The Mt. Pinatubo 4×4 Ride Adventure (with Video)

Last Easter Sunday, together with 30 other adventurers, we resolved to reach the summit of Mt. Pinatubo and see its crater and the formed lake. It became world known after its 1991 eruption whose ashes reached as far as Hongkong.

Photos from the internet show green-blue waters of its crater-lake. Now Sago and I would definitely want to see that with our own very eyes. (although Sago’s is plastic) 🙂

However, the Mt. Pinatubo crater story would be delayed for next week.

This article focuses on the 4×4 adventure ride to Mt. Pinatubo which takes about an hour ride.

This would be our first time to ride a 4×4 jeepney in a real rugged setting so we were excited. But it is not that easy. We had to depart from Manila by 3am for the 3hr private van ride to Capas in Tarlac. We arrived at Pinatubo Spa Town in Barangay Sta. Julianna just in time a little pass 6am. I arranged and paid for the 4×4 rides of the group and we were off by 6:30am.

We passed through level dessert-like roads for about half an hour. The next half consisted of uphill climbs on mountain sides. Downhill followed each of those. There were minimal boulders along the road since the road were pretty much ready for the 4x4s. We passed by mini-streams which was a cool break from the smoke of ashes caused by the other jeepneys.

Nonetheless, it was a joy ride as almost all of us were first-timers in the group.

We passed by several mountains first before reaching the stop point for the 4x4s. The jeepneys could only reach upto this point which means it’s the start of our trekking.

On our way back in the afternoon, we go to stop by some local aeta communities by the roadside and had some photo op. We also shared some ‘baon’ with the children who were all smiles.

Imagine, at the end of the 4×4 ride at the tourism office, we were all covered with ashes. Luckily for these who came in prepared with cowboy hats and face masks.I am the one on the left while the ‘best masked’ participant is the one on the left. 🙂

Its a good thing as well that there are Japanese shower rooms at the Pinatubo Spa Town. It’s a spa after all.

And finally, the video of the 4×4 Ride Adventure! Watch and enjoy!

Be sure to be back by next Sunday for the sequel to this post about the crater swimming adventure! For now, this is the Mt. Pinatubo 4×4 Ride Adventure!

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