Can’t Help Falling: Kitara and Cambais Falls

Just a quick recap of how the week has been: swamped. I started training with my new company, I made some preparations for the Enduro Pilipinas, raced it last Sunday, and went to Alcantara, Cebu yesterday to attend their fiesta. I wish I don’t have to work so I can do all the things on my new list but I have to. Those things cost money, that’s one thing.

Also, I love being self-sufficient. I feel so whole when I earn for myself and not have to rely on others. Self-sufficiency is a mountain biker’s thing. I go out alone almost all the time so I always make sure that I got all that I need before setting out: tools, food, hydration, and money.

It is a solitary sport and often “solitary” means having no one to help you but yourself.

Anyway, this post is still part of my Alegria series. Few weeks ago I stayed at Sun Xi Mountain Resort for a couple of nights to get more acquainted with the town’s mountains. I picked the place as my lodging because on the map, Sun Xi’s location is the most accessible to most interesting spots in the mountains of Alegria—Mount Lanaya is on its near southwest, Kitara and Cambais falls to its northeast, and the Alegria-Alcoy road that passes by it.

Kitara is deep within a mountainous barangay of Alegria, and it flows right down to Matutinao in Badian. They share the same river that runs through Kawasan Falls. Cambais is just a little ways downstream from Kitara.

From the main cascade of Kitara is a small stream that accumulates into an oval pool. From the bank the whole place resembles the shape of a guitar, hence the name Kitara. There is a concrete bridge that passes over the pool (about 10feet above the water surface) where you can jump from if you’re feeling Indiana Jones-y.

The fall is just 20mins from Sun Xi. My guide told me there were caves en route but I did not drop by. It would be interesting to check out what those cave got. The problem with me is that I bring a flashlight when I travel but I always leave it in my room when I go out for a day trek. After all, who would think of bringing a flashlight when the sun is high up in the sky? Answer: Someone smarter than me.
I sometimes suspect myself of being a moron but I guess I’m not too bad. Anyway, after Kitara we went down to Cambais Waterfalls. Some locals also call it Kawasan but I prefer to call it that way to prevent mix-up with the Kawasan Falls in Badian. Cambais has three main cascades. The best part about it—we were the only people when we went there. It feels good to play first-humans-in-the-planet.

The Howling Winds of Lepanto, Alegria, Cebu

I am home 14 hours late than I would like to be because of some logistic problems with my bicycle. To put it simply, no bus would let me board with my bike. It was weird because on my way there I just took off the wheels of my bike and placed it in the baggage compartment. I have done this so many times before in Cebu and in Mindanao but I never had this problem. I tried to catch the last Librando Bus trip in Badian but I arrived there at 6pm. I did not know that the last city-bound bus leaves at 4pm. Now we all know. I was forced to spend the night at Moalboal Backpacker’s Lodge. For 275 pesos, I got a dorm bed, sheets, and a towel. The staff were really nice though so I did not mind spending the night over there. This is an actual conversation between two guys, I did not make this up:

danish guy: so you've been travelling for a long time now?

french guy: yeah for about a year. i sold everything--my house, my car, and my girlfriend. i only got 1 euro for selling my girlfriend

He’s not the first European guy I’ve met who sold practically all he has so he can travel. Filipinos do not do that. We are always busy preparing for our day to day survival and for hopes of a good retirement. Is it because they’ve got better social security? Or are they just more care-free? Somebody should answer me because I’m not just throwing rhetorical questions, I am actually asking. It has been a fully booked weekend and I am yet to write about my journey to two waterfalls and my climb to Mt. Lanaya. I will start off with my short bike ride to Libo because I am more of a mountain bike rider than anything.

* * *

I got to know about Libo because my hosts at Sun Xi Mountain Resort asked me if I wanted to go to a picnic. They could drive me over to a hill that overlooks mountains on the southwest. I totally appreciate it but I had to overcome my Schweinehund, my inner pig, my lack of motivation (thanks a lot Edward for teaching me the term!). So I opted to pedal up the hill and it was a climb to remember, with my movie-esque degree of panting.

I did a couple of sprints up the hill because the air was so fresh I could just open my mouth as wide as can without having to worry about dust, smog, and plastic bags entering my mouth. I nearly ripped my jaws apart with all the panting I did. But the air was so pure I could do that every morning. I must have looked like a moron. But the uglier I look, the better it feels after.

The fog was just about to lift when I reached the hill that they meant. I could not have missed it because it is right before the center of Libo. I was still panting very hard and in between my breath the wind would howl, as if it is conversing with my longing for air. I’m just kidding. The wind does not talk unless you’re a lunatic and you think it does. That’s just me smacking into my poetic license. But seriously the wind howls wildly in that place.

It is so amazing because that only happens in Hollywood horror films with very grim milieu. But that morning was sunny and beautiful, I even played Reggae Sunshine twice when I was there. When the wind is stronger, it sounds like a train juggernauting through a railway, minus the metallic screech of course (the wind is not made of metal).

I did some trail riding up and down the hills but I mostly spent the time there staring into the scene that reminded me how big this world is—and that I need a GPS if I don’t want to get lost in it. If I’m gonna keep mountain biking for the rest of my life, it will no longer be to fight the Schweinehund, it would be keep experiencing this beauty. Schweinehund my battle is not with you. Just get out of the way and let me see hills like that over and over again.

