The Saturday hike starts off easy enough...down the slope, in between trees, on a clear path.
Over flat land covered with rocks and pebbles...
...then my officemate, who was leading the group, tells us this will be a river trek.For a distance we continue walking on rocks and pebbles.But still no water.
And then we see a small steam: "River trek, at last!"
Our leader takes us over some boulders to a small waterfall with a small pool at the bottom.Seriously thinking we were already half way, I ask, "Is this our rest stop?""Rest stop?" and then he laughs. He invites everyone to take a dip, but half the group declines and just rests.
(What he doesn't say is that we are only a third of the way through.) After the "rest stop", we continue our hike, skipping from boulder to boulderand sometimes splashing in the water.
Then a quick photo stop by this small waterfall.
And onward again over boulders...
Climbing over neverending boulders, which reminded me of Mt Apo...
...only worse...
Because some boulders were higher than my legs could reach,my friends haul me over:one pulling my arms, the other pushing my legs.
And in another area, I cling to some vineswhile someone pulls me up.
Then I realize we are already in the woods and I heave a sigh of relief.Goodbye river. See you never!But it is a sigh of relief expelled too soon.
The steep hike in the woods continues over dried leaves and under fallen trees...
And one last challenge...when I face a wall of crumbling soil that is as high as my head.Again, my friend, using all his muscle power, pulls me up,and I land on a pile of dried leaves,where I crawl uphill until I am a good way away from the edge.
Damn Buhisan, I underestimated you.
Thank Yous are in order:
To H. Villarante and F. Casinillo for the muscle power.
To H. Villarante and M. Unat for the photos.
To S. Ortega for the moral support.
Buhisan Damn by the numbers:
Estimated number of hours for this hike: 2
Actual number of hours for this hike: 3
Number of weight lifters needed: 2
Number of muscles pulled: 3
Number of bruises acquired: 4
Number of scratches obtained: 5
Motorcycle from Jollibee Labangon to Buhisan Php 25/way
Lunch from Labangon market Php 30
Tips (that I learned after this hike):
Wear sandals, shorts, and leggings (optional) for this hike. (I wore jogging pants. Hehehe.)Eat a big meal before embarking on this hike. (I did not eat a big enough meal and was hungry an hour into the hike.)Bring at least 1.5L of drinking water. (I brought just 1L of water which had to be rationed til we got to the end of the hike.)Bring trail food and don't forget to eat it. (I brought four biscuits but only ate one and was tired and starving by the time we entered the woods.)Bring an extra shirt. (I did not bring an extra shirt and on the way home everyone was looking at me wondering like I just got out of a mud bath.)
