Backstory
Thanks to Cashcash Pinoy, the gang decided to tick the Mt. Pinatubo trek off the bucket list. Online research says that the trek would be wet and slippery and would present all kinds of terrain: sand, rocks and mud. I guess we were just lucky with the weather. It was just 5-10% slippery and most of it was rocks and sand. About 20% were streams that you had to cross over so it's advisable to wear something amphibious. I wore a Sandugo Yatri (relatively budgeted @ 1799 php), which turned out to be a good investment since sandals would give you blisters afterwards.
From the beginning
We arrived at the meeting place (Mcdo Shell at the corner of now Ortigas Jr Drive;formerly Emerald Ave and Ortigas Ave) at around 130 am. Access8, our organizers, said that departure was at 230 but we had companions from Davao who might have arrived late that's why we had to leave at 3am. Almost slept through the whole bus ride and was at the DENR 4x4 jump off point by 6am. It took some time before we left the bus because our organizers still had to register us with DENR. We were off by am and arrived at the jump off trekking point by 8am? The 4x4 ride is simply a bucket list ride. Some of the 4x4's did not look menacing enough to conquer the terrain. But you'd be surprised as it took inclined planes and rough roads with ease. The weather was perfect for trekking. Not too hot and not to dreary. The sun would show at different intervals but didn't bother as much. Apart from the light drizzle at the latter part of trip going back, the weather was pretty much cooperative. The trek terrain consisted of rocks of all sizes, sand and streams. It's going to bet wet because of the streams but they only reach up to the knees. Don't attempt to walk without looking at your feet as the terrain is pretty unpredictable and it's easy to stub your toe with a misplaced rock.
Our friend was wearing Crocs and she was also comfortable all throughout. It's not advisable to wear sandals as it may give you blisters and rubbing at the tension support points.It's also recommended to bring a med kit consisting of bandaids and such. We reached the summit finally after 3 hours of walking and it was all worth it. Simply exhilarating. The sun was shining by the time we had arrived (really advisable to wear sunblock if only to counter cancer). We ate our packaged meal without spoons and forks and used plastic bags with our hands. The view of the water when it's near is even more amazing. We didn't take a dip because it was too windy and the sun decided to hide itself by the time we were ready.
All in all, a trek to Pinatubo is definitely something you'd want on your bucket list. It has tons of lessons to teach you. And its beauty can only be appreciated firsthand. Such a turnaround from spewing ash and lava not so long ago; like a woman scorned. Only goes to show that no matter what nature has been through, time will heal all wounds.
