Full Moon Hike

Kathleen: So, we decided to hike another volcano. Rather, Tait decided that he was going to hike it, and I didn´t want to be known as the wuss who stayed home. Once a month, during the full moon, hikers climb the volcano overnight to reach the summit by sunrise. The full moon just happened to happen our first weekend in Xela. So, the van picked us up at midnight, and we started the hike around 12:30. The first hour was really tough, but Tait had told me that someone at school had told him (that he had seen Ferris at 32 flavors) that the first hour was the hardest and then it would get easier. So I figured, after the first hour, piece of cake. And then we found out that we had been gravely misinformed. The first hour was actually the easiest, the mountain part, and then we reached the volcano, and started to climb STRAIGT UP. So for the next four and a half our we scrambled up muddy rock in the dark with our trusty headlamps. And I really need to reiterate that it was STRAIGHT UP. No gradual incline, but an incredibly steep slope. We were stopping about every half hour for ten minutes during the first three hours, and then we needed to stop more frequently (for shorter periods of time) as the altitude started to kick in. For the last hour, Tait kept saying things like "we´re almost there, only 50 minutes to go" and I thought that that sounded like an eternity!! We´d climb three switchbacks and then pause for ten breaths.

And then we were at the top! It was really cold, and I spent the first half hour or so somewhat conscious in a sleeping bag, while Tait frolicked across the incredibly gorgeous summit. We could see the entire of Guatemala, and the chain of volcanos that crisscross the country. It was clear in places, and in others it looked like we were looking at an ocean of clouds. On one side of the mountain was the moon, and the other was the sun coming up. After the sun came up a little, the shadow of the volcano spread across all that we could see, which included a smaller, exploding volcano. A bunch of pictures are below. The guides were lovely enough to make hot coffee, and both the heat and the caffeine were AMAZING!! We were at the top of the mountain for about an hour and a half, and then it hit me that we would have to climb down! At that point, if a helicopter had shown up to pluck me from the summit, I would have paid good money.

So, as we triumphantly began to make our way down the mountain - and I really did feel triumphant - a group of Mayan women were coming over the summit. AND THEY WEREN`T WEARING ANY SHOES. I take that back, they were wearing shoes, but not any type of shoe that would help them climb an incredibly muddy and steep volcano... wedge sandals with a little strap across the toes. Our jaws all dropped. And then a little kid of about 2 and a half came over the edge, and we were entirely humbled!

End of the story... the way down was just as steep and muddy, and took about 3 hours. It took about four days until we were able to sit down-stand up-walk down stairs without cringing, it was absolutely worth it, and Mayan women are some tough broads. There is a so-so picture of one of them below (no one had the wherewithal at that point to snap a good pic). I think that we´re going to hike the highest volcano in Central America next... but its apparently much easier than this one.