MATI CITY (MindaNews / 2 May) — The first time I saw the so-called “Sleeping Dinosaur” in the outskirts of this city was in 2009. Like most motorists who drove through the area for the first time, we stopped and took pictures of the unusually shaped mountain from the highway. Then I forgot all about it. We didn’t even bother to stop the next time we passed by the place two years later.
Fast forward 15 years, when I had already taken up trail running as a hobby for more than a decade. During a climate reporting workshop in April, a local journalist mentioned a beautiful trail at the Sleeping Dinosaur. My eyes lit up, even after Ferdinand warned it was “dangerous.” He said he once guided visitors but didn’t join the trek for fear of falling. His warning only made me more curious. I decided to run the trail, despite only having my Spartan tsinelas with modified straps.
Google Maps suggested it was just 2.5 kilometers from our lodging to the viewing deck—a 10 km round trip. We thought we could start at 5:30 a.m. and return before the 9 a.m. session. But reality had other plans.
At sunrise, my colleague Boy Mordeno and I began running along the scenic highway, reminiscent of Camiguin’s winding roads. After reaching the viewing deck, we found the trailhead with the help of resting bikers. A 15-peso entrance fee later, we followed the footpath through shrubs, admiring Pujada Bay from above.
The trail was challenging, with steep climbs and descents. Boy struggled without a trekking pole due to an old leg injury, forcing us to turn back after covering 8 km. The next day, we borrowed a car to drive closer to the trailhead, entering at 5:18 a.m.
The sunrise over Pujada Bay was breathtaking, captured by my DJI Neo 2 drone. The trail grew more treacherous—narrow ridges with steep drops to the sea below. Dangerous for beginners, but thrilling for seasoned trail runners. We climbed over 100 meters in half a kilometer, our muscles burning, but the panoramic views made it worth it.
At the highest point, we found a shaded spot littered with trash—discarded drink containers ruining the pristine scenery. It was a disappointing reminder of irresponsible tourism. By 7 a.m., we were only two-thirds of the way to the dinosaur’s tip and had to turn back to avoid missing the workshop.
We hitched a ride on a habal-habal to the highway, realizing later that a dirt road led almost directly to our resort. Next time, I’ll return with proper gear—and hopefully with the Iligan Trail Runners—to conquer the entire trail. (Bobby Timonera / MindaNews)
