Hiking Adventures #33: Bakun Duo featuring Tekip Falls
Exactly a year after my first visit in Bakun, I went back again to visit their Tekip Falls. This second visit was again set by Metropolitan Mountaineering Society as part their yearly open climbs. This is also my second time to join with MMS.
Day 0
This climb was led by Sir Austin Sagario, a MMS-BMC trainee back then and who was also one of the participants in Bakun Trio open climb last year. He was assisted by Sir Paolo Bernardo and Ms. Faith Salonga as their Senior Team Leader. We headed to Baguio from Cubao, QC around 09:00PM and from Baguio we will have a 6-hour jeepney ride going to Bakun.
Day 1
Mt. Lobo is the usual first mountain to climb. As we reached Brgy. Dada, the tourism officers conducted a quick orientation about the climb. Prior to this climb, Typhoon Karen devastated most of the Cordilleras. Going to Bakun got more bumpy as there were landslides and reconstruction of destroyed roads and bridges. Also, the usual Lobo dayhike is a traverse going to Brgy. Poblacion. Last year, we did the traverse but this time we're doing a backtrail because the trail going to Poblacion was damage due to the said typhoon.
We started around 11:00AM. We left our tallpacks in the jeep and just brought our day packs. I was part of the 1st group to ascend Mt. Lobo with Atty.JP Cunada, Jess Pontillas, Aldrin Valentona, Edmund Milanes, Dr. Tom Suarez, Mondi Sayon, and Jhai.
We had our lunch along the trail. We bought packed lunch from an eatery in Atok, Benguet while heading to Bakun as the first stop over. After we had our lunch, we continue trekking to summit.
We had a good weather with clear skies. Although Lobo is the easiest among the other 2 mountains of Bakun Trio, Lobo is the highest peak of them all and also got awesome views of Bakun.
After we stayed in the summit for 30 minutes, we decided to descent. We took the whole descent for 1 and 1/2 hour. When everyone has successfully descended, we had another jeepney ride going to Brgy. Poblacion where Old Municipal Hall is located.
Me, Jess, Jhai, JP, Our Guide, Edmund, Doc Tom and Mondi. Photo by Aldrin Valentona
So we decided to skip Mt. Tenglawan for Tekip Falls on Day 2. I was with Aldrin, Edmund, Jayson and Sir RC. While the rest of the group were hiking Mt. Tenglawan which started 5:00AM, we, the Tenglawan Skippers or the Bakunsionistas woke up around 7:00AM. Chilling in the morning in Bakun with Pancit Canton, Spam, Corned Beef and Rice is really one for the books.
We started to trek going to Tekip Falls when our guide has arrived. It was around 8:00AM. It took 20 minutes of our time going to the falls. Maybe, it would only take 10-15 minutes, we just had lots of stop to take pictures along the trail.
I was really excited to see the Tekip Falls. I've waited a year for this goal to unfold and finally, I am standing in front of it. It was very fulfilling and surprising. I thought it was just a small waterfall because of the photos I've seen in social medias.
After taking photos, we took a shower and refresh. It was fun.
As we get back to the Old Municipal Hall, we had our lunch and rest. Then we decided to visit the upper part of Poblacion to discover more of Bakun and it lead us to Bakun Cemetery.
The expected arrival of some peeps who climbed Tenglawan was 05:00PM. We were talking about what can we offer them once they've arrived, but after few minutes, Jess Pontillas has arrived at 03:00PM in the afternoon.
Topless men are the first group to arrive in Old Municipal Hall. Mondi, JP, Jhai, Jayson, Mau and Jess
The highlight of the Bakun Trio is Kabunian. Probably, it was because it has the most surreal views and the best trail among the other two peaks. I told some of the participants not to miss the Kabunian because it was the highlight.
However, some of them had suffered in Tenglawan and got injured. Well, they can always get back.
My experience in Kabunian this year is almost same with last year. We had good weather, surreal views and great companions. But still, it's different because I was with new set of awesome people. Friendly reminder, try not to skip Kabunian. :)
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