king like the flourishing population of tiny lizards there. The ascent had taken 3.5 hours and the trip down, we were told, was only 1.5. But the descent is often harder. The muscles used are different, one is already approaching exhaustion, and the only thing to look forward to is being done. Sometimes that’s enough.
When we finally reached la Mesita, we knew the hardest part was over. I slumped on a rock to finish off my water and another group of hikers was just coming up the slope. The man in the lead carried a long black umbrella and I paused mid-drink and started to chuckle. One of my fellow hikers shot me a complicit look and chuckled. “Did you think it was a gun at first glance too?” At that point I was too tired to have even cared. Want my wallet? Sure. Can you get it out for me?
Along the last portion where the trail widened to grassy stretches strewn with large rocks, I gave up resisting and just ran pell-mell down the hill, letting gravity do the work for me and only steering around rocks. I reached the road ahead of the others and spent some time listening to the birds and the gentle rustle of the leaves and the cornstalks.
As we returned to Xela I looked back to where Santa Maria had emerged from her crown of clouds and I could see why the Maya consider it sacred.
*******
Epilogue:
Bandits on these hikes remain a potential danger more realistic than volcanic activity. Patrick Vercoutere and other tour operators are working with tourist police to address the matter, but the crimes can only be expected. “People in the field are earning 4, maybe 5 US dollars for a full day, from sunrise to sunset.” They always notify the police when they go hiking, but due to staff shortage, they are not always present.
For Vercoutere, a viable solution is to make Santa Maria a national park. Plus, until locals are involved, the volcano and its beauty only benefits a few private businesses.
_____________________________
Tours include a guide and (theoretically) police protection. $25 per person.
Adrenalina Tours
TEL. (502)-7-761-4509 – (502) 7-767-2474
Pasaje Enriquez
Parque Central, Zona 1
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Like and Follow The Mad Traveler on Facebook100 Things About College Football We're Thankful for This Thanksgiving
100 Things About College Football We're Thankful for This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is truly one of the best holidays of the entire year because of the time we can spend with the ones we appreciate the most.
It allows us to let everybody we love know how much appreciation we have for them. College football, though not comparable to our own families, is often considered a way of life.
So, without further adieu, I list the 100 things about college football that we should be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Pageantry
Everything overall about college football is what makes it the best sport in the world.
The electrifying energy that fanbases brings to every game, the tailgating, cheerleaders, players, coaches, mascots etc. Every single time when a beautiful summer winds down, we know that the best part of the year is upon us!
Saturday
What is your favorite day of the entire week? Even when it is the winter I still say Saturday because I know that college football is only 10-11 months away from starting.
Regardless if it is the morning, afternoon or night, we all wish that every day was Saturday!
Media
I look at this as a positive asset of the sport since it is the great message boards/websites such as B/R, ESPN, CBS, Phil Steele and Rivals that allow us to get pumped up about college football every season.
Fans often get offended when their team is not on a list, but it is so much more than water cooler talk. It is a way of life, and in a fluid, subjective sport, what else is better?
"College GameDay"
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Erin Andrews and the rest of the ESPN crew have such a positive impact on the sport.
Many believe the most entertaining sport to follow is college football because of the excitement everybody on the show has.
Lee Corso
Since the show has started Lee Corso has always been the best part.
Maybe one enjoys the X’s and O’s a bit more and just the overall coverage is without a doubt great to watch. However, Mr. Corso dons the headgear every Saturday, and his overall mannerisms and pageantry are shown every time he is on camera.
God bless Lee Corso!
Brent Musberger & Brad Nesseler
These are once-in-a-lifetime announcers who always make the games more enjoyable. "You are looking live," always makes you feel as if you are at the actual game with Brent Musberger.
Brad Nessler has always been underrated at entertaining the fans with the way he is able to call a game. Even if the game isn't the best of the day he has a knack for making you stay tuned. Without these two legends, I am not sure the sport would be as fun to watch due to all of the great BCS moments we have shared together.
No Playoffs
There I said it—but I am so thankful for not having a fluke playoff system like every other sport has.
More times than not the best team does not win in a playoff system, and I am always a fan of seeing the best and most talented teams play for it all. No sport can say that outside of college football!
Bowl Championship Series
To follow up on the bowl system, adding that fifth bowl has really made the BCS amazing to follow. We have given the at-large bids from power conferences more respect and at the same time have allowed the non-automatic qualifiers to participate with the big boys to see if they can compete on any given night.
Bowl Season
It's the most wonderful time of the year! I follow every sport from season to season, but there is something special about college football.
The bowl games are remarkable to watch for the players because of how much it means to them. Not only is it the last time they can play a game with their beloved teammates, but it may also be the final time they get on the gridiron if they are not next-level players.
Vacation
It is one thing when the bowl games are being played during the holidays, but it does not matter.
Every Saturday seems like a vacation day because of how enjoyable college football is to watch. When the day comes to an end, you just cannot wait for the following Saturday.
SEC West
We have to be thankful for the SEC West because what they accomplished this season was in uncharted waters. Not since 1981 have we seen three teams ranked from first to third all in the same division.
SEC
Many haters do not appreciate all the love the SEC gets, but when it comes to bowl season every year the Big 12 and Big Ten cannot hold the jocks the majority of the time.
No disrespect to any other conference because there are many very good conferences, but the SEC is still the king of the castle, period.
Non-Automatic Qualifiers
This goes back to the fifth bowl, but one has to be thankful to see a non-automatic qualifier come out of almost nowhere every year to shock the world of college football. Not many saw TCU going undefeated last season and being ranked in the Top Three while knocking off Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.
Boise State Broncos
Some adore them while others cannot stand these Smurfs. They get some hype since they beat up their opponents every season.
However, if they were nonexistent and NOT the winningest program from 2000-2010, the landscape of college football would not be the same.
Kellen Moore
The wins keep piling up for the winningest player (47) in the history of the FBS, and he has meant so much for the sport. No player is ever bigger than the sport, but not many players have accomplished what No. 11 has.
Andrew Luck
One of the better players we have seen in the BCS era in terms of overall talent.
Many scouts say Luck is one of the greatest they have ever seen for the next level. Luck has been able to do it all despite not having elite talent at his disposal, and we should be appreciative to see such greatness.
NCAA Football
Most who still have a tad of time on their hands will always dig out one of the better EA Sports games. Since it first started coming out for PlayStation 2, NCAA Football has always been a popular choice for college football fans.
Without it, great times would have never occurred.
Mountain West
We are appreciative of a conference like the Mountain West because of the great game that TCU-Boise gave us this season, but teams like San Diego State and even Wyoming have been impressive throughout the season.
Chris Petersen
Going 70-6 regardless of the conference is just unimaginable to think about. Coach "Pete" did not want a second place finish in his Broncos' first season in the Mountain West, but a Top Five finish and a possible BCS at-large bid is still a possibility.
Les Miles
The "Mad Hatter" is as good as it gets lately, and we should enjoy him while we still can. Miles should not be going anywhere anytime soon, but he has given us quite the hilarious