23 Mar Trekking across the Highland of Alaska to Santa Maria Volcano (3 772 meters)
As part of my own preparation for the four day Volcanic Challenge (to climb three volcanos) I was participating in with the Education for the Children Foundation in Guatemala to help raise emergency crisis funds for the poorest children in Guatemala, I set out on a three day hike with the aim of climbing Santa Maria Volcano (3 772 meters). It was an amazing trekking journey with my two guides where we walked through corn fields, farmland with huge avocado trees, sweat-pies fields, and small local villages.
We stayed overnight with a local family in the highlands of Alaska, eating local food, having a sauna, sleeping on the floor, and continued to walk through an amazing landscape with breathtaking views, whilst getting a taste of the rich culture. I even got blisters from my boots that have been faithful for ten years. After 10 hours of strenuous walking per day for two days—we ended up in an amazing hot spring. Stayed overnight at Xela and had a fantastic meal at an Indian restaurant.
Up at 4 a.m. the next day we started the hike to Santa Maria—and we reached the summit after five hours of walking a steep and slippery path. We were rewarded by the beauty of nature and the eruption of Santiaguito Volcano.
After the hike back down, I left Xela (the second largest city in Guatemala and lovely) and returned to Panajachel with the buss. I went to spend two beautiful and relaxing days at lake Atitlan where I discovered Isla Verde Eco Resort when I got off at the ‘wrong’ dock at Santa Cruz.
Life of serendipity is wonderful!
I then returned to Antiqua to get ready for the Volcanic Challenge taking place a few days later.
~ Borghild
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