HIKING: Calot-Kamog-Pappa-Sabdang fet. AGSIT Waterfalls

"Hiking along the not-so traveled road  and visiting the AGSIT Waterfalls"

-pagnapagna

Please practice the leave no trace outdoor ethics when going to these nature places. Let us not vandalize, put graffiti on their rocks and stone walls. Manage and dispose our waste products properly.

I got the idea of hiking  this less traveled road from an acquaintance "Marlon Malig" who gave me a leaflet on a fun run done last November as a commemoration of the 113th Charter Day of Sablan.

Quoting from the Fun Run Leaflet:

"The Municipality of Sablan will be celebrating its 113th Founding anniversary on November 23, 2013 with the theme : "IHAD SABDANG". It is an Ibaloi word which means "GO PERSISTENTLY ONWARD SABLAN". Various programs were loined to grace the occasion and one of which is the "Run for a Cause". The activity was conceived purposely aside from having fun by joining the run, walk or jog on the route that showcased Barangay Banangan, Kamog, Pappa & Poblacion.

 DESCRIPTION OF ROUTE: The route for the activity is actually a secondary route that connects Barangay Banangan to Barangay Poblacion passing through the Kamog Provincial Road then connecting to Kamog-Pappa (Dalayap) Barangay road, Pappa-Sabdang farm to market road (otherwise known as the Pappa communal forest road) & the old Presedencia or commonly known as Sabdang Provincial road that will come out to Quirino Highway. The run will start at Peday Kamog between Saint Louis Centennial village & Sablan National High School."

I followed the route but as a twist, i had a side-hike to Agsit river for its waterfalls.

This is my second time in the area. My first visit was when i went to Aneng River.

-my pagnapagna-

I arrived at the junction along the Naguilian road (Quirino Highway) as early as few minutes before 7 in the morning. I waited for tricycles to get me to Kamog proper but there was no available tricycles that prompted me to just walk at 7:19 am.

Passed by the SLU Centennial Village, the junction to Kamog - Pappa and arrived at Kamog proper at around 8:30 am where i got to talk to Barangay Captain "Leonardo Mayomis" and discussed some of the potential tourist spots in the area. 

Unfortunately, they were going to have a Barangay meeting that day so, i have to go to Agsit river by myself.

With Barangay Captain Leonardo C. Mayomis of Kamog

Drying Coffee beans at the grounds of  Michael Angel Elementary School

After walking the downhill, one-lane cemented road (the same as the one going to Aneng river), i finally arrived at a waiting shed at the left side of the road near a residential area (8:55 am). Beside it was a cemented steps going down to the Agsit river area. Halfway along the trail, the cemented trail turned into earth foot trail. 

A view from the trail

The trail near the Agsit River

I arrived at a hanging bridge at 9:04 am where the small Agsit waterfalls can be seen from a distance. The hanging bridge leads to the other mountainside farm areas. I went down to the small river to get intimate with the waterfalls.

The Agsit Waterfalls from a distance

The hanging bridge crossing the Agsit River

It was 10:16 am when i walked back at the trail going up to the waiting shed by the roadside. I arrived at the waiting shed at 10:30 am.  

The cemented steps (at right of photo) near the waiting shed above at the roadside

After walking some few meters from the waiting shed, i met and talked to "Roy Lang-ay" who was on his way back to his house some few kilometers down the road. I told him that i came from the Agsit waterfalls. For a while, he thought i was a "Treasure Hunter" which i refuted. I introduced myself as a hiker and a sort of a tourist. I also told him that i had talked to Councilor "Busoy" (Municipal Councilor in-charge with Tourism) for photographing the potential tourist attractions in the area. Our `conversation went on and he invited me to visit sometime his house where there are some cold and hot springs in their area. At 11:01 am, we said goodbye and went on our separate ways, he went down the road while i continued my uphill walk back to Kamog proper.

With Roy Lang-ay who hails from Bising located many more kilometers down the road

The distant mountains near the Agsit river

At Kamog proper, i passed by the Michael Angel Elementary School and beside it was the Kamog Barangay Hall. I finally arrived at the junction going to Barangay Pappa a minute before noontime and went to rest at a waiting shed nearby. 

I continued my hike on a cemented one-lane road at 12:07 pm and passed by few houses along the way and into communal forest. 

The Carabao (water buffalo) with a big head and short legs

Junction, to Pappa proper at left and Bayayeng at right

along the way to Pappa proper

Kamog-Pappa Boundary marker

Forest

Arrived at the Pappa Barangay Health Station and inquired at a store nearby (1:00 pm). They told me that hot springs and other waterfalls on my list (i made a list on some of the waterfalls and other potential tourist attractions of Sablan) can be found farther on the other mountains. I decided to just come back for those waterfalls at another time and just continue to walk down the road. 

Pappa Barangay Health Station

I asked the people who were sitting around, "Adayu pay ba dyay ayan ti irrigasyon diay Sabdang?" (Is it still far to the irrigation at Sabdang?). "Ay wen a adayu pay a" (oh yes, it is still far) they answered back. "Manu nga minutos wenno oras pay ngay?" (How many minutes or hours more?) i asked them again. "Mga maysa oras nu magmagna ka, 30 minutes nu adda jogging na" (about 1 hour if you walk, 30 minutes if with a jog) they answered with a smile.

