Monday, April 20, 2015

Mount Pinatubo via Delta 5 Trail

Major jump-off: Brgy. Pidpid, Porac, Pampanga
LLA: 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.

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!

my boys

we have a beginner here in the name of Kate Lao!
It was an endless plain volcanic sand during the first hour.  It is more challenging than the usual hiking because the pressure in walking doubles.  You need to pull your feet every time your shoes go over an inch deeper.  The first river crossing came after an hour.


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...

one of the river crossings
with Gilbert, whom we bumped once at Mt. Maculot, but continued to join us every hike =)

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.
my first born, JP


Be very careful at this area, I found two springs producing extremely hot water.  Alvin has stepped on it.
 
Our not that young and youngest trekker of the group

boulder crossing
with the ever reliable Aeta guides... assisting us all the time

nagpapa cute eh gwapo naman!

while waiting for others to cross that half-body size hole




the strong currents

boulder trail
more boulders

left behind



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.

CTO Andy Bigornia

my ordinary and old point & shoot camera produced an image like this... breathtaking!
 family of mountaineers


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.
 
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.

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...


the second part of the trek, campsite to crater...


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.

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!

Gilbert

Raymart and Kate <3

my tireless son, Joshua

JP on top!

Oh Yeah! It's daddy =)

jayshelle forever

though looks haggard... it still feels so good to reach the famous crater =)

Bantog Brothers
first time to trek and reach the summit using plain slippers

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!

ang sweet ni tito mamart <3
  After breaking camp! It's time to take groupies again =)
the gurlz
the boys

naman eh! may monopad palang dala, di ginamit sa crater =(

last groupie... sa campsite, hehe =)

Time to go down guyz!

this way please!

Bantog Backpackers

watersource! pero napasigaw si daddy... may naliligo raw sa taas, hahaha =)
father and daughter tandem

groupie at the waterfalls! dami pang energy!
with new found friends, Kenneth and Jr (with our guide)

some trails are like this, so be very careful!





Thank You to our new friends, Kenneth and JR dahil kung wala sila, wala kaming kanin =)


my boss Andy with the Aeta guides (waiting for cooked lunch)
gutom na talaga! spent our lunch on the last shade we found
almost there!


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!

with the head guides

while they are waiting sa naligaw na blogger ...

arrived at the jump-off by 3:00pm

our chartered jeepney going to Sir Rommel's house in Angeles

After that exhausting 2 day trek, this is what's waiting for us... unlimited food and drinks!!!  Attack!

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)

 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)
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 rest
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)
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 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
                                 at Rommel’s House
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!

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!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Mount Arayat Traverse (1,030+ MASL)

Mount Arayat Traverse :
Entry point: Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
Exit point: Brgy. Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga
LLA: 15.2067N, 120.7441E, 1030 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 5 hours (NP) 8 hours (SP)
Specs: Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-4 (10kms)
http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/09/mt-arayattraverse-1030.html 

Mount Arayat is an extinct stratavolcano on Luzon Island, Philippines, rising to a height of 1,026 metres (3,366 ft) There is no recorded eruption of the volcano, and its last activity probably dates to the Holocene era.


The volcano is located in a flat agricultural region at 15°12′N 120°45'E. The southern half of the mountain lies within the municipality of Arayat, Pampanga, while the north half and the mountain summit lies within Magalang. Ten miles to the west of Mount Arayat is Angeles City and the former Clark Air Base.  Mount Pinatubo is located a further 26 km (16 mi) west. The Volcano is a popular Tourist destination for people visiting the central plains. About 10 km (6 mi) to the north west is the "Angeles City flying club" that offers pilots education and sightseeing flights to Mount Arayat with ultralight airplanes. The territory is called "Woodland Air Park" and belongs to the city of Magalang.

The mountain is considered a mystical one, the legendary home of Aung/Aring Sinukuan/Sinkuan/Suku or the Fairy known as diwata Mariang Sinukuan depending on which version of the story the readers or listeners prefer, but in ancient Kapampangan folklore as well as the research known to have been gathered by Kapampangan students of Henry Otley Beyer, it was and is the abode of Apung/Aring Sinukuan, rival of Namalyari of Mount Pinatubo, who is in varying versions, the son of Cargon-Cargon who was mortally wounded in a fight with a giant from the Zambales Mountain Range which is said to be the home of Apu Namalyari.
I am seeing Mount Arayat every working days.  I can view it at the veranda of our office in Mexico, Pampanga.  I wanted to climb it but my friend said that it is a very challenging mountain especially the traverse one.  After reading negative comments about this mountain, I am hesitant to pursue climbing... I wanted to trek Arayat but it did not became my priority.  It is only after my tropa Alvin climbed it and said those asking for too much fee for registration, guides and others are not true anymore.  It will only be just a donation at the Magalang side, registration fee of Php20 at the DENR Juan Bano and entrance fee of Php50 at the Arayat National Park where you can already bathe and clean up... It is also where you can already get drinking water after the 2 exhausting days trek.
 
the start of the very hot trek!
From Cubao or Pasay, make a way going to SM San Fernando, Pampanga (bus fare Php102).  We negotiated with a jeepney driver on our way to the jump-off.  We are ten in a group and the driver charged us Php100/person. We arrived at Brgy. Ayala at around 8:45am.  We walked for around 20 minutes and arrived at the registration area.  The barangay is just asking for donations and not a registration fee but everyone who will trek the mountain needs to register.
with Janey, a first-timer mountaineer

Passing the stations of the cross...
with hubby
the honesty store... last chance to purchase supplies ...
whattamen!
mga astig na Caviteno
view of White Rocks from below
nakangiti pa ang mga beginner climbers =)


munting pahingahan
most of the trail are like this kaya masakit sa tuhod
boulders
groupie at big boulders
a lot of these along the trail


this is where cramps are beginning to be felt
Arriving at the White Rocks ...




