This past Saturday I hiked Volcán Tajumulco, which at 4,220 meters (just over 13,800 feet) is the highest peak in Central America. After awakening at 4:30 AM to travel west from Toto to the department of San Marcos, I and 5 other volunteers began our ascent around 10:30 AM. It was nice we girls were not alone, but had three American backpackers with us, who were not only guys, but park rangers in Yosemite. So that was comforting. The trek began with a very dusty road before hitting the hills with rocks and trees. There is a path, although at times not very clear, so it was helpful that a huge group from a travel expedition company out of Xela was just ahead of us. The hiking was pretty rigorous, although steady for the most party. Towards the end of our day, the mountain got pretty steep, the air thinner, and I started to feel it in my head. We pitched our tents just under the path to the summit mid-afternoon. It took us just under 5 hours, including breaks, so about just under 4 hours of hiking in all. We started a fire, ate a very early dinner, roasted marshmallows, and tucked in early. I slept all right, waking up a few times because it was so cold.
Sunrise on Tajumulco, February 6, 2011
We woke at 4 AM Sunday morning to climb with headlamps up the steep and rocky path to the top of the volcano and watch the sunrise. The sunrise was magnificent, silhouetting other distant volcanoes engulfed in clouds far below us. As beautiful as it was, I can’t say I really relished the moment, as it was absolutely freezing up there. In spite of my hiking boots, thick socks, gloves, and several layers of coats, I had no feeling in my toes nor my fingers, and feeling was beginning to go in other parts of my body, too, before we got moving just after sunrise to go back to camp. At our camp we packed up our tents and belongings to trek back down.
The trip down was glorious! Smooth sailing, with great views we didn’t get to fully enjoy on our way up. I was amazed at how fast the scenery flew by on the way down, and we arrived in under two hours. I arrived home exhausted and allowed myself to sleep in until almost 8:30 this morning and not do any exercise. My running has really served me well, as my legs don’t hurt today, just a little soreness in my lower back and hips which I think is from carrying my pack. It was a great trip, but one I won’t be repeating, at least not any time soon.
View on the way down
