Kim's Quest #11: Weekend Hike at Spartan Trail

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I was always asked by my mother why I love hiking up in the mountains and my answer would always be because it makes me feel alive. You get what I mean? When I'm on top, looking at the panoramic view below makes me think, makes me question things, and makes me assess myself and the things around me.

_{Monterrazas de Cebu - a high-end subdivision located in Brgy. Guadalupe, Cebu City that boasts a panoramic view of the city and the neighboring islands of Mactan and Bohol. One of the hills of the subdivision, where the trail is located, offers a scenic view of Cebu City. [1/450 secs @ f/11.0, ISO 200, 15.0 mm]}

I am preparing for a major climb this November, but I don't have the gears yet. Maybe I'll buy in the coming paydays, but I'm already conditioning myself for a 3 days hike. So, together with my workmates, we decided to have a hike last weekend and the most established trail in Cebu is Banawa-Pamutan Trail or commonly known as Spartan Trail.

_{On top of Monterrazas de Cebu, showing the south of Cebu City, South Road Properties (SRP), and parts of Talisay City. [1/450 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 15.0 mm]}

Cebu is relatively low in elevation compared to the other islands in the Philippines, with the highest peak of about 1000 MASL. If you're planning to have a major climb and if you're in Cebu, the best option is to hike in Spartan Trail. And the reason for that is because its proximity to the city proper and of course, because of its terrain. Aside from accessibility, the terrain is very diverse. You'll find out later why I said it's very diverse, so read on.

_{A part of Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve where the majority of the trail is located. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 38.5 mm]}

Here we go!

SPARTAN TRAIL_{Cebu's Famous Trail for Practice Climbs}

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_{Good Shepherd, Banawa - the official starting point of the trail. It is a famous pilgrimage site during Holy Week. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 15.0 mm]}

We decided to meet at Paceo Arcenas at 6:00 AM and had breakfast at McDonald's Banawa before starting the hike at around 7:30 AM. The trail officially starts at Good Shepherd, Banawa where the stations of the cross and a Chinese mausoleum is located.

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_{Introducing the team aka my workmates. We were having an orientation on what to expect, what to do and not to do on the trail, and who should lead and sweep. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 15.0 mm]}

From Good Shepherd, you can already see parts of the panoramic view of the city. It was already blazing hot at 8:00 AM and the trail was just starting. If you're planning to trek, it's better to bring an umbrella or anything that could protect you from the heat of the sun. This part of the trail is an open grassland with no trees that could provide shade.

_{The trail in the middle of a grassland leading to the top of the hill. There's no cover from the sun in this part, so you should bring umbrella or hat to protect you from the heat. If not, just enjoy the warmth of the morning sun. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 15.0 mm]}

It will continue until the peak at Monterazzas de Cebu is reached. It's good to bring enough water to stay hydrated. I once tried to climb faster than my usual pace because it was so hot and I didn't have any protection, but I ended up being light-headed the moment reached the peak. Good thing I just recovered and continued with the trek.

_{It's not yet half way to the peak, but you can already see some parts of Cebu City. [1/450 secs @ f/13.0, ISO 200, 23.5 mm]}

I have been trekking Spartan Trail numerous times already, but we chose to start at dawn to avoid the blistering heat of the sun. It was also a very good view of the city during sunrise. Monterazzas de Cebu is a high-end subdivision with its ongoing development, so the trail might be closed soon. An alternative route might be opened, but the main trail is still open for now.

_{The city view should be clear, but the whole city was blanketed with a haze that time due to pollution and was aggravated by the southwest monsoon bringing dust particles from forest fires in Indonesia. [1/350 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 45.0 mm]}

_{Finally reaching the peak amid the blistering heat of the sun. But the view is simply stunning. [1/420 secs @ f/11.0, ISO 200, 15.0 mm]}

_{Mandatory photoshoot at the peak of Monterrazas de Cebu. The team finally made it! [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 15.0 mm]}

After reaching the peak, the trail will continue along the path with thick shrubs and grass so it's advisable to protect yourself from being cut. A large mango tree signifies the end of a flat trail with lush vegetation. From that mango tree, it will be a downhill traverse towards a small stream.

_{The mango tree that serves as a landmark that it will be a downhill trek towards the river. [1/280 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 15.0 mm]}

_{The rested under the mango tree before continuing the trek downhill. [1/70 secs @ f/4.9, ISO 200, 32.3 mm]}

Along the way, it will be a canopy of different kinds of trees so it will be much cooler and comfortable with the shade of those trees. There will be a well along the way that's a source of potable water. Before reaching the river, we passed by a lot of rattan vines so, we were extra careful with its thorny leaves.

_{We need to reach that other side of the mountain by noon to have lunch at Bagsakan. [1/250 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 31.4 mm]}

_{That's the dried stream; one of the tributaries of Buhisan Watershed. It's amazing how the terrain changes from uphill under the sun to downhill and river trek under the canopy. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 6400, 15.0 mm]}

A few minutes later, we reached a dried stream that's one of the tributaries of Buhisan Watershed. During rainy season, the stream will be ankle to knee-deep with clear water. From the dried stream, the dome of big trees can be reached via a small trail under the forest of Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve. That dome of trees is actually a waterway to Buhisan Dam. It's dry most of the time, but it becomes flooded during the rainy days.

