Pinatubo Adventure
Went to Mt. Pinatubo for a 2nd time this year, this time with officemates.. the trip was as tiring plus im not in shape so It wasnt a walk in the park for me but hell yeah it was well worth it. The first time I went there, the water turned brown because of summer, but when we got there last weekend.. it was ..WHOA! Turq... aaah blue green na lang hehehe.. ang galing.
Most of the persons I would show the picture too, the first thing they would say "Phinotoshop mo ba to?" . Actually that was my first reaction when I saw the lake again.. as if God ran photoshop and changed the color of the lake to something surreal. The last part of the trek is an upward trek then you would see some concrete steps and a handrail going up what seems to be nowhere.. like upwards into the clouds, everything is covered in grass and rocks. You trek upwards so you look up and have no idea whats on the other side. Imagine this (sorry medyo sizzy hiker ako so pagod agad ako), tired from the 1hr trek, you see these steps that signals you that you have reached the crater, but all you see is rocks and grass, you look upwards and climb the steep steps 1 after the other, im not the tall so each step is more like a leap for me, but you all you see is the end of the stairs leading to heavens as the song goes. Then you reach the last step, you take a deep breathe feeling exhaustion wrapping its arms around you.. as you reach the last step you see the lake for the first time, a turquoise/aquamarine-ish lake like nothing ever seen in the Philippines. The lake is wrapped by high cliffs and a canyon like something out of J.R. Tolkiens world. The mountain is hovered over by heavy clouds and small burst of sunlight passes thru the gaps of the clouds illuminating patches of the lake as if making each patch glow. And suddenly all your exhaustion goes away and a smile suddenly forms in your lips. Then, 2 words escape your mouth.. "hanep grabe"
For those thinking of going there, you could call Jovy at 09283410402 (as of Jun 2007), she works for the resort spa build just outside the start of the off-road trail. She can hook you up with 4x4's , guides and a spa treatment perfect after the hike. We took the Hike/Dinner/Massage Package under P2000 each.
We left at around 7am (suppose to be 6am) had breakfast then arrived around 10 at the resort . To go to the resort, you drive all the way to the end of NLEX then I would suggest taking a left to concepcion which is the alternate route but dont go to concepcion. You should make your way going to Hacienda Luisita. You might see a fork showing Alternate route to Baguio..DO NOT GO THERE. Just ask around the way to Hacienda Luisita. When you endup at Caltex where you will see a jollibee and KFC, do turn right , this is the road going to baguio and Hacienda Luisita, but just a few meters right before the city hall of Capas, turn left, its sort of a 2 lane street but not very wide. Take that road , all the way straight, then at the end turn right. Aaaaaalllll the way straight following the highway passing the death march memorial and military camp, and around 1km of rough road with a few meters of pavement in between. Just keep going straight, you'll end up seeing a billboard of the pinatubo adventure stuff, thats the resort. Dont worry if you miss resort and kept going straight, you'll know you missed it coz you'll run out of road and you would see a huge ass wilderness like something out of lord of the rings.
From the resort You take a 1 hr 4x4 trip which is quite shaky and would pass on really rough road including inclines and some areas near cliffs. The 4x4 trip takes you to the starting point where theres clean restrooms and some tables . There you would start another 1-1.5 hr trek to the crater. Expect crossing small streams , grass and a very rocky terrain. No climbing done and a walking stick would be very helpful.
Checkout http://davidmakulit.multiply.com and http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmakulit for pix during our adventure :)
Most of the persons I would show the picture too, the first thing they would say "Phinotoshop mo ba to?" . Actually that was my first reaction when I saw the lake again.. as if God ran photoshop and changed the color of the lake to something surreal. The last part of the trek is an upward trek then you would see some concrete steps and a handrail going up what seems to be nowhere.. like upwards into the clouds, everything is covered in grass and rocks. You trek upwards so you look up and have no idea whats on the other side. Imagine this (sorry medyo sizzy hiker ako so pagod agad ako), tired from the 1hr trek, you see these steps that signals you that you have reached the crater, but all you see is rocks and grass, you look upwards and climb the steep steps 1 after the other, im not the tall so each step is more like a leap for me, but you all you see is the end of the stairs leading to heavens as the song goes. Then you reach the last step, you take a deep breathe feeling exhaustion wrapping its arms around you.. as you reach the last step you see the lake for the first time, a turquoise/aquamarine-ish lake like nothing ever seen in the Philippines. The lake is wrapped by high cliffs and a canyon like something out of J.R. Tolkiens world. The mountain is hovered over by heavy clouds and small burst of sunlight passes thru the gaps of the clouds illuminating patches of the lake as if making each patch glow. And suddenly all your exhaustion goes away and a smile suddenly forms in your lips. Then, 2 words escape your mouth.. "hanep grabe"
For those thinking of going there, you could call Jovy at 09283410402 (as of Jun 2007), she works for the resort spa build just outside the start of the off-road trail. She can hook you up with 4x4's , guides and a spa treatment perfect after the hike. We took the Hike/Dinner/Massage Package under P2000 each.
We left at around 7am (suppose to be 6am) had breakfast then arrived around 10 at the resort . To go to the resort, you drive all the way to the end of NLEX then I would suggest taking a left to concepcion which is the alternate route but dont go to concepcion. You should make your way going to Hacienda Luisita. You might see a fork showing Alternate route to Baguio..DO NOT GO THERE. Just ask around the way to Hacienda Luisita. When you endup at Caltex where you will see a jollibee and KFC, do turn right , this is the road going to baguio and Hacienda Luisita, but just a few meters right before the city hall of Capas, turn left, its sort of a 2 lane street but not very wide. Take that road , all the way straight, then at the end turn right. Aaaaaalllll the way straight following the highway passing the death march memorial and military camp, and around 1km of rough road with a few meters of pavement in between. Just keep going straight, you'll end up seeing a billboard of the pinatubo adventure stuff, thats the resort. Dont worry if you miss resort and kept going straight, you'll know you missed it coz you'll run out of road and you would see a huge ass wilderness like something out of lord of the rings.
From the resort You take a 1 hr 4x4 trip which is quite shaky and would pass on really rough road including inclines and some areas near cliffs. The 4x4 trip takes you to the starting point where theres clean restrooms and some tables . There you would start another 1-1.5 hr trek to the crater. Expect crossing small streams , grass and a very rocky terrain. No climbing done and a walking stick would be very helpful.
Checkout http://davidmakulit.multiply.com and http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmakulit for pix during our adventure :)
Labels: adventure, capas, crater, david, eruption, fujitsu, hike, lake, massage, mountain, Mt, pinatubo, spadril, tarlac, tourism, trek, volcano, weserv
posted by Davidmakulit at
8:19 PM
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