Conquering Mt.Pinatubo: A Journey Through History and Nature
What’s a good destination for a day hike that is easy to reach from Manila, you asked me? Well, that was actually the same question I had before coming back to the Philippines for a short stay last summer. It was only a few days before I flew back to the Philippines from Taiwan when I thought of going for a quick adventure, something that would not wipe out my travel budget yet still be completely worth it.
Mt. Pinatubo has been on my bucket list ever since, and I was very tempted to go for it a few days after I climbed Mt.Pulag: The Playground of Gods. However, things became very busy during my stay in the Philippines during those days, and I didn’t have the chance to go for it anymore. So, this time! I made it sure that it was the only adventure that I would do during my very quick stay in the Philippines!
Mt.Pinatubo
Before we dive into the adventure, it’s essential to understand the historical significance of Mt. Pinatubo. The 1991 eruption was one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, causing widespread devastation and affecting millions of lives. The eruption spewed out massive amounts of volcanic ash, leading to the creation of the beautiful yet eerie caldera lake that attracts trekkers from around the world today.
Mt. Pinatubo, an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, has always been a natural wonder that fascinates me. Known for its catastrophic eruption in 1991, which drastically altered the landscape and affected global weather patterns, Mt. Pinatubo has since transformed into a stunning trekking destination.
Joiner Trip
I initially planned to join an arranged group trip as a solo joiner, which is a common thing among travelers in the Philippines. But before deciding to do so, I first tried to invite some of my friends in the Philippines but only one responded. To my surprise, she invited seven more friends along with her!
4×4 Truck Ride
This adventure started with an hour-long ride in a 4×4 jeepney, traversing countless rivers to reach the starting point of the trek. The entire ride is gray and dusty, likely due to the remnants of the eruption and the ash deposits left by the lava. This ride surely shook the hell out of me as the truck relentlessly crossed countless rocks along the way!
In the video below, you can see how shaky it was while we were crossing the river, but our driver was very chill, playing his Air Supply songs.
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