Guatemala Pictures

(I’m there on the lower right corner)

On this traditional ascent to the Acatenango Volcano I decided to rest for a while sitting there, just staring at the clouds. Even I take tons of pictures, few include me.

This picture was taken by a friend, thanks for that. I just love when someone captures a moment and you just don’t notice is you.

I’m still 50 meters to the summit. It’s fresh, kinda cold and with some clouds on the landscape.

I guess it captures my essence: quiet, kinda hidden, not wanting to be noticed. Just as if I wasn’t there.
That was my ascent number 9 to Acatenango and the first one with good weather. Only one time before I was able of seeing a clear sky there, all the other ascents happened hidden below the clouds. This time it remembers me the sound Above the Clouds by Paul Weller.

Acatenango is…

The second highest volcano in Guatemala, with 3,997 meters above sea level. My first volcano was Ipala, but Acatenango is the one that started it all. Its beauty is something that makes people come back to see the landscape. From there you can see Lake Atitlán, the sea and the whole volcanic chain in Guatemala.

I’ve been told…

A friend found a family on the way up, he asked what were they doing and found out it was like a funeral. The guy used to climb Acatenango and asked his old shoes to be buried at the summit. That surely shacked my friends heart like a cold stone just as the idea still does with mine while thinking about previous ascents with friends and alone.

I’ll try that… lets hope my friends and family have the will to go up and complete the journey.