Chasing waterfalls series: Experiencing Colorado falls

What do you think of when you think of visiting Baguio? Mines view? Burnham Park? Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad?  or The Diplomat Hotel at Dominican hill?

For those who have visited Bguio, it is relly all of that and or there is something more??

How about a visit to a waterfalls?

Well, Baguio is unusually suited for waterfalls. At 5,200 feet above sea level, Baguio enjoys low temperatures with cold weather - so when i speak of Baguio and a visit to its waterfalls - everyone thinks I'm crazy.

I was unaware of this before, but I soon found out of this waterfalls when a friend from Tuba invited me for a quick dip at its cold waters.

I love the place, it's near the city's other attractions - so it's worth it, the views are different and it's not a long walk.

How to get there?

-Ride any PUJ that passes by Kennon road.  Ask the driver to drop you off at  Camp 4 near an Elementary School.

Mt. Singakalsa Traverse - Timbak-kabayan

Mt. Singakalsa also known as Mt. Timbak is the 3rd highest mountain in Luzon as well as the 9th highest peak in the Philippines. Though this is my 3rd time to climb Timbak, it is actually my 1st time doing the kabayan traverse.

After 5 hours of travel from Manila, we reached Baguio at 3 AM - a quick breakfast at session road - then another 3 hours ride to Atok Benguet – the highest highway in the Philippines.

8 Am

We were dropped at the waiting shed of Atok, Benguet in km. 55 marker. After a 5 minutes break we already started the ascent to Mt. Timbak summit. The trail started on a cemented road, turning left on a fork, then passing by Mongoto Elementary School.

The walk up to the summit of Mt. Timbac was fast and easy. An hour and a half of knee pain walk along a cemented road makes up the first part of the trail, then after the last fork, the summit would be just 15 minutes away.

On the way to the summit, we passed by farmers' houses and vegetable plots of potatoes, carrots, and cabbages. Less than two hours of trek in total, we reached the summit. The sight around Timbak is great. From here we took our first 20 minutes break, we also waited for the clouds to clear so we could take some shots of the neighboring peaks. Unfortunately lady luck did not smile upon us that day, the whole place was covered with so much fog, still, the view is breathtaking. It was actually seemed to be a walk in the clouds.

At 1045 AM, we decided to make our descent to Kabayan. While we were all tired and wet from the drizzle, we were all pleased and feeling fulfilled.

If it took us Less than two hours of trek in total to reach the summit of Mt Timbak, the traverse is a different story. I though the walk going up was already a punishment - i was wrong. This trek was the most strenuous of all from my previous climb. Going down to Kabayan was a hurtful and knee breaking experience. Yeah, there is no doubt that a long descend will definitely make a knee-pain worst.

How to get to Mt. Timbak : 

-From Manila, take a bus bound for Baguio city. P450

-From Baguio, go to Dangwa Terminal or at the Slaughterhouse bus terminal along Magsaysay Avenue. Public van transportation departs from Dangwa terminal in as early as 6AM while bus from Slaughterhouse departs at 5:30AM and 10:00am daily P120. No more public transportation departs after lunch.

-Tell the driver to drop you off at KM 55 in Atok.