Oh my god what were we thinking!! 6.30 am arrive at shop and start piling on equipment and layers of clothing not understanding spanish guide. Very scared already. Take bus trip to base of massive mountain with big group of about 15 people and 3 guides. Fun part first we got to jump on ski lift for first 600 metres. gorgeous views already. Ok time to get off and have last toilet break for looong time. Demonstration how to use ice pick in spanish with actions - great. Start climb instense pain already. 1 hour and we get 5 min break seriously canīt go any further but they say just 5 more hours but we havnīt even hit the steep part yet. More climbing and attatched claws (grampons) to our feet. continue zig zag up ice. Guide told us to walk with legs apart we said big steps and he said no like a cowboy so we donīt spike ourselves. Time to strip off again so hot and sweaty 3 layers of pānts was bad idea. 5 tops soon became one singlet. After 2nd break the crazy fit people took off but we needed more rest and food. Here we formed team Australia with George from Sydney and our adopted chillain Brother Nicholas (the guide).Owner of company was sitting on bag whilst we sat on ice and he told us our bums are freezers. Team australia pushed on as middle team whilst bottom team dropped off and did not make it. Nicholas kept saying cīmon (Bamos) you are lazy, no more stops. Words can not explain how hot, tired, exhausted, sore and for amy scared (yes i was a woos). George was our positive motivator even helped carry food and apply sunscreen . You can do it!!! Getting very steep by now!! Beyond death but past half way must keep goin - canīt breathe. Nico start pulling clair and amy up mountain finally we hear 15 mins to go yeah. At the top and dead!. Put clothes back on as it is freezing. Team Australia celbreate!!! Wishing we had pisco sours (like margarita).
Time to look in volcano and check out lava. Again Amy is chicken after dreaming that guide threw everyone in volcano. Nico had to pull me over and hold onto me. Explosions of smoke and lava very cool. Amazing!! Lots of photos as we can see all the way to Argentina.then time to go down. Put cloth slide on bottom with duck tape to make us go fast. Clairīs was broken so she went slow. Followed tracks down like big slippery slides. first bit of fun all day! Nico had to make train with clair to help her go fast. Down down down running and sliding quickly as ski lift was closing. Soooo good to sit on lift and be carried to the end. In total 6 hours of pain up and 2 hours or fun coming down. Big plans to celebrate at hotsprings with beers. But after shower those plans turned into bed and sleep. Hot spings tomorrow night after horse riding...
|
