered to be our guide and he also suggested to cap the day at the peak of one of the mountain ranges of which they have a small bungalow “payag” standing at the summit.
At 630, we departed from our home with a party of 6 (Me, Mae Ann, Wilbert, Eva, Ricardo and Eljean) and headed the national highway enroute to Calinan. We had a short break at Los Amigos for a feast of “Hito” to jump start our day. Then we headed to our destination, Calinan.
After reaching Carlos’ house we unpacked the unnecessary things and started our ascend into the falls. The trail was gradual as we entered the jump off point. Rich grasslands surrounding the trail can be enjoyed and a couple of medium descent for about 20 minutes before we reached the flat ground beneath the two mountains was the only challenge so far. There we were greeted by the locals that were harvesting their crops late morning.
After the flat grounds, we entered a forested part of the trail, a sign that we are nearing the falls. After a few walk the real challenge awaits. The steep and muddy descent into the falls is quite rigid specially for the first timers. Battling shaky knees, our party persevered the difficult part of the trail. And Holla!! The grandeur of the curtained waterfalls standing tall in front of us is definitely a relief.
This unspoiled curtain falls of Calinan is something you must discover. The lush green foliage surrounding the stone walls creating a curtain-like view with the pristine waters cascading through every part of it is enchantingly beautiful. The excruciatingly cold water of the falls is as refreshing as the waterfalls itself. This alluring falls is worth every steep trail we encountered along the way. That includes the fact that despite my partner Mae Ann and Eva had several encounter with the leeches. Lol
We did not stay long at the falls as we still need to consume another half hour trekking back to the main way and another few hours into the peak of Mount Karalangan where we will spend the night.
We came back at Carlos’ house past 1200h only to pack up again all our things. We still haven’t eaten lunch yet since we need to assault another mountain. This time, carrying our heavy backpacks, we traverse the steepy trail descending into the forest of Mount Karalangan. The descent took us more or less 20 minutes before we reached the river and a small bungalow house that serves as our first stop over.
There we prepared the food for our lunch. While our lunch was being cooked, Wilbert, Ricardo and I took a dip at the clean refreshing river water. Carlos, Eva Eljean and Mae Ann joined us later on.
1500h when we decided to resume the assault to the peak. I and Carlos’ father took the trail back to the main road as I needed to buy more rice and booze while the rest of the group headed by Carlos started taking the difficult steep trail. We took a different route ascending to the peak. Our route was an easy trail because there is a man made concrete stairs up until just before we reach the peak. We arrived at the camping site at 1630h, 30 minutes earlier than Carlos’ team.
While I was able to put up my hammock and rest for a while, Carlos’ team is struggling from exhaustion from the steep one-man trail. Mae Ann as the lead, She shared their experience traversing the rainforest of Mount Karalangan. She said the trail is so difficult that one mistake may lead to disaster. Thankfully, Carlos’ dogs became their instant trail checker and guide. Adding difficulty to other members was the added weight of their heavy backpacks. Ricardo also shared that the trail was about 80 degree assault over rock boulders and a strip of muddy and soft soils. Wilbert, kept on asking if they are near already. The whole trail appeared very difficult basing from the accounts of my friends. They even teased me that “I missed the real adventure” and that “I should take a revenge climb”.
Albeit tired and worn out, the whole team including Carlos enjoyed the best night of adventure at the top of Mount Karalangan. There we shared dinner, a gallon and half of coconut wine “Tuba” plus two emperador light while enjoying the lights of Davao City from afar. The experience, the thrill, the excitement and the Joy of achieving something they never thought was somewhat the talk of the night. And I find joy hearing their stories of fulfillment with pride.
photo by Eva "overlooking Davao City in a bright night"
Why not? Now that they have personally experienced the different thrill I once felt on my very first climb, I am pounding with joy knowing that they are now open to more hiking adventures than another usual beach trips. Now they feel what I exactly feels when I go out and immerse with nature. AND NOW, THEY WANT MORE. who would not want the chilling vibes at the top of the mountain anyway?
We capped the night after finishing one and half gallons of Tuba and two 750ml bottles of emperador lights.
As early as 0500h Mae Ann was already awake and was able to set up a timelapse documentation of the sunrise while most of us are still shivering from the freezing coldness of the mountaintop.
Photo by Mae Ann "The Sunrise"
After we ate our breakfast at the peak, we descended to the cemented stairs trail leading us to another river outlet at the bottom. In about 30 minutes of descent, we reached the hanging bridge which serves as a sign that the descend is finally over. The girls took some photos at the hanging bridge while the boys are resting at one end. Then, we headed to the river so we can take our last dip before we go home.
Photographs may fade but memories will last in our lifetime. The memories and experience we created during this trip will surely take a spot into our hearts. I know that this is just a start to more hiking trips in the future. And I am so thankful to Carlos’ not only because he served as our tour guide, but because he has become the instrument to help me impart the beauty of nature tripping and he serves as an opener to my friends for them to go out and explore more not just the different beaches but the mountains as well. For there is also beauty at the top.
Cheers to more hiking trips in the future.
If you want to visit Mini Asik-Asik falls of Calinan, Davao City, you may contact our friend Carlos who lives there for guidance. His contact number is 09108879433
All images used in this post are mine unless otherwise stated.
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