Hike for Peace

Peace workers. (c) Jason Marges

I wasn't supposed to join this hike anymore, because of, ~reasons, but for lack of better things to do, I went on and walked the extra (8) miles for peace!

In reality, I would've probably hurt myself if I didn't go. I knew for myself I needed this trip. This was my first out of town trip in months--more precisely, my first out of town trip since I started with my current job. Not that I lost my sense of adventure, it's just that I lost the time to do so. I actually missed being outside.

I signed up for the hike because it sounded fun when there's many from our unit who wanted to join. I've been to Pinatubo before, and though the crater lake was really majestic, it was something I was satisfied with witnessing only once.

Eventually, people had to prioritize other things, leaving us with a team of four. Nonetheless, it was still a fun-filled adventure with the company of these three. Lalo na't may Ate Winnie na maraming baong jokes. :)

Comm represent! (c) Jason Marges

I was kind of worried I might pass out during the hike. I only had 45 minutes worth of sleep the night before, and the workweek has been hell as well. I, myself, can't find better explanation why I had committed to see a film late Friday night when I could've done it another day. Anyway, the good news, I didn't pass out--no one in our sleep-deprived group did, and we considered it a feat. I remember the same thing happened during my first Pinatubo trip. My blog then says, we didn't even sleep at all, which explains how we managed to snooze on the 4x4 ride back.

Bawal ito pero, YOLO! (c) Clarence Batac

(c) Clarence Batac

(c) Jason Marges

Just like my first trip to Pinatubo, the 4x4 jeepney ride was the most fun part for me. During this trip, we've proven that were are great at picking vehicles. Our ride looked cool and was the only one spared from getting stuck in the mud. We had to stop for several minutes to rescue one of the jeepneys carrying our companions. It was stuck in a ditch, and when another jeep tried to pull it out, that rescue jeep then got stuck. The same thing happened with the third vehicle. (4 4x4 jeepneys carried our whole team.)

Luckily, after several attempts and after exhausting all means, the drivers, guides, and the men from our team managed to get the jeep out of the ditch. The road adventure continued, but not for long. Again, we had to stop for a good 30-45 minutes because there was a Balikatan exercises going on. A fighting jet was flying, and at first, I was so thrilled to see what's it gonna do. Apparently, it was just targeting something we couldn't see from where we're parked, so we're just seeing a jet flying in and out of our sight/hearing.

We got bored, and taking photos and Ate Winnie's stories were our only entertainment. We took tons of photos including this cool shot of me by Jason. (Pagbigyan.)

(c) Jason Marges

We were an hour behind our schedule, and the heat was scorching when we started walking to the crater. Again, thank goodness Ate Winnie brought a lot of stories and jokes.

(c) Jason Marges

The trail has changed so much since I first went there. It was more rugged now, wild grasses grew in places that (I think) used to be trails, and we had to cross more streams. The season is a factor. It was summer when I first went there, and now it's the rainy season, thus the streams in many parts of the hike. Though I think the greens made the view more pleasant, as compared to a barren lahar land that only makes you think you're crossing a dessert. 

(c) Jason Marges

Kulit ni Mia at Irish. (c) Jason Marges

This area, too, used to be ~clean. I was disappointed when we reached the crater because it seemed that the place isn't being maintained, but looking through the photos, the effect of the greens was even better.

Nagkasama rin sa lakad! (c) Jason Marges

Sa dinami-dami ng plano namin ng kaibigan kong ito na mag-out of town, ito pa lang ang natutuloy, office outing pa.

(c) Jason Marges

Still majestic. (c) Jason Marges

We had lunch at the shed overlooking the lake, before going down to for a closer look at the lake, and to take photos. And maybe because there were fewer visitors this time, the hikers preferred to stay at the viewdeck instead of near the lake. Boating is no longer allowed. The lack of activities going on down the banks made the lake look scary. But still, some of us swam in the lake.

(c) Jason Marges

The hike back was easier because it was cloudy. My feet, though, were battered. All I wanted to do was have them massaged. Last time, I wore sandals, which were more apt for this hike. This time, though, I had to wear trainers because I did't have anything else to wear.

Ate Winnie still had much energy after we got back from the hike. I, on the other hand, was sliding into dreamland during the 4x4 ride back. Tander. The next day, though, I decided I want more adventures as such. Kulang ang sakit ng katawan. :)