FOR OUR extreme trail ride on March 26 we planned to check out Wawa Dam.
Wawa Dam is nestled in between two peaks in the mountains of Rizal. From a distance it is quite difficult to visualize a dam at the foot of two imposing peaks. But indeed, right there is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.
Most people going to Wawa Dam would take the regular road that would end near the front – and bottom – of the dam. That road is accessible to regular vehicles, even cars. Of course we were not interested in taking that route.
The road less travelled
We took the less traveled route, some obscure foot trails along and criss-crossing the river that eventually ends at – and feeds into – Wawa Dam. Forgive the sexual allusion but we took Wawa Dam from behind so to speak. Not too many people can make that claim, I was told.
Our trail started at the gravel-topped road that descends into a place called Casili. From Casili we traced the river that leads to Wawa Dam. For at least half a dozen times we crossed that river with our dirt bikes, providing us with some of our best thrills for the day.
When we reached the top of Wawa Dam we took a narrow and complex trail of rock ledges carved out from the side of the mountain including a long tunnel that is meant for foot traffic only (emphasis on “only”). There were also a couple of makeshift steel bridges and a couple of 6- to 8-step stairs to negotiate.
We emerged on the other side of the tunnel to a stupendous view of Wawa Dam’s spillway.
~o0o~
Next Leg: Susong Dalaga
WE planned to have our lunch in Wawa Dam but it was just 10:30am. Sure we already had enough thrills for the day in our ride to Wawa Dam but what were we supposed to do at 10:30 in the morning?
And that’s how we ended up taking another equally, if not more, treacherous trail known to extreme trail riders as the Susong Dalaga (literraly: maiden’s breasts) trail. I’m sure you can figure out for yourself how the place got its name. Extreme trail riders have their many different versions to it but this is neither the place nor the time to talk about that.
I have lots of stories to share about this leg of our ride but it was too exhausting that even just recalling the details is already wearing me off. Suffice it to say that we – and our bikes – got a lot of beating in Susong Dalaga. That’s the price to pay for being too cocky on the trails. In hindsight perhaps we should have stayed and taken our lunch in Wawa Dam. But hey, where’s the fun in that?
Here’s a slideshow of all our photos that day.
my family just came from there yesterday..We stay there for a week since monday till black saturday..We rent a house there for 6 days..WE rent a floating house and Balsa also..I up to the mountain and See the tree house..Wow it is very nice..Not everybody know about the tree house..Only people who lives in Sabangan part in wawa river also..This is my 2nd trip to montalban,Rizal… and we really had a nice time. very nice view and fresh air. magnificent rock formations, awesome caves. a very welcome new sight for one whose weekends are often spent in malls.
rentals for bamboo cottages and the “balsa” are P100 each. no entrance fee to the dam. there are variety stores along the way. there are also some stalls where fish and vegetables are being sold. commodities are relatively cheap compared to commercial resorts. there are cottages in the lower part but small portions of water for swimming. swimming is best in the upper part because there are no rock formations. “balsas” (bamboo rafts) can be rented if you want to paddle along the water.