Tajumulco volcano


The following are some of the photographs I took in a trip done in June 1999. This was not a planned trip. The original idea was to go to Chilasc'o, Baja Verapaz and we end in other place 400 Km apart. In the way to the bus station we decided to go to Tajumulco volcano. I think that if we had planned the trip, we wouldn't have done it; because June is the beginning of the rainy season and the presence of constant rain would have made us to desist from our idea. After a journey by the west of Guatemala, we arrived to a little town called Tuich'an, where the hike begins.

The adventure feeling was always present, since none of the members of our modest expeditions  had been before in this volcano. For some time, clouds prevented the visibility as much in the ascent as the descent. The lost of panoramic view makes one to lose the way during the descent, since in this volcano the path is not notably marked. This has been one of the best voyages  to a volcano.


(Click on image to enlarge.)




 In rainy season, the dominant color is green. After hiking for a couple of hours, Eduardo (bottom right) and me behold the walked path.



Going up a little bit more. The effect of recent rain is evident. Although it is still clear, toward noon; clouds start to condense. It is sure that it will rain in the afternoon.



After a rain that lasted all afternoon and night, the next day the sky was clear. The tent (center bottom) was beside a puddle.



Almost from the top, with a clear day, we see the walked path. This picture corresponds to other trip; during the summer season.




When we got to the top, there was no longer clear sky. To blue color is due to the presence of clouds that hid the sun.



Putting the camera on a rock we took a picture at the top. To the left there is a tower that marks the summit. We weren't lucky enough to have a clear sky again, so after a while we started our way down. Rain was an element that made this trip one of the hardest. For a unplanned voyage, everything went very nice. Almost shivering because of the cold, Eduardo Rubio (right) and me (left) hail to the camera.



  Last modified Feb 14, 2005.