She Asked, We Climbed: Our Mt. Pinatubo Adventure
I organized this special adventure as a birthday gift for my younger sister. If I'm able to lead climbs for my club, why not for family, diba?
The history of Mt. Pinatubo is taught in school, and itineraries are in abundance out there. So, I won't tackle those things. Rather, I'll focus on the stories I've gathered from our guide and 4x4 driver and of course, the contact details and fees.
We took the Capas Trail (or 4x4 Trail) because it is the most popular and takes less time. On a typical weekend, there are at least three hundred 4x4 vehicles serving guests coming from Tarlac and Zambales. Fortunately for us, the Zambales trail was closed two weeks prior to our visit due to an accident.
Our guide shared stories similar to what we heard during our hike in Mt. Negron, tales of how the environment has changed over the years and how families were displaced during the 1991 eruption. He mentioned that there are still places in the area that only IPs know about and visit, which we will definitely go back to see!
He is a second-generation Aeta guide, but sadly, he earns a measly 300 pesos per day.
Contact
I reached out to Mt Pinatubo Aeta Tour Services to secure logistics at Capas, Tarlac.
Joepet Rueda - 09300060704
Fees
Reservation Fee: 500 Php
๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ without van
2300/head - 12pax
2450/head - 11pax
2600/head - 10pax
2750/head - 9pax
2300/head - 8pax
2500/head - 7pax
2750/head - 6pax
3100/head - 5pax
2300/head - 4pax
2750/head - 3pax
3700/head - 2pax
6000/head - solo
Inclusion
๐via 4x4 maximum of 4 persons
๐โโ๏ธAeta Tour Guide
Exclusion
Personal expenses for Food, and water
A foggy scene at 4x4 trail going to Pinatubo crater trail
Rocky Section of Capas Trail via 4x4
Lahar River Valley
It took us ~2 hours to reach the end of the 4x4 dirt trail, but during that time we were greeted with views that only Mt. Pinatubo can offer. There are endless valleys of lahar rising hundreds of meters high. These walls vary in size and constantly erode, which adds to their raw beauty. It's difficult to capture this massive scale in photos, which is why I highly suggest witnessing its grandeur firsthand.
As expected on a weekend, the trail was full of guests. Hindi masyado na-appreciate ng mga kasama ko ang ganda ng trail going to the crater because most of the scenery was filled with people. So, we took our time at the top to let everyone go ahead, para masolo namin ang trail going back to the 4x4 parking. First time nilang tatlo so might as well make the experience memorable.
Trail going to Pinatubo Crater
While trekking, my sister's boyfriend said, "Ganito pala kaganda dito." They were able to witness the raw beauty of the vegetation; how green it was and how it blended with the environment.
No narrative needed. Ganito kaganda ang Mt. Pinatubo crater.
Top View of Pinatubo Crater
Mt. Pinatubo Crater