[Throwback (Travel) Thursdays 04.04.2013] Trek to the crater of Pinatubo
This week I'm taking a retrospective look at my mountaineering days. Back in March 2005, we at the Smart Mountaineering Club organized an open climb to Mt. Pinatubo, that infamous volcano that, in 1991, produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century and sent humungous amounts of aerosol into the atmosphere, which resulted in a drop of 0.5°Celsius in global temperatures. The havoc wreaked by the eruption stretched on for years.
Eventually the destructive lahar flows have eased and Mt. Pinatubo has since become a tourist attraction with its lahar canyons and picturesque lake at the crater. While today the norm is to hop on board 4X4 vehicles all the way to the foot of the crater, at the time hiking was still prevalent. It wasn't much of a climb, as the slopes were extremely gradual, hardly noticeable in fact. And so we dubbed that activity "Trek to the Crater of Pinatubo," or TCP.
We were on jeepneys until about halfway to the crater, at which point we continued on foot and under the punishing March sun. The views were splendid although I wondered how much longer the canyons will exist given the constant erosion (it's just sand after all) that is accelerated further during the rainy season.
At the time camping overnight was still allowed. Today it's all day trips and camping is no more unless you can secure a special permit from the local government. Nonetheless, the sight of the crater lake alone is something to look forward to.
Maybe I should go visit Pinatubo once again some time. How about you, have you been there yet?
***************
Interested? There's no shortage of operators everywhere offering organized tours to Pinatubo, and you can find them all online.
Eventually the destructive lahar flows have eased and Mt. Pinatubo has since become a tourist attraction with its lahar canyons and picturesque lake at the crater. While today the norm is to hop on board 4X4 vehicles all the way to the foot of the crater, at the time hiking was still prevalent. It wasn't much of a climb, as the slopes were extremely gradual, hardly noticeable in fact. And so we dubbed that activity "Trek to the Crater of Pinatubo," or TCP.
It's a desert out here, framed by fragile and ever-eroding lahar canyons.
We were on jeepneys until about halfway to the crater, at which point we continued on foot and under the punishing March sun. The views were splendid although I wondered how much longer the canyons will exist given the constant erosion (it's just sand after all) that is accelerated further during the rainy season.
All smiles even under the sun and in the midst of this desert-like landscape.
At the time camping overnight was still allowed. Today it's all day trips and camping is no more unless you can secure a special permit from the local government. Nonetheless, the sight of the crater lake alone is something to look forward to.
Following the eruption, water soon filled up the caldera and a magnificent lake was formed.
Me by the edge of the lake the morning after.
Me taking it all in. Such a glorious view!
Me clowning around with My Bibe.
Maybe I should go visit Pinatubo once again some time. How about you, have you been there yet?
***************
Interested? There's no shortage of operators everywhere offering organized tours to Pinatubo, and you can find them all online.
awesome pictures! The island of Luzon is amazing!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lookwithattitude.net/
thanks, man! have you been here?
DeleteSuch beautiful place...fantastic photos!thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome!
Deleteawesome pictures!!! LOVE LOVE ;)
ReplyDeleteA hug!
V
I´ve never been there...I could give it a try (not much of the outdoors type of guy) its stunning.
ReplyDeletehugs
Andy
The Black Label
http://theblacklabelblog.blogspot.com
you should try the outdoors sometimes.
DeleteAwesome photos :) I've been wanting to go there! Will probably visit the crater when it's not so hot anymore. The weather's too hot to hike up the volcano!
ReplyDeletebut you shouldn't go there during the rainy season either. it's not safe.
DeleteGreat pictures. I hope I can visit the place too.. Soon.. :)
ReplyDeleteLeo
i626leo || Gebet und Arbeit
http://ohohleo.blogspot.com/
go!
Deletevery very nice my dear!:)
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Hey,
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great time. Always enjoy to read your posts. Keep it up!
I was wondering if you would be interested in sharing your posts and ideas on Glipho? It's a quite new social publishing platform for bloggers like you.
i'll check it out.
Deleteooh wow. been wanting to visit this
ReplyDeletewww.jackobubbly.blogspot.com
go!
DeleteThis place is so so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBest Regards
Miss Margaret Cruzemark
http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/
These photos are awesome! What type of camera do you use?
ReplyDeletenialangleyspeaks.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/NiaLangleyOfficial
thanks! these are old photos from a kodak kb-10 point and shoot. just scanned the prints.
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