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Published: October 24th 2008
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We both agree that this was one of the coolest things we´ve done so far
Volcan Pacaya is the nearest active volcano to Antigua sitting at around 2,500 metres above sea level...we hiked it
After many days of putting it off to adverse weather conditions and sore knees we eventually bit the bullet and decided to go up regardless of the weather. We set off on a 14-seater mini-bus at about 2.30pm on Friday and an hour and a half of crazy winding roads and a number of near death experiences we arrived at the entrance. It was here that the driver hopped out, put a piece of wood under the front tyre and went up to pay for our entrance. After a few minutes the bus started rolling downhill. As usual I was oblivious and Vicki was the one to point out the moving bus. In an almost Lassie-esque sort of fashion, I quickly sensed that something was wrong. I leapt out of my seat like a young grasshopper and saved the day by carefully inserting my left peg onto the braking device thereby stopping the downward motion of the bus and preventing the imminent deaths of so
The climb up
The views were spectacular many. The word hero is used all too often. I´m just a regular guy with a huge heart. After graciously accepting my applause from the passengers and thanks from the bus driver, we were soon on our way again. This is where we met our guide armed with sticks and a gun. He was selling sticks although I would´ve preferred his other piece. It was only half way through our hike up the mountain that I saw the futility of using a gun to climb up a slippy path
We rented our sticks and were on our way. The rain was heavy, the path was muddy and through a thick forest. Within twenty minutes we realised how right we were to be wearing our hiking boots. There were some people climbing up in crocs and others in flip flops so naturally, with our climbing shoes we were the leaders of the pack with our abilities to effortlessly walk up a sheer vertical rock face!!!
Eventually we got up past the clouds and through the forest to few hundred yards of black ashy, sandy ground followed by what can accurately be described as crazy rocks. It was at this
Steely determination
Didnt even break a sweat point that Vicki nearly lost her nerve and almost came to the conclusion that back-packing and trekking were not for her. Whatever! She pulled through it and before we knew it we were standing on a barbeque
We weren´t actually allowed climb to the summit as it´s an active volcano and super dangerous. We were shy a few hundred feet but what we saw was something else. As soon as you walk on the rock you can feel the heat. There´s smoke spewing all around and there are loads of cracks where you can look down and see the lava flowing under your feet. The pictures we have are good but they still don´t do it justice. There was a lava flow which is exactly as it sounds. It was flowing about 4 feet wide and down the side of the volcano. We were able to get as close as we physically could and I did just that. Some lad was up there at the side of the lava flow toasting some hot dog weiners on the end of a stick. In fairness to the guy he was standing there a while and I was waiting to get up
Path of ash
This is where it got tricky there myself. As luck would have it he gradually looked in more and more pain and finally he fled saying "Oh Jesus! I´ve been burnt!" Up steps Conor with cigar in hand! I cleverly dipped my hiking stick into the lava a number of times while posing for photos and still managed to light a cigar off the end of the lava riddled stick. We were told that the lava is something like 2,000 degrees Celcius and I must say, I agree. Piping hot is an understatement. Within 5 feet of it you could easily singe your eye brows. I must say though there´s nothing like a lava cigar. While I had a smoke and took in my surroundings Vicki was playing with the lava, picking it up on her stick and flinging it around the place while talking to two dogs who made the trip up with us. We Irish sure do know how to live it up
About 20 minutes into the trek down it was almost completely pitch black. We turned around to look at the volcano and the sight was spectacular. There was a stream of lava about 1km long running down the side of
the volcano but because of the rain we couldn´t get a decent picture of it. The trek down was long and slow and our patience was tested by a group of girls (nationality not to be named) who we had to continuously wait on and who slowed the return leg by a good half hour
Soaked and in amazement of what we had experienced we got on the bus and headed back to good oul Hostel 5 for a hot shower and a pizza. Life is good
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