Volcano Boarding in Leon: The Most Fun I Never Had

Let's just be honest. This is not going to be a glowing report of how much fun my volcano boarding experience was. It's just not. I hate roller coasters and with the exception of volleyball, I don't care much for activities that cause me to break any sort of sweat. I also value my life.

So what on earth was I thinking?

First, some basic information:

Location-Cerro Negro, just outside of Leon, 728 meters tall, and the youngest volcano in Nicaragua.

Cost-$28 US dollars. A cheap price to possibly shorten my life.

State of mind: Panic mixed with resignation. The pictures you see in this post belie the fear within.

My state of mind was not improved when my first encounter of the day was with a girl who had just an accident the day prior, involving the very same volcano. Hmm. She had a rather scary looking bandage wrapped aroud her head, a very large black eye, and blood in her retina.

Wonderful.

I was considering giving it up, but I didn't want to be a quitter and supposedly volcano boarding was the thrill of a lifetime. I also need good stories to tell my students and my future children, so I determined to tough it out. Upon arriving at Cerro Negro however, I began to reevaluate my life. Although not the steepest volcano I have ever seen, it is nevertheless, a giant volcano. And I wanted to sled down it? Right.

So began the trek up the incline. As I am not in shape whatsoever, and I am also lugging a giant board,  I quickly fell to the back of the pack. The rest of the group trotted merrily on past me, not breathing hard at all. I considered hating them. Then I spotted my new best friend, a fellow climber who just so happened to have asthma. If she can do it, I can do it. She stopped every 10 steps or so to breathe, and so I gladly waited behind her. She kept apologizing to me, and I assured her that I was completely fine. Then when our guide realized he was missing two climbers, he came back for us, took our boards and carried them for us to the next resting spot.

Not what I had intentionally planned, but perfect nonetheless.

Upon arriving at the top, I was completely pleased that I had made it, and resigned myself to the task of getting down in one complete piece. The company (Tierra Tours) provides a hot looking jumpsuit, elbow, knee, and wrist protection, and goggles. No helmet. Siiiiigh. As if heading to my execution, I slowly don each piece, biding my time until the last minute. When I can wait no more, I get on my board and proceed to..........

Inch down the volcano. Yes! Just the speed I like. I literally dug my heels in to the volcanic rocks the entire way down. At two points, I came to a complete stop as I felt myself hurtling out of control. I should probably clarify "hurtling." By this, I just mean that I was going approximately 3 mph, instead of 2 mph.

As I am inching my way down, the thought crosses my mind that this is probably not how it's supposed to be done. If I could compare, it would be like a grandmother driving to Sunday church in a nice big Buick.

But I don't care. I arrived alive and unscathed.

And I will never do it again,. Once was enough! I do wish I had enjoyed it more, because it certainly looks like tons of fun. I just didn't have any.

If you have been volcano boarding, what was your experience? If you haven't, would you do it?

Best Day Ever

There were two instructions my mother gave me prior to leaving on this trip. She still likes to instruct me on things, despite the fact that I am married, have traveled to many countries without her, hold a full-time job, and no longer live with her. The instructions were:

1) Make sure I do not show any unnecessary skin, so as not to solicit disaster, and 2) Never ever travel alone.

Rule 1 is no problem. I don't care to attract attention in my own country, let alone foreign countries. Rule 2 is more difficult. I came here alone, I will leave alone, so somewhere in there I will have to travel alone. Truthfully though, there are plenty of other volunteers to bounce around with and so there has been no need to travel solo. But I can't just sit around and wait for someone else to decide to go with me. So just the other day,  for the true first time, I ventured off on a chicken bus to a destination about 30 minutes from Granada. 

Best day ever.

Ehh....only bad thing is having other people take your pictures for you. 

I went to Caterina because it was easy to get to, and the view of Laguna de Apoyo from the crater rim was supposedly not to be missed.  I decided that was  a good place for me to spend a few hours. I arrived without incident, I found the mirador, I relaxed, and I chatted with whomever I pleased. I met Oscar David and Juan Nicaragua, two locals who have made Los Pueblos Blancos (the province) their home. 

And after a delicious meal, I decided it was time to head out. 

So I did. Because there was nobody else to consult with and I was the boss of me. Good feeling.  


That little adventure was a preview of this weekend, where I will head off to Leon (solo, but will meet up with friends in case you are reading this Mom), a city a bit north of here. I am currently trying to sum up the courage to hurl myself down a volcano wearing an orange jumpsuit, goggles, and riding on some sort of board. I have heard about these activities for a while now.


I should mention I am somewhat terrified.