Hiking the Santa Maria Volcano

Look for the signs.

That's what they told us.  The advice for a volcano hike.  These signs didn't have a billboard appearance or even exist physically.  But I'll call them signs:

1.  Taxi cab driver doesn't know where trail entrance is.  One a.m. in the morning and he picks up a random bicycler to locate unknown trail.

2.  Night full moon hike.  How are we supposed to see signs.  "if there's a 'no' written on a rock, its the wrong way"  Really?  Also, what does a smiley face mean painted on a rock?

3.  Four of us in total.  After 30 minutes into the supposed 4 hour hike, only my headlamp is working.

4.  No more trail. We're looking for footprints or signs of humans.  We decided to take a locals trail......trusting Guatemalan trails.  Fail.  Yes, lost on an active volcano, check that as a new one!

5.  Trails ends.  We decide that its a good idea to push through the jungle vines, wild, untouched trees/chaotic growth that is almost unimaginable for hours.  It always felt like we were almost out or near the summit.  Even after climbing a tree 10-15 feet, we still can't see relief.

So, with our guesstimate of 150 meters to go.  We turn back, cutting our losses.  Track our own trail back and call it a day.  Missed sunrise.  Missed the eruption of Santiaguito.   Annnnnnndddd might go back tonight.

Need sleep.  This traveling thing is intense.

Tips/directions to all of those who'd like to actually summit this 12, 375 ft volcano:
-maybe take your hike through Quetzaltrekkers
-if you want the adventure as well, get dropped off at the tienda in Llano de Pinal (taxi no more than 20Q/person)
--from there, hike up the rocky path.
--when you see a line of 30 or so spiky trees, take the forked road LEFT
--then a sign about Santa Maria shall appear.
--not too long after take a Right, on the left side of the garbage can along the path.
--This is what I'm told.  I'm not saying you'll reach summit, but these directions were given to me after attempt number 1!

Buenas suerte!

Volcano Tajumulco

What a weekend!

Volcano Tajumulco.  Aka, the highest point in Central America.  Close to the Mexico border.  Close enough we could see it.  High enough to make anyone’s lungs burn if they hadn’t been in altitude for awhile.

Got into Quetzaltenango Friday, signed up to do the two-day hike with Quetzaltrekkers immediately.  Quetzaltrekkers is a non-profit volunteer organization that leads hikes all over Nicaragua and Guatemala, all money made goes to education programs for the local kids.  Not a bad thing ehh!

Excited, didn’t know what was to come yet!  Ha.  Xela (Quetzaltenango) sits around 2333 mtrs above sea level.  After a few buses and breakfast we started our hike around 3000mtrs.  The summit sits at 4220mtrs (13,845 ft).
After a few meters of walking, I already needed a break. 3.5 miles up, 4.1 down.   I looked up to see this staring down at me.

Wondering, ‘WHAT AM I DOING?’  Talk about intimidation.  Not to mention a challenge with 50lbs on your back.  Supplies for myself and the group (which entails heavy duty sleeping back, tent, down jacket, snowboard pants, gloves, hat, scarf, extra layers, 4.5 liters of water, tub o peanut butter, jam and headlamp.)  We’d be camping.  Base camp sits around 4000mtrs.

During one of our breaks, which we all loved dearly, we see the locals walking down from presumably the summit.  With nothing but babies on their backs, not joking, babies.  No sleeping bags, no coats, just babies.  Ohh Guatemala!

We set up base camp, some of us pass out from exhaustion/slight altitude sickness for a bit.  Then we hike Cerro Conception for sunset.  What a sight. 

After a dinner of noodles, people I ate noodles, I had no other choice. Those that don’t know me well, I’m scared of noodles.  Long story.  We snuggled into our tent, no worries 7 of us in one!  Wake up call for 4 a.m.  It was early.  We were a bit lethargic to say the least.

And the hour hike up about burst my lungs, my heart was pumping triple time.  But the color of the horizon, the excitement of the highest point in C.A., the views, who am I kidding here everything was motivating me to keep my legs moving up.

Yes, I did slam a Red Bull at the top.  It gives you wiiings!  Why wouldn't one need that for the highest point in C.A.?

This is something I'll never soon forget.  We saw the sunset, moon rise then moon set and sunrise!  Volcanoes erupting in the background.  Volcanoes near Antigua and Atitlan.  A shadow that is too gigantic to explain, a shadow that says something.  Feeling the altitude.  Feeling the burn.  Sharing the excitement.  And seeing forever.

Talk about a trip.  Please do yourself a favor and look into Quetzaltrekkers.  Great people doing great things!