Capas, Province of Tarlac
26 January 2013
There are few mountains worth trekking for the second time - Mt. Mayon is one and Mt. Pinatubo is another one.
After a 3-day exhaustive meetings, conference and strat plans at the office, leaders including myself decided to go out for a breather. We encamped at a staff house near the Casino at Clark in Pampanga on a Friday night and prepared for an adventure the following day.
Our overnight stay at the staff house was so relaxing sparkling with the spirit of fun. We had nice time sharing our funny memories with the company in the past. Our food supply was enough for a 14 hungry men and we were only 10. Since most of us were tired, we decided to have an early lights-out.
We had an early wake-up call the following day. At 4:30AM, we were all ready for an adventure. We met our guides at the Holiday Inn entrance gate and then packed our things inside the cars. We went out of Clark on convoy towards the jump-off point at Capas Tarlac passing through the SLEX.
Along the way, we had short breakfast at a food court and then bought our packed lunch for the trek.
Our convoy trip to Sta. Juliana Jump-off point at Capas Tarlac took us around 1 hour and 30 minutes. We were all at the jump-off point at around 7:00AM where the 4x4 trucks were waiting for us. After securing our trek permits and settling environmental fees, we were all set for the 4X4 adventure ride. We had 3 4x4 trucks and 3 more local guides.
We had a short briefing before we boarded the 4x4 trucks. We learned that there are 3 jump-off points. One at Sta. Juliana where we boarded the 4x4 truck.
The second jump-off point is at Lipit station where the 4x4 trucks will be dropping us for a 7 kilometers trek going to the third/final jump-off point.
At 7:45Am, the adventure officially started. Everyone had fun riding the bumpy 4x4 truck as it traversed the lahar path with streams of water, gigantic rocks and dust.
At the middle of our way to the second jump-off point, we stopped for a short but nice photo session. There were native 'Aetas' around so we had short happy moments with them in front of the camera.
As we continued our journey to the second jump-off point, all of us were mesmerized by the majestic beauty of the lahar path around us. I've been here two years ago and the trails now look differently than it were before. Our guides told us that the trails are constantly changing with rains and the wind.
After 2 hours of bumpy ride along the lahar path, we were finally at the second jump-off point. We were there at around 10:00AM.
We started trekking at 10:15AM towards the third jump-off point and then to the crater. The entire stretch from the second jump-off point is a 7 kilometer journey. We were so lucky with a very nice weather. The air was cool and the sun was behind the clouds.
Everyone enjoyed the journey up to the crater. We had to 'cris-cross' over the streams of water as we traversed them.
The lahar walls are overwhelming. A different kind of landscape, a testimony of the wrath and power of Mt. Pinatubo.
Past 11:00AM, we were at the majestic crater of Mt. Pinatubo. Some of us went down the crater, some stayed at the station area and rest.
The crater turned deep-green color and there are signs that swimming on the crater is no longer allowed.
Two years ago, there were even boats that brought tourists to the other side of the crater.
We started our descent past 1:00PM. At 4:00PM, we were back at the jump-off point at Sta. Juliana and then left the place by 4:30PM.
I could never forget my experience with this mountain. When I first trekked it, I never thought I could make it to the crater.
But through will power, I made it and not just that, I started to like the trail and the volcano. This inspired me to climb other mountains to see different views from above.
All of my adventures after my first trek at Mt. Pinatubo was all because of my first exciting and fulfilling experience on the same mountain.
I don't normally climb a mountain for the second time unless it is really worth the time and effort. As for Mt. Pinatubo, a third or even fourth time is worth it.
Climbing mountains is not just all about excitement and happiness, the values that it brings - RESPECT FOR THE NATURE, RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND RESPECT FOR ONESELF is an icing-on-the-cake.
I'm so proud to have shared the adventure and the trail to those who love and respect nature! See photos of the click here.
-o0o-
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