Trekking up the Eden that is Mount Pinatubo

Nobody prepared me for the stunning welcome when I finally reached the crater of Mt. Pinatubo one weekend in December 2009. The aquamarine lake water was cool and calm. The surroundings tranquil, but occasionally broken by excited cries of trekkers and mountaineers. The beauty of the lake, mesmerizing. Need I say more?

Coming here is not really peanuts. I had to endure an hour-and-a-half ride on a 4 x 4, in addition to the 3 hour ride from Manila and pass through a wet desert where the sand or air dyes my black hair grey and worse, turn the strands into hard wires.


The trek to Mount Pinatubo Crater begins at the Visitor Registration Center at Bgy. Santa Juliana in Capas, Tarlac. The registration process is a safety procedure and this is also necessary in order for the town to easily account visitors.

After registering and paying for the tour guide and 4 x 4, the long, dusty ride begun. We passed by a bare, lahar-covered area. I learned later on from our guide that we were passing by what used to be Camp O'Donnel in Capas. Somebody also added that suspected rebels or those suspected of engaging in anti-government activities are taken at what used to be the former US military facility for interrogation and other heaven-only-knows-what stuff. [:-(]

The tributaries created by the mountain spring add spice to our adventure.

This is a challenge to the 4 x 4, a steep uphill climb. The local government of Capas created this pathway by cutting through one of the mountains in the cluster of mountains in the area. They call this "biniyak na bundok" which means "split up mountain"


Our 4 x 4 had an engine trouble, but we did not wait long for another 4 x 4 to come by and continue our ride. The ride would continue and after close to an hour-and-a-half ride, we came at a stop which the guides and the locals call "Cuadra". Here, we freshen up before beginning the trek. There is a toilet and bath with continuous water supply which is really cool.


And apparently, this is also where the 4 x 4s would park and the trekkers would begin their ascent.
After a few initial steps, I and other trekkers came upon this sign which really challenged my trekking skills.

Nature landscapes such as this make the trek worthwhile. They cover the area with a coat of breeze so the heat becomes bearable. The thick foliage further is almost a sight found in the "Middle earth"

After a little over 20 minutes, this picturesque scenery came into view and we were struck by the calm picture it presents, Eden without the animals.

How to get here:

From Manila, take any bus going to Capas, Tarlac. Upon reaching Capas, ride a jeepney that will take you to Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac.