Mount Pinatubo via Delta 5 Trail
Major jump-off: Brgy. Pidpid, Porac, PampangaLLA: 15°8'35"N, 120°20'54"E, 960 MASL
Days required / Hours to crater: 2 days/ 10 to 12 hours
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 7/9, Trail class 1-3
Mount Pinatubo is an active stratavolcano in the Cabusilan Mountains on the island of Luzon, near the tripoint of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. 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.
The volcano's Plinian/Ultra-Plinian eruption on 15 June 1991 produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century after the 1912 eruption of Novarupta in the Alaska Peninsula. Complicating the eruption was the arrival of Typhoon Yunya (Diding),
bringing a lethal mix of ash and rain to areas surrounding the volcano.
Successful predictions at the onset of the climactic eruption led to
the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from the surrounding
areas, saving many lives, but the surrounding areas were severely
damaged by pyroclastic flows, ash deposits, and subsequently, by the lahars
caused by rainwaters re-mobilizing earlier volcanic deposits causing
extensive destruction to infrastructure and changing the river systems
months to years after the eruption.
The effects of the eruption were felt worldwide. It ejected roughly 10,000,000,000 tonnes (1.1×1010 short tons) or 10 km3 (2.4 cu mi) of magma, and 20,000,000 tonnes (22,000,000 short tons) SO2, bringing vast quantities of minerals and metals to the surface environment. It injected more particulate into the stratosphere than any eruption since Krakatoa in 1883. Over the following months, the aerosols formed a global layer of sulfuric acid haze. Global temperatures dropped by about 0.5 °C (0.9 °F) in the years 1991-93, and ozone depletion temporarily increased substantially.
I was going through an article about the top 10 most beautiful mountains in the Philippines. I already trekked four and the closer and the more possible mountain to hike is Mount Pinatubo so I can at least trek the 5th mountain. Being so interested trekking this, I was able to comprehend that Mount Pinatubo can be trekked the other way and spending the night here will be possible.
This trail is very much different from the 4" x 4" trail in Capas, Tarlac, wherein there's a 45 minute ride at 4" x 4" and two-hour trek up to the crater. This trail is available only for dayhike and costs more than the Delta 5 trail.
By DIY there will be lot of requirements to be complied especially getting a trek permit. We don't even know how to get a guide, how to get to the jump-off, information on how long the trek would be, water source and how much everything would cost. There are a lot of event organizers about the Delta 5 trail but I guess they are charging too much. My friend and photo blogger Mickey of Seven Dreams suggested that we contact his friend Rommel Canlas so that we will not be over-thinking about the trek .
The group of Rommel Canlas is only doing the package every summer up to second week of May every year. Trekking Pinatubo during rainy season is not allowable and will be very dangerous for the trekkers. The package already includes the rent of the chartered jeepney from Dau to jump-off and vice versa, packed breakfast on the first day, unlimited dinner on the second day, guide fee and permit fee. You can contact him at celfone number 0918-9480917. I promise you his trek package is much cheaper and more organized.
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| lovers Kate and Raymart <3 |
We were met by Rommel's group at the Jollibee Dau Terminal before 2am. We arrived at the jump-off by 3am. The packed breakfast was distributed among the trekkers and we ate before finally starting. Our group of 13 persons was provided with 3 Aeta guides and 1 head guide. Because it is still dark, our guides were somewhat lost on who to guide so I decided to gather our group and the three guides who's supposed to be with us during the first resting area. I asked them to provide a sweeper because we were somehow lost in some trails and being left behind by the group. It is just the start of the trek but the darkness and the sand are making this adventure so tough!
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| my boys |
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| we have a beginner here in the name of Kate Lao! |
Everytime we cross the river, we are changing our footwears from trekking shoes to slippers. In the end, I ended up just using my slippers throughout the first day of the trek. What must be the proper footwear? Because there are 15 or more river crossings throughout the trail, one can opt to wear the proper trekking shoes. It is safer for your feet and never mind wetting it multiple times. It is also comfortable to wear trekking sandals but be sure to wear socks because the friction between the sand to your skin will surely produce blisters just like what happened to my 2 sons who both wore sandals. I wore my trekking shoes the next day after producing blisters and realized masarap pa rin mag trek na naka trekking shoes.
