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Even the name sounds tough. It is one tough volcano. To climb that is. It is no longer active. There is foilage all around the crater. I sucked into climbing this volcano with my compadre thinking it would be somewhat of a....well, I don't know what I was thinkin...but nonetheless, that is what my adventurous spirit has been calling for. BUT 5 MILES in an average of some 40 degree incline? The last two and a half miles, being around 45 degree inclination or so? That is more than I bargained for at my condition and weight. I told my compadre not to poosy out on me but after a few minutes into the climb, I was the one in danger of being the so called name.
It was one dam tough climb. When I finally got to the halfway marker, where they had a slide cable for a canopy ride, they told me I had another 2.5 miles left, ALL UPHILL at at least 45 degrees inclination. I was going a snails pace. I had to stop and rest after each winding incline, some so many steps, and rest at least for 5 or 10 minutes. While going up, I ran into this lady with her kids carrying provisions up the hill. They appeared in this trail, and they told me that they came up from a road on the backside of the volcano. TOUGH COOKIES. They had been on foot for some 5 hours from where they came from. They finally got a ride from a compasionate driver as they waved to us leaving. I wondered why they just didn't stand by the road until someone could take them up. These people have alot of dignity and don't really like to ask for things. I ran into the least amount of beggars in any poor country I have ever been. Again. TOUGH INDIANS. The only way I can describe it is torture for the last mile. All in all, it took me 4 hours to get to the top. The other adventurous locals climbing were in good shape, all mostly young and healthy, and took an average for them about some 2.5 hours. On the way up, they had trucks designed for heavy steep climbs. They looked like RUSSIAN type built trucks. I may have yelled out "WHIMPS" to the truck load of whimpy backpackers taking the ride up, but otherwise, they were the smart ones. I didn't see any backpackers humping this volcano. I had been told that there were records broken by Norwegian and Swedish maybe Canadian ladies that made this in 45 minutes. They obviously trained for this thing.
After leaning on my stick with towel on my head watered down to keep me cool, and sun beaten face, I MADE IT WITHOUT THROWING IN THE TOWEL. Next time I decide to climb a volcano, I won't say it so vaugely. Surprisingly, I am not too sore as I thought I'd be. This volcano is credited for creating "LAS ISLETAS" in the grand LAKE NICARAGUA. How did I get back down? I took the ride down. FORGET GOING DOWN ON FOOT. That was some adventure that pushed me to a limit. On the top, I was so hungry I ate a hot dog and some pastry with a couple of cans of juice. I definately won't climb a volcano from its base again unless I train for a year. My advice for adventure types is take the ride up, and walk around the top, or if you still want to play RAMBO, go easy. VERY EASY up the hill and rest alot. Don't try this at home. Going down at the base, we ate in this site some TIPICO type food. It was delicous. The lady even kept it open to serve us, and made some interesting conversation. We then took the bus back to GRANADA.
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>There is foilage all around the crater. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
So 29 Palms, you did all that climbing to see trees? http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif Please tell me there was at least a photo of Arrrnold up there. http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/smokin.gif
Keep'em flying
http://www.nonrev.net/correspondents...migflanker.jpg
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No photo of Arnold up there. Just about some ten species of snakes preserved in jars that lived in the area. They had a replica of the Volcano, and if I had seen this replica before the climb, I probably wouldn't have done it. You could vividly see in the top part of the Volcano a very steep incline, almost vertical. I traced our path from the base, and kept saying to myself, "NO WONDER". It was as I say, pure torture the last mile or so. I was pacing in what seemed like INCHES. Made me feel like a very old man. I didn't climb just to see trees. I just wanted the adventure and challenge. Something to come back to work to and ask somebody; "What did you do on your weekend"? http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif
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Hey 29 Palms-
Sounds like a great trip. How much were the hotels there? How is the food? Any pretty girls living there?
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Just wondering 29Palms...do you non-rev to all these places?
I wish I had the courage and time to non-rev internationally. I do have a fear of getting stuck in some country(epecially one that does not speak English).
