My friends and I have an agreement to do at least one special thing every year and we all decided to do the hard ones first before we end up doing the hot springs and shrine visit thingy. So the first challenge- trek Mount Pinatubo.
We had planned this a couple of months before but was warned by JR that doing the trek during summer would “kill” us. His tales of swimming in the lake and wearing a fleece jacket during the hike sort of mesmerized us. We waited for the opportune time and December was just it.
Way before the trek, my friends, Noman, Pearlie, and I have been training for the major trek by doing the rounds at the U.P. academic oval, Ortigas Center (actually eating at Banchetto then walking towards Chateau 1771 Cafe for another bite) and at the Salcedo Market. Hmmmm…. come to think of it, were we really training for the hike or just tasting all the food?
Our group did some serious planning on this one. We had our “planning session” which was actually an excuse to eat and party! We came up with our food list, gear list, etc., etc. Okay guys, pan de sal, check! Dry-fit shirts, check! Head gear, check! Drinks, check! Cameras, check! Sunblock, check! And of course, our matching Keans hiking shoes, check!
On December 30th, we headed to the sleepy town of Capas Tarlac where the jump off point is located. We met our guides, picked our 4×4′s and headed for a 45 minute drive to the “point of no return.” The weather was perfect, just as JR described it. Bagiuo weather- just right for excited trekkers.
Only a kilometer into our trek we start asking our guide, “Kuya, malayo pa ba?” The guide would only shake his head and smile every 20-30 minutes or so when we would ask the same question. All the groups in the trek have overtaken us as we walked leisurely as if we were walking in the park. A serious 2 hour walk for others was a 3.5 hour death-defying walk for us. Oh! But it was fun. We could not wait to reach the top and see the fabled crater lake.
Edith’s hiking shoes decided to quit just there and then! With less than a third of the trek going up the mount, her shoes gave up. But lo and behold, JR, our knight and shining armor had duct tape in his backpack! Who would bring duct tape to a trek? Maybe he brought tape in case he needed to silence us with our continuous whining all the way to the top? JR just saved the day!
When we had finally reached the top, we were blown by the beauty of the magnificent crater lake. Who would think this volcano was a national nightmare in the early 90′s? The sleeping giant volcano now revealed, so beautiful, so majestic and so serene….
I was already dead tired when we reached the top I did not have energy to go further down to the crater lake for a swim. With a hundred or so steps down (and back) I decided to stay at one of the sheds and took a nap. The weather was just so cool, so perfect, I even put on my fleece jacket. An hour and a half later, we all decided to leave. I could have stayed forever. My legs were hurting like hell and simply did not want to move. I just wanted to quit! Another 3 hour trek and we were at the drop off point. We were the last group out of the mountain. Our drivers must have wondered what kept us so long. We were all so tired. I used a walking stick on the way back, I looked like Mama Moses!
Another 45 minute drive into the dark, dusty road until we finally reach the Capas stop. My leg muscles were already stiff I had to slide myself out of the 4×4. And my, was I thirsty! And hungry too!
We had a 10,000 course meal served to us and we ate them all! I was just soooo looking forward to a shower to rinse the eeky lahar off my hair. We were told that hot water was not available. What the heck! I must have shampooed my hair three times. Only on the third time did my shampoo bubble like shampoo! Oh what a relief it was! After that, we all headed to the van and fell asleep as the Davy and Ip’s (thanks!) driver piloted us to Manila.
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