Trekking Mt. Pinatubo
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As you trek to the area around Mount Pinatubo and you feel a sense of calm and peace , know that you are in the presence of Apo Malyari and the anitos of the Aeats.
The eruption in 1991 of Mount Pinatubo was one of the largest eruptions in history. The damaged affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and the effects of the ash cloud circled the earth. The volcanic eruption and two typhoons that entered the area when the volcano was erupting turned the breadbasket of the Philippines into desolate waste land. The social and economic effects are still being felt, but the natural healing is well on its way. The area is a contrast between the dust and lahars in the scarcely vegetated flats and river beds to the lush mountains sides with young trees and other cover. The transition between the two is dramatic with signs of massive erosion and towering cliffs.
For the last decade dedicated hikers could trek to the mountain
crater. It involved either days of hiking or hours of 4x4 travel
followed by a 2 hour hard hike. A couple of years ago a "trail", called
the skyway, was cut that would allow 4x4's a shorter route to a drop
off point to trek to the crater. The skyway opened up the crater to an
hour and fifteen minute 4x4 ride and a 20 minute to 45 hour trek. The
trek itself is not a stroll through the park but does not require any
great physical fitness level. Seeing Photos of the crater with its lake
can not prepare you for the stark beauty and contrasts that you will
see in front of you. The sheer cliffs, the vegetation covered mountain
sides along side areas of bare volcanic rock, The 2.5 Kilometer Lake
that sits inside the crater with its shores sometimes gentle, sometimes
rough. 
A number of travel agencies and tour companies in Subic Bay, Angeles city, and Manila offer tours to the crater. While they do vary in content they basic start by transferring to 4x4 jeeps at the Pinatubo Spa Town run by PDC inc in Brgy. Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac . Hikers travel by the 4x4 up the river bed and into the foot hills. Various drop off points exist for the hikers to start. The shortest and the one most recommended by the travel companies uses an access road referred to as the skyway. This route is a hour and a half ride up the river bed, into the foothills and gives breath taking views of cliffs and canyons before dropping you for a thirty minute trek to the crater.
To fully enjoy the experince , you should select one of the longer treks. The longer treks give an expanded view of the area.
Treking during the rainy season is not recommended and many agencies will not book at certain times of the year. Flash flooding with lost of life can and has occurred during the rainy season. Other hiking options vary from one hour to three hours. Finish your trek with a 4x4 ride back to the starting point where you can get a shower, meal and a massage.
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