"He who goes up step by step always finds himself level with a step." -Antonio Porchia-
Bren and Kate woke up at 4:30 am packed their bags and scooted a few blocks to catch the shuttle to the mountain. The summit of Acatenango was their destination. This is the third highest volcano in Guatemala reaching 3975 masl (meters above sea level) or 13041 feet. After an hour drive the two reached the trailhead along with a few other hikers, two guides from the company, two guides from a local village, and one six year old guide in training from the village.
After a half hour trying to part the van because of difficulties due to heaps of loose dirt and gravel everyone was off through the fields. The hike started up a steep path, made of loose dirt, taken daily by farmers who work the land around the base of the mountain. Some of the crops were corn, snow pea, and lily. About an hour into the hike Kate and Bren reached old growth cloud forest. The trail began to do a few more switchbacks and was a little firmer. The Duglas (six year old boy) was full of energy, he was continually running ahead and climbing trees, only to jump out and yell in an attempt to scare the hikers. The Duglas managed to do all this in his cute little rubber muck boots. The trail then became less steep as Kate and Bren started to traverse around the mountain through the red pine forest. The pine beetle had been working pretty hard so many of the trees in this section were dead. Bren and Kate popped out into the saddle of the mountain, partially covered by dwarf pine trees. From the saddle there were two peaks with trails leading to each. Kate and Bren had signed up to go to the higher of the two, obviously. The last push up the mountain led the trekkers up steep, loose, gravel/sand slopes. After every step one would slide back half a foot and feel as if little progress was made. *reminder: the courageous crew had carefully climbed close to 13000 ft at this point and were feeling the low oxygen levels* Everyone struggled to the crater rim then took a short walk to where lunch would be served. Depending on the speed of hiking it took between 5 and 6 hours. Sitting on the south side of the crater they enjoyed a typical Guatemalan tuna taco lunch with views of Volcan de Fuego, Volcan de Agua, Volcan de Atitlan to name a few. Aptly named Volcan de Fuego put on a show and spewed smoke and rocks out in large powerful bursts every ten minutes. Everyone rested for a while before they made a short hike to the highest part of the crater and the summit.
Tired and weary...thankfully it was all downhill from there. The descent was much quicker taking only 3 hours. Everyone was taking a short break in the cloud forest when all of a sudden the lead guide says, "everyone go now! I hear voices". Everyone hustled really quick for a while in fear of the voices. Luckly the two local guides carried machetes, not that they were used.
Sleep. Then the alarm went off at 4:50 so Kate and Bren could catch the shuttle to Quetzaltenango (Xeha). And here thee be.
ooduhlaley,
BB-KK
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