Mapawa River Trek - The Ultimate Adventure!

After exploring White Water Rafting last April (with my colleagues) and last September (with my college friends), came my adventure finale for this year, the Mapawa River Trek. Whoaw! That was probably the most challenging nature encounter I had since the time I climbed the 10,000-ft. Mt. Kitanglad, traversed the Noslek Canopy Walk at Claveria, slid through a zipline and rappelled down the Macahambus gorge 150-ft below, and cascading the wild rapids of Cagayan de Oro River. I say “most challenging” ‘coz it was actually a combination of the thrill and excitement I had on those previous adventures I’ve been through.

Getting into the river was an adventure itself. From the nature park, we have to traverse that long, narrow and winding terrain of Sitio Mapawa with the tractor as our means of transpo. (It was like getting hitched on an off-road challenge, kay mag sige man ug untol-untol ang tractor unya sakit na kaayo among sampot sa sige ug kabunggo sa tabla nga among gilingkuran, hehehe!). After half an hour ride, we were to hike another half an hour of that muddy trail along the woods leading the way to the river trek site. But before we finally get to the river, we came across a gigantic 200-year-old Dao tree. Such an amazing figure, the group could not help but stop over and posed with the tree for a souvenir photo! Click!!

The 25 Feet Water Falls Slide

This was the first challenge we went through which also served as warm up for that adrenaline rush we were anticipating. While I was on the top of the falls, I could feel the intensity of the current as if pulling me over. When I was about to do my ultimate slide.. whew, everything seemed to happen in a flash! I could feel the water falls flushing me over to the river, and within just a few seconds, I found myself being submerged, thereafter cheering “whoooohh!” for too much excitement! It indeed turned out to be the most exhilarating slide of my life!

The Body Rappel

Have you tried exploring the rapids of the river wild with your body submerged? Got the guts to encounter the strong current with only the rope as your support? That’s how risky the body rappel is! And it’s the only way for you to reach the next water falls with which the 30-ft jump must be executed. Just tighten your grip and never let go of the rope!

The 30 Feet Jump

While I’ve already conditioned my mind not to psyche myself about the jump not until I’m actually about to do it, this time was quite different for me. Seeing the deep and terrifying water below with the strong current of water falls beside me, plus the height which was three times as high as the water rafting graduation jump… uh-oh! It was really scary! I had some apprehensions though. But I had to do it! (Besides, there’s no other way out and you’ve got no choice, hehe!). So I positioned my step forward, took a deep breath, closed my eyes, whispered to myself “Lord, this is it!”…. and jumped! Pastilan, pamati nako dugay kaayo ko ni landing sa tubig, hehe! The feeling is so elating! Roller coasters and free-fall rides cannot recreate the odd lurching of the stomach. For one thing, I’ve learned more about the essence of strength and courage – that it’s not about the absence of fear, but pursuing the challenge despite those fears. As what my buddy Anne told me “It was just like letting go of everything. Let go of your apprehensions. Let go of your doubts. Just jump!” Then I concluded her with a statement “Yes, and that’s what we call faith, Anne!”


The 65 Feet Water Falls Rappel

Aha! This was the most exciting part of the adventure! I have tried the 150-ft rappel at Macahambus before, which was actually twice as high as the water falls rappel, but the latter was the more challenging one. For me it was more than just rappelling. It was marvelling nature at its best – the lush vegetation surrounding the site, the strong current pulling you over, the enormous rock surfacing your view, the chilly sound of the water falls splashing on your body, and the cool, green river underneath. They say that a picture could paint a thousand words, so I have to share my rappelling moment photos instead.


Being the nature aficionado that I am, I really had savored every moment at Mapawa enjoying mother nature and quenching my passion for adventure. Cheers to my fellow river trekkers Arbie (who invited me over. Thanks Arbs!), Natalie, Anne, Hazel, Sheila, Ronald, Bing and Dom. We really lived our motto for the entire adventure -- “Conquer your fear!”
See complete photos at http://pepperonni.multiply.com/photos/album/49