Pico De Loro The Return!!!

THE OBJECTIVE...



THE DANGER:



THE REWARDS:



START @ "Magnet"



BEFORE ENTERING THE FOREST



STOPOVER (nakakaramdam na ng pagod )



PHOTO SHOOT MUNA ULIT









MALAYO PA BA?



FINALLY!!! BASE CAMP! Lunch muna, then summit assault. See the peak sa background? I'm gonna reach that!!!



SUMMIT!!! (sakit ng katawan ko... )



PROUD LIL MOUNTAINEER...



WITH VETERAN MOUNTAINEERS



...WITH DAD AND KUYA "GRIP"



OK TARA NA SA BEACH... ASTEEG!!!



AFTER 8.5 HOURS OF HIKING, THE BEACH SEEMED TOO ENTICING...










LOW BAT, AND LOW ON MEMORY NA (translation - nakalimutan i-charge yung cam )



Simply, it was a BLAST!!!

We left QC at around 0400H last Sat. We arrived in Ternate at around 0630H. Konting kumustahan muna with the locals while having almusal. At around 0830H nasa start na kami ng trail. Along the way up we met three (3) groups of mountaineers going down. We reached basecamp at around 1130H. May two (2) groups of campers din doon. Had lunch sa basecamp, took pictures, and prepared for the summit assault. Looking at the summit from basecamp, medyo I was having second thoughts na isama si Sean sa summit. Tsaka ako mismo parang in full force yung fear ko sa heights. But then, heck andun na kami I thought I wouldn't want to pass up the chance na maka-summit si Sean on his first try sa first mountain niya. Kaya I summoned all my powers , then assaulted the summit.

Pinauna ko si Grip (who by the way was his usual energetic self during the ascent and descent - he was like kuya to my newbie hiker son ). Sumunod ako. Sean was behind me pero nakatali siya sa akin using a long heavy duty line. 40 minutes of gapang/akyat, then summit!!! (On our way home sabi ni Sean he was happiest when he reached the summit and when we arrived at the beach after the descent. )

On the summit we met veteran mountaineers with local guides who reached the summit via the other trail (which originates sa Batangas side yata).

We started the descent at around 1500H. Nakababa kami at around 1730H. Pero habang pababa, Sean was already complaining every now and then. Buti na lang naencourage siya everytime nireremind siya na derecho na kami sa beach pagdating sa baba.

We stayed overnight sa beach. No swimming yet kse pagod. After supper, while Sean slept sa tent, I and some of the locals had a couple of rounds of beer (pulutan oysters, igat tabang, and some "exotic" food daw) .

Sunday was swimming day (and food trip day courtesy of the generous locals burp burp). Sean stayed in the water practically the whole day. And Grip had a blast retrieving his toy far out sa tubig.

We left Ternate at 1930H kanina and arrived 2200H.

And if you are wondering how I still have the energy to type, well I don't, it's just that sa pagod ang hirap makatulog.

Mark reporting for QCDW.

Pinatubo March 29 08

Carl with his ambull Kovu; Kenneth and Eric, all coming from the south, were on the road to QC by 0100 to 0130. Majority of the participants had only two to zero hours of sleep because of work and other commitments. Rocky, Gary's daughter, and Charisse, her toy poodle, just didn't sleep because of excitement! The most well-rested award goes to Kenneth, who had SIX hours' sleep! It really pays to get your backpack ready one week early! The group left QC at 0300 and arrived at Sta. Juliana by 0430 Breakfast and last-minute preparations before boarding the jeeps.

THE PINATUBO DOG TREKKERS

WOO-HOO! PINATUBO, HERE WE COME!!!

We settled all fees at the ranger station -- er, pinatubo spa pala

(we honestly thought it was a barangay hall )

AND HERE WE GO!!!

STOPOVER TO SHIFT TO 4-WHEEL (tama ba term ko?) hehe at siyempre, basta may chance, kodakan ule!



Take note of the wall behind us...that's not a granite wall. It's a mountain made up of lahar.

MORDOR

The scenery was just unbelievable. It felt like we stepped into JRR Tolkien's world!

The first 30 to 45 minutes is all like this. We were just too glad to be early because the terrain was still cool and completely covered in shade.


Yellow streams crisscross the terrain.


Second half of the trek, you'd pinch yourself to see if you're still awake, wondering if you joined the right trek.

What in the world is a lush tropical forest doing in the middle of the desert?


Cooling off by a natural spring. Gary and family were brave enough to drink it... and with style! they drank from a leaf formed into a cup by our guide ala Richard Gere and Julia Ormond from First Knight




The last few steps to the crater edge...

And lo and behold, the majestic view that awaited us!

We've seen so many pictures and heard so many stories about Pinatubo from friends and the Internet, but still nothing has really prepared us for this view! Shock and Awe local version.

Another breathtaking sight at the top of the crater edge. (hindi kami, yung tinitingnan namin )

WE MADE IT AGAIN, FELLOW DOGHIKERS!!!

At siyempre kodakan na!!!

Dapat may QCDW shirt din si Charisse





Atras pa! Konting atras pa! hehehe

Down by the lake... (or is it UP by the lake?...)



Yihaaa!!!! Swimmingan na!!!






Hay salamat, nakabawi din ng tulog...

We were surprised to see Arthur, a fellow hiker we met at Mt. Manabo, Batangas Ang liit talaga ng mundo!

We were able to go down much earlier than planned. Kumulimlim around 1pm, so we took the opportunity habang hindi mainit.

All in all, it was a very pleasant trek. We were the first ones to arrive and the last ones to leave the lake. Sinong nag enjoy nang husto? haha lubusin na, di ba?

Until now, I still can't get over the magic of Pinatubo. Simply breathtaking...