By ARIS R. ILAGAN

A part of the 35-km bike trail at the La Mesa Dam Nature Park. (Photo by ANJO PEREZ)

A 10-km stretch of bike trail known as Loop No. 4, whetting the appetite for uphill and downhill adrenalin rush, or enduring a 700-meter uphill climb with a 20-degree inclination in the killer Loop No. 12?  It’s not a choice, it’s part of the easy and difficult trails in the 35-km bike trail at the La Mesa Dam Nature Park.  But if one’s stamina fails for any reason – lack of skill, sleep or guts – there’s always a way out that leads to the main road and back to the reception area.

Bikers are starting to discover this bike trail’s endless challenges for the beginners to experts, enticing most of them to come back for more, said Glenn Paul C. Flores, Bantay Kalikasan-Save La Mesa Dam senior forester.

Loose dirt road, rocks and pebbles, protruding roots of trees and even narrow planks test the rider’s reflexes during the entire ride. Categorized in 12 loops within the 35-kilometer trail, the 41-year-old forester guarantees scenic spots where cyclists can rest and enjoy brief photography.

A native of Baguio, Flores assured that all their “trail masters (guides)” are aptly trained on first aid and certified by the Philippine National Red Cross.

Equipped with radios and cellular phones, Flores assured of quick emergency response anytime.

After a day in the bike trails, here’s my advice to those who will find their way there next weekend: Grip tightly to the handle bars as the dirt roads are tricky. Don’t let the dirt stretches overwhelm you as they are deceiving and oftentimes, dangerous. Be cautious on downhill manuevers as there might be a big jump waiting below just before a tight bend.

For experienced and expert riders, prepare for the killer Loop No. 12 that involves a punishing 700 meters of uphill with a  20-degree inclination. Master your gear-changing skills and pedal hard to endure the climb.

The reward… a scenic view of the entire Ortigas Center from the viewing deck of Tower 1 right at the apex.  Minus the morning smog, riders can also view the beauty of Mt. Arayat in Pampanga and Mt. Samat in Bataan.  For those with 20-20 vision, the historic Dambana ng Kagitingan in Mt. Samat can also be seen.  Most of the time, the Port Area in Manila also shows up in Tower 1.

Another rare feat in La Mesa Dam’s bike trail is the river crossings. But if you don’t want to wet your feet and expensive biking shoes, then take the adjacent makeshift bridge.

Setting an authentic bike-friendly atmosphere, every Loop resting stations are equipped with wooden benches and bike stands to make riders feel at home while talking about the trail experience.  Littering of trash is strictly prohibited.

“We ban people from entering the premises if we catch them littering,” Flores warned.

There are also safety rules that are strictly implemented by trail masters, among them are the “no helmet, no ride” policy, bikes should be road worthy and no cutting of trees and no fishing.

Trail fee is set for P200 for every rider in a group with a minimum of five. For those who want to go solo with less five riders, P1,000 is for each rider. The fee goes with a trail master.

Exorbitant? Maybe. But remember the “magic” this organization has done to the La Mesa Dam Watershed. If not for them, that huge parcel of land may have just remained as a big squatter area, denuded of forest and worse, no water to hold for Metro Manila residents.

Some four decades ago, La Mesa Dam was always considered a picnic ground for families who only had a day for a get together. During those days, there were thick forests, fauna and flora, and clean lake area that welcomed Metro Manila visitors.

The 2,700-hectare La Mesa Dam Watershed, 700 hectares of which is the reservoir and 2,000 hectares forested area, is owned by the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

Before the February 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, the La Mesa Dam Watershed – a primary source of drinking water for more than 12 million Metro Manila residents – deteriorated to become an abandoned government entity.  However, the fast deterioration of the facility caught the attention of concerned environmentalists who cited the negative effects of La Mesa Dam’s denudation to Metro Manila’s dwindling water supply and worsening air pollution.

In 1999, “Bantay Kalikasan (Nature Watch)” of ABS CBN established a partnership with MWSS to undertake the Save La Mesa Dam Watershed project with the objective of rehabilitating, reforest, preserve and protect the area.

More than a decade after the project was launched, Metro Manilans are starting to reap the fruits of their noble effort for the dam now having two sections- the Eco-Park and the Nature Park.

Other than the refreshing picnic grounds, swimming pools, boating lagoons and fishing area to be enjoyed in the La Mesa Dam Eco-Park , there has been a new “play ground” for the urban dwellers to explore and to take challenges in the surrounding La Mesa Dam Nature Park – the 35-kilometer bike trail.