Inside Mt. Pinatubo: The Crater Lake

Fast Facts:

Mount. Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon, near the tripoint of Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. It is located in the Cabusilan Mountains separating the west coast of Luzon from central plains. Before the volcanic activities of 1991, its eruptive history was unknown to most people. It was heavily eroded, inconspicuous and obscured from view. It was covered with dense forest which supported a population of several thousand indigenous people, the Aetas, who fled to the mountains during the Spanish conquest of the Philippines.

Mount Pinatubo Crater

On June 15, 1991, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo beagan at 1:42 p.m. local time. TYhe eruption lasted for nine hours and caused numerous large earthquakes due to the collapse of the summit of Mount Pinatubo and the creation of a caldera. The caldera reduced the peak from 1745 meters (5725 feet) to 1485 meters (4872 feet) high is 2.5 kilometers (1.5 mile) in diameter. It was considered as the second largest volcanic eruption of the twentieth century. The largest volcanic eruption was the 1912 eruption of Katmai-Novarupta ( Alaska).


Lagalag Expedition:


It was my first time to visit this one of a kind wonder of nature. Talaga namang excited na excited ako sa araw na ito. Mula sa paghahanda, pagpaplano at pag-aaya sa mga fb friends ko ginawa ko para lang matuloy ang Mount Pinatubo expedition. At hindi naman ako nabigo dahil sa mga taong sumuporta sa aking mga adhikain. aha!
It was a very wonderful morning when we arrived at Brgy. Sta Juliana, Capas, Tarlac where the tourism office located. Hindi ganun kadali puntahan yung lugar lalo na kung mag-cocommute ka lang. Magastos at higit sa lahat hassle talaga ang mag-byahe ng maaga lalo na at hindi ka pa talaga nakakapunta dun kahit minsan. We were very thankful dahil one of our friend, Edson, brought his own vehicle kaya di kami nahirapan. Yun ang kagandahan kapag may sarili kang sasakyan, hawak mo ang oras mo at madali kang makakarating sa lugar na pupuntahan mo. Early bird catches the early worms ika nga. Pagdating namin sa tourism office marami ng tao, tulad namin mga travelers din sila na gustong makaakyat sa Mount Pinatubo. Pero syempre hindi rin maiiwasan ang paminsan minsang hindi pagkaka-unawaan. And I think the local government of Tarlac should make an action on this issues. Marami ang may gustong pumunta ng Pinatubo kaya minsan nag-kakakulangan ng mga sasakyan. 

Scene every Morning at the Tourism Office

Charlie, Tan-tan and Richard.

Umagang sobrang dami ng tao. Weekend kasi kaya siguro ganun na lang kadami ang mga taong dumating galing sa iba't ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas. We were very lucky on that day because we didn't experience too much delay. Bago pa kasi kami umakyat inayos na namin lahat pati yung sasakyan namin na 4X4. A group of ten person, saktong sakto sa dalawang 4X4 na pinareserved namin. So after registration at konting pahinga sa jumpoff point, nag-umpisa na kami sa aming paglalakbay.

Check  Point

I want to be a mountain climber!!! ho!ho!ho! Morning exercise ng Philippine army habang nag-jojoging sa kahabaan ng kalsada ng Brgy. Sta Juliana. Puno ng energy, parang kami puno ng battery charge sa katawan at ready na sa darating na pagsubok.

The Pinatubo way...

This is where our journey begins. Pagkatapos dumaan sa isang check point, bumungad sa amin ang isang malawak na kapatagan na dating dinaanan ng rumaragasang lahar. hmmm... 

This is how Pinatubo change this part of  Tarlac.

Isang maalikabok at bako bakong daan ang babati sa lahat ng bisitang pumupunta sa Mount Pinatubo. Halos 1 hour ang travelling time na ginugol namin bago makasapit sa next jumpoff point. Kung saan wala ng sasakyan na mag-hahatid sa amin. Dahil pagdating doon, lakaran to the max na ang aming gagawin. 

The road going to the next jump-off point was really exciting. Lalo na pag-may mga humps at tuwing nag-splash ang tubig sa paligid. And of course, the marks of lahar and landslide sa buong paligid ay talaga naman nakakamanghang pag-masdan.

Stop Over!

