| DAVSUR
CAMP SABROS: THE LONGEST ZIP LINE AND CABLE LIFT IN THE PHILIPPINES
By: Douglas Ra. Cagas, LLB, MBE, MNSA
Only
recently, in just a few months of operation, the Zip Line
and Cable Lift in Camp Sabros, Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao
del Sur, has allured sports enthusiasts, adventure seekers,
and tourists. The sensation from enormous speed, thrill, fear
and reluctance of ones body; zipping and hanging from a 400-meter
cable, passing through a 150-feet drop of pine trees, valley,
ravine and treacherous boulders — is an experience considered
a self-challenge, and no amount of money can buy. Through
this sport, the dream to fly like Superman, is indeed, a self-made
reality. While the sensation is still oozing in ones mind,
flesh, and spirit; the waiting 270-meter Cable Lift adds to
the thrill of setting nervous on a chair going upward but
in a slow motion. Exactly the reverse from that of the Zip
Line. Cable Lift is like setting on the park, however, ones
feet are not on the green meadows, but hanging on the air
– teased by the gravity, beaconed by the crown of pine
trees, and body motionless, to evade from carefree fall down,
brought about by unreasonable carelessness. Nevertheless,
that carefree fall down is far from reality. The designer
and owner, Mr. Edwin Sacdalan, said, “Safety is our
number 1 priority. We are using the strongest materials and
equipments available in the market. We have tested these materials
over and over before we serve it to our guests.”
Why
Camp Sabros?
Sabros
means Sacdalan Brothers. This is not a military camp like
what immediately comes into our mind. This camp is a resort,
furnished with cottages with rates P1,400.00, P1,600.00 and
P2,000.00 good for 24 hours. One of the cottages located at
the eastern side, offers a full view of Mt. Apo, as well as
a clear angle to witness the much talked about sport of the
fearless – the Zip Line and the Cable Lift. Camp Sabros
was established in 1994, but the cables were constructed just
last year, and was opened to the public as a form of a sport
last December 2007. Amenities like, billiards hall, bar and
restaurant, bonfire place, and numerous pine trees await those
adventurous visitors.
This
Zip Line and Cable Lift is only an aftermath of the owner’s
creativity to transport materials and personnel fast and easy
to the next mountain. The valley is too deep and has a wide
span in between two mountains. To connect a cable is a solution,
however, the owner has gained the idea of what he saw in Subic.
Then, the Zip Line and Cable Lift came into existence in Camp
Sabros, which is 3 times longer than in Subic, and the longest
of its kind in the entire Philippines. In an interview, Mr.
Sacdalan said, “My next plan is to break the world record
for the longest Zip Line. This is to put the Province and
the City in the world map. But of course, I need the support
from the Barangay, City and the Provincial Government, as
well.”
Thrill-seekers,
adventurers, sports enthusiasts and tourists are offered by
Camp Sabros, two (2) Zip Lines and one (1) Cable Lift. Zip
Line A is 380 meters while Zip Line B is 400 meters, with
a drop height that ranges 150 feet to 180 feet. Cable Lift
is 270 meters. In case of brown-out or electrical power failure,
there is a ready manual lift, as well as a GenSet, to rescue
those stranded passengers setting on the Cable Lift. For an
amount of P150.00 per head, one could surely experience the
secret of Superman, while speeding through the layers of hot
and cold air. The man’s loudest scream brought about
by the unexplainable thrill and sensation is of course free
of charge.
Camp
Sabros is very secured when it comes to peace and order. The
entire plateau is very peaceful. There is an army camp detachment
at about 300 meters away. The owner, Mr. Edwin Sacdalan, as
the Barangay Tourism Consultant, has the support of the Barangay
Captain, Barangay Council and Officers, as well the Barangay
Police of Kapatagan. By this, security of the area adds to
the peace of mind of the visitors while having the time enjoying
the thrill and excitement that Camp Sabros has to offer.
Camp
Sabros is more or less 40 kilometers from downtown Digos City.
Transport vehicles like, habal-habal, van, or private motorcycles
and cars are often used to reach the area. The fare varies
from P80.00 to P350.00 for habal-habal, depending on the agreement
whether it is with other passengers, or on ‘pakyaw’
system. A normal speed of more than 1 hour reaches a stop
in Baras Check-point, which is almost 4 kilometers before
reaching Poblacion, Kapatagan. From this Check-point, one
has to shift into the right uphill one way road, for a start
of a 1,000-meter challenging hike. This hike is a self-challenge
of persistency tracking the road going uphill, without the
expectation that the road ahead offers a downhill comfort
zone. A hike that prepares oneself into a more chilling and
mind-wrecking sensation from the cables that await ahead.
When
one feels so tired upon the pull of the gravity behind, there
is only one option – pause, grasp the air, drink a drop
of water, and feed your eyes with the varied beauty of nature
that abound. However, this challenge is optional. Jeeps, cars,
motorcycles, and vans, can reach Camp Sabros, provided the
driver is fearless and with self-determination.
Camp
Sabros, a plateau of pine trees, is a freshly new offer in
term of tourist destinations of the Province of Davao del
Sur. Tudaya Falls, Sibulan River White Tubing, Mainit Hot
Spring, Saliducon Cave, Tibolo Tribal Cultural Center and
Passig Islet, are also places to visit near Camp Sabros. A
package of memorable destinations below the famous Mt. Apo,
that one should not dare to miss, when one returns home.
At
any rate, the sensation gained from the longest Zip Line and
Cable Lift in the Philippines, will surely motivates ones
tongue to convey interesting stories amidst listeners; whose
minds are also set to visit Camp Sabros to fill up that missing
link – the sensation of being a Superman in less than
30 minutes. Today is the right time to grab your backpack,
note pads, and a camera. And the best time to involve yourself
with this famous line of Julius Ceasar, “I came, I saw,
I conquered!”
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DAVSUR
Camp Sabros: The Longest Zip Line and Cable Lift
in the Philippines |
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