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Up the Volcano

David Ogden - International Adventurers / 16.09.2003

Following a good nights sleep we breakfasted on Musli and pasta salad, before starting our climb towards the shelter and the outer rim of the volcano. The path was steep and wet and some one hour later we reached the shelter and could see another team ahead of us. We paused at the shelter and found a water tap taking the opportunity to refill supplies. The path above the shelter was a bit better, we saw the Belgium team and shouted to them to tell them where the water was.

The route we were using was closed to the public as all the log bridges were in a dangerous state and the organisers had placed safety ropes, just as well otherwise Primus would have fallen. The nearer we got to the summit the cooler it became and the clouds quickly came in. We paused again at the top before traversing along the rim. Here we were able to pick up speed and began to make up time, and from time to time the cloud lifted and we could see into the crater and across the volcano.

I noticed Elena was favouing one foot, so asked if she had a problem, she said she had another blister, so we found some shelter and sorted out her feet. I took the opportunity to tell the team that I thought we would not make the cut-off as I slowed them up when accending and decending. A little while later I started to have stomach cramps and for the final few kilometres to CP 4 at the pass leading to the volcano Primus towed me.

Gerard Fusil was at this checkpoint and we asked if the 17:00 deadline for leaving the next TA had been extended, he replied no, so I told the team to drop me so they had a better chance to circle the volcano and beat the deadline. They eventually agreed and I was taken to the TA to meet up with Wayne and Tanya. Wayne arranged a lift for me back to the hotel, whilst he planned to provide food and shelter for the team overnight. The rules were then changed allowing all teams that reached the TA by 18 00 to continue in the race, which was fortunate as at 17 :45 the team arrived.

The night was horrendous with strong winds and rain, Wayne set up a tent near the van but with a few minutes it was full of water. They all tried to sleep the best they could however the van leaked, despite the best efforts of Wayne to tape the doors.

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