Since it’s All Saints’ Day and millions of Filipinos are in the cemeteries, I’ll just post this photo of Sagada cemetery taken as me and my best bud were walking past through it on our way to Echo Valley.

The cemetery is nicely located on top of a hill just behind the St. Mary’s Church.

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Sagada is a great place to go backpacking. While I highly suggest you hire a guide, for those who are more adventurous, solo backpacking might be the thing for them. Here are some tips you might want to read first:

Solo Backpacking Tips

1. Tell someone where you’ll be, and when you expect to return. It’s probably best if you leave a map with them, and let them know who to call if you don’t return on time.

2. Bring a cell phone. Turn it off and put it in the bottom of your pack so it won’t bother you.

3. Bring the usual safety items (matches, first aid kit, flashlight, etc). Check first if you have everything you need and if they are working properly.

4. If you’re not sure of your abilities, or have a bad knee or other potential problem, stick to well-traveled trails. On many routes, another backpacker will be by every hour. That’s good to know if you’re in trouble.

5. Learn well how to read a map and use a compass. If you are two miles off route and can’t get a signal on your phone when your knee gives out, you’re in trouble. Even if you like to wander, you should be able to know where you are on the map for safety.

6. Know your abilities. Don’t plan on twenty-mile days if you haven’t done them before.

7. Learn to lighten your load. When you’re alone, you lose the efficiency of sharing the load for stoves, tents and other common items. It’s easy – and dangerous – to become overloaded when yours is the only backpack. You might want to read up on ultralight backpacking.

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I stumbled upon this About.com article on why Sagada is a backpacker’s getaway.

The author mentioned a visit on the caves such as the Sumaguing and Lumiang and of course, the trek to Bomod-ok Falls or Big Falls as most visitors fondly call it.

Sagada indeed provides a challenging landscape even for experienced backpackers and hikers. That is why a local guide is always required for any visitor who would dare to go farther than the usual paths.

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