The Challenge is complete

So, after 6 days, 4 volcanoes, many miles travelled, many vertical metres hiked, few hours sleeping in tents and a few "minor injuries" along the way, the 2009 Volcano Charity Challenge was completed in Guatemala in style.

Seventeen "challengers" and 3 guides from Old Town Outfitters set off on the Challenge to raise money for the Phoenix Project here in Guatemala. Most of them were volunteers already on the ground, though we had two volunteers come back for it, and three who were new to GVI.

Pacaya volcano, with it's river of lava was first up on the Sunday, a great warm-up hike across hardened lava to reach what all geography students dream of...real life lava!

Straight in the vans and up to Xela before heading out for the second volcano, Santa María, where we camped at the base before summitting in late afternoon for some spectacular sunsets.

Tajumulco was next, up near the Mexican border, and is the highest volcano in Central America at over 4200m. Due to the long drive, we had to camp further down the first night, before reaching base camp and summitting in the evening.

Finally once off Tajumulco, we drove the long journey to Lake Atitlán, where after a great night in the Casa del Mundo, we summitted our fourth and final "challenge"; San Pedro.

It was a terrific few days, a great challenge and more importantly it helped raise awareness and funds for the Phoenix project via the GVI Charitable Trust.

Dates are already set for 2010, with two separate Challenges in the calendar, the first starting on Sunday 21st November and the second starting on Sunday 28th November. It would be great to see you out here for it.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of the Challengers this year, it was a fantastic fun, hugely rewarding and more importantly, a great example of what can be done for the projects out here. cheers

The Challenge is complete