I’ve thought of hiking for more than a year now. It wasn’t until after graduation that I finally decided to do it, choosing Sansanan Peak, Igbaras as my starting point. I joined a hiking group on Facebook with people in their late 20s who plan to hike the same point. The organizers asked for an affordable fee, which included lunch and souvenirs. The rest is up to you. I made sure to bring more than 2 liters of water and a few peanut butter sandwiches as my trail snacks.
The hike started with a meet-up in Iloilo City. There were more than 30 of us, and we rode in an overloaded jeepney going to Brgy. Bagay, Igbaras, which was our rally point. I was very concerned, as most of the hikers were women. Some were riding on top of the vehicle with little regard for their safety. I imagined if we suddenly got into an accident, they would fly into the road pavement. That didn’t happen, thankfully.
When we arrived at the rally point at 6:50 AM, we gave ourselves 10 minutes to prepare for the hike. The projection was that we would reach it before 11 AM. When we started our journey, I subsequently followed behind the first 10 people. In our first hour, we met cement, then dirt roads leading to the summit’s foot. While resting on a hill, I captured a beautiful view of the Igbaras landscape. Near the horizon, you can see an arrangement of hills lined with trees that may have been untouched for years. A fog was persistent at the time of capture, which blended well with the cloudy background.
Once we arrived at the mountain's foot, we took a break and refilled at a waterline that brings water from a nearby waterfall. Upon the first group of 10 departing, I carefully followed. The path leading to the summit was full of vegetation. It can scratch you if your body’s not fully covered. Given that it had rained a day before, the ground was wet, and the risk was that you might slip and fall. I was lucky and careful enough to mark each of my steps, minimizing wrong footsteps.
Upon arriving a few meters away from the peak, it was less than 9:30 AM. We were pretty early. And unfortunate because the clouds have completely blanketed the location. Glimpses of a few settlements can be seen, but as far as picturing the landscape, it was not possible. Though I did get my picture holding the placard. I can now say that I conquered a mountain! Albeit a small one, it’s still a mountain anyway.
We stayed at the peak for 30 minutes and went back to the mouth. Along the way, I slid a few times because my borrowed hiking boots broke. I opted to use my backup sandals, which don’t have the best grip for the terrain. I also got a few scratches on my fingers from moving the vegetation in front of me. An hour after arriving, we had lunch and took a group photo. It was a simple chicken adobo with a boiled egg.
Since we still had plenty of time, the organizers took us to a nearby waterfall (Limbaong Falls). It was a 30-minute walk from the mouth. Upon arrival, we settled at some big boulders and watched as a few of the group took a bath at the plunge pool. I took the time, as usual, to listen to the forest. There were dragonflies and butterflies flying around the area at the time, too. We went back to the rally point after the group finished and arrived at 2:30 PM.
It was quite tiring as a first-timer. I technically prepared for months by jogging outside for more than an hour and building muscle at home. When I went home, my legs were on the verge of collapsing. I didn’t rush to eat dinner, though, and subsequently got rest after. You know what’s funny? The next day was my first day on the job, and I reported anyway. My legs were a bit sore, but not as much as on Sunday.
Would I want to hike again? Yes! It’s quite refreshing to just live and feel nature’s presence. Some of the views can definitely be awesome.