Arenal Volcano - Ski It If You Can - 12/30/09

[billski]

Not sure if this belongs in Skiing or Hiking. Well, MRG liked it enough to post it.
Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica.

The white "clouds" are gas from the volcano. The small white objects are steaming, glowing boulders rolling down, having just erupted from the core. Yikes!

Brings new meaning to "ducking the ropes"

 

[noski]

Nice! I will now unpack my MRG sticker. I will be in CR (and at the volcano) in 2 weeks!

 

[billski]

Nice! I will now unpack my MRG sticker. I will be in CR (and at the volcano) in 2 weeks!

Sorry! Don't unpack it! Take a picture from the La Fortuna side instead. Due to the prevailing winds we got most of the clouds on our side. It might be clear to the summit for you.

 

[noski]

That is exactly where we will be for 2 days. http://lapraderadelarenal.com

 

[wa-loaf]

Carefull Bill you don't want one of those boulders hitting you in the head ... ;-)

 

[billski]

Carefull Bill you don't want one of those boulders hitting you in the head ... ;-)

ha! ha! About 2 km from the mountain, our guide showed us an "impact crater." Some of the car-sized boulders flew, literally flew for 2 kilometers!

I was more concerned with falling - the lava rocks are just an enormous field of rocks of all sizes, none of which are stable- they all wobble and roll, and have very sharp edges. The footing was very poor, fortunately impeding anyones progress, or retreat (which made you not want to venture too far!)

But the more dangerous thing is that when a major eruption occurs, the wildlife flees, and that includes billions of insects including tarantula spiders and thousands of venomous snakes.

They always warned us when hiking: stay on the trail, watch every step you make and look before you place your hand on any tree or bush.

 

[billski]

That is exactly where we will be for 2 days. http://lapraderadelarenal.com

Nice! I recommend the Eco Termales hot springs - it's smaller, family operated and not nearly as commercial as Baldi or Tabacon which get masses of tourists pouring from buses. Also the Arenal "sky" zip lines are to die for - some were 1/4 mile long and 660 feet high, with speeds approaching 50mph. They make the zips in New England look like practice runs.

 

[noski]

Nice! I recommend the Eco Termales hot springs - it's smaller, family operated and not nearly as commercial as Baldi or Tabacon which get masses of tourists pouring from buses.

Thanks, just booked dinner for two and hot springs for one evening.... yay! That was EASY!

 

[billski]

Thanks, just booked dinner for two and hot springs for one evening.... yay! That was EASY!

We did dinner at the Eco after an afternoon at the hot springs. Some of the best native Costa Rica cooking we had.

 

[WJenness]

Thanks, just booked dinner for two and hot springs for one evening.... yay! That was EASY!

-w

 

[billski]

Eric liked the picture

 

[KingM]

We did dinner at the Eco after an afternoon at the hot springs. Some of the best native Costa Rica cooking we had.

Was it beans and rice or rice and beans?

Just kidding, I did have a couple of good meals down there, but you'd never go to Costa Rica for the cuisine.

BTW, great pic. I visited from the La Fortuna side a few years ago but didn't think to bring my MRG sticker.

 

[billski]

Was it beans and rice or rice and beans?

Just kidding, I did have a couple of good meals down there, but you'd never go to Costa Rica for the cuisine.

Go there for the surfing. I spent the second week in Tamarindo. My daughter took a great surf lesson there. After being a wet sponge in the rain forest, we baked @92F on the beach. Truth be told, I really did miss the snow. :???: