Who said chasing waterfalls is a piece of cake? It definitely isn’t, especially when you have to do it under a drizzle, progressing to a shower, then to a downpour. But here’s an upside: once you arrive at the waterfall, getting soaked is no longer such a big deal. In fact, you’d most definitely welcome it. As I did once we got to Pattan Falls.
Fourth in our five-waterfall Chasing Waterfalls in Bakun adventure is the Pattan Falls.
I remember some years back, when I first visited Poblacion, Bakun. I looked up and spotted this wide and long patch of brown on the face of the mountain. I asked what it was, and the local guide who was with us at the time said it is Pattan Falls. Or it should have been, if it had any water. But that was on an uncharacteristic dry spell at the end of October, so waterfalls were, well, waterless.
I didn’t know that I’d see it in all her flowing glory.
Up Early For Pattan
We woke up at dawn, got all ready, grabbed a quick breakfast and packed our own lunches to eat on the way up, because we knew we had quite a hike ahead of us.
At a little past 6 AM, we set off with our local guides for the day. The plan was to go up to Pattan Falls, then descend to Mangta Falls.
The first leg of the hike was familiar to me, since it was the same route we took the first time I got to check out Mangta Falls. There were the residential houses and school along the way, the carabaos in the water holes, the hanging bridge….
And then we got to a fork in the trail, one that we went past before. This time, one path leads up to Mt. Kabunian and Pattan Falls, while the other one leads to Mangta Falls.
I don’t recall seeing this sign before, presumably because hiking to Pattan Falls was not yet allowed when I first came here.
The rain was falling in spurts and bursts as we continued our hike up the trail. By this time, I no longer cared if I was already getting soaked through by the rain. Using an umbrella was actually an inconvenience, and wearing a raincoat for a long time actually makes me break out in an uncomfortable sweat.
Personally, it felt more freeing to just take the raincoat off and the let the rain do its thing.
After 45 minutes, we came to where the path diverged: further up the mountain to the summit of Mt. Kabunian, and straight onward to Pattan Falls.
And you definitely wouldn’t miss the view of the more mountain ranges and ridges as you continue hiking. If the weather were nicer, you won’t be blamed for stopping every now and then to take photos, or just to appreciate the spread before you.
But we also had to hurry, because standing too long on the same spot is actually a sure way to attract leeches to latch on to your legs. Yeah, rainy season is leech season. And hiking season during rainy days is, for leeches, a festival.
Finally, less than 10 minutes later, we laid eyes on Pattan Falls.
Up close and freakin’ personal.
It’s so hard not to feel small when faced with the thundering glory that is Pattan Falls. Seriously, it is deafening and, in tandem with the rain, quite overwhelming as you get closer.
And of course we had to get closer. It was a lot slippery going closer, so you’d have to be careful.
Honestly, I felt ecstatic, because this was a far cry from the Pattan Falls in my memory. This was a HUNDRED times better.
Some of us dared to get as close as we can to the waterfall, close enough to feel that massage (more like water slapping, really) on top of your head, shoulders and back as you stood underneath the curtain.
If it were any stronger than it already is, you’d probably be pushed off, and if you don’t break your fall, you’re basically going to roll down the side of the mountain.
It’s basically a ledge, and if not for the thick fog and mist, you’d most likely see how high up you are, and even spot a bit of Mangta Falls waaaaay down below.
That one down there is supposed to be a hanging bridge, looking all flimsy and a bit damaged. I doubt anyone would dare to cross that. At least until it is fixed.
The basin is not deep, so swimming is probably out of the question. Seriously, though, you’d only have to stand close to the water, and you can enjoy the shower it will bring you.
Setting off that morning, I did not expect to see this kind of Pattan Falls. Especially not after remembering it as just some dry brown patch on the face of the mountain. It sure is great to be surprised, especially with something as good as this. I’d have loved to hang out much longer, but there was still another – and the last – waterfall to catch, and I could not wait to be reunited with Mangta Falls.
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