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Contributed by: Glo Abaeo Tuazon
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Entering Camp John Hay, I could not help but stare at the many structures cropping up around the area. Nostalgia crept up like a warm hand across my shoulders, having grown up and walked around Camp John Hay as a child. Those days were a dazzling blurr of sunshines and bursting flowers and green lawns and pine trees. I remember most the trees, how we trod around them and lie down on the ground during sunsets watching the sun creep among the spaces between them. Then there’s the commissary and the exchange center, at the back is that hanging bridge every teenager wants to try. Growing older, Halfway House was a hangout. We skate awhile and go look up the beefy men downstairs at the gym, then off in a friend’s skateboard. The 19th Tee Restaurant was a place I run to when the world does not treat me right, get me a coke and read my pocketbooks to while away the hours, sometimes a friend comes by and keeps me company. Roaming around would usually lead us to Scout Hill where the ice cream house always have a profusion of my favourite Cherry-Vanilla. Then off to my sanctuary at the John Hay Library. So much has changed..
Tree top press conference
From the 3rd gate along the tree lined route (going to Scout Barrio) and passing thru the checkpoint to a few meters uphill are areas recently dug to accommodate the foundations of a new building. That is beside the CAP facade. And the road goes on to the area at the back of the old LoneStar Restaurant (during our time) where another construction is taking place. This as explained would be the building to become the Treetop Adventure Pavillion. From the creators of the same adventure trek in Cubi Point, Subic, they made agreements with the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) to relive the same in Baguio City.
Pavilion site: under construction
The Treetop Adventure is a series of activities in an eco-park done from a breath-taking view above or among the trees. It includes major activities such as the Canopy Ride, Silver Surfer, Funicular Ride, Free Fall Ride, The Skywalk and the Superman Ride. The Canopy Ride as explained would take a person from one steel tower to another, along the way enjoying the majestic terrain of Baguio along those areas, or what is left of it. Same goes with the Silver Bullet and Funicular Ride, getting close to the cliffs as it gets steeper. The Free fall Ride is an ultimate high when a person gets dropped from the skywalk to a steep cliff, so with the superman ride where one zooms above the treeline. The Skywalk on the other hand is an innovation adapted from the Skywalk of Arizona. A glass walkway and platform extending from steel posts above the trees overlooking the cliffs giving you the impression of walking on nothing or simply floating. All the aforementioned are further augmented by Basic Survival Demos and hikes along the trails. All of these are designed for those adventurous souls who wanted to experience the gut-wrenching vertigo and fun of “flying” above the pines and feeling the exhalirating gift of freedom. One can experience an activity, or all, or can be modified to suit one’s preference.
Features explained...
I have to admit these are experiences worth trying out and enjoying. I just hope that the addition of these facilities as they promised would not in any way impede the growth of the flora and fauna of Camp John hay, nor alter so much the biological architecture of the land. With the coming of guests to boost the tourism industry of Baguio City when the project opening arrives, we all wanted to look forward to enjoying these along with the feel (or a little bit of it) of the old Camp John Hay that we grew in.
Come October, it would have been done.
- co (06/17/2010)
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