Pinatubo, not just for Hard-Core Mountaineers

Pinatubo, not just for hard-core mountaineers
By RG


Like a Phoenix emerging from its ashes, the beauty, splendor and grandeur of Mt. Pinatubo is truly humbling. Trekking amidst towering walls of lahar, one would express awe in what nature has destroyed and created.
15 years ago, this volcano suddenly woke up after a 600 year slumber. The effects of the eruption were felt worldwide. It injected large amounts of aerosols into the stratosphere—more than any eruption since that of Krakatoa in 1883.
The years that followed turned the volcano from a geological wonder to a tourist attraction. Before, to reach the crater, one would have to walk for about 8-10 hours from Bgy. Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac. Nowadays, one can take a one hour 4x4 jeep ride and a 3 hour trek to see the crater.
And on the week that Filipinos reached the top of the world, a group of BMS Associates made their way to Mt. Pinatubo’s crater, to sort of plant the BMS flag near the edge of the crater lake.
The group drove from the office to Capas, parked the vehicles near the barangay hall, paid the necesarry fees (i.e. for the guide and the jeep ride) then rode those 4x4s to start the trip.
The jeeps plowed through lahar following the path of one of those lava flows formed from the explosion. The ride is fun, punctuated with moments of anxiety as the jeep tries to make its way up and down uneven patches of dried lahar and flowing streams of water. Crossing the river was a bit daunting at first, but the anxiety went away as each passenger felt the jeep’s all fours firmly gripping the loose rocks and up the sandy banks. The trail towards the end of the 4x4 ride became extremely rocky, it was time to negotiate the rest of the way on foot.
Getting off those jeeps, one starts the journey into the spartan life. No more vehicles and no more signal (the cell phone is now only good for telling the time and taking pictures).
You’d get that Hollywood feel when you do the 3 hour trek. First it was Star Wars : The white ash you walk on makes you imagine that you are in Tatooine. Then you’d find yourself on the set of Lord of the Rings, what with those broad landscapes and towering white walls. Lastly, you get biblical, as if Moses parted the red sea and you are in between them trying to stop yourself from thinking that the jagged ashy cliffs about seven stories high would tumble down and drown you. Truly surreal.
But when you make that final ascent to reach the crater rim, all fears, pain, exhaustion, boredom, hunger and thirst disappear. When you see the turquoise-blue waters within the ridge one might think : ‘what used to be hell is now something heavenly, quite majestic.’ You pick a spot, any spot, whatever your viewpoint, you will feel the serenity. It may certainly have been well worth the hike to see such heavenly bliss but not until one had jumped in it could anyone say that the juice was worth the squeeze.
The group then made the 150 meter descent to the lake. The dip in the cool water was perhaps one of the highlights of this adventure. Swimming in the crater gives one an eerie feeling. It is so uncertain that you test the waters with a thrilling mix of curiosity and fear. The shoreline, formed of volcanic ash, continues for a about a couple of feet and then drops until you can no longer feel the ground. After about 10 minutes, most were brave enough to venture near the forbidden zone. The guides say that the cool water would turn from warm to hot just beyond that imaginary line. The warning was heeded and no one dared cross that line.
As the sun set, it was time to go back to camp. When the air turned surprisingly chilly, jackets and flashlights were brought out before braving the dark night. Entertainment at a campsite is only as good as the participants. Lots of bonding stories were exchanged, memory games played, with sudden exclamations at the beauty of the sky and the wonder of fireflies.
Waking up the next day you first check if the ridge hasn’t caved in on the lake. What you see is something that would have you thank your creator for giving you another day on this earth on the see the majesty of his creation. The suns rays begin to hit the western ridge, slowly creeping up from the east. The waters turning from dark blue to its azure hue. It was another chance to swim, while for some it was to try canoeing to the other side of the lake. In search of what was supposed to be the boiling springs, they found great spots for Friendster-worthy shots instead.
The trip back to civilization was a different story. The heavens opened and let out a downpour. It’s a good thing that the guys came prepared and waterproofed their gear. Cameras, phones, wallets and car keys were ziploc’d, raincoats and umbrellas made their appearance. Twas good that it only rained for an hour. The rest of the descent would have everyone cross the rampaging river and the pebble strewed landscape. Good thing there was no mud.
Seeing the jeep again meant that the cellphone signal missed for one night would be had in an hours time. As the gang drove back to the barangay hall, a bunch of foreigners were seen making their way to their own 4x4s surely giving the people of the barangay their much needed livelihood.
Many of the locals have returned, building their small shanties in the greener parts of the mountain. They seem to have renewed their faith in the volcano that betrayed them not so long ago. But life must go on and this little piece of heaven on earth is where they lay claim and continue to dwell until the next earth shaking event.