A WONDERFUL TREKKING EXPERIENCE

 
Trekking is regarded as a favorite pastime sport to all those who participate in the said activity. Just like any other adventurous sport, all the thrill and excitement is still there while enjoying the wonderful beauty of nature that you stumble into along the way.

Here in Dipolog City, choosing the right trip for trekkers is very easy because the city offers many mountainous places to trek. Aside from our famous tourist destinations in the city such as 3003 Steps Linabo Peak in Barangay Lugdungan which is regularly visited by our local tourists and even foreigners.

What a wonderful experience have I had to join the mountaineers of the Dipolog Outdoors Society, Inc. during their activity dubbed as Life Camp 2004 last February 7 and 8 held at Pamansalan of Barangay Diwan.

Regular trekkers also ply the 344-hectare Eco Tourism Park in Barangay Cogon and Sungkilaw Falls in Barangay Diwan which are currently being developed by the City Government of Dipolog, under the administration of Mayor Roberto Y. Uy in coordination with the City  Tourism Council chaired by the First Lady of Dipolog Evelyn Uy, to boost up the tourism industry of the city.

Aside from the development of tourist destinations, the city also has its natural habitat situated in the secluded barangays that are very much favored by mountaineering experts.

Just like any other sport, trekking still offers all the pleasure and delight while enjoying the wonderful beauty of nature.

Trekking is described as to journey on foot, especially to hike through mountainous areas. This kind of sport needs no previous experiences just as long as you are in good health, physically fit and ready for anything including taking your breath away once you see the wonderful scenery’s of the Orchid City of the Philippines.

The city of Dipolog is constantly visited by trekkers of all ages and makes their way to various safety-approved trail paths in the city’s protected forests such as this one here at the 344-hectare Eco Tourism Park in Barangay Cogon.

All you need to become is to be always calm and open minded so that you can get along easily with the other trekkers. Of course also a necessity are a back pack for your clothes and things you need while on a trek and some very good shoes that would survive in the rocky and sometimes muddy trails.

For me, this kind of sport is very exciting because I based it on my experience when I joined the mountaineers here in Dipolog in their activity dubbed as Life Camp 2004 last February 7 and 8 in Pamansalan of Barangay Diwan, which was spearheaded by the Dipolog Outdoors Society, Incorporated, then I was able to witness many attractive scenery’s during the whole course of the program.

Aside from the development of tourist destinations, the city also has its natural habitat situated in the secluded barangays that are also favored by mountaineering experts.

While I was burdened under the weight of my back pack, I was also busy taking pictures for my documentation of the whole activity and just ignore the heavy load. I made sure that I can get the best angles while taking the pictures of the trekkers as they walk and pass by along the trail.

I saw things that I never though to see in the trip and that is the homes of the locals that are made well of wood, bamboo and cogon. I was not expecting that such a place could be inhabited location is very far away from the poblacion area of Barangay Diwan.

This kind of sport needs no previous experience just as long as you are physically fit and prepare to take your breath away once you see the wonderful scenery’s of the Orchid City of the Philippines.

I also learned a few things about how they lived and survived. I had the opportunity to see the activities of the locals and even experienced for myself their simple and uncomplicated way of life, free from all the pressures and worries of the more civilized community. Aside from that, we also stumbled to a lot of beautiful and majestic views of nature and the creatures that lived around the area.

We also came across some rivers streams which were very refreshing to behold.

On the way to the destination of the camping site, I caught a glimpse of various types of animals such as the carabao, cows, horses, goats, pigs, chickens, snakes and even exotic birds like the owl and falcon. I also noticed some wild flowers and the most beautiful orchids growing under the big trees of the dense jungle. We also came across some rivers streams which were very refreshing to behold.

On the way to the camping site, we caught a glimpse of various types of animals such as the carabao, cows, horses, goats, pigs, chickens, snakes and even exotic birds flying around like the owl and magnificent falcon soaring up in the sky.

During the whole duration of the trip, I realized that we were kind of like living the same way as the locals do. Together with my best friend who is also a journalist, we slept in our tent, cooked our own food and fetched water from a nearby water source which is about a few meters away from the camp site.
We slept in our tent, cooked our own food and fetched water from a nearby water source which is just a few meters away from the camp site.
 

Upon seeing the activities of the locals, I realized their simple and very uncomplicated way of living, free from all the pressures and worries of the more civilized society.

We camped overnight and explored the area in the morning. For me though it’s a little bit tiring but I can still proudly say that it was all worth the time and effort because we felt like it was revitalizing change from the usual hustle and bustle of the city life.