26 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



HOW PRIVATE BURNS CLIMBED MT. PINATUBO. 

 By Capt. N. F. McClure. 



During the first five months of the year 1903 I was 

 stationed at Camp Stotsenburg, Philippine Islands. 



About the middle of May two coming events sud- 

 denly aroused me to the fact that any contemplated 

 mountain-climbing must be done immediately. One 

 of these events was the rapid approach of the rainy sea- 

 son, and the other was the probable departure of my 

 regiment in June for the United States. 



Camp Stotsenburg lies between two noted mountains. 

 To the east, a distance of fifteen miles, rises Arayat, a 

 lone peak about three thousand feet in height; while to 

 the west, Mt. Pinatubo, twenty miles away, dominates 

 the Zambales Range. For months I contemplated trying 

 to ascend one or both of these great sentinels, but never 

 seemed able to find the time. About May 20th there was 

 a kind of a lull before the storms that were soon to break, 

 — viz., the rainy season and our orders to return to 

 " God's country." Seizing the last chance, I obtained 

 permission from the commanding officer to make the at- 

 tempt on Pinatubo. 



My party consisted of Packer E. A. Schad, Privates 

 Burns, Phillips, and La Casse, of Troops " L," " A," and 

 " E," Fifth Cavalry, respectively. I also had with me 

 two Filipinos, Cesario Tolentino and Martin David, and 