The trek is a repetition of volcanic sand and river crossing... that's how you will get blistered feet...sand and then water...after the river, it's sand again...
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| one of the river crossings |
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| with Gilbert, whom we bumped once at Mt. Maculot, but continued to join us every hike =) |
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| kulitan kahit pagod na =) |
One of the highlights of the Delta 5 trail is the big boulders crossing area. Great for photo shooting! There is one part where only half of your body size will be fitted to that very small area.
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| my first born, JP |
Be very careful at this area, I found two springs producing
extremely hot water. Alvin has stepped
on it.
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| Our not that young and youngest trekker of the group |
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| boulder crossing |
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| with the ever reliable Aeta guides... assisting us all the time |
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| nagpapa cute eh gwapo naman! |
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| while waiting for others to cross that half-body size hole |
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| the strong currents |
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| boulder trail |
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| more boulders |
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| left behind |
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| one of my favorite photo during the trek |
The first water source was a river before the 1st
waterfalls. Always ask the Aeta guides if the water will be safe for drinking.
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| CTO Andy Bigornia |
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| my ordinary and old point & shoot camera produced an image like this... breathtaking! |
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| family of mountaineers |
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| CTO Andy Bigornia |
We arrived at the first waterfalls at around 11am, refilled
our tumblers and hydro bags. We arrived
at the second and third waterfalls after 30 minutes. Sarap maligo! We consumed a little meal at
this area. We were confined at that very little shade.
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| the second and third waterfalls |
The head guides said that we were very near the campsite
already. One roped segment and then we
finally arrived at the extremely hot campsite.
It was high noon and we were looking for a little shade at least to take
a little rest.
From the original itinerary, we were scheduled to arrive at
the campsite by 5pm. We actually arrived
pass 12 high noon. We were earlier by 5
hours.
All the members of the group pitched their tents already. We were 42 trekkers during that time and we all agreed to
pursue the summit/crater the same day and not follow the original itinerary to
summit the next day really early.
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| the extremely hot campsite |
We just cook rice and took our lunch. Had a little rest and decided to trek up to
the summit starting at 1:30pm. There
were again some river crossings and boulder hopping. It was more than two hours assault. Extremely
tiring assault...
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| the second part of the trek, campsite to crater... |
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| the hole-like trail... |
I am a little paranoid of this trail because I felt that when you move just one boulder on the side of the trail, everything will collapse...
We had to pass through this big boulders and the guides said
that after this, the crater will show up.
After the almost hole part of assault, huh! there’s still no
crater. We still have to continuously walk and finally arrive to see nothing but mountains. The Aetas again said that when
we reach the top, the view of the crater can be found. My son JP is extremely dehydrated and
tired. His nose is bleeding already so
we have to stop while my groupmates were already shouting at the top. We have to step little by little to reach the
summit. We’ve been walking for almost 10
hours and moreover, sleepless.
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| mountains before the crater |
At last we reached the crater… It was so worth it…
OMG! Words that your mouth will utter...
The crater is ... great! beautiful! amazing! stunning! magical! awesome! incredible! marvelous! surprising! unbelievable! wonderful! astounding! unimaginable! magnificent! enchanted! heavenly!
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| Gilbert |
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| Raymart and Kate <3 |
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| my tireless son, Joshua |
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| JP on top! |
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| Oh Yeah! It's daddy =) |
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| jayshelle forever |
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| though looks haggard... it still feels so good to reach the famous crater =) |
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| Bantog Brothers |
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| first time to trek and reach the summit using plain slippers |
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| The boys with the Aeta guides… It’s hard to take photos because of the very limited space. Oh I already wanted to own that Hero4. |
It became strenuous for us to go down up to the campsite.
Time check 4:30 pm. It is more than 2
hours going down and my kids, especially JP, is tired already. The other part of the group went ahead already
and I asked my husband to slow down and assist my son a lot of times. He has poor eyesight and it is beginning to
get dark. He slipped twice to thrice. I
promised myself that we will have his eyes checked again and hopefully undergo
the lasik surgery.
One Aeta guide was left for the three of us. I asked Alvin to assist my second son. He is still energetic though already trekking
for almost 12 hours.
