Our classes were canceled this past Tuesday for a Guatemalan holiday called Revolution Day.
We took full advantage of our day off and booked a trip with a local tour company to hike an active(!!) volcano. The volcano we chose to hike is called Volcán Pacaya.
We were very happy with the tour company we chose. We loved our guide, Welbur, and we enjoyed our hiking group as well:
Us with our hiking group minus our guide (he was taking the picture)
The first three quarters of the hike were pretty much just like any other hike you have been on. Great views. Trees. Trails. The usual.
View from the trail
Pacaya’s trails had the added bonus of being covered in horse crap though.
There are a ton of horses on Pacaya’s trails. If you couldn’t make the climb up the volcano yourself, you could pay a reasonable amount of money to have a horse take you up. One of the guys in our group chose to ride a horse. Wimp.
Horse making its way up the volcano
The last quarter of the hike was unlike any other hike we have been on though. It was a dance with Satan himself.
To reach the summit (or as far as you are allowed to go without falling in a hole or being killed by poisonous gases) you must use all four appendages and claw your way up volcanic rock. With every step you take upwards you have the possibility of sliding backwards.
Members of our group making their way up the volcanic rock
The volcanic rock feels something like a pumice stone cross-bred with an arrowhead. Many of the people in our group ended up bleeding.
Hiking a volcano is serious business, which is probably why they post this sign on the trail right before you reach the volcanic rock:
With that said, no day is a bad day that yields these pictures:
We made it!
Our first lava sighting!
Jeff with an insane lava river!
At the end of our hike we were rewarded with this awesome sight:
Adorable puppies and chicks living in harmony!
Overall, it was an awesome experience.
October 23, 2009 at 7:27 pm |
Lauren and Jeff……..WOW again! You’re on your own “reality” vacation, never a dull moment and never a bad picture. The photos are spectacular. Those, and this experience, you will cherish forever. Again, thanks for sharing!!!!!
Love, G.Mom & G.Dad xxxxxooooo
October 23, 2009 at 7:43 pm |
Beautiful pictures – thanks for sharing!! So great to talk with you – great to hear your voice and about your adventures!!! The lava picture came out really cool!! Can’t wait to hear about your next adventure – love to you both
K & D
October 23, 2009 at 8:28 pm |
every time i read your blog i am totally jealous of all your adventures!! pictures are amazing!!! thank you for sharing!!
October 23, 2009 at 9:23 pm |
These pictures are fantastic! What an experience!
We look forward to your next update.
Love you both!!
xxxx…..oooo…..
October 24, 2009 at 9:19 am |
okay, jeff . . . during your philmont 50 miler, you had your picture taken with a bear in the background, now lava . . . we have photographic evidence that you’re crazy . . .err brave . . . or is it adventurous? outdoory? a mans-man? or, perhaps just a great guy! or all of the above! (I vote all of the above)
i am so excited to see that you have your hiking boots on and both of you are out hiking! let do old rag when you get home!
October 27, 2009 at 10:48 am |
What an experience!! I couldn’t imagine standing that close to a lava river! Once in a lifetime opportunity! Enjoy!!!
Love you!!!