A different high struck the stoked traveler. In the midst of bright yellow and green mountain slopes and on the top of rocky peeks, the stoked traveler finds himself awed by the beauty that is Mt. Pundaquit.
Without the waves and the board the stoked traveler goes on a new adventure to the now not so hidden yet still secluded nature paradise of Anawangin.
The trek begins at 6:00 AM in Brgy. Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales. The ground was too soft and hard to walk on because it’s like stepping on beach sand. But it’s really just surface soil mixed with volcanic residue from the catastrophic Mt. Pinatubo eruption that now covers most of the top soil in areas affected by the eruption.
Daybreak greeted the group with a magical sunrise that painted the skies to match the picturesque mountains and pine trees surrounding them.
Half way to the destination, the trekkers take another (one of many) pit stop to catch their breath and capture the scenery from the top
This was the stoked traveler’s first hike after so many years. In his previous climbs he didn’t get a chance to actually go to the mountain peak and have a 360 degree view of the land below. This time he pushed himself further and went with three (3) others who braved one of the nearby tops.
After taking photos and freshening up with soda (P40.00/can) sold by a peddler (who set up his store strategically at the hiker’s resting point), the group starts the downhill trail through steep, stony slopes and forward to a dry riverbed until they reached the cove of Anawangin.
Heat and exhaustion finally took its toll on almost everyone in the group. Seeing water and shade seemed like a vision of an oasis in the midst of the dry and rock-strewn terrain.
The wooden gate of the “tent city” was more comforting than it was welcoming for the weary travelers as it marked the end of the exhausting yet very fulfilling trek.
Traversing Mt. Pundaquit took an approximate of five (5) hours. With Reynerr from Kaladkadtourclub as the guide, the group made it through the trek by 11:00 AM.
Tips:
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear during the hike. Rubber can cause friction and lead to foot blisters. Find footwear with good traction yet comfortable to wear whether be dry or wet terrain
- If you are concerned about getting sunburn, bring sunblock!
- Hydrate during the hike. Bringing atleast 2 water bottles is worth the extra weight
- If your group is not in a hurry, enjoy the scenery. As soon as you go down the mountain, you'd wish you were still up there!
- The trek could possibly be the highlight of your Anawangin activity so enjoy it as much as you can
- Take extra caution on days when there's even the slightest chance of rain. It is said that the river rapids can be strong enough to take a full grown man down. and it has done so a few times already!
- Traversing the mountain is not a race, make safety your top priority
- Mind the trail signs. Some hikers are courteous enough to leave them so return the favor by keeping them intact.
- Send an advance party to Anawangin Cove along with your heavy belongings, this will make your hike more pleasurable
- Lastly, bring cash! You might get lucky to have manong be there to sell cold drinks to freshen you up
Date of Travel: March 24-25, 2012.
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