Volcano Boarding

In Leon we stayed at the Big Foot hostel which is known for offering Volcano Boarding, of course we signed up. On the tour there were 18 people. We loaded into two Toyota pickup trucks with padded bench seats in the beds and headed out for a 45 minute drive to Cerro Negro (Black Hill) Volcano. The road to the volcano was dirt, surprise surprise, so by the time we got to the volcano we were all covered in dirt and dust. Gross! The trucks drove to the base of the volcano then it was an hour hike up the side of the volcano. We took a couple rest stops to catch a breath and because we had a hung over guy who got sick a few time. Yuck. On our hike up the volcano we stopped at some sulfur pits which the guide lead us close to then immediately turned around. We all took our quick pictures and turned back too before getting poisoned. At the top of the volcano the guide lead us to the volcano’s crater for some more pictures before heading to the boarding area.

So before I go on I will explain Volcano Boarding really quick. It should be called “Volcano Sledding” instead of “Volcano Boarding” since you actually sit on a wood plank board with a hard acrylic strip on the back. Anyways we got to the top of Cerro Negro put on our orange and blue jump suits and goggles.

Suited up for Volcano Boarding

We got our pep talk which included: sit on the back of the board, keep the handle vertical, tap your heels on both sides of the board to keep straight, lean back and don’t put your hands down (natural reaction). Ryan was first to volunteer and had to pick a partner to race down the hill. Naturally he picked the hung over guy. Off they went!!! Ryan pushed off first he’s in the lead. Then hung over came right on his tale. And bomb over Ryan went, caught an edge. Ouch. Hung over took the lead and gaining speed. Ryan’s back up on his board and to another good start but then again caught an edge! Ryan back on the board but couldn’t catch up to hung over. Must be those loose nerves?? Too bad. Anyways, a few people later Craig and I went down the hill. We both made it down with only a few falls, a couple scraped limbs and lots of volcanic rock in our jump suits.

Debb Volcano Boarding

Craig Volcano Boarding

I got top speed of us three at 40 kmph. BUT out of the 18 people in the group a girl won at 69 kmph and a really bad abrasion on her leg and arms to show.

The girls leg who went 69 km down the volcano

When everyone was down from the volcano we packed up and headed back to Leon; again getting covered in dirt and dust. Race #2 who can get to the showers first!! From this trip we made a lot of friends at our hostel and the one across the street. We all hung out that night and by the end of the night we recruited 3 Swedish guys and 1 Norwegian guy to ride in the van with us to Granada the next morning.

Leon, Nicaragua