DUST YOURSELF OFF AND TRY AGAIN - Climbing Volcano Acatenango
Looking back, I SO wish I had any sort of photos/video footage of the most
MISERABLE I HAVE EVER BEEN
However, my fingers were about to fall off from being freezing cold, my body was shaking from soaking wet clothes, there was no way I could reach for my camera, let alone press the record button. Soo ya, no photos for you all. I was busy making sure I could get down this volcano alive.
DON'T WORRY GUYS... this is a classic story of mind over matter, finding the best in the worst situations, and never giving up
...and it goes lil something like this...
Climbing Volcano Acatenango
You won't last more than a day in Antigua, Guatemala without hearing about climbing Acatenango. A volcano right outside of the city, standing 3,976 meters (13,045 ft) high with a stellar view of the active volcano: Fuego. If you are lucky, you can catch a glimpse of Fuego erupting, as well as beautiful views of all the surrounding volcanoes on a clear day.
A *CLEAR* DAY I must be fair, it is rainy season here in Guatemala. However I was determined to climb what is dubbed the hardest volcano trek in Guatemala. You climb to base camp, spend the night and wake up around 330am to climb the summit for sunrise. My buddy Micha and I were ready to tackle Acatenango together.
Items required:
3 liters of water
Snacks
Warm clothes
Gloves, Hat, Scarf, Rain Jacket (super cold overnight at base camp)
60L or bigger backpack The company we went with supplied our meals, sleeping bags and tents. Every item listed above you were responsible to carry up with you in your backpack.
The Climb
I knew the hike was going to be physically challenging, heaps of tourists claiming it was the hardest thing they have ever done. I was fine with that, I was more worried about the cold. Ekk I was right.
p.s. This did turn out to be the hardest hike I have ever done physically. However ironically was not the scariest.. Stairway to Heaven in Hawaii has that title, check the out HERE ! Micha and I started the hike with a guide and two other girls around 9am on what looked like a pretty good day. 2.5 hours in, around lunch time, BOOM, rain. Too rainy to eat our lunches, we kept trekking. It's about 5-6 hours up to base camp. Okay, some rain. I can handle this..
RAIN - RAIN - RAIN.
MORE RAIN.
I put my blinders on. I was determined to get to the top.
As the elevation got higher and higher the temperature got lower and lower.
The rain got worse, the wind got worse. My clothes, including my rain jacket, were soaked through. We could no longer converse, or even turn our heads, too cold. My head was freezing.. #AlopeciaProblems. I told myself just to make it to base camp so I could get in that tent.
This went on for hours. Imagine being in almost freezing cold temperatures, and soaking wet!
One foot in front of the other, you can do this.
The decision to keep going was discussed multiple times by this point.
I was leading the pack when I turned a corner and had the largest gust of wind and rain hit me like a ton of bricks, almost knocking me over. This was my breaking point. I turned to our guide...
Verdict
He had phoned his amigos back home about the weather. We needed to turn around. The storm was too dangerous. The tents would flood, and it would be too cold to spend the night. Earlier this year 7 people died on the mountain from getting caught in poor weather conditions.
It was at this time that the two girls started to go into full panic mode. I understood why. It's such a TOUGH hike up, it felt like it took forever.. it was freezing and seemed impossible to turn around and go ALL the way back down. But felt even more so impossible to keep going. You felt stuck. We had been at it for 6 hours. Mentally and physically exhausted and only 15 minutes from base camp, we were SO close. Plus we had still not eaten. One of the girls called the owner of the tour company in a full-blown panic, she did not think she could make it down the volcano and wanted to see if there were any other options.
While she was on the phone I was with the other girl, attempting to calm her down. I assured her we could handle this, we would make it down. A thank you is probably in order to those girls, I was so miserable and so disappointed in my head, but I felt like I had to keep the positive attitude for the group, which definitely helped me get down that volcano. Next I struck up a conversation with her about her life back home to take her mind of the here and now and that seemed to work.
Getting Down We were FREEZING, literally. We needed to change into dryer clothes but it seemed impossible. The rain was beating down, what was the point. I was counting rocks to pass the time and to have something to focus on other than how much misery I was in. (I learned this tactic from my friend Traci when she ran the marathon haha, hi Traci!!)
As we got further and further down the temperature got warmer and warmer. Eventually we were able to change into slightly less wet clothes.
