Climbing Tungurahua Volcano during an
eruption
Tungurahua Volcano | 1 comentarios.
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We were supposed to go to Tungurahua the 9th (January, 2002) but one
of the tourists was very sick so we decided to put it
off "till next day, the 10th. And two German girls
joined us.
The 10th we had this group: Rodrigo "eagle", the owner
of the first refuge (the white one, not the one we
slept in). Rodrigo is also a guide. Then Carlos
(Rodrigo"s brother); Geoff, from Australia; Dave, from
England; Chris, from the States; Britta and Sussane
from Germany and me.
The 11th we started our climbing at 6 AM with a
perfect weather while watching eruptions about every
five minutes. Rodrigo "eagle" was leading and I was
"closing the line" (I was the last one). We had very
beautiful views of other mountains of the "Top Ten"
such Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Carihuayrazo, South
Iliniza, Antisana and some 4.000 meters "hills". Then
we arrived at the 4.000 meters line (remember?) and
Dave had problems with the altitude, but no matter, we
continued with him.
Everything was pretty nice, specially the weather,
those lovely blue skies. But suddenly there were no
more eruptions. We spent about one hour and thirty
minutes to go to the Rocks (4.500m); we had a good
speed, the famous "one-two-one-two". Then we arrived
at the "Cross of the Germans" (4.650m) but no
eruptions for about those two hours.
The "Cross of the Germans" is located on some huge
rocks which offer some "security", if we could say
that. We were just 100 meters in vertical away from
the lowest point of the crater. At that moment I took
a decision. I am not so sure if it was a premonition
about a dream I just had had the night before, but
anyway I said to the group that we wouldn"t continue.
We wouldn"t continue until there were one or two
eruptions and the wind blew from the east letting us
find our way up. So the group waited at that point.
15 minutes. 20 minutes and nothing. Then some of the
tourists didn"t agree. They wanted to continue and
even Carlos (Rodrigo"s brother) said that at that
moment we would have been passing the crater toward
the summit and that he also believed that maybe the
volcano would be quiet for a long time that day.
But I kept my decision though deep inside I thought he
might be all right. I was about to change my mind (I
also wanted to step on the summit), and to say "OK,
let"s do it". But these words would remain unsaid.
Before I could express anything a terrible tremor,
almost an earthquake moved the ground under our feet.
Two seconds later a huge explosion threw hundreds of
fire red stones and rocks toward the sky among a
terrible red fire and an enormous grey cloud full with
burning ashes. Everything happened so fast that we
became just onlookers of that unique movie played at
4.800 meters on the screen of those blue skies.
I was so fascinated looking at the fire red stones
flying at 300 or 400 meters over our heads and also
watching the huge burning cloud that was descending
rapidly toward us.
"Everybody to the rocks!", Miguel shouted.
"Everybody behind the cross, now, cover your heads,
stones are falling!"
Rodrigo ran first and the group followed him but I
didn"t move while hurrying up the Australian guy who
was taking pictures. Then when he was safe I rolled
to the ground covering my head with a bag while stones
began falling all around. Rodrigo caught two and he
gave one of them to me. It was very hot, still
burning.
When the stones stopped falling I lifted my head and
saw the huge grey cloud so close.
"Rodrigo, you"d better run away, the burning cloud is
approaching us!", I also shouted.
Rodrigo started running down again leading the group
and I was "closing the line" again. The tourists were
so fascinated that they turned around many times and
took many pictures, even one of mine.
"Move, run away, now; burning cloud is too close!", I
repeated to the group.
In a time the cloud full with ashes and fire was just
about thirty or forty meters away from me and when the
group was running down to a safer place I also
descended as fast as I could. Well, I could swear
that never before had I ran so fast.
We eventually reached the Rocks (4.500m) and we were
safe. Everybody was laughing, telling the same story
without stopping, lots of pictures, and so on. And
the souvenirs, the burning stones we collected.
Rodrigo would swear that he heard one of the tourists
speaking perfect Spanish also with Ecuadorian
intonation. One of them could promise as well that I
spoke even French when rocks started falling. And all
day long new stories and commentaries appeared about
that unforgettable journey.
Yes, we were expecting an eruption but not "that"
eruption.
As soon as I have some pictures available, I will be
sending them to you.
This incident didn"t change my love for mountains.
Though "she" tried to kill me I still love her. I
will go back as soon as I have a new opportunity but
of course this time I will obey Carlos my boss who had
said, "Just as far as the rocks". |
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