Admirals Log:
GUATEMALA 5
Spot the girl in the tree! The little bit of original forrest left is magnificent.
The vegetation changed significantly as we climbed higher
The trees becoming more spindly. Just like my legs - I think they were worn down to thin sticks by this stage too!!
Oh my goodness - we were literally in the clouds!!
Almost to the campsite Fuego decided I must have needed a bit of encouragement to go that last few meters!
You could hear the boom of the explosion and at night the red glow of the lava.
The clouds were rushing by but I liked this one giving Fuego a hat. The lahar still runs down the side of the mountain after a big explosion.
David and I didn't make it right up to the summit - I stayed at the campsite (on a ledge cut into the side of the mountain) at 3,600 metres and David attempted to go to the top (at 3.30am) to see the sunrise but turned back when the pace was too grueling.
Liam,David and I shared one of these tents!! We had a thick blanket as padding underneath us and any spare clothes (of which there were not many as we wore them all for warmth). I was lucky and went to bed first so got the best set up but poor Liam came in last and couldn't even lie out straight as he was too tall! Fatigue was my sedative - and very effective - but being young and fit Liam's night was a little bit more uncomfortable! Especially as he is far more bony than me and lying on hard cold ground with little or no body fat is not to be recommended!! Not that he complained - he just sucked it up and kept going.
We had an amazing show that night with a fantastic electrical storm rolling all around us and Fuego erupting continuously.
I am glad I didn't even attempt the summit as Liam said it was so cold they had icicles in their beards and on their eyelashes and it was an endurance rather than a pleasure most of the time.
Liam - (at the end on the right) said he didn't think that he had ever been so cold. They spent most of the time huddled in a group on the ground, tucked into the side of the mountain, trying to protect each other from the wind and cold, while waiting for the sun to come up and then the clouds to lift off Fuego to get a picture!!
You can just see Fuego peaking out of the top of the clouds. I think snuggled up in my sleeping bag for another 3 hrs sleep was a far better idea!!!!
It was worth every sore muscle and lost toenail to see this!!!! AND to know that I could do it! Next time I would definitely go into training beforehand though. There is not much walking to be had on a boat - definitely none uphill!!