Vulcan’s Fury

(Greg) A comically rutted and washed out track brought us to the base of Mount Yasur’s caldera on Vanuatu’s Tanna Island.  This place is real, untouched and wildly unregulated.  I imagine most active volcanoes around the world have rules.  Yasur’s only two rules: hike up with a local if available and don’t fall in.

We chose to visit after sundown to make the visual drama even more intense.  Just as I got out of our tired vehicle and touched the ground, the earth below my feet shook with a vengeance unimaginable as Vulcan let loose a rumbling sigh of anguish that would make the thousand industrial woofers in Las Vegas’ Sphere blush with inadequacy. This was the first of many times that evening that I was reminded of my own tiny stature and relative inadequacy, The word “awesome” was truly coined for this multi-sensory experience.

A steep walk up to the rim was made easy by adrenaline. Then the intimidation of this place became even more intense as we approached the burping massive hole, red hot and fuming.  The only thing that separated me from the chasm was a rickety suggestion of a barrier shaped from rotting 2x4’s and shaking almost as vigorously as my knees. We would carefully sidle up closer to the edge, anticipating the next magma-lit explosion. Absolutely terrifying.

We stayed until the local guide (see Rule #1) got thirsty and wanted to descend.  We dawdled. He got angry.  I kept murmuring  “this exhibit is closed” from the iconic Simpsons episode #68, Mr. Plow. We survived.

Putting earth’s majesty and power into words is impossible.

Awesome.