1000 Steps to Mount Pinatubo

Things to bring:

(1) Digital Camera - CHECK
(2) Sun Block - CHECK
(3) Running Shoes - CHECK
(4) Mineral Water - CHECK
(5) Pedometer - CHECK

February 21, 2009 marks a special day for the 28 members of the Smart Photo Club and Smart Mountaineering Club. After more than a month of planning, we were finally off to conquer Mount Pinatubo.

ETD Makati
Our day started early with a 230AM call time at Smart Tower. The adventurers rented 3vans to shuttle us from Smart Tower Makati to Capas Tarlac and vice versa. We arrived in Capas, Tarlac at 500AM then we had breakfast at Chowking. We were the Buena Mano of Chinese Fastfood restaurant.

Sta Juliana
The four wheel drive forums say there's scarcity of 1st generation Toyota Land Cruiser in the Philippines. Guess what - most of them are in Sta Juliana, Capas, Tarlac ferrying tourists to the jump off point. The group used 6 old school SUVs to bring us within walking distance from the volcano. The one hour dusty and jumpy ride passed through 2 feet deep rivers, quick sand type lahar and an almost 45 degree hill climb. A standard 4x4 would have a tough time with the terrain reason why they use modified rigs.

Keep Walking
And now the punishing walk starts or the adventure begins, depending on how you view it. At this point, some of us fotogs have taken at least a dozen pitures already and we've barely started. Travelling light under this circumstance is a basic requirement however as photo buffs, we can leave behind everything EXCEPT our cameras and equipment. The usual 40 minute walk at normal pace took more than an hour because pictures were taken every 10 meters. The scene filled walk brought us through boulders the size of a jeep, a 60 feet high lahar and C2 streams (cool and clear).

Lo and Behold
In 1991, this long dormant volcano wreaked havoc, claimed lives and brought significant property damage. Fast forward to 2009, it is now making up by sharing its natural beauty. The sight of the lake will give you goosebumps and every individual who experiences its natural wonder is truly blessed. In an informal survey, only 2 out of 10 Filipinos have seen Mount Pinatubo. The 5 square kilometer blue green lake inside the volcano is picturesque. No matter how you shoot it, it will come out beautiful. The cool lake water was so tempting that some of the group members had to take a dip in the nature made pool. We stayed inside the volcano crater for 3 hours and around 200PM, we started our trek back to the jump off point. My trusty pedometer logged 1000 steps from the jump off point to the lake and that's equivalent to about 1.3 kilometers.

After walking 1000 steps to the crater, 300 kilometers logged by the vehicles and 17 hours of fun filled adventure, the group reached Smart Tower Makati at 700PM. It was an exhausting day but the adventure was worth it. Conquered Mount Pinatubo - CHECK!