Monday, March 20, 2006

Volcano trip

We got to the hotel last night after a long bus trip. The road was very winding and a few folks got ill on the bus. Luckily, we had a working bathroom on the bus and they put it to good use! Gino played DJ for part of the trip to break up the monotony.

The majority of the group went on a tour to the Pacaya Volcano today. After a bus ride there, we had to hike over two hours to the base of the summit. The volcano is 8000 feet above sea level and 4000 feet vertical from where we started hiking. It was pretty strenuous and not everyone could make it all the way up.


View of the volcano from afar


You have to love these types of signs near the end of a hike!


David White and myself climbing the final peak (courtesy of Rachael Hatch)




Making the final climb


The payoff - a river of lava!

For those that did, we were rewarded with a great view of a river of lava! That made the ascent worth it! By the time the last group made it, the crater itself was too dangerous to climb all the way because it was shooting rocks out and the sulfur fumes were becoming overpowering. So we settled for looking at the magma.

Quite a trip and we are now heading back to the hotel for a much needed shower!
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld.

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