Strong – and seemingly nonstop – rains, combined with relentless winds, is one of two things that, in my opinion, can put a damper on a most anticipated adventure. (The other one would be “lousy company”, in case you’re wondering.) I’ve had my fair share of being caught in the middle of an adventure or exploratory trip with the rain pouring, and I gotta say it does screw up even the best-laid plans all around. But there is one adventure that we can still totally rock, yes, even in a downpour. In fact, I think it can actually make the view better. What adventure, you ask? That would be chasing waterfalls.
*cue TLC’s classic song in the background*
Isn’t it ironic how most people would reference this song, when the lyrics kinda dissuades one to actually go chasing waterfalls? Just… look:
Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast
*shrugs* The song has a deeper meaning, but I guess the beat and the melody works for the adventure, so we’ll go with that, lyrical meaning bedamned.
Anyway, I digressed a bit right there.
We went chasing them waterfalls in Bakun, Benguet.
…and it was one for the books.
I’ve harped on and on about how much I love waterfalls in this blog, and how I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to see one when it comes up. Then The Cordilleran Sun organized a two-day one-night activity dubbed “Chasing Waterfalls in Bakun“. (Some links will be at the end of this post.)
During the week running up to the scheduled event, it’s been raining nonstop, no thanks to LPAs leisurely taking their sweet time “strolling” over and past our region. Even the day before, we were all waiting for announcement whether the roads to Poblacion, Bakun remain passable for vehicles, because we were still up for it, rain and all. Then, at a little past 4am on a Saturday morning, we set off from Baguio City. (Well, they did. Chris and I waited at Km. 6 for them to pick us up.
A little past 7am, we stopped at a roadside restaurant in the town of Sinipsip, Bakun for breakfast. Then we pushed forward until we arrived in Poblacion, Bakun at 10:45 AM. Got settled in our overnight accommodations, changed into more appropriate clothing, had a quick lunch, met our guides, then made our way to the first waterfall at 12:30.
The road leads to Poblacion, Bakun
This is not my first time to the municipality of Bakun, dubbed as the “last frontier of Benguet”, primarily because of its geographical location, bounded on the north by the province of Ilocos Sur.
You do get the feeling of being at a dead end once you arrive in the town of Poblacion (Central). Interestingly, the town or municipal hall of Bakun is located elsewhere, in Ampusongan, not here. But you will find in Poblacion the old municipal hall building, which is now used as accommodation/billeting area for hikers and adventure-seekers alike. Of course, it is still under the control of the local government unit (barangay).
(In case you’re wondering, my first visit to Poblacion, Bakun was when we checked out Mangta Falls, and even then, I already noticed that there are a lot of waterfalls in the area.)
The first order of business is Tekip Falls
Out of the five waterfalls included in our Chasing Waterfalls itinerary, Tekip Falls is the most accessible one. There isn’t a hike involved, unless of course you consider traipsing through a dirt road and going past cultivated vegetable gardens to be a hike.
That, right there, is the barangay of Poblacion, as if sitting atop that ridge, which gently curves down into a slope.
I loved how the clouds resembled steam brewing out of a boiling cauldron. Added a bit of mysticism to the place. By this time, the rain has stopped, as if resting for a more concentrated downpour later during the day (which it did, but I’m getting ahead of myself).
I suppose the walk towards Tekip Falls was made a bit challenging by the wet pathways, effectively turning the dirt road into a muddy road, which is slippery in many parts. So you’re not imagining things when you hear squelching sounds with each step you take.
These are rows of cucumber. My first time seeing them. I thought they’d be crawling all over the place, like squash or pumpkins do.
Yep, aside from native varieties of rice, cucumber is also abundant in these parts.
Even in the middle of Poblacion, right there on the road, you can stand and look to the left, right…. and you’d spot thin ribbons of white on the sides of the mountains that practically surround the town on all sides. Those are waterfalls of all sizes, by the way.
As we were heading towards Tekip Falls, this can be spotted on the other side of the mountain range, like 3 waterfalls, but I won’t be surprised if it’s one long waterfall snaking down that crevice.
