Acatenango

Just wonderful momories: bus etc from antigua took a long time - i.e late start hiking. locals did not speak spanish, and almost always pointed up the wrong trail (we turned around more than once). wonderful memories starting in bananas and coffee, thru dense rain-forest, into lychen covered pine cloud forest where we camped. fantastic sunset in the clouds. unfortunately, next morning all in clouds. Quick ascent over remaining ash cone, now in hail!!!! Can't see neither Fuego nor Pacific this time -- just dream and promise to come back! Millenium hike December 31 1999 did not work out....

Planning to take my two girls age 9 and 10 up to the peak this Xmas -- still worried about stories on WWW re bandits and "don't camp alone".... any info highly appreciated. I have never hiked w/ a hired guide....