Upon arriving at the campsite, I immediately assisted my two kids to freshen up at the river and finally change their clothes for sleeping. They ate and finally rest. Wala munang socials ngayon, pagod ako! hahaha =)
Lights off!
Good morning Pinatubo!
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| ang sweet ni tito mamart <3 |
After breaking camp! It's time to take groupies again =)
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| the gurlz |
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| the boys |
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| naman eh! may monopad palang dala, di ginamit sa crater =( |
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| last groupie... sa campsite, hehe =) |
Time to go down guyz!
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| this way please! |
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| Bantog Backpackers |
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| watersource! pero napasigaw si daddy... may naliligo raw sa taas, hahaha =) |
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| father and daughter tandem |
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| groupie at the waterfalls! dami pang energy! |
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| with new found friends, Kenneth and Jr (with our guide) |
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| some trails are like this, so be very careful! |
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| Thank You to our new friends, Kenneth and JR dahil kung wala sila, wala kaming kanin =) |
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| my boss Andy with the Aeta guides (waiting for cooked lunch) |
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| gutom na talaga! spent our lunch on the last shade we found |
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| almost there! |
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| though I am always left behind, I still have to capture these sceneries |
We were so thankful that we pursue with the summit on the first day because it will be exhaustively burdensome to assault it on the next day with the scorching heat of the sun. Thank you guyz! And I would like to apologize for being masungit on the last hour of the trek. Naligaw ako at naglakad pa ng additional 500 meters coz there were no more guides on sight at the last part of the trail. Everyone went ahead and there are crossroads during the last part. Just make sure to post at least one guide on that crossroad so it won't happen again. But overall the experience was so awesome! Thank You very much!
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| with the head guides |
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| while they are waiting sa naligaw na blogger ... |
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| arrived at the jump-off by 3:00pm |
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| our chartered jeepney going to Sir Rommel's house in Angeles |
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| After that exhausting 2 day trek, this is what's waiting for us... unlimited food and drinks!!! Attack! |
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| with one of the head guides and Sir Rommel Canlas (Pinatubo trek organizer) |
The usual itinerary given by Sir Rommel's group:
MT. Pinatubo Climb Via. Delta 5
DAY 1 SATURDAY
11:00 PM Assembly at Cubao
12:00 AM ETD going to Dau Terminal
1:30 AM ETA Dau terminal, Wait for chartered jeep
3:30 AM ETA Delta 5 Jump-off
4:00 AM Start Trek
5:30 AM ETA First River Crossing
11:00 AM ETA Water Source (Load Water) Lunch
2:00 PM Continue Trek
2:00 PM ETA 1st Water Falls
3:00 PM ETA 2nd Water Falls
4:00 PM ETA 3rd Water Falls (1 hour before campsite)
5:00 PM ETA Campsite (set up tent)
DAY 2 SUNDAY
4:00 AM Wake Up Call (Prepare Breakfast)
5:00 AM Summit Assault
7:00 AM ETA Summit (Picture taking)
8:00 AM Back at Campsite (Break Camp) Packed Lunch
12:00 NN Lunch on Trail
6:30 PM ETA Jump-off
7:00 PM Departure going to Angeles City