I continued my walk and passed by the Pappa MG School and Pappa Barangay Hall. 

Pappa MG School welcome arch

Pappa Barangay Hall

Few meters away, i went off-track from the concreted road to an earth road going down into the side of the mountain. The road was wide enough for a car but heavily damaged by rains with some few small landslide on the sides that only motorcycles and bikes can run through. 

It has some uphill parts but it was generally a downhill road. 

Overlooking the Sabdang area

Some wild sunflowers along the way

Near the base of the mountain, the road was unclear, one has to go to a short foot trail crossing a stream to get to a trail at the other side that eventually lead to a road going down to the bridge. 

The bridge was constructed on top of the irrigation dam connecting barangay Pappa to sitio Sabdang of Lower Poblacion. I arrived there at around 2:00 pm and rested while i changed my sweat-drenched clothes.

The newly constructed bridge over the irrigation dam, connecting barangay Pappa to Sabdang

Seen these chickens crossing a small hanging bridge while sitting near the irrigation dam

At 2:38 pm, i departed Sabdang and walked my way up the road to the Main Highway (Naguilian road/Bauang-Baguio Highway) where i waited for a bus going back to San Fernando City, La Union and back to Home Sweet Home.

-end of pagnapagna-

AGSIT Waterfalls 

Located at a gorge, it is a series of some small waterfalls of varying heights with crystal clear waters. The trail going down to the area is much easier and shorter as compared to that of the Aneng river.

For my hike to Aneng river CLICK HERE
For my hike to Sacdol Hot springs CLICK HERE
For a walk around Sablan CLICK HERE

A video clip of Agsit waterfalls

Time Duration

San Fernando City (La Union) to Calot, Barangay Banangan (big bus) - 45 minutes to 1 hour

Banangan to SLU Centennial Village (Walking) - 10 to 15 minutes

SLU Centennial Village to Junction/intersection (to Pappa and to Kamog proper) (walking) - 30 minutes ave.

Junction/intersection (to Pappa and to Kamog proper) to Drop-off point (waiting shed) to Agsit waterfalls (walking) - 40 minutes to 1 hour

Drop-off point (waiting shed) to Agsit waterfalls (trail walking) - 10 to 15 minutes

Junction/intersection (to Pappa and to Kamog proper) to Pappa Barangay Hall - 1 to 1.5 hours

Pappa Barangay Hall to Irrigation dam/bridge at Sabdang (walking) - 1 hour average

Sabdang to Main Highway (Naguilian road at Sablan Town proper) (walking) - 15 to 20 minutes

Subject  : AGSIT Waterfalls
Location : Barangay Kamog
                Municipality of Sablan
                Province of Benguet

How to get there:
From Manila you may either:  
a) go up to BAGUIO CITY, then at Baguio City ride a bus going down to any of these places: San Fernando City-La Union, Candon City, Abra or Laoag City but you have to get down at Barangay Banangan (before Sablan town proper) particularly at the intersection of Calot-Kamog- Pappa Provincial road (the road going to Sablan National High School and SLU Centennial Village). Ride a tricycle going to the nearest drop-off point to the AGSIT river then take a hike.
b) go to LA UNION. From Manila take a bus bound to any of these: La Union, Candon City, Vigan City, Abra and Laoag City. But you have to get down at Barangay Banangan (after Sablan town proper) particularly at the intersection of Calot-Kamog- Pappa Provincial road (the road going to Sablan National High School and SLU Centennial Village). Ride a tricycle going to the nearest drop-off point to the AGSIT river then take a hike.

Note:
Please visit first their Municipal Hall and try to look for the Officer in-charged with their Tourism so they can endorse you to the Barangay concerned.

Subject  : Calot-Kamog-Pappa-Sabdang hike
Location : Municipality of Sablan
                Province of Benguet

How to get there:

1) -From Manila you may either:  

• a) go up to BAGUIO CITY, then at Baguio City ride a bus going down to any of these places: San Fernando City-La Union, Candon City, Abra or Laoag City but you have to get down at Barangay Banangan (before Sablan town proper) particularly at the intersection of Calot-Kamog- Pappa Provincial road (the road going to Sablan National High School and SLU Centennial Village). 

• b) go to LA UNION. From Manila take a bus bound to any of these: La Union, Candon City, Vigan City, Abra and Laoag City. But you have to get down at Barangay Banangan (after Sablan town proper) particularly at the intersection of Calot-Kamog- Pappa Provincial road (the road going to Sablan National High School and SLU Centennial Village).

 
2) -From the main highway, hike along the intersecting road going up passing by the SLU Centennial Village. At the intersection of roads going to Barangay Kamog proper and Barangay Pappa, take the lower road going to barangay Pappa. You will reach the intersection where the sign says to Pappa and to Bayayeng. Take the left road going to Pappa until you reach the Pappa Barangay Health Station. A few meters down the road is the Pappa Barangay Hall, walk farther the concrete road and there will be a rough road going down at the left side of the main road. Take this rough road until you arrive at the concrete bridge of the irrigation dam in Sabdang.

Note:
Please visit first their Municipal Hall and try to look for the Officer in-charged with their Tourism so they can endorse you to the Barangay concerned.

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