We all woke around 7:00 for an 8:00 breakfast of eggs, fruit, granola, pineapple juice and tea.
We then drove to Cotopaxi which has a refuge at a height of 4,800 meters.We climbed Cotopaxi bottom to top in about 2.5 hours. The climb was extremely rough and I still don't know how we did it. The weather of the whole climb was extremely cold and extremely windy. I could not feel my hands, feet or face the whole way. With the strong wind, you could not even stand straight up or else you would be blown backwards. Another reason the climb was so difficult was that every step I took forward, I would sink backwards in the ash a couple of centimeters. Also, my steps were very small: I went heel to toe the whole way as I climbed. I had to focus very hard on keeping my breathing and climbing constant ant or else I would not have made it to the top. Every time I glanced up, the refuge did not seem to be getting any closer. Just when I couldn't climb another step, we made it to the top. We took a picture and about a 15 minute break. The trip all the way down the mountain took only 40 minutes. WE "skied" down most of the way in the very loose ash and snow, pushing ourselves froward with our alternating back leg. I felt like a speed skater. WE were skidding about a yard each for step. I still can't believe we did it. Only 7 out of our groups of 16 made it up the mountain and I am so proud of all of us. (PS. That was 10 times harder than climbing the glacier!)
We also did a 6 mile hike through the hills to see some Inca ruins. We got to see the fortress they strategically built in between all the mountains. The Incas were one of the successful people when it came to use of land and running an empire. Our guide shared the history of the location with the groups.
- Nicole Turner-
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