I Conquered Santa Maria!!

I did it, I climbed Santa Maria! Santa Maria is 12,375 ft tall and has the most magnificent views of the smaller volcano Santiaguito which is said to be one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of its regular eruptions! (Santiaguito stands at 8235 ft.) Santa Maria is currently dorment but has had a couple of eruptions, one in 1902 that is categorized as among the three largest eruptions of the 20th century and another in 1922. We made it to the top with about 5 minutes to spare before Santiaguito erupted. Santiaguito erupts multiple times a day, almost every hour, but it is often difficult to see because of the high altitude the rapid movement of nearby clouds that cover your view. I did see a little bit of lava, but you could distinctly here the sound of the eruption and see the clouds of smoke multiply above the opening of the volcano. It was pretty amazing! Pictures can't do the hike justice even though it felt like I was looking at a postcard as I sat on top of Santa Maria.

Hannah and I woke up at 4:30 had some granola and finished packing our bags before we met our driver and hiking guide. They say that it is dangerous to go alone because robberies have happened and so that you don't get lost on the many twisted paths along the steep side of the volcano. Because of those recommendations, we had a hiking guide, Adolfus, who hikes up the volcano once or twice a week and is familiar with the terrain. Hannah and I got into the truck a little after 5 and reached the start of the path at about 5:30. We started hiking, but as I mentioned before Hannah's stomach had been hurting the last couple days, so she ended up deciding to turn back after a little ways and go home because her stomach wasn't cooperating. I would have been a little hesitant to go alone with the two men that picked us up and to hike alone with our hiking guide, but after traveling with Hannah to the beginning of the trail and hiking some with our guide, I decided to continue climbing. She ended up having a good day at the water park that a couple of the other volunteers went to today, so it all worked out!

The morning view as we started our hike!

At a resting point, facing the top of Santa Maria...that's where we had to go!

Adolfus and I kept on hiking and reached the top of the volcanoe in exactly 3 hours. It was a long hike, but it wasn't too terrible. The only tricky part was watching out for random rocks and the slippery mud as a result of yesterday's rain. I twisted my knee at one point when my foot slipped and was nervous it was going to bother me for the rest of the hike up, but after stretching it out and walking a little longer, I didn't feel anything. I'm so thankful that I have been exercising here and that the altitude was not a factor in my hike. It was a really pleasant hike and I enjoyed the time I was able to spend practicing my Spanish. Adolfus is learning English and so he was able to ask questions, and between the little Spanish I know, and the little English that he knows we were able to talk for most of the 7 hour hike!

Stopping for a picture with the view on our way up Santa Maria. At this point we were higher than most of the clouds!

At the top, we watched Santiaguito erupt and then a weird cloud/fog haze set in around us so you really couldn't see much of anything at all. Adolfus explained that Mayans still come to the top to do different prayers and other religious ceremonies, and we did see some indigenous Mayans, who came from Chichi, climbing up the hill with bushels of flowers on their back. I'm not quite sure what they were going to do with the flowers but they were hiking Santa Maria for the first time they all said. It was a funny encounter with them because I could tell that the two younger girls were talking about me, but I had no idea what they were saying. They both were pointing to their cheeks and rubbing them and I don't know if I had something on my face or what they were fascinated by. They had genuine and beautful smiles to offer though. After we sat at the top for an hour and little more, we started our way back down. This was the part that scared me the most. I don't have a problem going up things, but coming down scares me, especially when the ground is muddy and there are random rocks and roots sticking out of the ground. We went slow and stopped to talk in lots of places. I was able to show him pictures on my camera of my family and trips I had taken and other important people in my life, which he appreciated. I only semi-wiped out once, meaning I slipped but caught myself with my hands and stood right up and kept on walking! I was pleased. With the slow pace and many stops we made it down in a little under 3 hours, so in total, the trip took 7 hours.

The view of Santiaguito from the top of Santa Maria. The smoke coming out of the crater is part of the aftermath of the first eruption. (We were there for 2!)

Me with Adolfus. You can see the cloud/fog haze surrounding us at the top of Santa Maria.

We hiked down to the beginning of the trail where our driver let us off, but he didn't show up for another 30 minutes, so we sat and talked and watched the local children make up their own games to play in the street, the cows being hearded along, and the little chuchos (street dogs without a home) follow random strangers down the street. I made it home in time for the end of lunch with the workers at the house, as everyone else had gone to either an ancient ruins site, or the water park. It was a relaxing lunch and I enjoyed my time talking more with Angelica, the director, about her life and how she ended up here in Xela. She has had a difficult life and I thoroughly appreciated her comments on how the group that I came down with had a natural connection that is fun to have around the house. She told some stories of other volunteer groups that weren't so much fun for her to have, and even commented on the group of people that just left, saying how nice it is for everyone in the house that there are divisions and cliques of people with the group that came in 2 weeks ago. She is a lovely lady who loves the Mayan culture and gave me more reasons why I am so thankful I'm in Xela.

The day's not over, but it has been a wonderful day! Tonight I'm going out to eat at an Indian Restaurant and the volunteers at the house are going dancing. It should be interesting! The new group of volunteers come in around 7:00 pm tonight! More things to look forward too! :)

Creation is so amazing, and I am still in awe at the beauty that I witnessed today. I'm so excited and proud to say that I hiked the fourth tallest point in Central America.