Volcano Izalco: Sucked into the smoking fire of a volcano!
April 2012
We decided that it would be fun to explore a nearby park called Parque Nacional Los Volcanes (National Park of the Volcanoes) which encompasses 3 volcanoes named Izalco (still active and smoking), Santa Ana (not active but more pretty) and Cerro Verde (has nice views and a crater lake). We caught a bus to the turn-off of the park and quickly discovered that it was still 9km to the park entrance! So, we started walking. Luckily, about half hour into our walk a car came along that happened to be a van full of young men studying to become priests and they graciously offered to pick us up and take us the entrance.
Upon arrival, one of us had a nice relaxing day planned that included a leisurely walk around the rim of Cerro Verde and then a nice lunch. However, the plan went off the rails the minute Doug looked across the terrain and saw Izalco smoking from the top. He was hooked and wanted to see it!
Upon arrival, one of us had a nice relaxing day planned that included a leisurely walk around the rim of Cerro Verde and then a nice lunch. However, the plan went off the rails the minute Doug looked across the terrain and saw Izalco smoking from the top. He was hooked and wanted to see it!
As it turned out, the group of young priests that picked us up were hiking to the top of Volcano Izalco and they convinced us that we should join them. A hike to an active volcano sounded a lot more thrilling than a picnic by the lake! So off we went with our guide and two police escorts (this is common in areas where paths are isolated to help prevent robberies). Let's just say it quickly became clear that we bit off more than we could chew. The first part of the hike was an hour of steep decent to the base of the volcano. At this point we were already exhausted and with only two banana's and one bottle of water between us, we were not prepared for this kind of hike AND we still had to climb UP the volcano (keeping in mind, this all had to be reversed to get back).
About half way up I decided to stop and Doug continued to the top. It was a punishing climb for Doug with no food and no water. The group of priest boys encouraged him to keep going and gave him a few sips of their own limited supply of water. But when they finally reached the top and glimpsed the smoking fire of a volcano it was triumph for all! Doug was accepted as "one of the boys" and then they began their return trip. By the time we reached each other again Doug was completely delirious from exertion and exhaustion! We barely finished with any strength left....Only to be punished again for the next four days because neither of us could walk properly or bend our legs! What a day and what a memory!