Walking in Baguio: Mines View to Session Road

"This is suicide," I said to myself as I stepped out of my building on Sunday.

The area where I live--Mines View Park--is usually crowded on weekends, but that weekend was exceptional because it was THE Panagbenga weekend. The annual Baguio Flower Festival brings in thousands of visitors from all over country, Manila mostly, and it's expected that the traffic would be more terrible than usual.

Right after the Grand Float Parade in the morning, Session Road would be closed to vehicular traffic to make way for the stalls for Shawarma Session Road in Bloom.

I've already resigned myself to walking to town and making a photowalk project out of it. So here we are.

Since my work schedule extends to the wee hours of the morning, I woke up on Sunday a couple of hours before noon. After fortifying myself with a breakfast of oats, I set out with one of my film cameras (the plan was to use up the entire roll), turned on my MapMyWalk tracker, and strolled at a leisurely pace to town.

The walk included photo-taking, stall-perusing, and checking out the goings-on around Session Road.
View the details of my walk here!

What wasn't surprising was the number of people going to Mines View and Good Shepherd. The stalls were lined up all the way past the Veteran Pine. What did surprise me was that past the area of Sierra Pines, there was hardly any traffic going all the way to town.

I made a shortcut when I got to Wright Park. Instead of going down the road past the Mansion House, I turned right toward the pool and the steps going down to the riding stable. On my way there I tried this:

The code led me to this page:

I wonder how many people actually take the time and effort to check these things out. 

Baguio City was the venue of the 8th National Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

Here's something I learned recently. One of the 24 Philippine scouts who died in a plane crash on their way to the 11th Boy Scouts World Jamboree in Greece in 1963, whom many folks in Manila would probably recognize as a street name, Sct. De Guia, is from Baguio. Victor De Guia Jr. was a son to the late Virginia Oteyza-De Guia (Baguio's first woman councilor, vice mayor, and acting mayor) and brother to Eric De Guia, aka Kidlat Tahimik.

In 2016, Mayor Mauricio Domogan declared Oct. 1 to be the Scout Victor O. De Guia Jr. Day. The Philippines also celebrates National Scouting Month every October.

I hurried past the riding stable and the pony boys shouting "Horseback madam!" and went toward Leonard Wood. Didn't stop for photos until I saw:

A few more meters and I'd be in Session Road. I didn't know what to expect. I assumed the Grand Float Parade was already finished by then, so they're probably setting up the stalls.

Yup, they were. The usual Baguio weather: cloudy and foggy at times, then the sun would unhide itself and make you curse for wearing a fluffy jacket. Then things would get chilly again. I love it.

I couldn't resist wearing the mask Jollibee (Session corner Assumption) was handing out. Of course I had to take a selfie with the kids and the mom with the (very bold) statement tee.

[I didn't get to finish the roll in my camera on Sunday. I went out on Monday again instead. After my camera rewound the film I headed over to Fuji to have the film processed and scanned, and I got a pleasant surprise. I wrote all about it in my film blog celluloid shots.]

Walking from Mines View to town was nothing new for me, but what made it such an accomplishment this time around was that I did it in the afternoon when it was hotter, and that I really plunged myself into the Panagbenga crowd. Will I do it again? Probably. Next time though, I'm eating ice cream.

A Very Wet Dry Run with the Sandugo Eiger

The testing ground for my Sandugo Eiger shoes.

This post is full of photos of my shoe-clad feet, so if you don't mind that, read on.

I've planned on getting shoes I could use for trail running (I'm a beginner, please don't hurt me), shoes that aren't as heavy/bulky as the Merrell Azuras I've been using. The Azura is a waterproof shoe designed for hiking and not really for running up and down trails, and I wanted to try something more lightweight.

(I've worn my Azuras during a rainy day out and I assure you, the shoes really are waterproof. My jeans were wet up to my knees but my feet stayed dry!)

I've heard good things about Sandugo's line of trail shoes, so when a weekend rainy day sale came up, I decided to check it out. I had two models in mind: the Mudtrax and the Ourea. I didn't get either. Because of a really good salesman, I got this one instead:

(Image from the Sandugo Facebook page.)
It's a top pick for rainy days because it dries quickly.
I got the black and gray version on sale at 10 percent off.

The Sandugo Eiger.

Its main selling point is that it's a water shoe, perfect for hikes where you need to cross a river. 

It's not exactly what I had in mind to buy.

I really wasn't sure about it at first, because I didn't consider river crossings at all: it must be the rainy weather, because all I could think about was 'muddy trail, muddy trail, muddy trail.' 

Based on reviews and comments I've read, the Mudtrax is best for muddy conditions, while the newer, more flexible Ourea is recommended for hiking or running on all kinds of terrain. 

And so I was kind of worried I got the wrong shoe: where are the lugs that would help me stay off my butt on slippery trails? (I'm really prone to slipping--just ask any of my USTMC batchmates and friends who've helped me up at one time or another.)

