A Remarkable day climb at Mt. Sinoron

As instructed by Local authorities of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; our group was included to form part of an assessment and inspection team on January 17, 2012 to some landslide prone areas in Barangay Sinoron, a mountainous part located northwest of the municipality. Our main purpose was to document and conduct rapid field assessment of landslide prone areas in the barangay as parcel of the lined up activities of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

It was the group’s second attempt of the mountain, the first one conducted July of 2004 via the Tibolo route going to Mt. Libodon. This time, we took the more strenuous trail of Sinoron passing the Pilan River. We were accompanied by Barangany Captain Mercedita Rivera and former Barangay Captain Henry Lim, himself also a member of the Sinoron Tribal Guard Association.

It was during that climb that we discovered the vastness of the Sinoron mountain range. According to Mr. Lim, there were countless times that they saw a couple of the famous monkey-eating-eagle gliding across the huge forest of the area. Sinoron is also home to several endangered fauna like wild pigs and deers.

Our first stop for the survey was at Sition Pilan, just 1.5 kilometers away from the Barangay Hall. There we discovered two tension cracks in a farm lot owned by Mr. Romeo Cayamba. After our lunch at Pilan River, we proceeded directly to our second target area of sitio Bagon. Along the way, we passed through some minor assaults and found out adjacent mountains separated by Pilan River. Most notable of the mountains is Mt. Karawagan, a vast forested area located south of Sinoron.

At around 1:45 PM, we had our rest stop at sitio Bagon (567 masl). From this point we saw the northwestern portion of Sinoron featuring the forest of Mt. Gisi and Mt. Landig in the eastern side. And when we reached the border of Bagon and sitio Sangay (645 masl) where we had our second survey point, we spotted the lush forest vegetation of Mt. Soroso.

Sinoron is indeed blessed with a green carpet. With the presence of its landslide-prone areas and major water body, one of the things to consider is to preserve its forest resources and to make certain rehabilitation efforts so as to avoid natural disasters to happen.

Many thanks to those who joined the climb: Pawiks, Jonas, Tolits, Chickay, Melvin, Dra. Raygene, Dandan, Jercpas, Jobel, Odik, Jake and Annie Rose.

2011 LOGSAC Yearend Report

Year 2011 is a colorful year for the Local Government of Sta. Cruz Adventure Club (LOGSAC), adding to its already splendid experience in the period of more than four years. There have been plenty of new climbs, new gatherings and new happenings that are of course worth writing of. This article will wrap up all the events and minor activities undertaken and participated by LOGSAC in 2011.

ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• World Water’s Day tree planting at Sibulan River, Darong, Sta. Cruz on August as spearheaded by HEDCOR Sibulan, Inc.

• World Wetlands Day mangrove planting and clean up drive at My Paradise Resort spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

• Environment Month tree planting at Darong, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

• National Greening Program tree planting at Sinoron, Sta. Cruz

• Araw ng Sta. Cruz tree planting at Darong, Sta. Cruz

• Women’s Day tree planting at Tibolo, Sta. Cruz

• Sta. Cruz Pista sa Kinaiyahan tree planting and clean up drive to Mt. Apo

• 1st International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge

• Mt. Apo Holy Week Monitoring of Sibulan Trail

ON CLUB ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING

• Attendance to a Refresher course on Basic Life Safety at Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

• Participation to the municipal-wide Tourism Congress at Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

• Participation to Advocacy Forum on Climate Change at Seagrass Resort, Island Garden City of Samal. This event was also in line with the celebration of LOGSAC’s fourth founding anniversary.

• Participation to Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao (MFSM) Day

ON MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

Listed hereunder are mountains climbed by LOGSAC in 2011:

• Mt. Apo, Sta. Cruz Trail, Davao del Sur

• Mt. Dulang-Dulang, Bukidnon

• Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon

• Mt. Kanlaon, Guintubdan Trail, Negros

• Mt. Kinabalu, Malaysia

• Mt. Puting Bato, Samal Island

• Mt. Everest Basecamp, Tibet

• Mt. Ugo, Benguet

TRAVELS OTHER THAN MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

• Tagaytay City by Iris and Matet

• Baguio City Tour by Pawiks, Joyjoy and Papong

• Pangasinan Hundred Island by Pawiks, Joyjoy and Papong

• Caramoan Island by Julius and Papong

• Legaspi City, Albay by Julius and Papong

• Camarines Sur Watersports Complex by Julius and Papong

CLUB CITATIONS

• LOGSAC was cited as one of the most outstanding clubs by the Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao (MFSM)

• Julius cited as one of the three Most Outstanding Club Presidents by MFSM in 2011

• Papong reaching the north base camp of Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak

ON CLUB SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Assisted the Local Government of Sta. Cruz during the rescue and relief operations during the flashfloods that happened in Darong, Sta. Cruz

• Facilitated in the implementation of Cash for Work Program for the development of Rural poor dwellers

• Participated approximately thirty fun runs to advocate healthy lifestyle and at the same time helping the organizers attain their respective causes.

The above-mentioned activities might be simple but the club thought EXCELENCE is an understatement. To all regular members, affiliate members, benefactors, advisers and friends of LOGSAC, thank you so much for making our 2011 fruitful and enjoyable.

Yearend Mt. Ugo Climb

Just right after Christmas on December 25, three LOGSACs flew all the way to Luzon for a yearend climb to Mt. Ugo in Benguet. Noel Bartolome (a.k.a. Pawiks), Irvhin Joy Alcoriza and Danrev Broñola successfully scaled one of Cordillera’s major climb destination via the Itogon trail in Benguet on December 26-28, 2011. Although much better if traversed, the group opted for a back track to cater to some equally interesting adventure side trips which included a Baguio tour and an overnight stay at Pangasinan hundred islands.

According to Pawiks, Mt. Ugo trail is highlighted by an open trail featuring endemic pine trees. They spent their two nights at Lusod community, a small village where their stay was catered in one of the resident’s shed. They reached Mt. Ugo summit on the second day and headed back to Lusod before traveling back to Baguio on the third day.

Mt. Ugo measures 2,130 MASL and is considered one of the ideal climbing destinations in Northern Luzon. The concept to make it an eco-tourism site was coined after a tragic airline crash in year 1987 when rescue operatives discovered its potentials for mountaineering activity.

The initial plan for this yearend climb was supposedly Mt. Tabayoc considering the group’s desire to scale mountains belonging to the country’s list of highest peaks. Mt. Tabayoc is recorded as the 5th highest in the Philippines. However, the last minute decision favored Mt. Ugo due to its very good summit features including wide ranges of visions of the entire Cordillera region.

To Pawiks, Papong and Joyjoy…..congrats.