So yesterday we took a longish drive (45 minutes) out to Castillejos for a new hiking adventure–the climb to Nagsangong Falls. None of us, including the old-timers like Scott, had ever made this trip. In fact, I just tried to search for Nagsangong and Google has never heard of it either. I guess Scott had found a map to the place or got referred from a friend of the girlfriend or something, but anyway it’s always nice to explore new territory.
We had a bit of a false start at the beginning and wound up in a rice field. The farmer family was very friendly and pointed us in the right direction. So we turned around and started over. Still, it wasn’t a bad journey at all. 10K or so to the falls and back and a 150-meter climb that was very gradual and not at all difficult. My kind of hike!
Here are the photos:
Eight of us all told made the journey.Let’s roll!Hmm, we weren’t expecting a big ass rice paddy blocking our way.Now what do we do?Retreat!That red hook at the bottom was our mistake. The orange was the trail that led us to our destination. The only downside really was that we walked the same path coming and going. I prefer a loop route but that wasn’t an option this time.Twin Peaks! Or as I like to say, Mother Nature’s breasts pointed skyward…The long and lonely trail…Oh shit, another roadblock…We made our way around alongside the Grand Canyon of Castillejos…Onward!The first of several stream crossings along the way.I was pleased that I navigated them all with nary a wet foot. My balance was better than normal, that’s for sure…There were people, mostly kids, fishing in the river with nets and spears…The most dangerous moment on the hike was when one of the local kids let Helen try out his fishing bow and arrow…The second most dangerous thing on the trail.It was fine for walking, but I wouldn’t want to drive across this bridge…Just before we began the climb we passed through this small village of native people, the black-skinned Aetas.It appears to me to be a harsh life, but then again, so is ghetto living on the mean streets of Chicago. Given a choice, I’d pick here.“Said” car parking P20. One of the Filipinas with us explained that by said they meant side, As in the sidecar on a trike.And up we go!So far, so good.Um, where are the falls?Seriously? You can that a waterfall?But the water was clean and clear, so there’s that…It has been said it is as much about the journey as the destination. This is me thinking “that’s true”.That’s a big-ass rock covered in tree roots behind my fellow hikers…The tree of which I speak…We climbed up above the so-called “falls”…Had a little rest…Ed and a couple of others took advantage of a nice swimming hole…And then it was time to re-cross those streams and head on back…Another good day on trail…I wonder if this palm tree ever feels lonely out there in the field…?
It was a long day. We stopped for lunch on the way back and I didn’t get home until a little after 3:00. No time for a nap, just a shower and headed out for Friday night darts.
You know, there may be something to not giving a shit. There were some good teams in the draw and I figured we didn’t have much of a chance. I just let ’em fly and actually shot a little better than normal. Nancy and I synched up pretty well and slew some Goliaths to go home with first-place money…
And so ended another fine day in paradise.
I’m funny when you’re drunk…
3 thoughts on “A trip before the falls”
A good discovery that will, I imagine, be incorporated into a subsequent Hash.
Congrats on the darts win!
All in all, sounds like a pretty good day. “Just another day in paradise!”
(BTW, cute girl in the red pants. LOL)
Kev, likely too far out of town for a Hash but we are talking about doing a cookout there at the swimming hole. We can park further up the road and only have a couple of kilometers to hike with our picnic supplies.
A good discovery that will, I imagine, be incorporated into a subsequent Hash.
Congrats on the darts win!
All in all, sounds like a pretty good day. “Just another day in paradise!”
(BTW, cute girl in the red pants. LOL)
Kev, likely too far out of town for a Hash but we are talking about doing a cookout there at the swimming hole. We can park further up the road and only have a couple of kilometers to hike with our picnic supplies.
Brian, that’s why she is so dangerous! 🙂