By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Book
Day Hikes and Nature Walks from Manila
By Gideon Lasco
“YOU NEED not go far to find beautiful places; many of them are within range of Metro Manila.” Thus said outdoor enthusiast and author Gideon Lasco in the foreword of his recently launched book Day Hikes and Nature Walks from Manila.
A “nifty little book” of 169 pages, Day Hikes is published by the Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition (C.O.R.E) and was made to be a guidebook for beginners and enthusiasts who want to explore the outdoors near the metro but who do not know where to start.
“Hiking is already established all over the world. There is so much information available about it out there. In the Philippines, I put up a blog, ‘Pinoy Mountaineer,’ to really educate and inform people on how to hike in the country, what are the destinations and how to get there. But I felt we needed to put it in book form to put the Philippines on the hiking map and widen the people’s knowledge beyond the usual mountains. We have a lot of mountains here and I like to promote them as well through the book,” said Mr. Lasco in an interview during the book’s launch which was done in partnership with American outdoor gear brand Osprey Packs and Recreational Outdoor Exchange (ROX).
Knowing firsthand how intimidating hiking can be to some people, Mr. Lasco, who is also a physician and medical anthropologist, said he made sure to present it in a manner that will not discourage people from doing it.
“Of course, people are intimidated by hiking because they feel it’s tough to do. But I think day hikes are less daunting as it can be done on short notice during weekends or even weekdays. It is a good way to introduce one to the outdoors,” said the author whose Pinoy Mountaineer blog (www.pinoymountaineer.com) is followed by many outdoor enthusiasts.
MAPPING
Among the key parts of the book are maps, a key consideration, Mr. Lasco said, as he went about making it.
“A lot of foreigners go here and they do not know where to hike and they are looking for maps. So in this book we really mapped the destinations,” he said.
“Mapping took a while. I worked with my hiking buddy, Koi Grey, to map the destinations. I told myself, since I’m doing a book, I might as well level up beyond those found on the Internet. I wanted the book to be different,” he added.
To further assist hikers, the book is divided into chapters focusing on features of the mountains, be it geological wonders, tropical rainforests, open trails and woodlands, waterforms, seascapes, or historical trails.
The author said this was done to help readers decide which ones suit them.
In the chapters about the destinations, which feature over 20 areas, both unheard-of and world-famous, Mr. Lasco shares tips like arranging for the trip, how to get there, itinerary, and things to do while in the area.
Under “geological wonders,” featured are Mt. Pinatubo, Taal Volcano, Tarak Ridge, and Mt. Maculot while in the chapter on tropical rainforests are Mt. Arayat, Mt. Makiling, Mt. Cristobal, and Pico de Loro.
In the chapter on open trails and woodlands are Mt. Batulao, Mt. Talamitam, Mt. Sembrano, and Manabu Peak. Those looking for water features can check out the corresponding chapter which includes The Seven Lakes of San Pablo, Batlag and Daranak Falls, the Waterfalls of Mt. Romela, and Buntot Palas Falls.
Under “seascapes” are Mt. Pundaquit and Anawangin Cove, Gulugod Baboy and Anilao, and Mt. Daguldol and Laiya Beach, while “historical trails” features Mt. Samat and Dunsulan Falls, Mt. Manalmon and Biak-na-Bato Park, and Mt. Buntis and Nagpatong.
CHECK OUT THE OUTDOORS
Mr. Lasco said that Day Hikes is just the first of four books he intends to put out — the others will be about hiking destinations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao — all in the hopes of encouraging people to check out the outdoors and enjoy nature.
“I hope people get inspired to go out because of the book. There are a lot of things that can be done in a day. We don’t have to be caught up in a sedentary lifestyle. I want to urge people to go out and enjoy nature and we need not go far away to do it,” he said.
Day Hikes and Nature Walks from Manila is available initially at ROX branches in Taguig (Bonifacio Global City), Pampanga, and Cebu for P390. For bulk orders and other information, contact info@pinoymountaineer.com.
