Volcano Hike

So for those of you that don't know, we live on an island that was created by a volcano.  It is an inactive volcano, but a volcano nonetheless.  A little over a month ago Josh and I were invited to go on the hike to the rim of the volcano, and decided we had never been so now was the perfect time to go.  Josh was informed by one of his close friends that it was a moderate hike, no big deal.  WRONG!!!!  The guy that got the hike together hired a guide to pick us up at the school and to take us up the volcano.  Something should have tipped me and Josh off when we found out that our guide hikes the volcano 2-3 times a week, but it didn't.  After an adventurous van ride to the starting point, we were off!!!  I was the one who started off carrying the backpack with the water and snacks, as this was a three to four hour hike round trip.  Well we took off up the volcano like we were running from the police, and it was straight up!!!!  At our first stop I kindly handed over the backpack to my super, great husband, who carried it the rest of the way up. 

Tree at our first stopping point.  Supposedly 1/5 of the way done!!

A little over an hour later we were nearing the top.  Josh and I were both so happy to hear that the climb was almost over!! Here are a few pictures heading to the top and looking down into the crater.

 That is the highest you can go without going to the summit, which is like another 1000ft and it is climbing with ropes.

 This is the pond in the middle of the crater.

 That is the summit.

 The rim of the volcano.

Rim.



After some talking, the group decided they wanted to go down into the crater and swim in the pond.  We were told that it was quite a difficult climb down, as it was pretty much straight down while lowing yourself down with ropes.  I decided I didn't want to be a cry baby so I reluctantly went with the group.  Well I got not even an 1/8 of the way down and decided that if I continued with the group they might be having to get me out of there on a stretcher.  Although I have never doubted the strength of my legs, I am much less confident in my arm strength.  And as it had been raining the night before it made the climb even that much more difficult.  So I told Josh that I was headed back up to wait on them, so I could avoid a broken neck!!  Here are the pictures from the climb down into the crater and some of the group swimming in the crater pond.  Although I wish I could have gone all the way down, the pictures are good enough for me!!!

 Heading down.  Not me!!!

 Crater pond.

Our guide and the group getting ready to head back up to where I am waiting.

After returning to the where I was waiting, I was informed by a couple of people including my husband that I was the smart one not to climb down into the crater.  Josh said that it was crazy!!!  Now the task of having to make our way back down the volcano lay before us.  This was quite a bit faster, but not any easier then climbing up because by now everyone's legs were mush. 

 Josh and I after he returned from the crater.

 Headed back down!!!

 Huge ferns!!!!

 Finally at back to the van.

That little tiny rock sticking out right in the middle of the picture was where we were at.

So we survived the volcano hike and have vowed never to do it again!!!  I wish I would have had a recording of Josh while we were on the hike because you get a kick out of him.  He kept saying the whole time how he was lied to because he was told that it was not a hard hike.  He complained the whole way and so did I!!! Haha!!!!  Although the group said that they would never forget the hike as long as they lived, not because of the beautiful views, but because Josh was so entertaining!!!!  And to finish off this entry, here is a picture of injury that I sustained during the hike because as Josh puts it, "I am weak!!"

I was concerned that I might be on an episode of "Monsters Inside of Me."