MT. KANLA-ON : NATURALLY NEGROS

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Whenever I take the plane to and from Cebu, I always choose a seat by the window, to have a better view of the islands, clouds and the crater of Mount Kanla-on volcano. The most imposing landmark in Negros Island which is about 2,435 meters above sea level and is considered to be  the highest peak in Central Visayas.
Each of us has a bucket list of things to do in our life time and on top of my list is to experience a climb to Mount Kanla-on.
Considered to be a complex and active volcano, this is surrounded by craters and volcanic peaks. There are four trails and entry points to the summit like Guintubdan Trail at La Carlota which is only 8.5 kilometers away from the summit. Mananawin Trail at Sitio Mananawin , Brgy. Masulog Canlaon City is for the seasoned mountaineer and the adventurous, Mapot Trail at Sitio Mapot, Brgy. Malaiba, Canlaon City is another trail is considered to be a challenging one, with no source of water along the way.  This was an hour and fifty minute walk to Base 1 from the Mapot , where you can spend the night and start to trek again early morning the next day. It would take another 5 to 6 hours trek to Makawiwili Peak and another 3 hours to the eastern saddle where you have to be careful walking through the forest and grasses outside the forest line. From the eastern saddle to the crater is about 15 to 30 minutes. One should have a guide to assist you during the trek there could be loose rocks along the way and going down can be difficult. It was a 10 kilometer trek for Myla Mae Abellana, Provincial Tourism Officer of Negros Oriental together with a team from Negros Oriental who climbed to the peak of the volcano, she said ‘It was very tiring but when you reach the crater, it’s all worth it. The view is very wonderful; you can see Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental from the summit at Margaha Valley. The feeling is refreshing and you really feel the presence of the Lord, for creating such marvellous sight.’ The 4th one is  Wasay Trail  at Sitio Wasay , Brgy. Minoyan , Murcia, another jump off point.  Balikbayans Jake and Melanie Atonson with 12 year old son Nico together with friends from Luzon Jill and Ana Dela Pena and 12 year old son Jacob ‘Coby’ spent three days trekking to the peak and a day going down last week, it was the seventh climb for Jake as one of the members of the Negros Mountaineering Club, he noticed changes in the trail. There are times that the trail can be changed due to trampling, to allow vegetation and plants to grow.
 
Ian de Ramos, head of the Special Programs and Concerns Division, Office of the Provincial Administrator fondly remembers his climb half way to Mount Kanlaon where Hardin sang Balo is a lake covered with thick carpet of  moss which houses beautiful bonsai trees and orchids.
For your Mt. Kanla-on trek, it is best to prepare physically by doing quad exercises for the knee. One should bring a sleeping bag or fleece blanket and jacket, wind breaker, rain jacket, gloves, arm warmer, rush guard, a cane, leggings for trekking, lightweight pants, trail food, trail water plastic bottle, pocho raincoat, head lamp, flash light, spoon and fork, lunch box and a tin cup, energy food and 1 liter of water a day/person plus medicine for pain and loperamide
Mount Kanla-on Natural Park covers a 24,557.6 hectares land area with rain forest, waterfalls, and home to a number of endemic species of birds and bats and  flora and fauna.  The months of January, February, June to September is considered the low season where only one group is allowed per trail per month, the best  time to trek with family , friends  for a group of ten are the months of March, April, May , October, November and December , where a group of ten will be allowed to trek per trail per day.
Issuance of permits and assistance of mountain guides can be arranged through Angelo C. Bibar, Ecotourism & PAMB Operation Officer of the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, Negros Island .
Plan out your climb and experience Mount Kanla-on naturally!

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