Hello, Hive!
A new month is fast approaching and January would be gone in a blink. How swiftly has time passed, right?
For today's post, I've decided to slowly catch up to my long list of backlogs. I've already shared with my thoughts on Mt. Mandalagan's Tinagong-dagat August last year. Now, let me show you a closer glimpse of one of its most frequented trails.
The beautiful greens of Campuestohan Trail
Mornings in Tinagong-dagat is not as dramatic as one would expect. Because it is surrounded by an imposing wall of mountains, you don’t get to see the sun rise from the horizon. The weather was also gloomy on the second day of our climb and we woke up to a cloudy sky. Despite this, we still made sure to capture our last moments on this mountain. We took lots of solo and group photos before breaking our camp.
After making sure no trashes were left at the campsite, we started our descent via Campuestohan Trail. The guides told us that unlike our entry point, Patag Trail, in this side of the mountain, there are less or no leeches at all. And indeed we were spared from limatiks.
It didn't take long for us to appreciate the beauty of Campuestohan Trail. Here, nature is more alive. From ground surfaces to trunks and branches — everything is covered by vibrant green moss. It's definitely slippery too so you have to carefully watch those steps.
As we went deeper into the forest, we passed by a number of small streams and brooks. I personally love this section of the trail as makes me want to camp nearby and wake up to the sound of babbling waters.
Indeed, there is nothing as refreshing as a quiet walk in the forest. To listen to nothing and everything at once. The chirping birds above, the crisp leaves below our feet. The rustling trees, babbling brook.
In the final section of our hike, we had to trace an irrigation system that led to a small dam. Instead of walking alongside it, our guides suggested to walk on it to avoid falling off the slippery cement. We felt like kids once again as we soaked our shoes in the water and enjoy its cold streams.
A word of caution for those who are planning to climb Mt. Mandalagan: it is not advisable to hike too far away or ahead from your group. With insurgency issues still at height, guides strongly emphasize the importance of being in the presence of a local/locals.
Thankfully, we didn't meet any issue and we all reached our destination safe and sound. That’s one box ticked off for those who want to complete the infamous Negros Trilogy. Here’s to more mountains. Until next time!
If you have not read yet, check out the first part of this post below:
For other blog entries related to Negros Trilogy, click on the links below:
Maria is a hopeless romantic who travels in pages and places. She is an INFP who loves sunrises and moonlight nights and reading books in between. On weekdays, she works for a self-publishing company as a copywriter. On weekends, she lives her life as a poet or hiker. She hopes to share her love for words and the world with you here on HIVE.
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