GVI Volcano Challenge

The Challenge is complete

2009-12-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

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

Onto Lake Atitlan

2009-11-27T05:57:00.000-08:00

Tajumulco was summited and enjoyed by all despite the relentless clouds. It gets extremely cold up there at the highest point in Central America but the beautiful hike made up for the suffering!

Then it was onto Lake Atitlan, this stunning Lake surrounded by Volcanoes is a great place for the challenge to draw to a close. Spending the night in the Casa Del Mundo provided a little taste of luxury in preparation for the last slog up the San Pedro Volcano. Beautiful views and great home made food helped to ease the weary souls and this morning San Pedro beckons!

Tajumulco

2009-11-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

Today the guys hiked up the majority of the Tajumulco volcano, the highest point in Central America to the camp site near the summit where they will spend the night.

No serious incidents on the way up although Jen was trapped mid bush poo when her knee which she had earlier injured seized up on her! She must have been panicking but luckily she managed to get out of it herself without calling for help!!!

The team were running low on water so sent for a mule to bring some more and it only seemed logical to load it with beer as well so they will be enjoying beers at the summit. These are sure to be nice and cold as it is freezing on this the most exposed point in Central America and at over 4000 meters the altitude adds a nice chill!

At last contact there was cloud hugging the summit so they were waiting for this to clear so they can enjoy the stunning views, if it does tonight they will summit for sundowners, if not a nice early 4am start to catch sunrise.

A last thought, some of you may have heard Dom's latest excuse for potential poor performance which was a sore bum! He has been avidly applying 'deep heat' to help soothe his aching bum so much so that he actually burnt it. It is aparaently a little swollen and looks like the peak of Tajumulco, photo above shows Dom's bum...I mean Tajumulco!

2 down with Santa Maria

2009-11-24T09:32:00.000-08:00

If Pacaya was a good warm up for the team Santa Maria was definitely more of a challenge however they made it and enjoyed stunning views and amazing photo opportunities.

Naturally things became a little competitive on the way up but Team Jen showed Team Chris who's boss and thrashed them to the top!

On the way down Dom seemed to experience a little trouble with what can only be described as wobbly legs, blame was initially focused on his flimsy plimsolls but suspicion is arising that his water bottle was full of whiskey...

Photos and some video diaries to follow soon.

They're off!!!

2009-11-23T09:55:00.001-08:00

The 2009 GVI Phoenix Charity Challenge started yesterday with Volcan Pacaya. This amazing volcano changes everyday but you can normally guarantee a good bit of smoke and some lava.

The challengers enjoyed a real treat yesterday with lots of lava and beautiful views. It is quite amazing standing in front of molten rock and can provide great photo opportunities. GVI's Latin America Regional Director Danny was so encapsulated he forgot to move and melted the soles from his shoes!! As I spoke to the guys this morning they were in Xela on the look out for a new pair.

Today the group will embark on Santa Maria which may be the most challenging of the volcanoes and promises some chilly/freezing conditions at the top. Good luck guys!

Global Giving Match funding

2009-11-20T10:18:00.000-08:00

Hi guys

Only a few days left for the challenge, but we have just received very good news!

Global Giving have now a promotion to match donations. This means for any donation up to $500 the GVICT will get the amount donated plus the same amount as a matching fund! This offer is only for a limited time (2 weeks) and for a max amount of cash, so hurry up to send in those donations so they count double!

Also, for all of you from America, Global giving donations are tax-deductible for Americans

So click here and you can make those donations count DOUBLE!!

Less than a week to go and the fundraising keeps coming in!

2009-11-15T18:41:00.000-08:00

Hi guys

Yes - this time next week we will have climbed our 1st volcano of the challenge! I am very excited about it and can't wait to meet the rest of the challenge members!
Dom, our Challenge leader and GVI Phoenix founder, just sent me some GREAT news. Between all of your hard work fundraising, and your kind contributions, we have reached $20,000!!!
Do you know have many student fees, books, organic gardens and food for the kids that's going to cover....?
We are so grateful for your contributions and fundraising efforts, but there's still a week to go, so don't stop the efforts and keep the donations coming in!!!

See you in a few day

An introduction from one of our Volcano Challengers!

2009-09-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Pumped for this challenge...love the fact that one volcano on our list only just erupted in 2008... not concerning in the least bit!

While most of you are training to climb up to great heights, I'll be working on strategies to get down the mountain as fast as possible... ;)

So I'm from Canada, as my photo depicts. This in itself presents many challenges. I usually just waddle around in my wolf-skinned parka all day/night long... although I have heard of this "shorts-by-day/pants-by-night" phenomenon... so don't think I won't be prepared! I'm starting my training light...just with some casual drop and rolls...nothing too strenuous...

