(Third week in Quetzaltenango) Week three carried on as usual in addition to getting mentally prepared for a weekend hike up Tajumulco, an extinct volcano in western Guatemala whose claim to fame is being the highest point in Central America at 4,222m (13,850ft). We went through a company called Quetzaltrekkers, a great organization whose tours are led by volunteers, all profits going to a local orphanage. But I’m getting ahead of myself, week three meant a lot of eating (in preparation for our big excursion!) and a lot of studying.

Rice, veggies, and salpicón

Looking westward onto Xela from partway up the Baúl

Soup, chicken, delicious lime-soaked cucumber

Our friend Alex told us about some change-your-life-tacos at the local Tacos Tabascos; my life-changing took place not only in my mouth and stomach, but in my eyes.

Breakfast

Lunch

and dinner

The maid was a cheerful woman named Maria Isabel who worked at the house Monday-Saturday from 8am to 4pm. Here she is giving Leisha her weekly bath, much to Leisha’s dismay.

Chavi and Ian, cousins of our host-nephew.

Pasta with mashed potato patties

Bajo la Luna has arguably the best burgers in Xela and one time we went, it was aptly under the full moon.

Our volcano-climbing company, Kiera (US) and Markus (Germany), Markus displaying how anyone over 5’5” has to fold into the chicken bus seats.

The itinerary for the hike was two hours by bus, one hour for breakfast, one additional hour of bus, and then four hours of hiking to reach base camp. The next morning started with a 3:30am wake-up to leave camp by 4:00 to be at the summit around 5:00, in time for sunrise. Off we go!

Click here for a video resume of our Tajumulco climb

Our guide, Offer, with Kiera and the summit we were to reach in the background

Afternoon clouds coming in

What is now a peaceful meadow used to be a tree-filled forest. During the civil war (that lasted from 1960 to 1996) the Guatemalan army completely leveled the area, burning the forests and crops to drive the guerrillas out of the mountain.

Hiking in a storm cloud was a bit unsettling.

The boys headed up to a point slightly higher than base-camp, Cerro de Concepción, at 4,100m.

The Cool School gang contemplating being above the clouds and dinner.

Cloud sandwich

My face is the result of being handed a coffee after the intense hike.

Kiera and the clouds

Orion sighting on our way to the summit the next morning

Julien atop highest point in Central America! Kiera is pointing at Julien in imitation of Offer pointing at Julien.

Me, Kiera, and the full moon

Seven of Guatemala’s largest volcanoes, all of which sit on the Ring of Fire

We smartly brought our sleeping bags to stay toasty for our sunrise show

The Volcán de Fuego, the volcano to the far right of the group to the far left, with its eruptive poof

The sun peeking through

Though not perfect itself in appearance , Tajumulco cast a perfect Strombolian-esque shadow on the clouds. The real volcano to the right is Tacaná, a volcano right on the Mexican/Guatemalan boarder, and Tajumulco’s crater dips down in the foreground.

Tajumulco’s shadow and Tacaná, under the full moon

Sunrise above the clouds

The crew: Offer, Markus, Kiera, Anne, Julien

Heading back for breakfast

A fair amount of people had climbed down into the extinct crater to write love messages with stones.

One last look up at the full moon

Breakfast time at basecamp. We had to make a decision about halfway through the climb as to whether we take one or take two tents to camp when it became apparent that one member of the group wouldn’t make it to the top. It came down to either taking the additional tent and have more room but have to carry the extra weight, or just take up one tent leaving us with little room, but also no extra gear. We decided to get cozy in that tent to the left, and we certainly were not cold during our five hour snooze.

The toilets with a great view but reduced privacy

The summit from base camp

Starting the three hour walk back down

Tajumulco’s summit to the right and Cerro de Concepción to the left

Julien on a precarious perch

We got back just in time to avoid the afternoon rain, but not the afternoon clouds. An amazing hike with lovely company!

Kiera and Markus emerging from the cloud