Mt Etna

While still sweltering on Sicily it seemed that there was a sure way to avoid the heat (which was still pushing the upper limits of the 30's) and that was to head up the side of Mt Etna to the mountain station at 1900m, only just over half way up this 3300m ish towering volcano. An amazing drive from the coast winds up the forested slopes and cuts straight through the lava flows to where the base camp and winter ski field has been built.

Smoking Mt Etna looms up on the horizon

View down to Catania, destroyed and now rebuilt following the 1669 lava flow

The base camp at 1900m is a very interesting place to build a tourist village that's for sure. Not only is it on the side of one of the most active volcanoes in the world, but these cooled lava slopes are also on the same side of the mountain where the lava flows every time the mountain erupts. The last time this happened was only in 2001 so maybe they believe there'll be enough time to make money before the next one wipes them off the face of Etna?

There's a two story house somewhere under all that lava

Older craters and lava flows - would make for great ski terrain in winter?

The jet black volcanic ash and lava fromtop to bottom

Enjoying the fresh, if sulphuric air

Jagged lava flow from the 2001 eruption

Wickse parked at a cool 1900m

Amazing sight and a nice place to cool off as it stayed below 30 the whole time, the first time in months. I even trekked up a further 800 vertical meters to the start of the craters, one of which was blowing ash in my face every few minutes with huge vents of sulphur and ash.

Trekking up the ski field of Mt Etna

Eruption from one of Etna's upper vents

Humm, getting bigger and closer...

Oops I might be a little in the way...

Cough splutter! Still one very active mountain side!

Pretty exciting stuff but as it was getting dark I was keen to try to catch a lift down the mountain in one of the 4x4 jeeps, but unfortunately there were none up top when I finally got there. As the sun was setting as I arrived I couldn't stay for long and hightailed it back down over the volcanic sand and scoria encrusted mountain side, just making it back down before it was completely pitch black.

EH