Sanchez Peak General Santos City

As part of "FREELANCER FOR LIFE" training before another major climb this May 2011 at Bukidnon Province, I had organized a day hike at Amsikong Falls at Barangay Conel, General Santos City to warm up the muscles and to invite more people to witness the beauty of Gensan in terms of backpacking.  But sadly two days before the event, there were continuous heavy rain at K'laja which became the reason why Kagawad Maskardo will not allow any visitors to climb the falls, for everybody's safety.  Here's a sample photo of the Amsikong Falls during heavy rains.

So from the original destination Amsikong Falls, I opted to choose Sanchez Peak + Zipline at Fifth Mountain of Balakayo at Purok Balakayo, Barangay Olympog., General Santos City.

The Experience 

Around 6:00am in the morning I left the house and went to shell, national highway to pick up Erma Windelyn Lagustan one of the participants for the said event.  Then I refuel my motorcycle full-tank to ensure that I will never run out of gasoline during the motor trail.  Afterwards we dropped by at Jeffrey Pontejo Playada house, and then bought our packed lunch within the area.  Next to it, I texted Harhiane Hechanova, that we were already on our way to subway bakeshop to fetch her.  Then when Harhiane arrived, a short introduction of each one of us, then Hibalag and Harhiane left to Lagao Minute Burger, to check if there were possible participants willing to join while on the other hand General Arze and Erma picked up Mary Grace Apaitan at her boarding house.

From Lagao Minute Burger, we drove towards Purok Balakayo passing through Barangay Conel. It took us  more than 30 minutes to travel because of the different terrains of the Olympog, which were mostly muddy and rocky terrain with a combination of downhill and uphill.  It was even my first time to bring my motorcycle to Purok Balakayo with 2 passengers, if I'm not mistaken; I think my passengers went down twice because I could not take it anymore to drive uphill because of the big rocks that blocked our trail.

As soon as we had arrived Purok Balakayo, we went to the house of Purok Chairman - Rogelio Paglinawan to ask permission to explore the area and to park our motorcycle at the basketball court.  From the basketball court, instead of choosing the usual route, I decided to try other route [no idea where it would lead us], which was on the right side and there was even a monkey tied on the tree who welcome us.  This trail was more enjoyable because it's under the protective cover of the Mother Nature; we then passed by the area of Manny Pacquiao and Fiscal Jamora.   The trustee of Fiscal Jamora, even mentioned to us that there were plans to put up a zipline and hanging bridge within the area.  After we had a short rest, I asked them if there's a possible route from there area towards the other side of the hill.  They then mentioned that there are two routes, one was longer trek but have an established route while the other one was shorter but it has steep descent.  What else to better enjoy the trail and be challenge, I choose the short trail for our 3 angels.  As a trail guide of the group, I went ahead of them looking for a safe route and then moments later I find myself alone, because they were already having merienda at one of the rest area of the locals their who plants corn.  So I went down looking to them to have a merienda too and what else was a better way to recover the lost energy, the answer is NIPS NIPS.

For the first part of the trail, the 3 girls shared their experience.  One of them throw her bag down the trail so that she could grabbed more twigs and grasses that could helped her more during steep descent.  While others have received their early reward of having bruises and found their selves sliding down the mud.

Minutes later, we had fully recovered a portion of our strength and so we ascent the hills and found ourselves in front of the gate of Salangsang fighting cock farm; which only means that it was the start of the open trail.  Mr. James Betonio - owner of the Fifth Mountain of Balakayo Adventure Park had passed by also our group as he was very busing transporting his new collection of bonsai.

It was almost 9:30am when we arrived at the zipline and same as usual Mr. James was very accommodating and he even offered us the new sets of equipments for our group to be used during our ride.  He even showed me his newly bought equipments, which he was planning to, used one of these days to rappel down within the park's wall.  We had also seen a bird on the cage that eats raw fish.  I don't have any idea what specie of bird it was.  We had our merienda and some short photo sessions within the park, then moments later we haven't recognize that it was already lunch time as we were very busy enjoying the place and so we partake our packed meals.  By 1:00pm we started again to ascent the hills for the 3 ladies to experience the zipline of Fifth Mountain.  Harhiane and Erma enjoyed the sitting position while Mary Grace tried the superman position; she even had difficulty on her first ride in controlling the flow of air to have a straight view and landing.

By 2:00pm in the afternoon we said our goodbye to the park owner and crew as we were bracing ourselves again for the descent towards the falls, which could be found on the lush forest just below the zipline area.  The falls was not that big compared to Amsikong Falls, but I think the water here was more crystal clear than Amsikong.  The water flow was not that strong because the Fifth Mountain and some breeders depends their water source from the falls and thus you could see a black hose running throughout the falls.  The trail was more fun and challenging compared to trekking open trail.  Nonetheless the falls has an enticing dropped making the trail also rewarding.  As a guide of the group I tried to check the area if there could be a possible route that will lead us directly to the usual trail of the Sanchez Peak, but after more than 45 minutes trekking, I can't find a way out and so we went back trail.  But if we have longer time, most likely I would continue exploring the area.

Getting There: You may rent a single motor at Lagao Minute Burger or at P.Acharon Boulevard, near shell gasoline station.  During travel period, just follow the Conel road and check for the Fifth Mountain of Balakayo signboard located for every fork that you may encounter.  You can check also my BIKE MAP on facebook.

Contacts:   Please see the details below.

Expenses: Guide/Porter - We did not get our own guide, but if you'll get one, at least pay them in full of their service.  Let's say 300-500php per day. Entrance Fee/Permit -  No Entrance Fee as of this moment. Single Motor @150php per motor.

Network Signals:

Where to Stay: Lautengco Little Baguio Fifth Mountain of Balakayo Fiscal Jamora Farm Sanchez Peak

Other Places of Interest: Lautengco Little Baguio Fifth Mountain of Balakayo Fiscal Jamora Farm Sanchez Peak Amsikong Falls Bunga Spring Malakong Wall Twin Cave Japanese Hospital   

Special Thanks Thanks to ate Inday the caretaker of the Fiscal Jamora Farm for showing us the way back to the original trail.  James Betonio and it's crew for the accommodation.  Dan2 and Joy of the Sanchez Peak, for allowing us to visit their place and have a peek of the sunset and city lights of General Santos City and it's nearby cities and municipalities.  Lastly to Purok Chairman Paglinawan, for the warmth welcome, vital information he had shared and ensuring our motorcycles safety.