8:00 PM ETA Rommel's House (Dinner)
10:00 PM ETD Manila
11:30 PM ETA Manila (Home Sweet Home)
MT. Pinatubo Climb Via. Delta 5
DAY 1 SATURDAY
11:00 PM Assembly at Cubao
12:00 AM ETD going to Dau Terminal
1:30 AM ETA Dau terminal, Wait for chartered jeep
3:30 AM ETA Delta 5 Jump-off
4:00 AM Start Trek
5:30 AM ETA First River Crossing
11:00 AM ETA Water Source (Load Water) Lunch
2:00 PM Continue Trek
2:00 PM ETA 1st Water Falls
3:00 PM ETA 2nd Water Falls
4:00 PM ETA 3rd Water Falls (1 hour before campsite)
5:00 PM ETA Campsite (set up tent)
DAY 2 SUNDAY
4:00 AM Wake Up Call (Prepare Breakfast)
5:00 AM Summit Assault
7:00 AM ETA Summit (Picture taking)
8:00 AM Back at Campsite (Break Camp) Packed Lunch
12:00 NN Lunch on Trail
6:30 PM ETA Jump-off
7:00 PM Departure going to Angeles City
8:00 PM ETA Rommel's House (Dinner)
10:00 PM ETD Manila
11:30 PM ETA Manila (Home Sweet Home)
But we were able to do it this way :
Day 0
11:30PM – Assembly at Cubao
12:00MN to 1:30AM– Cubao to Dau Terminal
Day 1
1:30AM to 2:00AM - Waiting for chartered jeepney
2:00AM to 3:00AM - Dau to Brgy. Pidpid, Porac, Pampanga
3:00AM to 3:30AM - breakfast and prepare for trekking
3:30AM - start of trek
5:00AM - first river crossing (15 river crossings up to the campsite)
12:00MN to 1:30AM– Cubao to Dau Terminal
Day 1
1:30AM to 2:00AM - Waiting for chartered jeepney
2:00AM to 3:00AM - Dau to Brgy. Pidpid, Porac, Pampanga
3:00AM to 3:30AM - breakfast and prepare for trekking
3:30AM - start of trek
5:00AM - first river crossing (15 river crossings up to the campsite)
11:00AM - first water source
11:30AM - first water falls
12:00NN - second and third waterfalls
12:30PM - arrival at campsite (with water source)
12:30PM to 1:30PM- pitch tents, lunch and rest11:30AM - first water falls
12:00NN - second and third waterfalls
12:30PM - arrival at campsite (with water source)
1:30PM to 4:00PM - campsite to crater (summit)
Up to 6
river crossings and 2 hours assault with boulders crossing
(there’s last water source, water closer to summit is not safe for drinking)
4:00PM to 4:30PM - at the crater (picture taking)
(there’s last water source, water closer to summit is not safe for drinking)
4:00PM to 4:30PM - at the crater (picture taking)
4:30PM to 6:45PM - summit to campsite
7:00PM - bath without soap at the campsite (unlimited water)Dinner
9:00PM - lights off!
Day 2
5:00AM - wake up call
5:00AM to 5:30AM - breakfast
6:00AM - break camp!
6:30AM to 7:00AM - campsite to 2nd and 3rd waterfalls
7:00AM to 7:30AM - 2nd and 3rd waterfalls to 1st waterfalls6:00AM - break camp!
6:30AM to 7:00AM - campsite to 2nd and 3rd waterfalls
7:30AM to 2:30PM - 1st waterfalls to jump-off
Lunch held at the last shade we found
2:30PM to 3:00PM - naligaw ako!
3:00PM - arrival at Brgy. Pidpid (jump-off)
There’s a sari sari store at Brgy. Pidpid at namili agad ng softdrinks!
3:30PM – 4:30PM – Brgy. Pidpid, Porac, Pampanga to Rommel’s House
(Angeles, Pampanga)
4:30PM - unlimited meryenda/dinner with unlimited iced tea
4:30PM - unlimited meryenda/dinner with unlimited iced tea
at Rommel’s House
5:00PM - bathing time
5:00PM - bathing time
5:30PM – 6:30PM – the chartered jeep will bring you back to
Dau Terminal
Thank You to all my groupmates, boss Andy, Kate and Raymart, Gilbert, Alvin, Mark, Henz, Marlon and Ayen, and to my family, Jayson, JP and Josh for being with me on this trek. Extremely tiring but I will be back hopefully next year with an SLR or Hero4 cam. Wonderful sceneries along the way.
Thank You to our Aeta guides and to our head guides. Job well done!
Thank You Sir Rommel Canlas for a well planned package. The food is great at super yummy ng sisig talaga!
Thank You Gilbert Bueno for sharing your amazing photos!
Thank You Gilbert Bueno for sharing your amazing photos!
Pareng Mickey Salada thank you for the recommendation. Hope to be with you on the next climb.
Thank You sa readers, sana marami kayong makuhang info. The trek is only during dry seasons kaya don't contact Mr. Rommel every rainy season po ah, hahaha =)
Lord, thank you for keeping us safe throughout the trek!
Happy reading!