~Luv2fly~
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Oh honey, get on a plane and go somewhere! Speak English? I've been stuck in U.S. cities where they don't speak English! http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...n_confused.gif
I work for Southwest, too! And I've nonrev'd more on other carriers both domestically and internationally than I do on Southwest. http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/aircraft/Plane1.gif
http://www.nonrev.net/correspondents/images/randy.jpg
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Alot of those places I describe on this forum I have been to, not by flying non-rev but when I worked on board vessels for a military contractor, or in the military. BUT, since working for the airlines the past few years, I NONREV to those places. Getting courage to go to places is just that. It is human nature to be a little weary of going to a new place. Alot of folks just stay home because they are afraid to go somewhere, don't have the interest, or are boggled down with kids and family. I crossed that line a long time ago. I was in the Marines in my teens and learned to walk in different places without fear. You could say, I am immune to the fear of travel, however, I stay alert and when my spider sensors tell me there is danger, I just know there is. Look at it like this. If you never cross the line and visit places, you will never know about those places. If you get preoccupied in what you are visiting, you won't be so afraid. I went to NICARAGUA. What do you remember of Nicaragua? SANDANISTAS? THE REVOLUTION? Like they are out to hurt Americans? I just saw a peaceful nation with people just trying to make a living. Just don't approach a "campesino" with a machete and question his manhood. HA HA... http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/wave2.gif
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by luv2fly:
Just wondering 29Palms...do you non-rev to all these places?
I wish I had the courage and time to non-rev internationally. I do have a fear of getting stuck in some country(epecially one that does not speak English).
~Luv2fly~<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
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Ok, the hotels you can pay anywhere from less than ten dollars in a dive looking HOSPEDAJES or backpacker cubicals, with no airconditioning, and sharing communal bathrooms. I stayed in a 45 bucks a night place with my buddy it had two beds, airconditioning and cable TV plus FREE BREAKFAST. Place was called Hotel Francesa in GRANADA. The town is on the banks of Lake Nicaragua. The hotel I stayed was a good mile walk to the lake. All this talk about backpackers. I SAW BACKPACKERS STAYING IN THAT HOTEL TOO. It's all in what you want to afford. If you go to MANAGUA. Don't take a cab right away. JUST WALK ACROSS THE STREET to the MERCEDES BEST WESTERN. I paid 48 dollars plus tax for the night for AIRLINE DISCOUNT RATES. Just show your company ID badge. The food is cheap and even at the hotel restaurant. Oh, to answer your question. WOMEN? Pretty girls live everywhere. BUT....In Nicaragua, they just seemed to be more of them around. BEAUTIFUL. KNOCK OUTS. (As I look over my shoulder to see if the wife is lurking around.) Careful with the cabs, they charge alot to go into town, but they have buses swinging down the street every five minutes, and if you like a little adventure and don't mind riding with the locals, it is way cheaper. Like 20 cents or so. You don't know what your'e missing. Take a trip and just have fun. I saw alot of Europeans there, as usual anywhere I go. http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/thumbs.gif
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by keep us on the road:
Hey 29 Palms-
Sounds like a great trip. How much were the hotels there? How is the food? Any pretty girls living there?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
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ok, ok Randy... I will plan my trip to Rome, but if I get stuck I am calling you!!
I do get on lots of Southwest planes ALL the time, I get itchy if it has been more than 3 weeks! Just getting on other carriers I am not as comfortable. I am a CSA, I have watched non-revs have problems!! At least on SWA I am pretty comfortable with the flights I get on. I am pretty good at calculating my chances of getting on.
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Oh, I see. I don't like traveling off line myself because my chances as non-rev are much better on my own airline. I suppose SOUTHWEST AIRLINES doesn't travel outside the USA? Yes, that does make a bit of a difference and chances of getting stuck overseas are higher off line. I tried to go to Argentina via Panama on COPA but couldn't swing it, I got bumped. But it is still better than paying full fare if you can swing it. You know what you can do, is buy about three tickets from various airliners, and when you get back to the states, just get reimbursed for the ones you didn't use. A bit of a pain, but that's covering yourself.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by luv2fly:
ok, ok Randy... I will plan my trip to Rome, but if I get stuck I am calling you!!
I do get on lots of Southwest planes ALL the time, I get itchy if it has been more than 3 weeks! Just getting on other carriers I am not as comfortable. I am a CSA, I have watched non-revs have problems!! At least on SWA I am pretty comfortable with the flights I get on. I am pretty good at calculating my chances of getting on.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
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No, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES doesn't travel outside the USA....yet! Someday we will http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
I have learned to get back-up tickets all the time, I never travel without them. When I went to London last winter, I got tickets on every domestic airline I could...that way, BA could plop me any where in the USA and I could get back to my city.
Ok Randy... see you in Rome http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/roflmao.gif http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/roflmao.gif http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/roflmao.gif http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
~Luv2fly~
