forebidden (I thus could not borrow), and expensive (and full) internet cafes, I failed to do what I said I would, which was keep up my blog. But I will instead now post posts...and thus fulfill my initial idea...The Volcano...
On the 31st (yes, the last day I posted) those of us who hadn't been to Chile before went to climb the local volcano. When we got up in the morning it was the first time we could actually see the volcano. Yeah there was a little tiny cloud shrouding the top, but it finally proved that all the pictures we had seen were not a photo-shopped scam for tourists, that there really was a volcano, and it was pretty!!
One of our guides, Nico, was one of the raft guides I met over the summer at Cascade, so it was awesome seeing him. However, he bore words of doom... "See that cloud at the top. Bad news. Bad weather is coming. We will have to be quick." See? Doom...
Anyway, so luckily one of the ski lifts was open (it took approximately 1 hour off of our climb time), but we had to pay for it, and only a few of us had money (not thinking it would be open, and not taking anything extra with us). But the lift operators were nice and took what we had. It was fast, noisy, and sketchy. And mind you we didn't have skis or snowboards on, so you can't zoom out of the way on the snow. No. You had to run, in very big, clunky, hiking boots that aren't meant to be run in...with a huge pack with a pick axe. It must have been amusing watching us... (Picture; left to right: Jessie, Will, Mackenzie, Min, Carly, and me).And so, following directly in the footprints of the guide with our gear and our pick axes up mountain and ready to scream bloody murder if we slipped, we began our trek up the mountain. Slowly visibility grew less and less. It was interesting, because the sun was bright, and reflected off the snow, and as clouds gathered around us (and towards the one at the top), the light reflected in the clouds...it was weird. And then there was white...everywhere! EVERYWHERE!! Depth perception was difficult, and concentration narrowed to the footprints ahead. We ultimately only got halfway up the mountain. We took a break for lunch (cold hands...and in the process, let's not slip down the mountain and follow the almost fate of Mackenzie's water bottle (the guide ~100m down the mountain caught it)...). The guides from all the different groups and companies confrenced and we turned around.
The going down was probably the best part. Totally and completely terrifying, but awesome none the less. We were given little plastic slabs shaped like a butt-print that we sat on and slid down on. Yes. EXTREME SLEDDING!! I was terrified after I got turned around on the first leg (I was going backwards...unable to see ANYTHIING) and went toboggan style with a guide until the last leg, which I did by myself.
The kids who went before did not quite buy our story of terror and extreme awesomeness. We had them somewhat going until they heard we had the aid of the ski lift (they didn't last year), and that we only went half way and turned around. Then we completely lost any respect we could have gained on that trip.
Despite the dreary weather (the doom predicted early on an otherwise clear, perfect day) it was pretty awesome. Now I can say I climbed a volcano! (No one needs to know we turned around and had the help of a ski-lift, do they?? I though not.)
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