Wild Tips

By: Mambubukid

Trekking into the wilderness requires a number of techniques. For a new a new wilderness ethic. personal safety should be assured by mental and emotional preparedness( which include presence of mind and lots of common sense) plus the physical conditioning, if only not to become a liability to your group.

Know your route and area. Respect local customs. follow the basic principles of back packing, rivercroosing and rock climbing, know the basic first-aid, navigation and minimum-impact-camping.

Trek gently into comfortable and safe footwear to minimize adverse impact to fragile terrain. Try to remain on the trail to minimize widening, destruction of vegetation and erosion. used established campsite at least 100 ft away from the natural water source to avoid contamination. Cary down all trash and pick-up litter along the way to be disposed off properly

Used catholes/established latrines. water sources should be protected at all cost from contamination. Brushing teeth, washing with soap should be done at least 100ft away from water.

Avoid campfires, lessens probability of Forrest fires, wont damage Forrest floor and is decidedly more convenient.campfire-less evenings could reveal interesting sights and sounds usually concealed by fire's glow. Avoid smoking on the trail. This should minimize the treat of Forrest fires better yet avoid it altogether-good lungs should be the reason enough.

Drink spirits moderately, be considerate of other campers. Keep your expedition group small-medium size to lessen site impact. give nature back its due by helping protect it, becoming involved, joining environmental and outdoor organization and sharing these minimum impact techniques with your friends and associates.

The Corn Pops

Corn Pops
by: Esther Tanate

Other people say that Popcorn is one of the most prehistoric forms of corn. It was discovered in the New Mexico Caves more than 5,000 years ago. Popcorn varieties are flint corns, which have a solid shell that protects the starchy, slightly moist embryo inside. When the kernel (or the seed) is heated beyond 400 degrees, the moisture inside expands, causing an explosion that pops it.

As i researched about Popcorn, it happens that my friend posted a wall photo in his facebook account. I opened the image and it was a corn... or maybe a popcorn. Inilalarawan lamang na epekto eto ng global warming kung bakit naluto ang mais (corn) habang nasa sakahan pa lamang. The hot temperature nowadays has the ability to cook popcorn in the corn farm???

It is indeed that the earth is really getting hotter. Although local temperatures fluctuate naturally, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. And experts think the trend is accelerating: the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Scientist say that unless we curb global warming emmisons, average U.S. temperature could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century.

Funny Sign Board at Vilches Beach Resort

The resort is located in Brgy. Lebas, Buenavista in the province of Guimaras.
While strolling in the beach, I saw this signboard. Hehe

More Pictures >>

Mt. Manaphag (Pan de Azucar)

by: Singarong Backpackers

Mount Manaphag is situated in Pan de Azucar (also the other name for the peak), an island which could be reached by a pumpboat in 45 minutes from Concepcion town in Iloilo province. With white-sand beaches, spectacular crags and verdant hills, Pan de Azucar Is. belongs to a string of small scenic islands dotting the northeastern coast of Iloilo.

With an estimated elevation of 2,900 ft. ASL, Mt. Manaphag is a relatively low peak. However, it possesses two remarkable features - its spectacular crags and very steep incline. Perhaps the steepest peak in the country, Mt. Manaphag flaunts of slopes ranging from 60 to 90 degrees.

According to legend, a giant named Toya used to inhabit the summit of Manaphag. Toya takes a bath in a lagoon on the summit, using for a scoop the shell of a gigantic manlot or clam. As modern man seeks ways to to distinguish the facts and fictions in a myth, testimonies abound, either negating or upholding, some elements in the Manaphag legend. Based on the observations of many climbers who had reached the summit, the peak of Manaphag is very narrow to be able to sustain a lagoon of a size. However, some sources adamantly maintain the belief for the existence of the lagoon, found in a sizable tract of flat ground slightly below the summit in the northwestern side. As to the presence of a giant manlot, one version has it that the manlot is merely a rock with the rough semblance of the real thing. A contrasting view holds it however to be a real oyster; allegedly, it was taken out for its pearl aboard a helicopter a couple of decades ago.

Another thorny issue about Manaphag is the standing claim that it is an extinct volcano. A steep cone resembling the hard core of a long eroded volcano, it naturally perpetuates the notion of the common folks who consider it as a kulob nga bulkan or inverted volcano - whatever that means. At any rate, the dominant rock of Manaphag is dalepe or sedimentary rock - not igneous or volcanic. Whatever is true, only the experts could tell with authority.

The Motherpacker

by: Amy Hunter

A motherpacker is someone who is able to pack lightly,
sufficiently, and effectively. Hindi po sya masamang tao hahaha!

With zero-impact backpacking, the hiker’s goal is to carry everything out of the wilderness that was brought in and to disrupt nature as little as possible. Under the umbrella of these principles, the zero-impact hiker:

removes extra packaging from gear to reduce the material brought into the wild. For example, floss is removed from its plastic carrying case and rolled into a ball. Duct tape is wrapped around a tool or walking stick handles.
avoids making fires, since fire changes the composition of the soil. That means carrying a lightweight stove into the wilderness and leaving the weighty axe or saw behind.
wears shoes that have less impact on the trail. The zero-impact backpacker will wear light-weight trail shoes rather than heavy boots, which greatly reduces the wear on the trail, especially in wet weather when the terrain is muddy
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Note: Don't bother the Kid...hehe :p