{"id":191757,"date":"2023-01-13T16:54:49","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T16:54:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=191757"},"modified":"2023-01-13T16:54:49","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T16:54:49","slug":"what-it-takes-to-ride-down-the-etnas-suffocating-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2023\/01\/13\/what-it-takes-to-ride-down-the-etnas-suffocating-mouth\/","title":{"rendered":"What It Takes to Ride Down the Etna\u2019s Suffocating Mouth"},"content":{"rendered":"

I should breathe now but the sulphurous smoke from the crater is making me hold my breath. It takes almost half a minute before the wind changes and blows the yellow cloud away. Looking over the edge, I see a deep hole with sulphurous smoke coming out of it. In the past, if anyone before me has dared to descend Italy’s highest volcano, Mount Etna, it has always been from the summit outwards to its base. My goal sits on the other side since my intention is to ride down into Etna’s mouth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Think of Etna’s crater as a lava sink with an opening at the bottom, leading to the unknown. I’ll have to slow down to zero before getting to the bottom to avoid sliding straight into hell. What am I thinking? First of all, even though Etna has been quiet for the last few weeks, it could wake up again at almost any time because it is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.<\/p>\n

\"Gaspi<\/a>
Located in Sicily, Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Etna’s height is changing following its volcanic activity. After the eruption in 1981, its peak was 3,350 metres but the release of magma caused the volcano to drop, so in 2018, the height was only 3,326 metres. The current volcano has four peaks: the Bocca Nuova, Voragine, Northeast Crater and Southeast Crater.<\/p>\n

I have to be particularly careful because the surface is covered with sharp lava gravel. I discovered not to be the master of my handlebars after riding on the volcano slopes during the first test ride. The gravel is crumbling under the wheels, and all it took was a small mistake to fall over the handlebars. The result was a dislocated collarbone. It hurts but I can’t give up. Local people back in the town asked me why I was doing this. Why? Probably because I can. And because nobody else has ever done it before.<\/p>\n

It wasn’t easy to find the date for the Etna run. Waiting for good weather is like waiting to win the lottery since Etna is often in the clouds and the winds at the summit are very strong. In autumn, the weather can change by the hour.<\/p>\n

The risk of seismic activity is what we worry about. According to the volcano guides, Etna should stay quiet for at least two months for anyone to climb the peak safely. Our Sicily connection is Giuseppe Coco. As a local expert, heremotely informs us of the current situation so we can decide if it makes sense to travel 2,000 km. After Giuseppe texts me, we put everything in the car and go.<\/p>\n

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