"Well, well, well. A teachable moment indeed. We got to 5600m to find a 8m wide crevasse, 30meters deep and at least 1km long. Our snow school 101 never covered crevasse crossing!! We were 200m from the summit climbing in a blizzard and we all felt great. But this was it - we could go no further. We had been warned of this danger when we arrived at the refugio on Monday. Apparently the ladder across had collapsed due to shifting ice and the crevasse was widening. News filtering back from other climbers confirmed the worsening conditions. Everyone was aborting and those attempting had a few horror stories to tell. Suddenly the climb's success was not about the summit but an appreciation for mountaineering and the fact that the mountain always has the last word. We all did great - not a headache in the group. We stared into the crevasse and felt lucky to be alive. Summiting suddenly seemed so insignificant - we had climbed as far as the mountain would take us and for that we were grateful. Angus has been an amazing teacher. We know more about mountain climbing than we ever dreamed of and the friendships we have renewed and the culture we've absorbed have enriched us all.
There are old climbers; there are bold climbers; but there are no old bold climbers. Today we chose to return safely to the hut and our families so that we could climb another day.
We're back in Quito looking forward to a 'refreshing' beverage. We're off to the world famous Otavalo market tomorrow and home on Friday.
Hugs to you all."
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
15,000 ft and climbing!
"Hola -
We're heading up to Cotopaxi right now where we'll be dropped off with our carefully selected trimmed down supply of essential belongings. We'll trek up to our refugeo to a height of 15000ft where we'll make camp. From here we'll walk up to the glacier an hour away to acclimatise and practice walking with crampons and taking them on/off. We have one night at the refugeo (a bunker like hut), we'll practice a little more and then rest up for our night (alpine) ascent on midnight Tuesday to Wednesday 7am. So for now it's 'adios, see you later alligators'. There will be no reception until Wednesday - we LOVE you all and talk about you incessantly. Keep Well.
XOXO hug hug kisses kisses"
We're heading up to Cotopaxi right now where we'll be dropped off with our carefully selected trimmed down supply of essential belongings. We'll trek up to our refugeo to a height of 15000ft where we'll make camp. From here we'll walk up to the glacier an hour away to acclimatise and practice walking with crampons and taking them on/off. We have one night at the refugeo (a bunker like hut), we'll practice a little more and then rest up for our night (alpine) ascent on midnight Tuesday to Wednesday 7am. So for now it's 'adios, see you later alligators'. There will be no reception until Wednesday - we LOVE you all and talk about you incessantly. Keep Well.
XOXO hug hug kisses kisses"
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Getting ready for Cotopaxi
"Hello Loved Ones!
Well we're out of the tents and into a hacienda - quite the transition. We were picked up from our campsite in the morning and driven to a hacienda in the town of Machachi. The hacienda is a charming old railway hotel - a perfect place for us to recharge for our Cotopaxi climb. We showered, ate, and organized our equipment (crampons, harnesses, ice picks) and asked Angus and Joaquim lots of questions. The next few days is such a new experience for us all - I guess that's one reason why we're here: to explore the unknown. Tomorrow we head for Cotopaxi and spend the night in a refugeo, a mountain hut at the base of the glacier. Our spanish phrase of the day is 'estamos listas' - we are ready!
Goodnight all."
Well we're out of the tents and into a hacienda - quite the transition. We were picked up from our campsite in the morning and driven to a hacienda in the town of Machachi. The hacienda is a charming old railway hotel - a perfect place for us to recharge for our Cotopaxi climb. We showered, ate, and organized our equipment (crampons, harnesses, ice picks) and asked Angus and Joaquim lots of questions. The next few days is such a new experience for us all - I guess that's one reason why we're here: to explore the unknown. Tomorrow we head for Cotopaxi and spend the night in a refugeo, a mountain hut at the base of the glacier. Our spanish phrase of the day is 'estamos listas' - we are ready!
Goodnight all."
Me gusta mucha!
"It's nice to have reception again.
We're on Day 5 of our 'trek of the Condors'. It's our last night camping much to our delight. We've all become very proficient at putting up and down our tents, drying clothes, and living in tight quarters. It rained all night but miraculously stopped at 6am just as we were stirring. We walked to a pass at 4200m and then descended into a valley where we said goodbye to our team of arrieros (horse handlers). Our bags were put on a pickup truck and taken to our final campsite in the Limpiopungo Valley. We spent the last hours of sunshine sitting by our tents staring up at Mt Cotopaxi - our first real sighting. We start 'snow school' tomorrow. Everyone is healthy and spirits are high - we're loving the adventure. Our spanish phrase of the day is 'Me gusta mucho!' - I like it so much!"
We're on Day 5 of our 'trek of the Condors'. It's our last night camping much to our delight. We've all become very proficient at putting up and down our tents, drying clothes, and living in tight quarters. It rained all night but miraculously stopped at 6am just as we were stirring. We walked to a pass at 4200m and then descended into a valley where we said goodbye to our team of arrieros (horse handlers). Our bags were put on a pickup truck and taken to our final campsite in the Limpiopungo Valley. We spent the last hours of sunshine sitting by our tents staring up at Mt Cotopaxi - our first real sighting. We start 'snow school' tomorrow. Everyone is healthy and spirits are high - we're loving the adventure. Our spanish phrase of the day is 'Me gusta mucho!' - I like it so much!"
