p20700481 Grand Mount Apo as seen on our way to Camp Sabros, Kapatagan.

Rain poured  early morning of Sunday but that doesn’t stop me from packing the things that I would bring for Camp Sabros and Virgin Falls adventure.

It was 4am when I got to Ecoland terminal with my outdoor buddies and some invited friends of friends gathered which bring us to a group of 28 individuals craving to have a great day with mother nature.

We departed from Davao Ecoland terminal at exactly 4:30 am via a bus bound for Digos. Bus fare is 60 pesos.

We arrived at Digos bus terminal at around 5:20 am and two vans that was pre-arranged was already there waiting that would bring us all to Kapatagan. The long stretch of mountain road is swaying from left to right with some portions of the road is not yet cemented for like 100 meters so a skilled driver for this is a must have (hehehe). While on our way, cool mountain air and scenic views can be seen each side of the road like big fern trees, mountain valleys, color red bouldering hills – terracotta, Mount Apo, Mount Matutum can be seen and some other great scene that cannot be found in the city. Very Relaxing  =)

We paid two thousand pesos (2,000) back and forth for every van. Since the seating capacity of the van can accommodate for up to 14 persons, we divided our fare share of 143.00 pesos each.
6.30 am and the sun is shining and the cool breeze of air wrapped us as we arrived at Sitio Baras, Kapatagan the Jump off point going to Camp Sabros.
p20700131 Check-point area.
From there, we started trekking up to the hill just across the Military’s checkpoint area. it took us 30 minutes until we set foot on Camp Sabros because picture taking was the favorite past time while walking. Glowing blue color of Mount Matutum can be seen clearly towering in a spectacular sea of cloud view and the Grand Mount Apo is very visible and clear – A very Amazing panoramic view of our Nature wonders.

p20700291
On our way to Camp Sabros.
Picture taking was still the favorite past time hehehe. From there on, we ate our breakfast and soon thick clouds of water droplets is embracing the earth’s surface - to make it short – Fog comes our way… and it lasted for almost one hour.
p20700251 Trek to Camp Sabros.
While we are having our breakfast, Camp Sabros personnels are preparing the zipline gears, while some of my collegues are busy pressing the keypads of their cellphones. Cellular communications are okay. Globe, Smart Networks have signals while Sun has a signal but not strong as the others but still functional, I even got to check my yahoo email and my yahoo messenger via globe wap. woot!

p20700581 Welcome.

Zipline ride is in a lying down position with all our body is fully harnessed, in that way, we can pretend to fly as a bird or swim like a fish or feel like you’re a flying superhero. hehehe
p20700611 Nice foggy view.
Zipline ride fee is 150.00 pesos and succeeding ride is 50 pesos. if you want alone ziplining, fee is 200 pesos. the ride is exhilarating and great! It claimed as the longest zipline in the Country and is a 50 seconds average fast ride in 380 meters long and 150 feet high above the ground. In this birds eye view, mountains and lush greens and pine trees and a clear mount apo can be seen. Return ride is via cable lift which lasted for 5 minutes and still savor the scenic view and the mountain cool breeze.

p20700781 Cable lift after zip ride.
As what I see, they are making a new zipline that is more longer but as I talked with the personnel, it is still in a test process because it would only take 28 seconds to the other end with a 400+ meter ride. woosh! bang!
p20700851 Geared and ready to do a zip.
As planned, to make our adventure more complete and there are much plenty of spare time, at 11 am we trek down to the checkpoint area were motorcycles are waiting that would bring us to Virgin Falls –we paid 20 pesos each for this ride. There are two locations on how we can get to the waterfall, one is at Camp Uno and the second is at Sitio Palo-5. We decided Sitio Palo-5 as our jump-off area even if it is more farther because we already knew the trail. If compared, Camp uno is much nearer and lesser walking distance right after the jump-off but we are not familiar with the trail.

p20701271 Looking back at the last step on our way to Virgin Falls.
We arrive at exactly 12 noon at the Virgin falls, A 12-foot deep at the base of the 20-meter high waterfall. Passing by forested area with thick vegetation of exotic flowering bushes and flowering trees, cogon plants are abundant in the area. steep trails are often been encountered and 80 degrees of mountain slope covered with ferns. It was a muddy trail since it is raining early in that morning, better bring a good pair of trekking shoes.

p20701121 Virgin Falls.
We rested and ate our Lunch, took a swim and relax, feel and hear the rush and roar of the gushing water. Don’t be decieved by its smallness as compared to Tudaya falls bacause the water is as cold as ice! Once you dip into it… naahh it calms the muscles of your body as if it is like a food for well being.

All was feeling great and I can see satisfied souls in them with my collegues and started walking to Sitio Palo-5 village at around 2PM. It was just in time we got to the village at around 3:00 pm  and took shelter to some sari-sari stores as it rained heavily and got stuck up to 4pm. Motorcycles fetch us were waiting as we arranged them earlier.Two Hired vans was also waiting at us in the kapatagan terminal – market. Some of my buddies bought fresh cabagges and tomatoes before heading back to Digos.

It was a great outdoor adventure. I’m sure some of my collegues who are not used to outdoor activities are suffering with muscle aches and pains. As one of our buddies commented ” Mag-abot man sad atong suwang ug tuhod sa pag tikang”. hehehe

Here is our Itinerary:
(adjusted if not being stucked by rain)
4:30 am                    ETD from Davao Ecoland terminal to Digos
5:20 am                    ETA Digos Bus Terminal
5:35 am                    ETD from Digos Terminal to Sitio Baras, Kapatagan Military Check point
6:30 am                    Arrive Sitio Baras, Kapatagan Military Check point
7:00 am                    Trek from Military Check point to Camp Sabros, (uphill trek)
7:30 am                    ETA Camp Sabros
7:31 am – 11:00 am   Breakfast, Picture taking, rest, shall I say the fun stuff
11:01 am                  Descend down to checkpoint area, ride a motorcycle going to Sitio Palo-5
11:20 am                  Arrive at Sitio Palo-5 Jump off point to Virgin Falls
12:00 am                  ETA Virgin Falls
12:01 pm- 2:00 pm    Lunch, Relax, Swim, fun stuff
02:10 pm- 3:45 pm Hike going back to Palo-5 village
03:46 pm- 4:00 pm    Motorcycle ride going Kapatagan proper – Terminal
04:01pm – 5:00 pm    Kapatagan to Digos City
5:01 pm- 6:00pm       Digos City to Davao City. Home Sweet Home

Tip for this kind of adventure:
  • Hired vans must be paid right after all the services we need from them as agreed with the drivers, in our case we paid them when we are fetched from Kapatagan terminal going to Digos City.
  • Motocycles or habal-Habal must be arranged so that you will have no problem going back to barangay proper. We paid after every ride.
  • As what they say that “what your mind can concieve, the body can achieve” is good but you really need an exercise before going to this kind of adventure. After effects of this kind of activitity is very uncomfortable and would last up to three days. Muscle pains.
For those who want to get there and need a ride going to kapatagan from digos city, just leave give me your email address or cell number in the comment area so that I can give you the contact number of the Van’s Driver.  I will not post his number publicly for some personal reasons.Thanks to Sarah for some o the images.
More pics here.