Trip Reports

Ecuador Volcanoes - 9 to 28 July 2002

Written by Leader Joe Gittins, December 2002

This trip was very successful, with four summits climbed. The sunrise on Cotopaxi's summit was beautiful, initially creating a pink landscape, then the sun gave an amazing shadow of Cotopaxi on the clouds below. This was followed by a circular rainbow forming around the shadow of the summit, which was breathtaking to see. Not only is Cotopaxi the highest active volcano in the world, and it is also the second most perfectly conical volcanoe in the world, after Fuji, which is why it's shadow is so impressive. During all this, in the distance, the highly active Tungurahua could be seen spitting huge clouds of dust and smoke into the morning sky. The mighty Chimborazo, the highest peak in Ecuador could be seen to the right of this, stood in its snowclad splendour. A rest was taken at Banos, soaking away the aches and pains from Cotopaxi, in the hot volcanic spa and sampling food from the nearby jungle. The Hard Rock Café in Banos proved very popular, probably more for the table football than the beer! Due to the Quayaquil holidays, many Ecuadorians were in town, providing the opportunity to learn salsa, which was probably more tiring than the climbing! Much fun was had, a great trip in all. Team members summited on Pasochoa, Pichincha, Cayambe and Cotopaxi.« | »

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