Santiaguito volcano

December 2000. A trip made with Asociación de Andinismo. Because it is in constant activity we don't go to the crater but to a rocky formation known as "Pared Guatemala". Seen from far away we see the red color of the flowing lava and sporadic eruptions (like in "Lord of the rings" movie). The hike at this volcano is one of the hardest, not because it is very tall, but because the way is long and rough. The route is not monotonically upwards but a combination of both upwards and downwards. There is a part where the vegetation is very dense and it is not possible to walk fast. There are even parts where the ways transforms into a tunnel trough the vegetation.  In this part, know as "La Cicuta", the slope is high and the bushes leafs accumulate the ashes from the volcano. Sometimes this makes breathing not that easy. At the end of La Cicuta it is "La Piedrona". Here the way goes downwards as in a huge stone. A bit of rain transforms it into a dangerous slide and that is precisely the route of the rain water that comes from the mountain. At the end of La Piedrona we find a terrain filled with volcanic rocks. The landscape makes you feel like you are walking in other planet. And there, is where the climb towards Santiaguito volcano begins, the route goes over large piled up volcanic rocks. The camping  is done in a place known as "Los Circos". This is a flat surface covered by sand and surrounded with rocks, it resembles the roman circus. After passing several of these circuses we are finally at Pared Guatemala. At this moment we realize that we are at the middle of the journey: we have to go back.