Cordillera journey to explore region’s richness in 18 days

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – Ultra-running enthusiasts, environmentalists, and trekkers will have the chance to explore the region’s richness within a span of eighteen days passing through Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Abra, and Apayao through the Cordillera Great Traverse (CGT).

The elite route covers approximately 351 kilometers in distance through mountain passes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, rice terraces, villages and ancients and historical trails passing through the scenic route and major tourist attractions presenting to the foreign and local hikers and trekkers the natural beauty of the Cordillera mountains.

Leonard Soriano, CGT project leader, cited the elite route reveals some of the best trekking destinations in the world like the Appalachian Trail, the Great North Walk, Drakensberg, and GR20.

He explained the CGT is driven by a 3-part action plan that will eventually involve public participation; establish the longest and most scenic trekking or hiking trail destination in the Philippines through research, mapping, immersion with the locals, and actual reconciliation of the trails of each province.

The CGT trails have been mapped in 2014-2015 and it was completed by the expedition team when it embarked on a single-push travel from April 1-18, 2015 to cover the entire expanse of the traverse.

One of the major objectives of the traverse is to learn and share the culture of each of the indigenous peoples who have made the mountains their home for centuries with the locals as guides to establish the trails and lead the organizers to discover more about the richness of the region.

Soriano added the expedition allowed them to mutually exchange knowledge with the locals on how to protect the mountains and together with the Cordillerans, be the advocates for the protection of the Cordillera.

CGT operates under the Philippine Trail Conservation Events, Inc. and the CGT 2015 expedition team consisted of National Geographic explorers, adventurers, nature lovers, ultra runners, environmentalists, mountaineers, and fitness enthusiasts.

To date, CGT consists of strong team members contributing not just their solid athletic background but also their talent and skills as professionals in order to move the project forward after the expedition two years ago.

            Soriano said CGT is continuously looking for volunteers to join the team and that volunteer application can be sent via info@cordilleragreattraverse.com.

Among the targets of CGT for 2017 and beyond include establishing a trail system that will promote eco-tourism across the Cordillera, become a leading source of information for natural and trails in the region, conduct biological survey of plant and animal species, discover and promote cultural and historic significance of the trails, create a trail economy for the locals by supporting and developing products and services, revive the love for the mountains for the locals and the future generations and promote and implement conservation efforts with partner organizations and the government.