This was my third time on Pacaya.

The first time was decades ago when I was studying Spanish in Antigua. I had just climbed Agua, my first summit, and was completely enthralled by volcanoes. So, I skipped Spanish classes on Monday to climb Pacaya with this crazy Aussie dude. It was an end (or beginning) of the world type of experience with sulphur wafting everywhere and stones being thrown up in the air. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. I almost dropped out of Spanish school and forgot about Nicaragua just to dedicate myself to climbing volcanoes.

The second time was a night climb with a group most memorable for a whinny little french thing, a driver who tried to kill us by passing on blind curves, and a little green man w/ a big gun who went along with us.

On this third time security was better, roads were better, no little french things, and the lava flow was quite an experience--tho still not the same as that first assault. And it was crowded--talk about traffic jams.