Pacaya and Acatenango
by Jaime Suárez (conducted promotions in 1995)
PACAYA 2,552 m
Pacaya volcano from 2,552 meters high in the department of Guatemala very close to the capital. It is a volcanic complex on which stand two cones, one active.
This has remained constant activity over the past 25 years and occurred during our stay and climb up the same that motivated to be declared on alert.
On June 3, 1995 we from the capital of Guatemala, to the summit of Pacaya, a group formed by members of the National Mountaineering Federation of Guatemala, the English Federation of Mountain Sports and Climbing, Mountaineering Federation of Chile, then-Mayor Joseph H. Hernández of the Argentine Army and myself. We went on a bus of the Mountaineering Federation of Guatemala to the south and then over 35 kilometers of dirt roads through the village we came to San Francisco de Sales, located on the northwest side of the volcano, which was the vehicle. The volcano is named after the nearby town of San Vicente Pacaya. The Pacaya is an edible palm heart (your name comes from the Quiche) that abounded in the region.
From the town where we arrived-in which you could see some nervousness-arrhythmic observe the eruption of the volcano, which emitted from active cone constant eruptions and incandescent rocks, which soon covered a large segment of its skirt, A red lights went to black after steaming.
We start from the village and after an hour through a dense jungle area, we reached the place called "the plateau" in one part a little flatter. Above it there is a site called "monument" that is usually seen more eruptions. Looking towards the bottom this place, to your sides, you could see a long profile, bare of vegetation in some cases and in others, flora destroyed by the action of volcanic heat in its wake. From "monument" We continue to access the top edge of the cone standing "not active" to call it somehow. We stand there and slag remains mixed in the sand and rocks, which together with remains of lava off our ascent difficult, so just after half an hour we could reach the summit.
We were at an altitude of 2,552 meters, at the top of the cone inactive in these circumstances twin active crater is on your side. The eruption in a time of their eruptions term "operator" down dramatically high, which is slowly recovering after the erupted material eventually stain, which makes it inch by inch back up.
fumarolic activity is strong, consistent and explosive, with incandescent slag release to great heights to fall on the crater or nearby.
Pacaya Volcano As we watch and we photographed all this activity and natural beauty we are forced, by accelerating and increased strength of the eruptive process to descend urgently. The Pacaya, one of its humps erupciónHabía begun to fall in igneous material, stones and ash very close to us. We face the most direct way down moving away from the lines of fire emanating from the volcano. Our headlamps nervous traced zigzags between the remains of slag and burnt logs and still erect, until finally reaching the forest and the people. But now only accompanied by the sounds of the eruptions of Pacaya. Some equipment was on the road, but nobody said anything. It was lucky no scratches have come from this adventure. It was a very talked back and almost no jokes.
Acatenango
3,975 m
Located between the departments of Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez, near Antigua Guatemala. Also consists of two peaks, the southern peak being the main summit 3,975 meters, while the northern peak, called Yepocapa or Tres Marias, is 3,800 meters. It is the third volcano in Guatemala for their height.
The same group and entities that go up the Pacaya, left again on June 5 from the capital of Guatemala, on the Panamerican Highway to the West, to Antigua, then following to the small town of Soledad, which is far about 70 km. starting point.
This volcano is visible on clear days from the capital and is one of the most beautiful in this country Central. Is in her skirts crops of corn, beans, peas and begins as you ascend the tropical forest includes pine, as is becoming a mountain cold and wet.
for nearly an hour went through several corn plantations which prevailed and were reclaimed from the forest areas, which soon found. Cross it was a time consuming task as it walked along a narrow path which was sometimes covered by vegetation. We finally arrived, two hours later, a natural plateau surrounded by pine trees where the lateness of the evening became the ideal place for armed camp. This site is known as "El Conejo".
spend the night with some other drawback is irrelevant to this story.
The next morning, very early, we began the ascent to the summit. Continued through the forest for over an hour and a half, until they began to appear clear in the vegetation that gave us the indication that it would soon disappear. Half an hour later and volcanic sand stomping and reached the first summit, Yepocapa, with its 3,800 meters, where we could see from his cross the summit and looking at the target, stunning craters that lie at the foot of the main summit Acatenango . That
cone, amazing view, was covered by material thrown Fuego volcano neighbor. Towards the main summit we are going, going, just down a bit the first summit, with a refuge from the Federation of Guatemala.
In 40 minutes we overcome the 176 meters height difference and the approximate mile distance that separated us from the goal, reaching the summit cross Acatenango.
The view from there was impressive, can be seen most of the volcanic chain, including the peaks that shares a border with Mexico, also the volcano Fuego and Pacaya previously promoted.
The summit crater is seen as a shed, probably by the neighbor Fire, called "The Gap". After spending much time at the summit, we descended around the craters and three hours later we were on the dirt road you come expecting the micro Mountaineering Federation for us.
remained, at least we Argentineans, a whole new and unique concept in terms of climbing, we had not imagined continue, despite having agreed to summits in Mexico and Ecuador. In the mountains between 3,000 and 4,000 meters, had gone from green fields to cultivated areas,
get through thick, pristine tropical forest with all its characteristic flora and fauna, then settling land volcanic difficult ascent, until finally reaching summits craters fumes and are sometimes very dangerous situations by the eruptions.
important thing was knowing that every inch you go up in an American country is a step towards the integration of our continent and a value in our environment in the struggle for environmental protection.
If you go to Guatemala ... Do not forget to go to Tikal!
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