But ok, I know the ground won't always be wet and muddy, and I'm certain I'll have to cross streams and rivers in the future, so why not. I have experienced crossing small bodies of water during a hike before and I still remember the squishy, heavy feeling of having water in my shoes, no matter how hard I squeezed it out. 

I've also experienced hiking on a really sunny day. It felt glorious to take off my Azuras and socks after that and walk barefoot on the cool floor. 

The Sandugo Eiger's design, with the mesh uppers and outsole drainage system, is assurance that 1) water won't stay in the shoe, keeping it light; 2) the shoes and socks will dry fast; and 3) your feet will be able to breathe, keeping them from being all sweaty and smelly. Plus, the shoes were really light.

But the niggling feeling of having a traction-limited shoe persisted. Could I only use my shoes during dry season hikes with river crossings?

To find out, I took my shoes for a test run / proper break-in yesterday.

You can see through the mesh of the shoe's uppers...

and the outsole too (I took the midsoles out)

The outsoles and the midsoles--yep, no water's gonna stay in there!

I'm calling it a wet dry run because I am seriously planning on using these for getting started on trail running (hopefully someday soon) and it was rainy during my practice "run." I didn't really run--I only jogwalked on the road, but I did test the shoes out on wet soil.

On wet pavement, the shoes had good enough traction, but not enough heel support I think (for me, at least). As for the wet soil, I brought the shoes on a small slope in Camp John Hay. You can see it in the photo at the top of this post. It was just beside the road, so should any accident befall me, it would be easy enough to get help (being alone, so you can never be too careful).

The rain gave my chosen testing ground enough wet grass and pine needles, slippery rocks and roots, mud, and water to soak my shoes in.

Simulating a stream crossing

Rushing water and pine needles

The Sandugo Eiger had good traction on wet, gravelly soil, but not on the smoother, mossy surfaces. Climbing the slight incline was made easier by the natural "steps" made by tree roots and rocks.

The mud washes right off

Cold! Thoroughly soaking the shoes now

Stepping on rocks with water rushing down

When stepping on slippery rocks, it's really best to get a firm foothold first so you don't slip.

The mesh uppers also serve as a sieve, so tiny rocks and bits of twigs don't get in the shoes

The shoes dried more quickly than the socks

I have yet to test the Sandugo Eiger out during a trail run (Yellow Trail or Eco Trail) and a long trek (Mt. Ulap again?), but so far it feels good--I just need to be really careful on slick surfaces such as mossy banks, slippery soil, and this kind of floor:

Well, one should be careful on most floors when your shoes are wet, anyway.

I walked 4 more kilometers after the test. It was just a little bit uncomfortable because I'm not used to walking that far with wet socks on, but shoe-wise, I have no complaints. The socks would probably have dried after all the walking if not for the incessant rain, but that's wet-season Baguio for you. 

(Note to self: probably best to remove socks--or wear quick-dry ones--during river crossings in the future.)

Addendum (Sept. 3):

I was able to test the shoes on a "real" trail, albeit a short one. Because it rained yesterday afternoon, the grassy hill at Wright Park was wet, with some of the footpaths soft and muddy. The park gave me the perfect conditions to see how the Sandugo Eiger would fare. Unfortunately I wasn't able to take photos because I intentionally left my phone at home so I could concentrate on training (without worrying about losing my phone or breaking it, or both).

The Sandugo Eiger performed as advertised--meaning it really does well on dry trails, even those lined with rocks, and when you have to go from trail to river and back again. It also means no, it's not the best shoes to wear when you're tackling slick surfaces (like sticky wet reddish soil or clay). It does well enough on soft ground of course, and on pine needle-covered trails, but because the treads are not that aggressive, there is a bigger chance of slipping on an incline.

Not much of a problem on relatively flat muddy ground, but of course do expect mud to cling on to the shoe. (It's all part of the experience!) You can "go around" the muddy part, but only if where you're walking/jogging/running is also part of the established trail. It's wrong to "widen" the trail and trample the ground/make a bigger impact on the environment. ;)

On that note, I had to be careful with the mud under my feet. I'm still not that confident about running on squishy ground, so I took it slow in the areas where there was about an inch or two of soft soil, and the areas that had slick clay and moss. 

But while the mud didn't exactly suck my shoes in, my shoes were the ones that took in a bit of mud, through the outsoles where the drain ports are. I was able to get the most of it out by stomping my feet once I got back on the paved road, but some of it really stuck:

All this needs is a river!

Good thing these shoes are really easy to clean--I think some running water and an old toothbrush will do to get the mud (and possibly small rocks) out. You can also hose it down--even if water gets inside the shoe (again, through the drain ports and/or the mesh uppers), it gets dry really fast, so you won't have to worry about wearing wet shoes the following day.

The Sandugo Eiger may not have the extra grip needed for muddy conditions, but I can see how great it will do on river crossings and hot, dry trails. I'm glad to have it.

