Those photos are impressive. I've seen some amazing things in my travels, but never anything like that. However I have been on an active volcano and I've got the photos to prove it. Several years ago when I was sailing around the world, we were in the island group of Vanuatu, in particular on the island of Ambrym. There was an active volcano on the island, and a group of islanders offered to guide us to the summit. It was pretty impressive; I remember the hike started on the coast at about 5 am, and went on the 'lava highway'
through the jungle for hours, before we emerged on the 'blasted plain' and then up through the mountains (and dormant and active volcanoes)
to the one that we ascended. By the time we got to the summit, it was early afternoon, and we spent about an hour on the summit watching the pits of lava bubbling and boiling. I remember that the summit was cold and very sulphur-y. I'm the guy on the right watching the fires.