We reached White Rocks from the jump-off in 3 1/2 hours including unlimited rest.  We have 2 beginner climbers with us.  Our pacing became a little slower but safer. 

selfie at the White Rocks
so saddened by trashes thrown by irresponsible mountaineers
group picture at vandalized rock formations =(
groupie again at the White Rocks viewdeck
We resumed the trek at around 12 noon and reached the Tower (North Peak/Peak 1) at 3pm. It is also where you can camp for a night.  It is beside the military camp so if you plan to spend the night here, silence and discipline is a must  or else find another campsite. 

Arriving at the Tower (North Peak/Peak 1) ... pero syempre photo ops muna...
 
From the jump-off to the North Peak is approximately 4.8 kilometers.

Congratulations sa beginners, grabe! Arayat agad!


4:30 na!!! Ang TV na!!! hahaha =)
Bantog brothers
syempre moment ko to =)




groupie sa North Peak habang iniistorbo ang mga nagpipitch ng tent, hahaha =)
descending to the South Peak
After the unlimited photo ops and eating our rice meryenda, I pushed them to continue trekking up to the South Peak though I can feel that some of them are already hesitant to continue trekking.  Anyway it is still early to pitch tent since we came here as early as pass 3pm.

the almost 90 degree boulder rapeling
the super thin rope sa buwis buhay na Arayat Traverse
From North to South Peak is approximately 1.2 challenging kilometers.  What makes the descend so difficult is the lack of ropes at the vertical areas of the mountain.  Mount Makiling Traverse is similar to this but in Makiling they have provided bigger ropes at most of the vertical areas. We have also encountered my most challenging assault ever!!! It took us 3 hours to reach South Peak. There are a lot of misleading trails in the traverse side so it is safer to hire a guide.  My friend, Alvin, has been here twice that's why we did'nt hire one.  You can contact "Like" at celphone number 0926-7157756. The campsite is wider and the wind is extremely cold.  Everyone was so tired.  They just pitched their tents and sleep.  My husband still cooked rice good for the ten of us though everyone seems that they're not interested anymore in eating, they just wanted to sleep.  But still we wake them up to take their dinner.

 Lights off at 10pm.

Good morning Mount Arayat!
our packed bags
We took a very light breakfast, packed our things and prepared for taking great photos ...
two amazing couples
sunrise at the South Peak
  


lovers in Mount Arayat
with bff Janey
the famous viewdeck of Mount Arayat
groupie before the descend to Arayat jump-off
I am thankful that we had pursued spending the night at the South Peak.  The descend from North to South Peak under the scorching heat of the sun will be very difficult more especially for our beginner mountaineers.  From South Peak to Arayat jump-off is another challenging 4 kilometers.  It took us 2 1/2 to 3 hours descending to Arayat jump-off.
the challenging trails at the southern side of Mount Arayat
congrats Janey and Ryan for completing the trek
Forest Ranger Station at Juan Bano (with registration fee of Php20)

finally reached Arayat National Park (entrance fee Php50)

busog at fresh na!

Itinerary :
Day 1
6:00AM to 7:30AM      - Pasay/Cubao to SM San Fernando, Pampanga (bus fare Php102)
8:00AM to 8:45 AM     - SM San Fernando, Pampanga to Brgy. Ayala, Magalang, Pampanga
8:45AM to 9:00 AM     - Jump-off to Brgy. Ayala's Registration Area
9:00AM to 11:30AM    - Brgy Registration Area to White Rocks
11:30AM to 12:00NN   - lunch
12:00NN to 3:00 PM    - White Rocks to Tower (North Peak/Peak 1)
3:00PM to 4:00PM       - Stayed at North Peak (there's a wide campsite here)
                                   You can already pitch your tents here, but because it is still early,
                                    I insisted to proceed to South Peak which is 3 hours from the 
                                    North Peak
4:00PM to 7:00PM       - North Peak to South Peak
                                    prepare to rapel 90 degrees at the Haring Bato area
                                    this is where I experienced the most difficult assault in my life!
7:00PM                       - arrival at South Peak
                                    pitch tents, cook dinner
9:00PM                       - lights off!

 Day 2
6:00AM to 7:00AM        - very light breakfast
7:00AM                        - break camp!
7:00AM to 8:00AM        - explore the wonderful view of South Peak, picture taking
8:00AM to 11:00AM      - descend from South Peak to Arayat National Park 
                                    (entrance fee - Php50)
11:00AM to 2:00PM       - lunch, enjoy the natural pool and shower
2:00PM                         - leave National Park
2:00PM to 2:30PM         - National Park to SM Pampanga
2:30PM to 4:00PM         - SM Pampanga to Pasay City

Thank you sa mga nakasama ko sa climb na 'to, Alvin, Raymart, Boss Andy, Mark, the dela Cruz couple, bunso Gilbert and Henz.

Thank You Gilbert Bueno for sharing your photos.

Till next climb =)
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