Written by: Reagan Kerecz
Today was the big day we had all been eagerly waiting for, our hike and overnight stay at Acatenango Volcano. I woke up at 0530 to finish packing and by 0650, we left for breakfast at Violetta’s. For breakfast, we had oatmeal, breakfast burritos, and bananas. The perfect menu to get us through what was going to be a brutal hiking day. After breakfast, we returned to the Purpose Hostel to meet Captain Lennon and Professor Cadwalader. By 0820 our bus was on its way to the base of the volcano, and that’s when Hannah and I realized we made a rookie mistake. We were about to hike Acatenango with just a Gatorade and one liter of water for each of us. Not to mention we didn’t pack any snacks.
On the bus ride, we were joined by two couples who were also taking on the volcano. Our guides, Alberto and Juliar, will be with us for the next 24 hours. We were all feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as we started the hike at 1025. We were told that the first 30 minutes would be the hardest, and then it would get easier. The first 30 minutes were brutal, but so was every other part of the hike after that. We were all gasping for air as we climbed higher and higher, the thin air making each step harder. I am very afraid of heights and couldn’t look over the side or else I would feel sick. Hannah, Pablo, and I stuck to the back of the group taking breaks, unlike some of the other guys that flew up the volcano.
At 1330, we stopped for lunch and it was one of the best meals I’ve had here. We had nachos with chicken, guacamole, salsa, juice, and cookies. After our lunch break, we set off again at 1415. The last part of the hike was pure suffering. There were moments I thought my legs would give out, and I wasn’t going to make it. But we all kept pushing forward, repeatedly saying out loud one step at a time.
Finally, at 1607, we reached the top. Hannah, Pablo, and I were the last ones to make it. The fear of looking over the sides and understanding how far up we truly were began to set in. I had no idea how I was going to make it back down. But that was tomorrow’s challenge. The view at the top was stunning. The sense of accomplishment and relief was overwhelming.
We set up camp and got into our tents. I shared a tent with Hannah and Vicienzo. Most of us decided to use the rubber gloves that we had in our bags from our work sites as extra gloves. Never would have thought they would work so well. For dinner, Alberto and Juliar had prepared pasta with meat sauce. As the sun was setting, we sat around the campfire, taking in the unbelievable beauty of the landscape. Volcano Fuego was putting on a show, erupting 15 times every hour. Watching lava spew from the top of the volcano under a sky full of stars was indescribable.
This was without a doubt one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. There were times when I thought I wasn’t going to make it, many many times. But the feeling of standing at the top, surrounded by such beauty was well worth it.