Mt. Pinatubo Once Again

Capas, Province of Tarlac
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-

Exploring Nagsasa, Annawangin and Capones

Province of Zambales

Boats bound for Nagsasa

It's been a year since we explored the World War II historic Corregidor island. It's time to strengthen the bond among the members of the department once again. This time, the team decided to go out of town to see, explore and enjoy the beaches of Nagsasa, Annawangin and Capones island in the province of Zambales.

We left Manila at 11:45PM on March 16, 2013 and head on to the province of Zambales. We were all excited to see the place. We were just imagining how amazing it would look like from the blogs and pictures that we saw. We've never been into this place.

Nagsasa Shore

Jump-off point is at the Municipality of San Antonio. Travel time from Manila to the jump-off point is around 3 hours.

At around 3AM on March 17, we reached the Municipality of San Antonio. We waited for an hour for our "Boat Master" to text or call us until we decided to make the call.

Camp Site

We were instructed to take a tricycle going to Purok 2 at Barangay Pundaquit. We were a little bit scared on the road going to Purok 2 as the road is too dark - pitch black.

There is an old metal-bridge and the underneath is entirely dark.

Nagsasa view atop the mountain

We were at Purok 2 after 15 minutes of tricycle ride. At the place, we were welcomed by our Boat Master - Marvin.

Mirror

The trip to Nagsasa Cove via boat, according to Marvin, would take max of 1 hour. We decided to start our boat travel at around 6AM. While Marvin is preparing the boat, we were asked to take a little rest at a nearby "Kubo".

At around 6:10AM, our boat master, together with a cook, advised us to board the boat. And the fun begun.

It was a high-tide early in the morning and the sea was generally rough. Onboard the boat were three of us, our boat master and our cook. Although the boat ride is a little rough, we all enjoyed being tossed by waves as we passed along the shores of Capones island and Annawangin cove.

Bonfire

We reached Nagsasa cove at around 7AM. The place was so peaceful. There were no other visitors yet on the place when we arrived. The camp site is filled with pine trees and it was so relaxing. The view around us was just amazing.

We setup our tents and then finally relaxed. While Dion and John were hibernating inside their tent, I took the opportunity to move around the place and took photos.

Capones Island

The cove is surrounded by mountains and according to our cook, the area is actually "reclaimed" by Mt. Pinatubo. The place used to be a sea but when Mt. Pinatubo erupted, the accumulated volcanic ash and debris created the Nagsasa cove.

At 11AM, we had our lunch and at this time, tourists started to arrive on board boats. Our lunch was so good, we had Pakbet and chicken Adobo.

Stairway to the Lighthouse

After lunch, we had a nice and friendly sharing of our experiences with each other. While sharing, we had 6 bottles of "Red Horse". The conversation was so light and fun. We knew each other more and even better. Dion and John later decided to take a dip at the sea, while I decided to continue exploring the place. At the northern tip of the shore, I found a trail going up the mountain. It was starting to get dark but I could not resist not to have a short peep from above. I trekked up to the middle of the trail going up the peak. At that point, I had an amazing view of the entire Nagsasa Cove. It was simply amazing.

Lighthouse

At night after dinner, we had a nice bonfire. The place was already crowded. The sky was filled with stars.

Lights out at 10PM.

The following day, we decided to trek the mountain early. We started trekking at around 7AM while the sun still rising. We had a lot of fun while trekking. According to John, it was his first time to go up the mountain and he was enjoying it. We had lots of amazing views of the Nagsasa cove atop. We did a mini - traverse. We went up the trail at Camp "Bira-Bira" and then descended at the other rocky side of the mountain.

Old metallic stairs

We finished the trek in 2 hours time. After trekking, we had a late breakfast, packed our things and then prepared to explore Annawangin Cove and Capones island.

We left Nagsasa Cove at around 1PM. Boat trip to neighboring Annawangin Cove took us around 20 minutes.

Annawangin cove has more pine trees than Nagsasa cove though the shoreline/beach area is shorter and narrower.

Annawangin Cove

After exploring Annawangin cove, we boarded the boat for Capones island. Travel time to Capones island from Annawangin is around 30 minutes.

Capones island has a very short and narrow beach area/shoreline. We decided to go around the island to see the lighthouse at the back.

The sea was so rough and we were being tossed by big waves.

Camp site

Exploring the lighthouse reminded me of Cape Bojeador in Ilocos. The lighthouse is also old and only the top portion including the lights are new. Atop the lighthouse, the view of the Capones Island was so admirable.

At around 4PM, we left Capones Island and head on to Pundaquit.We left Pundaquit at around 5:30PM and then head on to San Antonio.

We were all back to Manila 10PM.

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Photo gallery

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Trekking Mt. Pinatubo with KALI Leaders

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-