I've been wanting to get involved with GVI for a while now and this trip has everything you could ask for - adventure, pushing your limits and, more importantly, its all for an exceptional cause. The numbness in our lower limbs at the end of the week will all be worth it when we see the projects that are set up for the kids and community. This is what we are climbing for. This is what you should support if you can! Thank you! Visit the link: http://www.justgiving.com/GVICTvolcano

Darianna Kaluzny

If this latest research is correct...you should join us to help your health and GVI Charitable Trust!

2009-08-19T17:41:00.000-07:00

According to some Finnish researchers, "if you wish to ward off lung or gastrointestinal cancer, you might want to spend your leisure time jogging instead of picking berries, mushroom gathering or fishing. In the study , published in late July on the Web site of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, scientists studied the health of a group of 2,560 middle-aged Finns over the course of about 17 years. The subjects, all men living in eastern Finland, kept diaries of their daily activities for a year and then went about them."

So, why don't you come out to Guatemala and join us at the Volcano Challenge, and not only help your health, but help us raise funds for GVI Charitable Trust!

Fundraising for the Challenge

2009-08-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

To raise funds for the GVI Phoenix projects I made some screen prints which are for sale. These are from my original drawings from the projects.

They are hand pulled limited edition 3 colour screen prints on heavyweight paper, printed in the UK. Each print is from a drawing of a different Phoenix project, one from Guatemala, one from Nicaragua and one from Ecuador.

If you or anyone you know may be interested in purchasing one please do get in touch and of course you can rest assured that all the money from these will be going straight to the GVI Phoenix projects.

What do these volcanoes look like

2009-07-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

Many of us wonder what the volcanoes that we are going to climb look like?
Are they hard to hike? Steep? high?
Well, thanks to Matt from The Old Town Outfitters here's a preview of what we will be hiking to raise funds for the GVI CT!

So how do you train for a volcano challenge when you live in the Yucantan Peninsula...?

2009-07-27T15:28:00.001-07:00

As one of the crazy people who will attempt to hike/climb 4 volcanoes in 5 days I would like to share with you guys how my training is going...well....my training issues...

Next November we will be hiking 4 volcanoes; the Acatenango, San Pedro, Tajumulco (the highest volcano in Central America) and Pacaya.

- "Why?" you might ask yourself

- "Good question" I might reply

But I could also list a million reasons why you should help us out! We are doing for two main reasons: to have FUN and more importantly to raise funds for the GVI Charitable trust and the GVI Phoenix Projects (www.gviphoenix.blogspot.com).
These projects are inspirational and truly represent the spirit of GVI and what can be achieved with the help of many volunteers and a bunch of very committed staff.
So that's the reason why we are doing it...SO worth it.

I live in the Mexican Caribbean, where I manage the GVI Marine Expeditions - yeah, marine, not climbing nor hiking...and I spend most of my time in the water...not the mountains! On top of that, for those of you who are familiar with this part of the world, do you remember seeing a mountain around?...a hill?...maybe a slight incline?

Think harder....but the answer is NO. Where we live is a pretty flat part of the world. I think the highest points are either mayan ruins or horrible hotels on the coastline!

You see my point? How am I supposed to train for such a hike? Well, I am going to have to be pretty imaginative, and that's what I plan to tell you in the next few months.
I hope you enjoy our blog and if you can, please support up at http://www.justgiving.com/GVICTvolcano

Off to climb some stairs!

Training underway

2009-07-19T06:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, despite being a doctor's example of peek fitness and health, I will be undertaking training for the upcoming Challenge. Whilst not going Facebook-mad; updating this blog each time I break into a jog to cross a busy street, I will be updating you every now and then with how things are going. For everyone else doing the Challenge, best of luck with your training, and can't wait to meet you on the foothills of Acatenango.

Raise funds for our various community schemes, including food, scholarships, trees, and Plan Ancianos

2009-07-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

This Charity Challenge, to be run annually each November, aims to top up the Phoenix fund for Guatemala. Since we started in Guatemala in 2003 our children numbers have risen considerably and the schemes we are implementing are growing. To ensure success and sustainability in the future, we are introducing the Phoenix Guatemala Charity Challenge, climbing four volcanoes in a week: Acatenango, San Pedro, Tajumulco: the highest volcano in Central America, and Pacaya. Funds raised will go towards primary and secondary school scholarships for our 600-plus children over the next few years, increased food and fruit programs, Plan Ancianos, Plan Fertilizante and utensils needed as our numbers grow.

GVI volunteers' contributions cover a vast majority of our fixed costs per year to run the projects, though there is always a need from the GVI Charitable Trust to top up the kitty. It is also a great opportunity from volunteers past, present and future to get together, undertake the challenge and also to visit the communities to see how the kids are getting along. Any funds raised will go towards our increasing scholarship pot, Plan Ancianos, seed and tree schemes, and other fixed costs we have throughout the year.

So what can you do?

* Join us at the challenge
* Help us raise some funds for the projects via the just giving widget on your left

Thanks