Inactive since 1933 and unsealed for years, Colombia's snow-capped Purace Volcano seemed just the place for an adventurous outing. From the high school at Popayan 24 miles away, 18 students and a truck driver set off one morning last week to climb the mile-high mountain. Except for two students who got tired and lagged a quarter mile behind, the climbers had no trouble getting close to the top. Just as they opened a bottle of rum to celebrate their easy success, a terrific explosion shook Puracèe.
From the long-quiet crater a column of fire and molten rock gushed 2,500 feet...
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