Trip Reports

Cotopaxi - 21 December 2002 to 5 January 2003

Written by Leader Neal Short, February 2003

The shorter version of the Ecuador Volcanoes trip was very enjoyable and successful for all nine team members. The initial sightseeing days proved popular, whilst members got to know each other and visited the sights of Quito and its surroundings.

All members ascended the first two peaks of Cerro Pasochoa (4,200m) and Volcan Pichincha (4,794m), which gave a good level of acclimitisation to take onto the first major peak Cayambe (5,790m). En route to the volcano many members took the opportunity to try their bartering skills when purchasing goods from the famous market in Otavalo.

Two useful days practicing glacier skills further aided acclimitisation and got everyone better prepared for the attempt on Cayambe. Cayambe proved to be an icy proposition as ash from a nearby volcano had recently fallen on the mountain causing a lot of the snow to be burnt off. Undeterred, the group set off with nearly all members getting to 5,400m and four (Richard, Catherine, Steve and Mark) reaching the top in glorious sunny weather.

Upon starting the Cotopaxi stage we decided to stay an extra night at the fantastic new mountain chalet beneath the volcano (at 3,800m) to celebrate the New Year and the 'World Service' brought in 2003 for the group.

On Cotopaxi, eight members set out for the summit early on 2 January. Everyone made an excellent effort in quite cold and breezy conditions. Six members (Catherine, Steve, Richard, Mark, Glyn and James) continued up to the summit and enjoyed spectacular views of the crater and beyond to the other major peaks of this northern end of the Andes.

The trip was concluded with a short stay at a thermal pool (the group getting sunburnt!) and then a sociable evening at The Magic Bean restaurant in Quito. « Previous report | Next report »

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