Cotopaxi

When reading about Ecuador, Josh expressed that he would like to attempt climbing Cotopaxi, but since Laura wasn't too keen it was decided that it would have to wait until another time. Then when wandering through the Mariscal, we coincidentally saw our Ciudad Perdida friends through a restaurant window. One thing led to another and the next thing we knew Josh and the guys were commencing a rushed self-acclimitization routine in an attempt to prepare for Ecuador's second highest peak.


Summit of Pichincha 4784 m

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Iliniza Norte 5126 m.

While the guys were acclimitizing on Pichincha, Laura, Jess, and Kelly set off on their Bike Cotopaxi tour. A daytrip in which you are driven up to the refuge, fed lunch, hike to the edge of the glacier and then descend on bikes.




Laura reaches the glacier


It's cold!


Lunch of champions


The descent




Cotopaxi National Park







The next day the guys set off for the Cotopaxi refuge.

Wez, Josh, Jacek, Steve

No one had been able to summit Cotopaxi in the previous 5 days due to unfavourable weather. However, upon arriving at the refuge the clouds cleared and revealed the summit of both Cotopaxi and numerous other volcanoes as well as the valley below.

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As the sun began to set, a family of foxes emmerged and did not seem to be bothered by our presence.

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After enjoying the sunset we ate a light dinner before heading to bed early. We were to get up at 12:30am to begin our ascent to the summit.

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We awoke to a full moon which enabled us to ascend sin headlamps.




Ecuador awakes






5897 m never felt so good!

* Photo by Stephen Shaw

** Photo by Jacek Kaminski
*** Photo by Kirsten