CONGRATULATIONS to all the Challengers on our first six Charity Challenges of 2011, biking from Guatemala to Honduras, the inaugural Nicaragua Volcano Challenge, Brazil's Chapada Diamantina Challenge , Guatemala's first Caribbean Kayak Challenge, Perú´s Cerani Pass and Ecuador's Volcano Challenge. Nicaragua's second volcano Challenge is set for 3rd-6th November and the third Guatemala Volcano Challenge dates are set for 27th November -2nd December.

Click on the following for our most recent official project reports for Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Perú and Brazil.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

8 volcanos challenged and overcome in Nicaragua


Between 5th and 8th May 2011, 14 volunteers and GVI Phoenix staff, led impressively by Green Pathways, completed 8 volcanos and over 75kms hiking, overcoming blisters, extreme temperatures and urinating insects along the way, to raise funds for our teaching projects in Nicaragua!

Day 1 started early as we drove out to the base of our first volcano, the very active Telica, an incredible experience. From here we hiked Santa Clara though nearing the summit, wild-fires impeded our ascent and we had to turn back and camp near the volcanic mud-pots at San Jacinto.

Day 2, again started early as we claimed Rota, which is actually made up of three smaller volcanoes and then hiked over fields of ash to reach Cerro Negro, where we swapped hiking equipment for sledges and sped down the 45 degree side in most people's first ever "volcano surf"!

Day 3, saw us conquer Pilas, San Francisco and the incredibly perfect circle crater of El Hoyo, before the self-named "Camino B*****do" to Asososca volcanic Lake, where we took a well-earned swim, before camping.

Day 4 ...... Momotombo, oh Momotombo! 8 hours of ash and scree climbing up slopes close to 45 degrees, ropes, howling winds though the summit was worth every step, looking back over the route we had taken the previous few days!

Thankyou everyone who challenged the challenge, to the guides and also to all the people who sponsored and donated; our new school in Chiriza will now be completed, and we can start pushing ahead with new plans for the community and education. See you on the slopes in November, when we do it all again!! cheers
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How does GVI Phoenix make a difference?

The following film was made in Guatemala, though the message is the same across all GVI Phoenix projects