Memories on the Trail: Of Reunions and Farewells

Hello, outdoor lovers!

Years ago, when I first started hiking, I had the opportunity to join a group of like-minded people who shared a passion for the thrill of the outdoors. We spent several years exploring hiking trails almost every weekend. It was a fantastic experience while it lasted. However, like many other groups, ours didn't stand the test of time. Due to personal conflicts within the group, it eventually disbanded. Fortunately, we remained on good terms, although we no longer hiked together. Some continued their hiking adventures with different groups, including myself, while others decided to quit hiking altogether.

A few years later, one of our friends organized a Hike for a Cause, which was promoted on Facebook, allowing anyone interested to join. I decided to participate, regardless of not knowing who else would be joining. I was simply eager to hike that weekend.

I woke up bright and early because the meeting point was quite a distance from where I'm living. The rendezvous was set at Naga Boardwalk in the City of Naga, Southern Cebu, which was 25 kilometers away, taking about an hour to reach, depending on traffic.

Upon arriving at the meeting place, I was pleasantly surprised to see Donna, an original member of our disbanded group, Team Bang, just like me. She had stopped hiking after the group disbanded but chose to join again this time. To my delight, Lourd, Lieve, and even Idol Reymund were there too.

I felt relieved that I wasn't alone among strangers that day. Later, I also spotted An Jurvel and Shandy, whom I had first met during my major climb on Mt. Aminduen in Ormoc, Leyte.

We made sure to capture the moment with a group photo to mark this mini reunion, a memory to cherish.

As we proceeded to the actual jump-off point, we walked from the Boardwalk for a few meters toward a street that led to the NGCP's Transmission Tower. Before ascending the trail, the organizer shared some words of advice and gave a brief overview of what to expect on the trail. We also took a moment to say our prayers before embarking on our journey.

The initial part of the trail involved a gradual ascent toward the tower, eventually leading to a cemented road above.

We arrived at the cemented road along Naalad, Naga, and came across a beautiful golden-brown grass field with an overlooking view of the City of Naga. It was aesthetically pleasing, and we thought it was the perfect spot for photos.

And, of course, posing here and there, everywhere. Haha Those were the days when I still enjoyed taking pictures.

Our next destination was Magdook Peak in Brgy. Magdook, Naga. To reach there, we followed the road. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to take a picture there as we passed the mountain on our way to the next peak.

After walking for a few hours, we reached Pangilatan Peak in Brgy. Inayagan, Naga. This peak offered a panoramic view of Naga City and the neighboring towns, although there were no trees to provide shade. Despite the scorching weather, we enjoyed the view from up there.

We couldn't resist taking our signature Team Bang pose—the Dab Pose. It had become a tradition for us, though it had become somewhat cringeworthy over time. We just laughed it off, reminiscing about the good old days. And of course, we had to strike our classic lookup pose. Those were the days!

Satisfied with our selfies and group photos at Pangilatan Peak, we decided to take a detour before descending. Near Pangilatan Peak, we found a picturesque hill and decided to explore it. There were houses at the foot of the mountain, so we asked for permission to enter. Fortunately, we managed to pass the barking dogs and were rewarded with a breathtaking view.

At the top, we were greeted by a carpet-like Bermuda grass. The view was picturesque, with rolling hills on one side and the sea on the other. The grassy area seemed perfect for camping. As we arrived, the weather started to turn gloomy, but thankfully, it didn't rain.

We descended and followed the cemented road back down. Sadly, this turned out to be Donna's last hike with us as she moved to another place. Little did we know that it would be our final hike together. But I suppose that's life—people come and go. People move on for personal growth. What's important is that we cherish the memories and continue to support one another, no matter where life takes us.