Volcán Acatenango

24 hours ~ c.5000ft elevation gain ~ c.13,000ft altitude at summit.

Without doubt one of the best / hardest things I’ve ever done. Climb up to base camp all good - around 5 hours with breaks, arriving at 4pm. Other cabins full, so zach and I shown to some ‘special’ couples cabin. The local guides enjoyed making jokes about this, which I found to be deeply inappropriate.

After 1 hour rest, around 50% of group leave for Fuego. Only a couple hours more total we were told. To our relief, Fuego was active and erupting. The wind at the top was absolutely mental & genuinely thought I was going to get blown off, so tactically positioned myself behind someone else ensuring they’d be first to go. Never been so cold (ironic, given the proximity of lava). Raynauds infiltrated my hands (despite the ski gloves) & it was touch and go at that point.

The pitch black Fuego descent down steep + slippery volcanic rock was tough & sent some people flying. Poles saved my life. Tougher yet, reascending Acatenango to get back to base camp with jelly legs by that point. People starting to lose their heads over the pace being set. Turning on each other. Wasn’t a pretty sight.

Finally, 5 hrs later, we make it back to base camp by 10pm, some in the group not until 11pm. Broken humans. I began chugging hot chocolate in a way that, based on the faces of the guides, they had never seen before.

4am, following minimal sleep, Zach and I rally again for Acatenango sunrise summit (which very little of Fuego group surfaced for). Stunning views, glad we did.

To conclude, lovely / interesting bunch of people. The guides did a ceremony for Fuego champions and gave us medals. Very sweet. Though 1 lad did hike up with 2 BigMacs (dinner & breakfast), which I felt represented the decline of humanity.

P.S. I would like to know how many people have climbed Fuego in barefoot shoes.