Our first group picture along the way and my first solo pix. From left: Jerico, Jeffer, Charlie, Joanne, Bryan, Batangkapampangan(Me), Edson, Charlene, Jonathan and Richard.

The Fast and the Furious???

After that mala-roller coaster ride sa loob ng isa at kalahating oras, finally we had reached the next jump-off point. From here, we need to walk for almost 2 hours and it depends on your pacing. Syempre para sa mga sanay na maglakad ng ganun katagal hindi na yun ganun kahirap.

Parking lot for 4X4s...

From here, we started to walk for almost 2hours. 

The weather was so nice on that day. Hindi ganun kainit dahil sa mga ulap na tumatabing sa aming nilalakaran laban sa matinding sikat ng araw. Wow! parang sa bible yun ah? 

Lakad lang ng lakad. Parang walang katapusang paglalakad. What I liked about this hiked was the amazing view that captured everyone's attention in every angle of the trail. Isang mahabang lakaran sa gitna ng mga gumuhong bundok at mga lahar.

The trail going to the crater is very manageable. Hindi naman kailangan ng matinding effort. Para ka nga lang naglalakad sa kalsadang hindi sementado. There were lots of huge boulders around. And during rainy season, water from the mountains flows in this area. Kung kaya minsan ipinagbabawal ang pagpunta dito tuwing masama ang panahon.

Is that a house? Nope, it is a cottage where everyone can stop for awhile and have some rest. There is a comfort room at the side and a water source that can be drink. 

Another group picture. Sa kabila ng pagod at gutom, kaya pa rin nating ngumiti. And that's the Spirit! 

This is it! hmmmm... Your time record on reaching the crater will tell you how old you really are. huh! E paano kung lumampas ako ng twenty minutes? Hindi ba pwedeng tumawad? ehehehe

Take Nothing but Pictures lang daw...

Warning: Don't try this at Home... tsk! tsk! tsk! Jeff, wala ng aabutan ang susunod na henerasyon. Sira mo na eh....

After a minutes of rest, we continue our trek going to the crater lake. But on this time, malakas na ulit kami at game na ulit sa paglalakad.

Signages Along the Way:

These signage reminds everyone to be extra careful since the trail is becoming narrow and stiff in this area.

Almost there...

The gigantic caldera of Mt. Pinatubo.

Finally, we had reached the crater. Congratulations!!!!

This was the most challenging part of Mt. Pinatubo, the descent and ascent. Dahil sa matarik na hagdan pababa, medyo sumakit ang mga binti namin.

Pagdating na pagdating pa lang ng grupo deretso lunch agad. And after that we decided to rent a boat that brought us to the hot spring. Ibang iba talaga ang kulay ng tubig sa crater na lalong nag-papaganda sa paligid. The natural landscapes of Mt. Pinatubo was truly an awesome sight to behold. 

After the eruption in 1991, ganito na sya kaganda ngayon...

Pero dahil sa contaminated ng sulfur ang tubig, walang mga isda ang nabubuhay sa lawang ito.

As in hot talaga. May part na talaga namang mainit at hindi ko matagalan.

Hot spring

Ang mga taong putik. Those are volcanic mud, dahil sa curiosity nakigaya na rin kami sa mga taong nandun. Di ko alam kung anong epekto nito sa balat basta pahid lang ng pahid. Enjoy naman eh. ehehe!

After an hour and a half na pagtatampisaw at paglalaro, nag-banlaw na kami at bumalik na sa kabilang side ng crater.

The Crater Lake

At syempre, bago umuwi kailangan ko rin ma-experience ang pagsasagwan. Sa una akala ko madali lang, hindi pala...

Ang Bangkerong Kalbo...

Feeling naman...ehehe!

Pag-hahanda sa pagbaba... 

Isa na namang araw ng pag-lalagalag ang lumipas sa buhay ng batang kapampangan. Isang araw sa Mt. Pinatubo ang muling daragdag sa aking mga paglalakbay. Hanggang sa mga susunod pang pag-lalagalag. Drama mo!!!! ehehehe! Sa uulitin....

Lagalag Reminders:

Take Nothing but Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints, Kill Nothing but Time

Photos courtesy of Jerico Urbano and Batangkapampangan