A good fifty expert amateurs attended, with scopes ranging from 8 inch SCT’s to 30 inch Dobsonians.
The week passed in tranquillity owing to the local truce brokered by Mt Coatopakrat Astronomical Society President Monty Sumer who had successfully got the warring factions to realise the mutual benefit of a week to bury their dead, recover their wounded, and resupply food, ammunition and medical equipment.
Good weather was ensured by the ritual sacrifice of an albino Alpaca, four lucky participants getting to hold a leg each while Monty expertly extracted it's still beating heart with an antique obsidian blade after which the entrails and hooves were burnt as offerings to the Weather God and his consort the Rain Goddess.
Ambient temperatures were a comfortable 22 degrees Celsius as the whole peak of the volcano was centrally heated, while the crater lake kept a few degrees below boiling point until the very last day, so dewing was not a problem.
Delicious food was provided by Thai Food Mary's Catering Services and TSP veterans present considered that were she to relocate to Fort Davis she would be among the top ten restaurants there.
Unlimited hot water was piped to the replica Inca pumice stone huts, freshly rebuilt after November's minor eruption.
After 6 nights perfect observing weather, no one complained when departure time on the final day was advanced by two hours on a purely precautionary basis following on the lake reaching boiling point, the usual sign of a likely minor eruption.
In the event, expert driving by bus driver Speedy Gonzales kept the bus a good minute ahead of the modest pyroclastic flow, which served to provide an exciting end to the week's event.
Bokglob Gröseblurter is proud to give notice of the April 2005 Lake Tutti Frutti Star Party to be held alongside the pristine waters in the crater at the summit of Mt Coatopakrat at an altitude of 13,998 feet.
Prospective participants can be assured that the volcano is now safely in it's dormant phase and that there have been no serious eruptions since last February.
Guests will be accommodated in authentic Inca dwellings with quality reed floor mats, thatched roofs and ventilation throughout, and are welcome to participate in the regular evening sacrifice of a pedigree Alpaca to propitiate the Weather God followed by the ritual evisceration and barbecue.
Safe conduct passes have been obtained from most of the warring political factions while at least 10 minutes notice will be given before the outbreak of any shooting.
Though no shots should be aimed at visitors, Kevlar telescope shrouds and sleeping bags will be provided at a small extra cost for anyone of a nervous disposition.
Door prizes include authentic Jivarro shrunken heads - a must for amateurs with pretensions, and all 67 varieties of Peruvian potatoes.
Booking details will be available soon. Interested?