Walking in Baguio: Mines View Park to Teachers' Camp and Back Again

A footpath at Wright Park

It sure feels good to be back in Baguio and walk along its roads and parks. There's really something refreshing about this city, especially if you need a break from the skyscrapers, crowded streets, and bumper-to-bumper traffic of Manila.

For this morning's walk, I started at the little rotunda at the other end of F. Torres Street near Mines View Park. Down Moran to Arellano Street and downhill again to J. Felipe via Baltazar Street. This brought me to Romulo Drive.

No overlaps! View the MapMyWalk details here.

Baltazar Street. The brick/brown building is the Philippine Treasures factory.

When I got to Wright Park across the Mansion, I took one of the footpaths that cuts across the grassy area. Wright Park is popular for its horses, and I suppose few know that there's this nice tree-filled park on the hill.


It's a really nice place, but it's disappointing to see pieces of trash here and there. I mean, why couldn't people hold on to their trash for a few more meters and dispose of it once they see a garbage bin? It's such a simple thing!

Anyway, once you emerge from the path, you'll find yourself wanting to join these ladies at their taebo session. Perhaps I will, one of these days.



I took the stairs down to the horseback riding area and saw one of the city's famed St. Bernard dogs waiting for fans to arrive and take a photo with him (her?).


Top three tourist places where you can buy potted plants in the city: the Orchidarium, Mines View Park, and Wright Park.

After Wright Park I continued along Romulo Drive toward Pacdal Circle and to Leonard Wood Road, and went in to Teachers' Camp, my turning point. I jogged whenever I could -- it was a downhill journey, anyway.


The track oval at Teachers Camp. I was able to try it out one summer morning several years ago and remembered how nice it felt then.

At Teachers' Camp Road going up to South Drive, I started to gain some elevation back, so I picked up my pace to make the most of the cardio workout. Yup, it's time to go back uphill! I jog-walked South Drive going to the corner of Ilusorio/Baguio Country Club Road and made my way to Outlook Drive (which seems to be unofficially the "practice driving road" in the city).

Mt. Sto. Tomas + Mt. Cabuyao (with the two radiotransmitters/ "ra-dar" in these here parts) viewed from Outlook Drive. The forested area is Camp John Hay.

I continued going up Outlook Drive. I stopped for a bit at Kiwi's Bread and Pastry Shop, but they didn't have pan de sal yet, so I just went ahead to Mines View Park, where I stopped my tracker and got a bit of rest before heading home.


Weather: bright and sunny. A cap is a must-have.
Note to self: if you're wanting to walk 6K (or more), Laurie, better start early!

Walking in Baguio: South Drive to SM

I've long wanted to take a stroll along South Drive--not too many vehicles pass along that road (during off-peak season, that is) and there aren't that many establishments, either.

I actually started my walk at around 9:48 a.m. from Mines View Park going down Outlook Drive but I forgot to turn on my tracking app (I use MapMyWalk). I waited until I was in front of The Mansion to start tracking.

Route: Mines View Park - Outlook Drive - Romulo Drive - Pacdal Circle - Park Road - right to South Drive - Upper Session Road - SM Baguio

Going to SM via jeepney from my starting point usually takes around 20 minutes (with traffic) via Leonard Wood Road. Fare is Php 10. Via taxi, fare is usually around Php 75.

Weather: Overcast, with the sun peeking at times.

Wright Park/The Mansion to SM via South Drive
Click to see the details of my walk!

Since I started out kinda late, I didn't think I would still see joggers, but there they were running uphill (you guys rock!). Strolling along South Drive was really nice, and generally safe in daytime except for the few spots--just a couple of meters--where there was no sidewalk to speak of. 

I initially planned to head over to the Baguio Museum for a look-see. I confess I haven't been there at all (perhaps when I was younger? Will have to ask my parents, haha). Shame I've been living in Baguio a year but yeah, there are still plenty of places I haven't visited.

Aside from an umbrella, I brought along a light jacket (just in case, because when you're in Baguio in July the weather can change dramatically over the course of an hour), my on-the-go sketching kit (for drawing museum stuff and whatnot), and a few other essentials (money, wet wipes). I didn't bring water because I didn't think I'd be thirsty and I was going to town anyway.

South Drive, near the Lutheran Theological Seminary

When I got to Upper Session Road, I started to feel hungry. I had a light breakfast of oats, but I guess it all got burned up pretty quickly. I checked my watch--almost 11. Hmm. How about having lunch first before heading to the museum? So I stopped my tracker and headed to the mall. :P

So I had lunch (Japanese), bought a magazine from Booksale (Monocle), checked out some Sandugo trail shoes (I'm eyeing the Mudtrax), paid my rent, bought the week's Baguio Chronicle, and walked along Session Road to the jeepney terminal for a ride home.

I saved the museum trip for another day. Heading there on foot will be another reason to walk along South Drive, anyway.