Cotopaxi

Last Sunday we went on a day trip to Cotopaxi; which is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world and it is the second highest summit in Ecuador, reaching a height of 5,897 m.  We were driven from Quito and part way up the volcano to the height of 4300m.  From there we did about an hour hike to the lodge in the side of the volcano which is at about 4800m and then were provided with mountain bikes to bike downhill about 15 kms.  It was an absolutely incredible day, the views from the volcano were stunning and like nothing else I have ever seen in my life. 

I must admit that the hike was a lot harder for harder for me than it should have been as I was still a little tuckered out from the festivities of Friday night.  It was colder than stink on the side of the mountain; luckily being Canadian I was properly prepared for the cold weather and had a toque, face warmer and lined mittens; my friends were not as prepared and certainly suffered for it. 

The out of this world views inspired me to make more than a few Lord of the Rings references during the hike up and decent down.  On the ride down the mountain nearest the top it was snowing/ sleeting/ freezing rain sideways and directly into my eyes to the extent that my visibility was almost 0%.  But the further down the volcano you rode visibility steadily increased and at one point when the sun came out and I was confronted with a particularly stunning view I experienced a moment of pure joy where I felt truly blessed that my life had lead me to this place and this moment in time. (I had the good sense not to tell my Mother that we were hiking up and biking down a volcano until after I had completed it safely as I know she wouldn’t have appreciated the stress of worrying about another child of hers having a bike crash)

My fellow teachers and I hope to rent gear and a guide and make the overnight trek to the summit of Cotopaxi at some point during our time in Ecuador.

The hike up Cotopaxi was one of my best adventures so far in Ecuador and I look forward to doing it again if and when any of my friends and family come and visit.  Here are some of my pictures from the day: 

Trek to Mordor (aka the top of Cotopaxi)

Everyone teases me for being "so Canadian" so I figure I might as well rep it.

In front of the lodge.

In front of Cotopaxi after the bike ride down.

Our sweet bikes.