Thursday 24th:
I survived the volcano climb!
It’s 2,800m active volcano which constantly puffs out steam and gas (sulphurous I believe) We spent last night on a little boat viewing the mountain in shades of pink at sunset.
I had a healthy dose of Clarinase to clear the head before a 4.30 pickup this morning. A 20k drive took us to 1400m before we started our slow trudge ever upward over pumice, dust and scree....we were all appropriately kitted out in windproofs, gaiters, and carried gloves helmets and crampons and an ice pick in issued backpacks for when the going got colder and icier....the first 1 1/2hr were by the light of our head torches...the volcano looked so non threatening, puffing out wisps of pink smoke in the first light of day. The second rest stop took us to the ice and we had lessons in using the crampons and picks, and how not to break a leg!!! The wind whipped up, making it hard to balance and turn ....zigzagged up, and up...
2 1/2 hrs later the clouds started to shroud the crater, and we were suddenly in fog....400m from the summit the guides said enough and we headed down. 1 1/2 hours was all it took, retracing our steps on the ice, then sliding down in the gravel... the knees will tell their own story tomorrow... we all nodded off in the bus ride home...
I’m so proud of myself... I so nearly didn’t attempt it!
Off for drinks on the lake and dinner before Gus heads for Santiago, camping 1 night en route night.
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