The nature of the wild in the Philippines is like a finely painted artwork from God's palette. It is the perfect concoction for a nature lover's drive to discover places without even a trickle of modernization in it.

Our country's airwaves are perfect for that great skydive and that satisfying para-glide you thought you would find in another place. It's coastline: breath-taking to the last drop due to its rich marine life that rivals those great diving hotspots in the globe. And its lands: enriching mainly because of its rich wildlife and its captivating geographical bumps and folds.

These mountain ranges scattered throughout our nation are a pretest of how much fun is in store for those who would want to discover how the world looks like from a pedestal and for those whose main recreation in life is conquering these God-made towers.

And just when you've thought that if you've seen one mountain, you've seen them all, think twice. There might be no two climbs up our mountains that are the same, making it more exciting.

Being located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is our country is privileged to have abundant mountain ranges. The most famous of them, of course, is the Sierra Madre mountain range. This is the longest mountain chain we have as it passes all throughout Luzon.

But also, there is the Caraballo mountain range that starts in Cagayan Valley and lacks short in length as compared to Sierra Madre. Put into mind as well the Cordillera Administrative Region composed of terrains from both mountain ranges.

Let us not forget the famous high tops we have in our country. There's the Mayon Volcano in Albay, considered to have a perfect cone. Also, Mount Apo, the highest peak in the country, should not be out of this short list. If you want your spirituality to be cleansed as well while trekking then Mount Banahaw is the place for you. There are much more famous mountains in our country but enumerating them all would mean a lot more spaces.

Most of these towering landforms serve as a lifeline for the Filipino people as its fertile soil translates into productive farmlands throughout the archipelago. And it is also these mountains that can give you that adrenalin rush not to be found on plains.

These mountains provide the best environment for that kind of sport that is deemed dangerous yet satisfying once completed: mountain sports.

This main branch of sport can be subdivided further into more specific endeavors: trekking, spelunking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, rappelling and mountain biking.

Confused about which is which? Let me differentiate them to you. Trekking is the usual walking at the foot of the mountain that most mountaineers usually do to find the perfect uphill path and to explore the wilderness as well.

Mountain climbing is the real climb with all of its technicalities. Rock climbing can be compared to those wall-climbing events in the X Games only that you really have to size up rocky mountains. Spelunking can be defined in two words: cave exploration. Rappelling is that fun activity wherein you have to go down from highland using durable ropes and the mountain itself as leverage.

And last but not the least, the term mountain biking says it all. A course is played out in the middle of those treacherous terrains for those bikers to complete. The whole course is a combination of steep uphill and downhill paths.

Finding for the perfect location for these activities is not hard. First option would be Cagayan Valley. This province that is the northeastern most part of the Philippines is situated amidst the Caraballo and you can pretty much do it all here.

Having an estimate 200 caves parceled throughout the province, Cagayan Valley never fails to give something new to spelunkers. The most famous caves among them is the Callao Cave and the Pe�ablanca Cave.

The Pe�ablanca Cave is the only cave in the valley that has a gate in its entrance. Callao, on the other hand, is known for the chapel inside the cave with a natural opening from the top that illuminates the chapel's wooden cross. This odd yet magnificent setting was once used by the late Fernando Poe Jr. in one of his movies.

Apparently though, these two caves are the hardest to explore according to seasoned spelunkers. Pe�ablanca is a very tight cave wherein stalactites and stalagmites that are not to be disturbed will greet you as you go along.

Meanwhile, Callao boasts its renowned Celica's Passage. This passage is a small opening of about two feet. Once in this place, your mission is to go through the passage, make a turn once you're at the end of it and go back out. It seems tough but determination is the key to your success. Also in Cagayan Valley, you can already perform rappelling and rock climbing for some of its mountains already reveal rocky parts of it.

If you feel like mountain biking though, the terrains of Rizal and Laguna is the best blue print you can find. Due to its steep and muddy mountains and its sharp curves in its tracks, Rizal and Cavite is the perfect challenge for mountain bikers, old and anew. Due to the level of the courses of the terrains in these two provinces in Region 4, they have been co-hosts in this year's Asian Mountain Bike Championship last March. Though the Japanese dominated that event, at least it is now known that our mountain trails are world-class.

In terms of mountain climbing, mountaineers will be startled by the fact that conquering a new mountain is not the same as the last you did finish. The Mayon trail is a combination of long hours of walking and steep climbing. Compare it to Mount Banahaw and it will be a totally different experience.

Since the latter is considered as a sacred mountain (and Mount Makiling in Laguna as well), seizing the peak of these mountains would require tremendous amounts of patience and discipline. As you go along the way, your spirituality will be put to the test and surpassing all these stops is totally rewarding.

One of the most famous of its spiritual places is the Husgado. It is a cave that is really tight. Legend has it that if you have come out of these course, all your sins for the last seven years will be forgiven. In contrast, if you fail to make it, chances are you are a sinful individual as the walls of the cave contract to give you due punishment. Don't worry though; residents in Banahaw do not let anyone cross this cave without them for help.

The Makiling legend meanwhile is based on the notion that if you disturb the spirits residing in the mountain, the mountain will make a full turn and you will never find your way out. So when climbing it, be sure that you're only climbing. You can talk with your buddies but make sure it isn't loud enough to upset the spirits surrounding you.

The Mount Apo trail requires sturdy arms and legs as it is mainly made up of steep climbs. Short walks in this course should be used wisely for rest. Since it is the highest mountain in the country, setting foot at the peak will really take you hours or maybe even days.

If you're done with these, there are still a lot of options left: there's Mount Arayat in Pampanga, Mount Pulag (the second highest peak in our country) in Northern Luzon, Mount Kanlaon in the Negros Occidental-Negros Oriental border, Mount Diwalwal in Davao as well as Compostella Valley.and lots more. In almost region in the country, there are ranges waiting for you.

Before you embark on these trips though, you must remember to bring all of the safety gears needed. They might be annoying to wear but they will save your life. Safety gear is basically composed of the helmet, trekking shoes (to avoid you from slipping), short shorts and body-hugging shirts, ropes and rungs (for rappelling and rock climbing), flashlight (to see in the dark), no sweat gloves (for greater grip) and a compass and a map (for navigation purposes).

In these kinds of trips, you must not forget you're first aid kit. What's in your kit should be the following: band aids or bandages (for wounds, cuts or fractures), some basic pills (for various sicknesses like fever, cough, LBM and the likes), alcohol or wound cleanser and cottons. Also, do not forget to bring ample amounts of food to avoid starvation while you're hundreds of feet above sea level.

Once you have them, pack them neatly into a trekking bag (the big bag that mountaineers use). You must pack them according to the level of its importance. Since the first aid kit is very much important, you must put in a spot wherein it is easy for you to pull it out. Also, you must balance the weight of your materials in both sides of the bag for an easier feel once you have to perform challenging climbs and treks.

It is important also to make sure that you're hair is not entangled. This will cause you a great deal of aerodynamic efficiency. For girls, make sure your hair is pony-tailed of fixed under a skullcap. For boys, a bandana will do the trick.

Congratulations! Now you're all set to embark on this one-of-a-kind adventure that only the Philippines can offer. Our thousands of terrains will provide you with a millions worth of adventure and memories. And speaking of memories, you must not forget the creed of mountain adventurists to help protect the environment.

"Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints, Waste nothing but time."