Today I added one more thing to my growing list of once in a lifetime experiences. I got to climb an active volcano! It was absolutely amazing! Here's just a few pictures for now, I'll try to add more details later.

Getting ready to go...so excited!

 

First, an hour and a half bus ride, then a 2 hr. hike STRAIGHT UPHILL!



The hike was honestly one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life, but it was totally worth it!!
This is the view from the top of the mountain before we started hiking across the lava rock. We were actually above the clouds, it was so beautiful!



Once we got to the lava rivers, our guide told us we were on our own as far as how close to the lava we wanted to get or daring we wanted to be. Some people were a little more adventurous than others...i stayed pretty safe (comparatively), but only because we ran out of time. :)



You could feel the heat coming up from between the rocks, and when you walked across the rocks they sounded hollow. It was really weird, almost like how I'd imagine moon rock or something.

 
  

I would have loved to walk a little farther up, but it was getting dark and we had to leave in enough time to make it back safely. We did get to see the sunset though which was absolutely gorgeous. The hike back in the dark was really challenging too, but all 23 of us made it back safe and sound.