Summit Photo Santa Maria

Tom and I at the summit of Volcán Santa María. 3,772 meters / 12,488 feet above sea level. This shot was taken on the first time I climbed it, on the 7th of January 2006. Santa María is the 4th highest volcano in Guatemala. From the summit, great views can be had of Xela, the surrounding valley, the ever active Volcán Santiaguito below. On one trip we climbed an hour through falling ash from nearby Santiaguito, and upon summitting, a 1,000 foot plume of smoke and rock burst out of the crater, providing quite the fireworks display