Well I arrived at Quetzaltrekers tour office, at 8am. I then was informed, that we had to carry all our gear along with 6 litres of water, food for 2 days, a piece of a tent all the way up the volcano. Oh dear, that I had not contemplated, neither did some of the others. I had to borrow a rucksack as my little one was too small. I knew I would not drink 6 ltrs but I was (strongly) encouraged to carry them.
We got a local bus to the park. At the entrance, we saw some mud pools spluttering and steaming away. It took us 5 hrs walking, approx. to get up. It was hot, and the bags were bleeding heavy. It was TOUGH!
Daniel (US), was finding it as difficult as I. Both of us thougth we would not make it. We were dripping. However, the views were great, and when we saw our campsite, a little oasis of green at the base of the volcanic crater, it was so worth it. We were literally, 100 feet from a smoking, live volcano. We put our tents up immediately, as it began to rain.
During the trek, when I was able to talk that is... or during the breaks, I learned a bit about my travelling companions.
We were a very international crew. Meike (Dutch), the lead guide, a volunteer of 4 months with quetzaltrekers. All the guides are volunteers and only get their food during the hike and nothing else in compensation. Kevin "McGiver" (Austrian), a trainee guide on his first hike. He had a mohican but had been 4 years in the Army. He read survival books and had isolated himself in the middle of the forest in upper Sweden, with nothing except a knife and a few other things for 6 months. At the age of 18. He and his girl friend were volunteering for 2 months and had been a year and a half camping around Latin America and were still going, surviving on $10 between them per day. He was very handy with a machete, and hacked the path clean for us.
Denitza (Bulgarian), now studying in the US, on an internship for a few months in Leon, for her masters in Public policy, if I recall. Very very intelligent and spoke god knows how many languages. Lea (German), delightful, a student teacher. Daniel (US), previously in computers but wanted to contribute to society, so became a teacher. For his first summer hols, surfing around Nicaragua, who looked like a Korean Elvis Presley, dimples an all. Seriously!! He underestimated himself a lot but was more capable than he thougth. Really cool to converse with. We were all proud we got up and back down again. We all had a real sense of achievement.
The idea of the hike, was to have sunset on the craters edge and perhaps even see molten lava in the dark. but as it was raining and the smoke from the volcano was too dense, that idea went up in smoke. er so to speak...Kevin built a fire and we toasted marshmallows and chatted throughout the evening. We didn´t get a great deal of sleep, as the resident cows and horses, kept passing the tents and making lots of loud munching sounds etc.
Next morning, Meike woke but didnt wake the rest of us, as there was too much cloud and smoke, so no sunrise either. The weather was not working for us. But we had breakfast and got rid of any excess water. The weight of our bags dropped by half if not more. Descending while not a breeze, was certainly heaps easier. At the end of our descent, the mudpools were even more active after the nights rain. Apparently the volcano (San Christobal) near Telica, the volcano we were on, is supposed to erupt on Thursday. But I wont be around bummer...
The 4 of us hikers met for dinner that evening, nursing our weary, aching limbs. A really cool bunch of people.
Next morning, being the gluton for punishment, that I am, I paid to go up the Cerro Negro. Named, so because of the black volcanic sand. Another active volcano with steam vents everywhere to attest to this. However, this hike was only 45 minutes. Piece of cake. The walk up had some great views and very photogenic moments. This volcano erupts approx every 7 years. It is well overdue by 4 years.
Like, the 30 others signed up, I carried my board, goggles and orange overall. Yup, No having to
walk down this volcano. I was coming down the volcano on my rear, on a board, hopefully fast without ripping myself to shreds. The orange overall and goggles protecting me from grazing myself on the harsh sand and stones. Roisin, the Irish girl I had met a few days ago, keeping me company both up and partnering me on the way down. Roisin managed to get down without falling off. I fell off twice. I wish I had not let myself listen to our guide. She gave different instuctions to the girls, whom she made go in pairs fir
st. She told us how to stop and go slow. The boys she told how to go fast. A few of us were a bit peeved, at the way she had done this, as she made us more cautious than was necessary. So we had less fun. But it was still worth it for the views, and the experience. Roisin and I were exhausted, so ended up playing with this gorgeous kitten in the hostel and eating there too. I said goodbyes as it was my last day.
st. She told us how to stop and go slow. The boys she told how to go fast. A few of us were a bit peeved, at the way she had done this, as she made us more cautious than was necessary. So we had less fun. But it was still worth it for the views, and the experience. Roisin and I were exhausted, so ended up playing with this gorgeous kitten in the hostel and eating there too. I said goodbyes as it was my last day.
