23 April 2017
"You need to be content with small steps. That's all life is. Small steps that you take every day so when you look back down the road it all adds up and you know you covered some distance."
- Katie Kacvinsky
The 4th day of May in 2011 is one of the few very memorable days that I keep on reminiscing over and over again; and there is always that silly smile whenever I recall that day of my life in the wilderness.
It was the day when I set my very first footprint on the trail that paved my way to the exciting world of hiking. It was also the day when I came in contact with the first mountain that captured my heart and kindled my love and interest for outdoor activities, mountaineering in particular.
Mt. Pinatubo, from the first time I climbed it, had completely captivated my heart. It's a symbol of mother nature's wrath, an immense power of destruction that changed the old world to a new one. Now, it is a symbol of mother nature's unparalleled beauty and uniqueness.
That day also started my journey to explore more mountains and climbed to greater heights. It had brought me more friends on the trail. Now, I come to appreciate the beauty of nature and understand better the importance of its protection and preservation - for the next generation to come.
Since then, I kept on coming back to see and reunite with this volcano and at the same time, share, not just its marvelous and majestic sceneries and natural beauty but also the good experience with friends along the way that brought me the excitement and personal honor to share it with others.
On the 23rd day of April, on board a van, we traveled from Manila to Sta. Juliana in Tarlac to see and experience the trail of Mt. Pinatubo. Including myself, we were seven. With me were six young professionals and adventurers including my sister.
According to them, they were all "first timers" on the trail. This reminded me of my first ever hike. As I observed them, I see myself as a first timer on the trail once again.
We left Manila at 0336H and traveled north towards Tarlac. While inside the van, I can feel the excitement of the team to see the volcano for the first time.
We had a rendezvous at a gas station along NLEX for an early breakfast and to buy lunch. It was 0415H. After having breakfast, we had a short briefing and then left the food store.
We took NLEX, then turned right to SLEX and then finally TPLEX and went straight to Capas. We reached the the Tourism Department Satellite office in Sta, Juliana at 0634H, registered and then prepared for the adventure.
We had two 4x4 trucks as each truck can only accommodate 5 max passengers. We had two guides - one guide for every 4x4 truck. We started the adventure on board the 4x4 trucks at 0655H.
For some, riding the 4x4 truck for the first time is one of the highlights when climbing Mt. Pinatubo. As expected, riding the 4x4 truck as it tracked through the lahar trail can be compared to riding a roller coaster.
According to our guides, there were scattered rain showers at night on the area making some portions of the trail wet while the rests were dry and dusty.
We crossed several streams of water coming from the overflow drainage at the crater. While moving towards the second jump-off point (where the 4x4 stops), I noticed the lahar walls on both sides of the trail and the rocks were all marvelous as they were before.
At 0726H, we were at the photo-ops point where 4x4 trucks stop for a quick picture taking. At that time, there were several locals in the area selling their merchandise. I also noticed at least two ATVs nearby the place.
I still had the same feeling of same excitement when I first had my very first photos of the place. Everyone enjoyed taking photos on the 4x4 and on the lahar wall with the locals.
We resumed our 4x4 adventure at 0733H crossing more water streams and passing through rocky roads.
As I was on board the shaky 4x4, I was happy to have smelled the dusts of Pinatubo once again, step on its rocks, marveled at the grandeur of the lahar formations and finally looked at the majestic panoric view of its crater lake. I was reunited with the mountain once again.
We were at the second jump-off point at 0807H and then we started to walk towards the final jump-off point that leads to the crater lake.
According to our guides, the location of the second jump-off point was at least 5 kilometers away from the last jump-off point as the 4x4 trail leading to the previous jump-off point had been washed out by rain water. In 2011, the original jump-off point where the 4x4 vehicles stop was where the final jump-off was at that time.
As we moved along the rocky and sandy trail, I was observing the team and was reminiscing my experience walking along similar trail when I first climb the mountain in 2011.
We reached the station in Botolan, Zambales at 0837 and registered. The weather was on our favor at that time. We were lucky.
We resumed trekking at 0845H. The team had crossed few more streams of water and climbed on the rocky trail. Thanks to the guides who were always there to assist each member of the team.
At 0913H, we reached the final jump-off point and prepared to climb the crater wall towards the crater lake (caldera) of Mt. Pinatubo.
The trail going up the crater was still the same and the concrete stairway near the crater lake was still there and well maintained.
We were at the Pinatubo crater lake at 0945H and had our early lunch at 1000H.
At 1045H, we started our descent inside the crater of Mt. Pinatubo. While descending, I noticed that the water inside the crater lake had reseeded. It was colored green.
According to our guides, the authorities opened an overflow drainage on the crater wall to avoid the crater lake from overflowing.
Inside the crater, I also noticed the old decaying boats that were used to ferry tourists to the other side of the crater where the boiling mud can be found.
Our guides told us that crossing the lake is no longer allowed.
At 1100H, we started our descent from the crater lake back to the second jump-off point where the 4x4 trucks were waiting for us.
Finally, at 1431, we were back at the tourism office, tidy up and then left Sta. Juliana back to Manila at 0245H.
-o0o-
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