Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe.

But also one of the most visited: 1.5 million people a year

So hiking is common there.

Both for the views of Sicily, and for its frequent effusive eruptions: lava fountains and flows.

Of course, it isn’t possible to hike all the way to the summit (3,326 m) for safety reasons. But most hikers climb up to 2,900–3,000 m on marked trails.

These days, the volcano is quiet.

No lava in sight, and little chance of seeing any during your hike.

The trail winds over dark volcanic gravel, with dozens of hikers spread out along the slope.

The air smells faintly of sulfur, but that’s nothing unusual on a volcano.

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By midday, you’re 3/4 of the way up.

Then, without warning, a deep rumble rolls across the volcano.

People around you stop, looking toward the summit.

Could this be your lucky day? Maybe you’ll witness a lava fountain!

But ….

Without a sec, you start running

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1. Where do you head on?

A] Back on your feet, along the main trail

B] Toward a marked shelter/bivouac hut you noticed earlier.

C] Straight downhill through a shorter but steeper path

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Everything happens fast.

Within minutes, a fine gray rain begins to fall on you.

The air feels heavier, and breathing gets harder.

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2. What do you use to protect yourself?

A] You pull your T-shirt over your nose and mouth.

B] You wrap a dry cloth/scarf around your face.

C] You wet a cloth and cover your nose and mouth with it.

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Then, a new sound cuts through the air: sharp impacts echoing in the distance.

Volcanic rocks threw by the power of the eruption are starting to fall back on the slopes.

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3. What do you do?

A] You keep running on open ground

B] You use your backpack or arms to shield your head while moving

C] You shelter under a rock overhang

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Fortunately the eruption lasts less than an hour.

Volcanologists will classify it as a VEI 2, a very small event on the scale of volcanic eruptions.

You were lucky.

Because the truth is: if this had been a stronger eruption, no choice you made before would have saved you.

🔍 Your Choices

Let’s review each decision.

1. Where do you head on?

A] Back on your feet, along the main trail ​ +2

B] Toward a marked shelter/bivouac hut you noticed earlier. +1

C] Straight downhill through a shorter but steeper path +3

There is no other option but to climb down the volcano. Taking shelter is useless against an explosive eruption because the shelter will be destroyed.

Every second matters, so the shortest path is usually the best. But you also have to consider your condition and the steepness of the slope.

If you think you can keep control on the steep path, take the direct descent.

If not, it’s safer to retrace your steps on the main trail

You can earn 3 points on the A or C answer.

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2. What do you use to protect yourself?

A] You pull your T-shirt over your nose and mouth. +1

B] You wrap a dry cloth/scarf around your face. +2

C] You wet a cloth and cover your nose and mouth with it. +3

Volcanic ash is not “regular” ash you can think

It is not dust but rather tiny shards of volcanic glass. Breathing it is way more damaging.

Covering your mouth and nose is better than nothing, but a dry layer of fabric lets most particles through.

A wet cloth is far more effective because the moisture traps the ash better.

Simply use your water bottle.

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3. What do you do?

A] You keep running on open ground ​ ​ +2

B] You use your backpack or arms to shield your head while moving +3

C] You shelter under a rock overhang ​ ​ +1

The best option is always to keep moving down the volcano.

Sheltering may feel like a good idea, but it means staying longer on the mountain, and the farther you descend, the less exposed you are to falling debris.

So even if you keep running under the rocks, it costs nothing to shield your head with whatever you have: your backpack, or your arms.

⚖️ The Verdict

Add up your points and see where you stand.

3–4 points → Trapped on the volcano.

👉 Your decisions kept you on the slopes for too long. In a real eruption, being trapped up there would almost certainly be fatal.

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5–6 points → You are not unharmed.

👉 Your choices exposed you to danger. You might have made it down alive, but with serious consequences (injuries or long-term health effects)

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7–9 points → You put the odds on your side.

👉 You applied the right reflexes. As said before, in a stronger eruption even these would not be enough, but you maximized your chances of getting through alive.

📜 Next Week’s Historic Date

40 years ago…

On November 14, 1985, a lahar triggered by the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz swept through Armero, Colombia.