Panahik to Kaamulan

Hikers spend the day hiking the mountain ridges that divide Malaybalay City and the Can-Ayan valley area.
Members of the Northern Mindanao Mountaineering Society sponsor an adventurous hike through the mountains of the Provincial Tree park.  It was scheduled during the Kaamulan festival of 2008.  Below is a picture in loving memory of the President and Founder of NORMMS.

MANUEL "MANNY" SERINA
The Ridge Runner
1947 - 2006

I never met the man many called a pioneer, a father in the Philippines Mountaineering community.

But I have hiked some of the mountain areas of Bukidnon and Cebu and enjoyed the time I hiked  with the members of NORMMS during Kaamulan 2008
Panahik ta Kaamulan

Many will miss you as you have gone on to a better place... 
But I am sure they will think about you, 
While they sit atop the mountain,
With the setting sun upon their face.

    " Unity in Diversity 
Through Environmental Awareness. "
We hiked up one ridge and down another... with every mountain top was a view of the next ridge line to hike.  It was the perfect day for hiking and awesome views below.
We came to an open ridgeline that we put out our tents for the night.  It was a bit cold but we did see the fireworks below in Capitol Grounds. In the morning we started to plant our pine trees along both sides of this ridge for future generations to enjoy...  
After planting our pine trees... we packed up our gear, took some pictures for remembrance and once again it was off through the tall grass.  The trip back was through some difficult mountainous terrain, nut mostly we had to keep a sharp lookout for the small white trail markers....
The trail we followed was not an established trail.  It was cut only the day before the trip. If you look closely at a few of the pictures above in red and below in green.. you will see little white trail markers that we had to keep our eyes on.  Hiking or bush-wacking your way through the mountains is not as easy as it looks.
As we got nearer to the Kaamulan grounds area... we could hear drums and music off in the distance.  Civilization was near !! hehehe.  Finally as we cleared the woods and saw our support group there waiting for us with much needed fruits and drinks.. it was a welcome site to see for all !!
It was an awesome trip.  After we relaxed the support group had a hot lunch for us all and a juice.  Each participant got a t-shirt with a map of the trail we hiked and a certificate of completion.  This was the 1st annual.. I hope to be able to go back for another in the coming years.  Thanks to you all and also to Northern Mindanao Mountaineering Society.

 

Return