Bonsai forest-Mount Hamiguitan

They say ” The climb can truly be hard, and the ravine can be the greatest scare of your life,but once on top, you’re on for an experience of a lifetime, and experience a world of paradise.“

Lantawan1 - two lantawan points - 1 and 2

Last October 31, 2007 we travelled to San Isidro, Davao Oriental. We hired a passenger van and paid 180 pesos per head on our way to Barangay Bato-Bato where we would meet some other climbers summiting Mount Hamiguitan.

We depart from Ecoland terminal at around 12:00 midnight and arrived at Barangay Bato-Bato, San Isidro, Davao Oriental 2:00 in the morning of November 1. We meet with some other groups that are scheduled to climb Mount Hamiguitan - ADMCI or Adventist Mountaineering Club Incorporated. which comprises about 100 ++ participants. We Hitched a ride by their truck for 20 minutes on our way to Tumali-ti, La Union, San Isidro and paid 30 pesos per head. We arrived at the jump off area at around 9:00am and do some registration from local tourism officers who assist us on our needs like porters and guides. We paid 100 pesos for registration fee.

On our way…

We started trekking at 10:00am and the the area is more abundant with Bamboo trees, Coconut trees and some river crossing just below the knee…

November 1, start trekking at 10:00 and reached camp 4 ( the first camp) at around 5p.m. We pitched our tent earlier and decided not to continue to camp3 because some members of the group are still far behind from us and accompanied by the sweeper (last man) . We were heavily rained for about 30 minutes just right after we eat our meal at around 7:30 in the evening…

Camp 4…

We ascend November 2 at 7:00 am after we packed our gears and had eaten our breakfast meal and reached bonsai forest at around 10:30 in the morning… before reaching this bonsai forest, we stop and take a glance at Lantawan- a magnificent view of the pacific and the landscape of the mountains can be seen and be amazed to see from a distance the blue waters of Pujada Bay and the Pacific Ocean…. refreshing!

Lantawan2….

30 minutes trek from lantawan and you will reached Camp2 ( Bonsai Forest) - at last!

” At 1,650 feet above sea level, one can found more than a thousand hectares of 2-3 ft. tall century-old trees that are very sturdy that one can literally stand over it without falling.” It is like a huge vegetable garden in the middle of the jungle.

How vast the bonsai forest is…

Located near the Bonsai Forest is the mysterious “Tinagong Dagat“. The area is uninhabited and is considered as one of the most puzzling phenomena of nature. The water, reportedly, has its high tide and low tide schedule.

The peak of Mount Hamiguitan is another walk of 1 to 2 hours from the Bonsai field and is 5,345 feet above sea level and to date there are 16 tree species found in the area.

Since my climbing buddy Carl and I have to return to Davao by Saturday afternoon, we joined another group who are descending Mount Hamiguitan and Governor Generoso as their exit point. We are excited because we will be like traversing the slope. My group where we joined summiting were staying for another night at Camp3. Carl and I started descending with another group who we already knew - The Sandawa Pro-Ecology Great outdoor (SPEGO) headed by Lyndon Sumaoy at around 12 noon.

Twin falls …

We arrived at Camp 2 almost 4pm and arrived at Camp 1 at around 6pm. the trek is very tiring since most of the time we are descending, and I can’t count how many times we’ve crossed the same river… it was a great experience hearing the flow of the gushing water from the river. - Not having hard time finding water to take. =)

We reached Camp1 at 6:00pm also known as Balonggo, We lit our lights at an empty house - half cemented and half wood. It was believed that in the 1980’s this camp is a village composed of about 30 families but were massacred by the armies because they are supporters of reds. - No formal or concrete evidence.

Right after we cooked our evening meal and pitched our tents. We dipped into the river and relaxed … what a great experience again although, I’ve done that before but it was great!

In the morning of November 3, Saturday I woke up 5am I ran into the river and weeeh! great ! heheheh - I feel like I am living in a free world - coz I’m naked bathing at the river… ^_^ I walked around the place and I see remnants of old houses scattered on every part of the hillside and I see big rocks being aligned as if there were inhabitants before dwelling in this area… Its like on the NatGeo and old city were traces of old buildings can be seen… but this, just a pile of rocks just 2-3 feet serving as a boundary of each spaces…

We started trekking at around 10am and the path is almost the same as yesterday but with less uphill… all are flat and some river treks and river cross… as hours passed by, I already see some villagers at their small houses at Purok 8 Barangay Sergio Osmena, Gov. Generoso. As we were walking I see this young girl of about 7 to 8 years old following us for a while … and We asked “where are you heading and why you are following us..” she replied “Gisugo ko sa akong mama palit sardinas” (Do errand to buy canned sardines) and we asked again “Where is this store? how far is it? coz it seemed you’ve been tailing at us for about 10 minutes… “ she just replied by pouting her upper and lower lips pointing to a direction where the store is.

We continued trekking and still the young kid is still tailing at us she don’t want to move forward and head a walk from us… Imagine buying a can of sardines would take this young girl(all villagers) to walked for almost 2 kilometers…

I also see kids at young age all naked running on the side of the river and I sighed hope life is like this again… I see in them how people lived way before there are no sophisticated cellphones… no cars, electricity… no bills to pay.. hehe just simple living.

We arrived at Sitio Badiang, Purok 7, Barangay Sergio Osmena, Gov.Generoso at around 1pm. and continued walking to Purok 4 where we negotiated a ride going to Poblacion Tibanban. We Arrived at Davao City at 6pm.

Mt. Hamiguitan a protected area through the “Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary Act of 2001″. Mount Hamiguitan is a favorite camping site of many local and foreign tourists, mountaineering enthusiasts, biologists, orniterologists and plain adventure-seeking people.

A regular organized climb is being conducted by the Local Government every 2nd week of May.

My adventure is over now… when will I have another time bonding with mother nature…

Now get back to work!

Thanks to Carl my climbing buddy for providing this shots. Thanks tol!