After many falls and what felt like forever, we were down the volcano. Amen. Only problem, I'd spent the last 40 minutes feeling very sick and nauseous but whatever I was on even ground.
MADE IT
Upon arrival the owner of the company, Guilmer, took us to his house down the street in his village for hot tea and chocolate to warm up. The girl who had phoned him from the top of the volcano apologized for her franticness and he assured her it was absolutely no problem and he was sorry about the situation. He took this opportunity to share with us a couple of stories of rescue missions he has had to complete on the Volcano. Him and his village are responsible for all the rescue missions called in. (One of the reasons I feel safe climbing the mountain with them).
He had a woman die in his arms once and rescued 14 people from a plane crash near the volcano. Guilmer also shared a personal story about overcoming whatever life throws at you. Awhile ago he had been in a car accident that left him without his vision for 8 months, before finding a donor for a cornea surgery in the United States through a sponsor. He talked about his new-found passion and outlook on life. Guilmer also went on about a song that got him through this time. Next, he proceeded to sing the entire song, and when he opened his mouth Miley Cyrus - 'The Climb' came out...
Meanwhile..
I am in his front yard dry heaving as his two little nieces are out in the lawn following me and running each time I look up and see them. They were adorable.
Guilmer hands me some concoction "This is my mothers secret stomach cure, it will help you, drink it" As he handed it to me Micha says...
"Do you really want to drink that?"
I throw it back.
It did not taste great but somehow managed to help. maybe. probably not.
When I left I told Guilmer I would be back one day to conquer this volcano..
Back in the hostel I was running a fever, exhausted, no appetite, feeling awful.. maybe from the weather, I don't know.
I was so disappointed and beat down. Felt like I had done all of that for nothing. A secret tear may have even been shed when Micha wasn't looking. UGH.
When I woke up the next morning I reminded myself of all the good things I have going for me, and that things could have been much worse. If anything, I had gotten in a badass work out. ANYWAYS, I woke up (SO SORE) knowing I had to get to the top of that volcano. I needed it. I am determined. This volcano was not going to win.
Flash forward one week. Should I climb this weekend... ehh no too soon
Flash forward on more week. OKAY LETS GOO.
Sadly Micha had moved on to Nicaragua, but with my new friends Bastian and Katie in tow I was ready for round 2. I had met Katie in Belize, and Bastian at the Spanish school in Antigua.
BRING IT ON ACATENANGO
It took a lot to mentally prepare myself to give this another go. I'm scarred. What if it happens again?
Life is full of what if's, forget about 'em!
I am SO glad I did it again. Second times a charm. It was still extremely difficult, but We had AMAZING weather, NO rain, a killer group of people and one hell of an experience.
#VIEWSFROMTHETOP
The summit climb at 4am the next day was definitely the hardest part and we didn't have the best visibility.. but it didn't matter. I had gotten to the top and I was so proud of myself. I was proud of myself for not giving up and for finding the courage to do it again. Everyone on my second hike thought I was absolutely insane "How would you ever want to do this again?" "No f**king way could I ever imagine doing this in the rain, you are in insane."
We had a beautifully clear night and saw Fuego erupt multiple times, spewing out lava. I've never seen anything like it, I didn't know you could see anything like it actually. Its hands down one of the COOLEST things I have ever witnessed.
Like anything else I do, the best part is always the people you meet. People from all over with so many different experiences to share. The three best friends from Florida, the med student from England, the token Aussies of course, and the Brazilian named Marcus who travels the entire world, literally the whole world, I am amazed by him.. Marcus I am coming to see you in Brazil, it's happening!
My Man Guilmer
Huge shout out to Guilmer and his crew, these guys are honestly the best tour guides around. They live and breathe this volcano, it is their whole life. These guys went out of their way both times to make sure we were safe and having the best experience possible. Even helping to carry your backpack if it gets too much for you.. cough Bastian cough. I would highly recommend them, the proceeds go towards building playgrounds, water systems and various other things in their village. Cost me 300Q ($40USD). They are local guides, not a formal company, all you do to book is message him on WhatsApp @ +502.4169.2292. THANK YOU GUILMER!!
For anyone reading this with aspirations of climbing Acatenango.. do it!
Feel free to send me a message in the below contact box! What was your favorite part of this post? I would love to hear from you!
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