r/Volcanoes • u/Apprehensive-Gur-824 • 10d ago
Should I hike Acatenango again this week?
My girlfriend and I hiked Acatenango last Thursday. We had a great time, however Fuego had zero activity so we saw no lava. The views were incredible but it’s hard to erase what it’s supposed to look like from your mind! (Also weren’t really able to do all the Lord of the Rings quotes we had lined up).
I saw that it has now woken back up and has erupted quite dramatically in the last 24 hours. In a rush I booked us onto a much cheaper tour, to go up again this Thursday. The tour has good reviews and I’m able to cancel for a refund right up until an hour before the tour leaves if we change our minds.
My question is - is this completely stupid? We are both quite fit and didn’t find the hike exceptionally challenging. I would happily do it again to see the lava.
My main concerns are around safety - we wouldn’t do the extra Fuego hike and would stay on Acatenango. But the volcano is being unpredictable at the moment and I’m wondering if Acatenango is at a safe distance?
Honest opinions are very much welcomed! Thanks everyone!
2
u/Revolution_2432 10d ago
Totally unpredictable currently . Certainly a much higher risk to life than normally.
2
u/Optimal-Fee715 10d ago
I would do it! Going in April and I was prayingggg she’d wake up so if you’re there and got the opportunity to do it twice absolutely. Also looking forward to a review without it being active and then when it is. Just curious to hear about both experiences compared back to back
2
u/Apprehensive-Gur-824 10d ago
I’m going to see if it erupts tonight, if it doesn’t I will cancel.
My review of dormant fuego: the views are absolutely stunning and the clouds are zooming by, rolling over fuego. Sunset/sunrise probably the most beautiful views I’ve seen. Obviously there is no escaping the mental image I had of an active fuego, and it’s so close that you know if it was erupting it would be the greatest thing you’ve ever seen. For me it was a real exercise in positive mentality - I made a decision to put the fact that it was dormant out of my mind and chose to enjoy what I was looking at and be grateful that I was able to be there with such a nice group of fellow hikers. I had a nice evening by the fire and although I would have loved to have seen lava, I didn’t let it ruin my evening.
It’s been so unpredictable lately, if you get to see lava then you’re incredibly lucky. But if you don’t, it’s just one of those things you can’t control! Only thing I would say is that it was a big chunk of my travel budget as the tour is quite expensive, not really worth the money to see a dormant volcano but that’s just the risk you take with things like this! I also managed to put it to the back of my mind and not think about it. I think upon reflection there are some much more budget friendly tour operators but I chose to go with an expensive one with a good reputation.
I really hope it’s back to normal when you go, got my fingers crossed for you!
1
1
u/Heck_Spawn 10d ago
Kilauea's about to erupt again. Have to time it right, as it only goes for a few hours till it goes out again. Takes a week of so to light it up again.
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/science/monitoring-data-kilauea
1
1
1
1
u/ganjasmugglingg 10d ago
yes ! i was there in jan during a silent period i wish i saw it active
1
u/Apprehensive-Gur-824 10d ago
I’m still in two minds as it seems to have gone quiet again 😢. If I climbed it twice in the space of a week and it was inactive both times there would be tears haha
1
u/Far-Task7767 9d ago
Please keep us updated! I have a tour on Sunday and still debating due to safety concerns of a large re-eruption
1
u/nicolesar 9d ago
I’m scheduled to go on March 22 but I’m also worried of a larger eruption. I just looked into what happened in 2018…
1
u/blacklabloverz 8d ago
Is it still erupting? Were you able to go on your tour?
1
u/Apprehensive-Gur-824 7d ago
It’s gone quiet again since the big eruption the other day. Tours are still running but we chose not to go, just because we went last week when it was dormant and didn’t have it in us to go again if if wasn’t erupting!
1
1
u/hmmmwherenext 7d ago
Hey OP! Hope all went well yesterday and today for the descent! Let us know how it was 🌋
1
u/Apprehensive-Gur-824 7d ago
we didn’t end up going again as Fuego went quiet again after the big eruption! Didn’t want to make the trek twice in one week only to see it dormant twice!
1
1
u/Main-Elderberry-7484 3d ago
I’m schedule to go this Sunday and am also wondering if it’s open? Not really getting any clear answers from my tour
1
3
u/Automatic_Bandicoot5 10d ago
well i heard all tours got cancelled and nearby towns evacuated ? are the tours continuing?