Failed to climb on El Teide volcano

by Pawel
(Dublin Ireland)

On the 29th of June in 2011 I went with my wife and 13 months old son on holidays to Tenerife. Next day I got up at 6:30 am, packed my camera and tripod, jumped into the car and drove up to El Teide volcano.

El Teide is 3rd highest volcano on the earth - 3,718 m (12,198 ft. When I got to the lower cable car station it was 9:30 am, lovely sunny day and about 26 degrees. I got deceived by the weather so I left my windproof jacket, took only a jumper and I took the cable car up to 3500 m.

It was a terrible experience. 7 degrees only, wind was blowing around 80 km/k. It was like in hell. I started walking up the remaining distance. I had only runners on so rocks were stinging me in my feet. I walked for 15 minutes but pick was still far away.

I stopped only to take a breath but I couldn't. The air was so thin that I couldn't breathe. I panicked and I walked back to the cable car station. Before that I managed to take a couple of photos. I promised myself to come back there better prepared and climb all the way up.