_{The dome of trees along the dried river bed. I'm always in awe of the sunlight seeping through the foliage. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 800, 38.5 mm]}

_{The team rested under the dome of trees before continuing the trek, following the dried river upstream. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 6400, 15.0 mm]}

If you are to follow that dried river upstream, you will reach a point where there's water. This is what I like about Spartan Trail. We already have done an uphill trek and then downhill, and then in the dried river. Next will be a point where there's water that you can take a dip if you want to. Some dubbed it as the jacuzzi. The water is clean and cold. It's actually refreshing after the trek. I doubt there's the same place as this near the city where you can take a bath in a clean stream water.

_{Finally, the part of the river where there's water. It hasn't rained for a weeks that's why the river dried up. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 3200, 15.0 mm]}

_{Only a trickle remained which was probably fed by a spring upstream. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 6400, 37.4 mm]}

After a few minutes to an hour of resting at the jacuzzi, the trail will continue upstream until we reached a small waterfall. If you're adventurous like me, you can opt to go up along the side of the waterfall. It's like rock climbing, without safety gear, but it's relatively safe if you know where to place your hands and feet on the rock wall.

_{Jade and Xayd (@xaydtrips) showing some rock climbing skills at the waterfall. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 2500, 15.0 mm]}

_{Uphill trek again after the waterfall, but it's under the canopy of the forest. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 6400, 37.4 mm]}

The river trail will end at the point where it will be another uphill trek again, but this time, under the canopy of different trees. Since it's part of the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, most of the trees are planted years ago. From that point, it will be all uphill until the barangay road of Pamutan is reached.

_{Dense population of trees, but it's not endemic species. They're exotic species of trees that were planted years ago. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 640, 15.0 mm]}

_{The team resting at the roots of one of the biggest and oldest trees in the forest. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 6400, 44.5 mm]}

There are parts of the trail where only one species of tree grows. They said it's teak tree, but I don't really know it's name. All I know is that they're not native species. This means that they don't support the native undergrowth. Although there are trees, the area looks dry because those trees are water demanding. This happens when you plant exotic species of trees.

_{Dense foliage of the forest. It provides a much needed shade during the remaining parts of the trail. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 500, 15.0 mm]}

I think the local government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have already learned their lesson because I observed new and different species (some are native like narra and molave) of trees that are being planted on the later part of the trail. Being under the canopy is actually refreshing, despite the exhausting uphill trek. Don't underestimate this part of the trail because if you're a beginner, it will feel as if it's endless.

_{A clearing that signifies we're near to the end of the trail. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 15.0 mm]}

_{Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve - a small portion of Cebu's mountains that's crucial to the water stability of the city. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 38.5 mm]}

An hour and a half after of grueling uphill hike, a clearing can be seen which signifies the end of the trail. The clearing is most cogon grass with sporadic sprouts of duhat tree. A little bit further up was the barangay road going to Pamutan/Guadalupe on the right and to Toong/Buhisan/Punta Prinsesa on the right.

_{End of the trail. The road going back to the city, specifically Brgy. Punta Prinsesa. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 1600, 15.0 mm]}

_{The team going to Bagsakan Center to have lunch. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 6400, 15.0 mm]}

A few meters is the Bagsakan Center where we took our lunch. We arrive in Bagsakan Center at 11:30 AM, so it was four hours worth of hike. Lunch at Bagsakan Center was a well-deserved treat after the hike. Home-cooked meals are available with lumpia and pinakbet (pork and vegetable dish that was sauteed in garlic and onion and then added with soy sauce) as their best seller. Ice cold soft drinks after the meal would certainly quench your thirst.

_{Yay! Finally, the team arrived at Bagsakan Center for lunch. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 500, 26.4 mm]}

At around 12:30, we decided to head home via habal-habal to Punta Princesa. Overall, the hike was enough to have a great weekend. It was enough to make my legs sore, but it was all worth it.

Some Flowers and Critters Along the Way

_{[1/75 secs @ f/4.7, ISO 200, 31.7 mm]}

_{[1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 1250, 15.0 mm]}

_{Ant Colony. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 6400, 15.2 mm]}

_{Can you spot those two grasshoppers? [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 6400, 45.0 mm]}

_{Not a flower, but a fern attached in a big boulder of rock. [1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 4000, 37.4 mm]}

A Few Reminders

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Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve is a protected landscape and we're privileged enough to have access to the area. The whole reserve is crucial to the stability of the water source of Cebu City. Please let's help make the watershed and the forest free from trash.

_{[1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 2000, 15.0 mm]}

My friend and workmate @xaydtrips has been very active in raising awareness and conducting clean up drives in the area. As the seasoned mountaineers have continued to have their practice climb in the area, its preservation is of utmost importance.

_{[1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 2000, 15.0 mm]}

There are amateur hikers who happened to be irresponsible with their trash. They just leave their trash along the trail. If you want to hike in Spartan Trail, please bring your own trash with you. Also, as much as possible, avoid having camp fires along the river. The ashes from the camp fires will contaminate the river.

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Note: All photos are mine unless otherwise stated. They're taken using my Fujifilm X-T100 and edited using Adobe Light room.

_{[1/320 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 15.0 mm]}

Thank you in advance for your encouraging comments and upvotes! It takes a lot of effort to write and edit travel blogs, so I don't post as often as I wanted to. See you in my next quest!

Have a great week everyone!

Best Regards,
Kim

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Kim's Quest #11: Weekend Hike at Spartan Trail | Discover Cebu

Some Flowers and Critters Along the Way

A Few Reminders