I went back to basecamp drench with sweat and camouflaged in mud. I had a quick breakfast because one of the guys at Sun Xi was waiting to take me to Mt. Lanaya. My friends have been inviting me to go there for the past two years and I do not know why it took me that long to climb it. Wait for my post about it alright!

I'm the King of Chills -- Mountain Biking around Alegria, Cebu

I'm supposed to be cramming now that the 4th Leg of the Enduro Pilipinas is just a little way down the road. Work has got in the way of my planned training--I really should be jobless and be a full-time burden to our crumbling economy. But I chose to have a job. And when you have a job that starts when everyone else should be sleeping, you can't do a whole lot of riding.

I already got my plate full at work so I might as well just chill around and do nothing. Well, I can't totally do nothing so I brought my bicycle with me. I am currently camped at Sun Xi Mountain Resort and making the most of their wi-fi connection.

I am at 2,200ft above sea level, lots fog around me, and I got internet connection. If you have forgotten how good life is, you really should do this. Suicide is always an option but the best way to go about life is find great joys in small things and just go about your merry way.

Anyway, for those who are looking for me, I am in Lepanto, Alegria, Cebu. Just about a couple hundred meters from the town center is a bridge with steel frame. The road that leads to Lepanto has a gas station at the intersection so you can't miss is. Just remember, gas station before the bridge.

I don't have my usual mapping and photo editing tools so I'll come up with a better map later. By the way, I have the recently converted to Open Street Map because it tells you a whole lot more.

In Lepanto, there's a whole bunch of concrete and dirt roads that lead to just about anywhere in the far south of Cebu. Alcoy, Malabuyoc, Badian, and Dalaguete are all networked by this road. I am not even half-way yet in checking out all paths in the area but I'm already having so much fun and panting. The air can be pretty thin but you lose a whole lot of humidity--which is why Lepanto feels cool even during mid-day.

Lumpan Lake is one of the first routes I have done. There is a dirt track that cut through some marshes and around a couple of hills and finally to Lumpan Lake. Going down to the trail head you'll get an ineffably beautiful view of Tanon Strait--the descent plunges so abruptly that you feel that you can just jump straight into the sea. Well, you can't obviously unless you're the kind who gets a headache when exposed to kryptonite.

I found a friend in the form of a cow. It is a cow, actually. We barely talked but we enjoyed staring at Tanon Strait and the far far away Negros Island. We didn't share the same meal though. I am grass intolerant. Thanks a lot cow for the company. Just remember, Mr. Cow, to stick to the grass that's legal.

Feeling Gorgeous -- Manyapyap Gorge, Paril, Cebu City

I tried to do the Manyapyap Gorge almost two years ago through the route of the legendary Ronnie Muring. The way I read it, it passes through a lot of river crossings in Mulao, Compostela, heading upstream by that same river that runs through the gorge. If you’re a newbie and you do the route of some really awesome dude, there’s bound to be a problem.

The guy has mountaineering, mountain biking, and probably extreme survival skills. What did I have that time? A bicycle, decent riding skills, and some misplaced sense of self-confidence. I don’t have to say it but yes, I was not able to find the gorge.

Two years later, I have become two years older. And I have been more tempered, more cautious, and a whole lot lazier. Thankfully there’s Edward Cardew, his all-knowing GPS, and his impeccable sense of direction. We did not do the Mulao/Cotcot River route though because the river was too strong and because we’re not sure if we can find the route from that end.

Instead, we went around Mulao, Compostela through a gruesome climb to the Tagubi-Paril junction, and finally on to Paril. The entrance to the gorge is just right beside Paril Elementary School. Just head down the riverbanks and the downstream will take you there. Just one river crossing and you are all set.

Ted knows the easiest way through but we wanted to check out some bike trails too. We did find a really good downhill track but the problem is, we headed the opposite way. It would have been much better to do it from the Cebu City end and just weave your way through until you get to that Upper Mulao downhill track.

Also, never ever go to Paril without eating in Mabini first. Valley barangays don’t always have carenderias open. That’s simply because people there know how to cook for themselves not like us!

I’d like to name that track Shake that Booody because it’s pretty mossy, slimy, and rutty. You don’t need a sign to tell you that it’s an accident prone area. If you’re really keen about doing that trail or finding Manyapyap Gorge, just leave a comment and I’ll fetch a GPS trace from one of my friends. From Ted, most likely.

I very much appreciate Ton-ton Kintanar’s company. He’s one of Cebu’s pioneer rock climbers but now he’s a crazy rider. And much stronger too than the last time I’ve checked. The photos are from his camera which claims to be shock proof for 6.6ft and waterproof for 40ft. Of course when I suggested testing it’s durability on the gorge, Edward decided against it because it’s way more than 6.6ft for the drop and we might not be able to find the camera because the stream was pretty much in a foul mood that time.

Anyway, I once remember watching this TV documentary about guys who collect toys. One of the collectors said that he loves toy cars because it protects him from the world outside. That is, (this is so according to him) it keeps him locked up inside his house and he’s safer that way.

Just to tell you guys, a whole bunch of people die each day so don’t make a big deal out of your own death. People go through it all the time. Just live happily and you’ll live a lot longer.

We’re not being totally reckless. We measure our risk and take the necessary precautions. I’m a damn coward myself. When I go to Toledo to climb rocks, I don’t even look down one bit. Because it scares me a whole lot.

Whatever we do, we always keep it safe. Getting ourselves into accidents will only create a bad image for our sport. So let’s all try to enjoy and be safe. I am just an amateur and I never forget that even pros fail.