Back to Pacaya

Back to the volcano

We returned to the Pacaya volcano with an expert from Guatemala’s Instituto Nacional de Sismologia Vulcanologia Meteorgia e Hidrologia. They are in charge of studying the volcanos, (among other things) including issuing warnings to evacuate areas. Guatemala has thirty two volcanos, four of which are currently active.

It was back on those poor mangy horses. I had asked what happened to the horses when they no longer could make it up the mountain. I was hoping for an answer like, “ We reward our noble companion for it’s long service by putting him out to pasture to enjoy it’s final years.” The answer I got was, “We make him into sausage!”. On the steep parts of the path I would pat my horse on the neck and say, “Come on buddy, it’s this or you’re sausage.”

With a guide, who was a scientist, we went a lot further into the lava field. He was obviously having a fun day out of the office. He was pointing things out and beckoning us to follow. Which we did, as long as he wasn’t incinerated, it had to be safe right?

It was hot. There I was with lava glooping about, oozing here and there. Even among the more sedate areas, I’d look across the mountain and see the red hot glow of the lava like the eyes of a beast lurking under the rock. The idea that rock is a frozen liquid isn’t commonly thought, but here, it was the best description. The black rock seemed to be caught in the act of frolicking about, rock frozen in motion.

Our guide pointed out layers and formations and precipitated rock. We burned a few more sticks and jumped across some ridiculously hot cracks.

Sweating hot we retreated to cool of the trees off of the lava field. The horses were waiting for us.