Later I got to learn that it is called the Dalingawan Falls. But it is also fondly referred to as the ‘Tres Marias’, for obvious reasons.
I call them mini-waterfalls, more like trickles of water – more than a small mountain spring, I mean – making their way down the sides of the mountain.
During summer or dry season, these appear more like just rock surfaces on the side of the mountains. But when the rainy season comes on, they turn out to be surfaces for water to fall down on.
Tekip is for keeps!
…lame pun, I know.
15 minutes after leaving Poblacion proper, we rounded a corner, and saw my first glimpse of Tekip Falls.
My first thoughts?
It’s so…. high. And so much water!
AND SO SO MAJESTIC.
I can’t seem to find any exact number, but it has been pegged to be between 75 and 80 feet. Irrelevant, because I can tell it’s a very long drop.
According to the guides, on drier days, some even attempt to scale the rock face, although that’ll be a dumb risk, when it could be slippery due to moss or algal growth.
Tekip Falls flows down and over that craggy rocky side of the mountain, then falls into a narrow and shallow basin, again to flow into a small river with a relatively strong current. It was especially strong that day, because the previous days of rain ensured that there is an abundance of water falling down the, er… water…falls….
Even from this distance, you can start feeling that fine mist or spray from the falls. And the sound of the water falling is not the deafening sound you’d usually hear from a waterfall, and I think that’s because the craggy and uneven surface of the rocks is responsible for that. It somehow works in “breaking” the falls of the water.
And look at the pretty sight it makes as it hits every corner, every sharp edge, nook and cranny!
As I said earlier, the basin is a bit shallow. The strong current stopped most of us from going closer. Others did, and got a generous soaking.
I decided against it, as much as I wanted to, because I figured this was just the first waterfall for the day, and there are two others we’re going to after this. So I didn’t think it was the wisest idea to get soaked so early on, then make the hike (because there is going to be a hike now) to the second and third one. In short, Tita Mode switched on.
It was very inviting, though, and I had to fight my urge to go over there. The thing that effectively stopped me was when my companions opted not to go. Haha!
I don’t know if you can see the mist in these photos… but they are created by the spray of water.
You know how most adventure and thrill seekers make it a point to jump from a high point of the waterfall to the basin down below?
See, I don’t think that can be done here, seeing how uneven the rocks are, and how shallow the water is at the basin….
Well, in theory it CAN be done. But at your own risk. (but not before you get in trouble with the authorities/guides, methinks).
The brown water is not because it is dirty. It’s because the days of nonstop rain stirred the soil sediments on the river bed. It’s not mud, trust me.
So yes, I think it’s still safe to be dipping into the water. I did, and I have had no problems.
Shout-out to Chris, who came on this trip, saving me from being on my lonesome and not knowing anybody in the group.
According to one of the barangay officials who opened the doors of her home for us to shower in later that day, the local government unit of their barangay is promoting their waterfalls in earnest, because most local tourists only know Poblacion as a destination for mountain hiking and climbs to the 3 mountains (Mt. Lobo, Mt. Kabunian, and Mt. Tenglawan) known as Bakun Trio. Incidentally, they opened the trails to the 4th mountain, Mt. Gedgedayan, turning it into “Bakun Quad”.
…which I wish I can do, if not this year, then next year.
Personally, I think visiting Mt. Tekip after descent from any of the mountains is a good idea. If the current permits it, you can have a relaxing dip and some natural “massage” by the water for your sore and tired muscles after a long hike.
We spent more than 30 minutes there. Which surprised me, because I felt like it was too quick, haha! We did have a blast taking loads of photos and just marveling it this beautiful gift of nature, then turned to go back the way we came from, so we can proceed to the next waterfalls for the day.
This is part 1 of a 4-part series on this adventure I took part in. I’ll see you in the next one!
Some helpful links:
Quick guide on Tekip Falls by The Cordilleran Sun
How To Get To Barangay Poblacion in Bakun, Benguet by The Cordilleran Sun
Information on the municipality of Bakun in the Benguet Province Website
Leave a Reply