Volcano Tajumuco
Trip Start
May 12, 2007
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13
20
Trip End
Jul 14, 2007
San Marcos,
Guatemala
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
6am on Tuesday morning we were picked up from our hotel and dropped at the local bus station. We were greeted by a rather young face, Marco Antonio, who was to guide us up the massive Volcano. About literally 4 hours later and numerous bus changes we arrived in San Marcos, where you begin the two day trek.
Volcan Tajumuco is an extinct volcano and stands over 4200m high
A view from the top of Tajumuco
. Its last eruption in the 1800īs annihilated Sam Marcos and itself.We started the trek about roughly 9.30 am. It soon became clear that the two days weren't going to be a breeze. We had our big bags on our bags including all essentials for the trek and some of the camping equipment each. Hence climbing 1000īs of meters with that on your back is not the dream. We stopped every 15 or 20 minutes on the way, mainly to give my legs a break (high altitude + exercise = limited oxygen supply to limbs = lactic acid attack). We had lunch rather early, about 11.15am as James and I hadn't had any breakfast so we were both struggling for energy. Around 2pm we reached the camp sight. I was so relieved! I managed to survive and we didn't get rained on...bonus! We set up camp that afternoon. We attempted to light our fire but the fire wood was too wet and our guide hadn't brought with him any lighter fluid so it was pretty much mission impossible. We got down to only 2 matches before we stopped trying (needed those matches to light the gas burner for dinner and breakfast the next day). Soon after we gave up with the fire the heavens opened so all 3 of us headed to our tent. We spent the next few hours lying down, getting warm and sleeping (mainly me!) we then decided to teach Marco some card games. It was quite interesting trying to teach a Spanish only speaking Guatemalan cards, when one can't speak too much Spanish
Bumped into Cookie Monster on the way up
. We managed to do it though! Even to the point that Marco was hammering both James and I at Rummy and Knock-Out Whist - dammit! The clock struck 6pm which meant it was dinner time. We came to a bit of a stand still, when Marco realized he had no knife to cut the onion and no tin opener to open the tins. We soon solved the puzzle though (thank god, the 3 years at Warwick has paid off) and used one of the tent pegs. It worked effectively well at piercing tins and smashing onions, and we were soon sitting down to a slightly cold spaghetti and onion tomato dish. By the time we had cleared up everything from diner it was getting dark. I chatted to Marco for a bit in my amazing Spanish tongue (?!?!?!) before going to bed at about 8pm.I was awoken at 4.45am by the sound of an alarm....time to climb Tajumuco! As we had only set up camp below the summit, we still had the main Volcano to climb to say that we had been to the very top. We all forced ourselves and got up to start the 40 minute trek up the rock face. My legs and feet were not doing too badly this time around. Perhaps because we weren't carrying our bags this time but I think it was because I couldn't feel my feet from the freezing whether. 40 minutes later and we all found ourselves at the top. It was amazing. The views were spectacular. We could even see Mexico from where we were! There was also a Maya sacrifice altar there which was interesting
Me and my tent
. I was also intrigued by the crater - you could almost see the pure power that the final eruption must have had to extinct it. After many photos and silent moments of wonder, we headed back down to our campsite. After a lovely breakfast of pancakes and syrup, we packed up and headed back down to the village of San Marco. By the time we got down to the bottom we realized how far we had actually climbed the day before, I must have been crazy! I was so proud of myself that I managed to climb Tajumuco. There were so many points on the way up that I was about to cry out loud that I couldn't do it, but as probably most know I am too stubborn and carried on through to the end. I would recommend anyone who is reading this and thinking of tackling Tajumuco to do it! It is so self rewarding and despite some moments being hard, the end result is worth it!
Comments
Volcano trecking
Hey,hey,hey Barbara
just read your blog re your wee climb up the volcano!!!!! Sounds good fun. Why did you have Mickey Mouse as a guide? No tin opener no knife. How was he going to tackle the volcano creatures? When you are tested it certainly makes you question your resolve. and as you have continually found throughout your travels you have always risen to the challenge. Not only risiing to it but conquering it!!!! It is a shame that only two of you plus the guide decided to go on the adventure but hey the important people were there. I remember from my trip to Peru going across the atacama desert the foothills of the andes we had a taxi driver and a case of beer!!!! But we remembered the tin opener. Just shows how the weather can change if you were cold. anyway going off to do a meal now and it is fantastic to read the stories. as i said in an earlier blog looking forward to the stories first hand. Hear from you later.
ian janine gemma and Katie.
Top of the World
Barbara - what an achievement one you will always remember and look back on with great pride the view looked fantastic it must have bee a great feeling to stand there and take it all in. But how did you manage to get pancakes and syrup? Perhaps there was a Mcdonald's half way down? love mum xx