UKC

We went up Vesuvius last week - quite interesting looking down into the crater.

I know there hasn't been an eruption since 1944 but I must admit I was expecting there to be some sort of sulphurous smell up there but I wasn't aware of it.

There was a bit of steam venting from some of the rocks. Fascinating sight.

In reply to mypyrex:
IIRC from last year, it depends on the type of volcano, and the composition of the lava etc as to whether or not any detectable smell (ie sulphur) is released.
Dont quote me however.

In reply to mypyrex:

I was up there last summer. Yep, it's sulphur (eggy) emission.

In reply to HikerPunk:

I climbed Ruapehu in 1998, and at the top it stank, of sulphur.

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Same when I went into the cauldera at the Greek island of Nissyross. Very strong sulpher smell. Lots of interesting little holes emmiting steam and green algae. Very hot.

In reply to All: Maybe I wasn't close enough

In reply to Trangia:

you sure it green algae and not sulphur. I've got some rocks from this volcano with nice fat sulphur deposits on them.

In reply to pamplemouse:

You are probably right. I was guessing when I said algae because that's what it looked like to my untrained eye.

In reply to Tim Chappell: Sulphur doesn't smell bad as to stink.

In reply to mypyrex: The nearby Phlegeian (sp) Fields have numerous vents which emit steam and SOx and other smelly gases. There's a crater near Naples that has a bubbling pool of hot mud. Very cool place.

In reply to mypyrex:

Climbed Volcan Villarica in Chile a few years ago and that absolutely stank. We rented gas masks to put on at the summit and even then I could barely stand to breath in.