Saturday, April 24, 2010
All is well in the foothills of Antisana
"The Senoritas send greetings!
All is well in the foothills of Antisana. Today was our longest hike reaching our highest elevation. We started the day with sunshine and exercises led by our guide Joaquim. Then we began a never ending ascent into the polylepis forest where we spotted puma tracks among our muddy trail. The rain came down as we ate our lunch of fig and cheese sandwiches (surprisingly delicious) but like the weather of the past few days, it cleared up to reveal the magnificent Antisana volcano with a rainbow arching above. Hiking along the foothills of the Antisana rocky peaks was a real treat after the uneven terrain in the morning. When we arrived at what we thought was our campsite on the Antisana River, our tents, donkeys and 'cowboys' were no where to be seen. It was 5pm and getting dark - for a while we were the lost senoritas. However just when we thought we might have to start our own campfire, the cowboys (arriaros) on their horses came to our rescue. Our campsite was nestled in a valley alongside the river and was a welcoming site to behold.
Adios"
All is well in the foothills of Antisana. Today was our longest hike reaching our highest elevation. We started the day with sunshine and exercises led by our guide Joaquim. Then we began a never ending ascent into the polylepis forest where we spotted puma tracks among our muddy trail. The rain came down as we ate our lunch of fig and cheese sandwiches (surprisingly delicious) but like the weather of the past few days, it cleared up to reveal the magnificent Antisana volcano with a rainbow arching above. Hiking along the foothills of the Antisana rocky peaks was a real treat after the uneven terrain in the morning. When we arrived at what we thought was our campsite on the Antisana River, our tents, donkeys and 'cowboys' were no where to be seen. It was 5pm and getting dark - for a while we were the lost senoritas. However just when we thought we might have to start our own campfire, the cowboys (arriaros) on their horses came to our rescue. Our campsite was nestled in a valley alongside the river and was a welcoming site to behold.
Adios"
Donkeys and Bulls
"Hi Friends -
By the time you get this message we will be on Day 5 of our 'trek of the Condors'. It appears that much of our trek is in 'no service' areas - not much of a surprise given the many surrounding volcanoes.
Day 3 was stunning. We walked through a plain full of bulls - donkeys and dogs by our side providing protection, and condors flying above giving full meaning to the trek's name. Ahead lay Sincholaqua - an extinct volcano - revealing its explosive history with its caldera, scree and craggy peak. We camped at the base of a highland hacienda after 5 1/2 hrs of walking at an altitude of 4000m (13,2000ft). Everyone is well and strong. We miss you all and we're so grateful for this unique adventure. X0X0"
By the time you get this message we will be on Day 5 of our 'trek of the Condors'. It appears that much of our trek is in 'no service' areas - not much of a surprise given the many surrounding volcanoes.
Day 3 was stunning. We walked through a plain full of bulls - donkeys and dogs by our side providing protection, and condors flying above giving full meaning to the trek's name. Ahead lay Sincholaqua - an extinct volcano - revealing its explosive history with its caldera, scree and craggy peak. We camped at the base of a highland hacienda after 5 1/2 hrs of walking at an altitude of 4000m (13,2000ft). Everyone is well and strong. We miss you all and we're so grateful for this unique adventure. X0X0"
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Trek has Begun!
"Buenas noches!
The conditioning has begun. We were dropped off at our starting point where we said hello to the 5 mules that will carry our bags for the next 6 days. We donned our wellingtons and headed up into the Andes. It was hard going - lots of narrow muddy paths, tall grasses, uneven footing and river crossings. We almost christened ourselves the 'mud slingers' until Teri got 'sucked' into a mud bath upto her hips. 'Suckers' then became our laughing name. All is good. We are now resting in our tents at the base of volcano lake at 3,650m. The food so far is delicioso. Word of the day is muy bien (very well)."
The conditioning has begun. We were dropped off at our starting point where we said hello to the 5 mules that will carry our bags for the next 6 days. We donned our wellingtons and headed up into the Andes. It was hard going - lots of narrow muddy paths, tall grasses, uneven footing and river crossings. We almost christened ourselves the 'mud slingers' until Teri got 'sucked' into a mud bath upto her hips. 'Suckers' then became our laughing name. All is good. We are now resting in our tents at the base of volcano lake at 3,650m. The food so far is delicioso. Word of the day is muy bien (very well)."
Monday, April 19, 2010
Raining Cats and Dogs
"Hola miamigos,
It's raining cats and dogs as we pack for our 6 day Trek of the Condors. Toured the old city of Quito and went to the equator where we balanced eggs on nail heads.
We'll leave Quito tomorrow morning, trek for 6 days at altitudes of 13,000 to 15,000ft, have a day of rest at a Hacienda, and then head up to Cotopaxi for 2 days of ice climbing school before our alpine (midnight) ascent up Cotopaxi.
We're bracing for bad weather but the saying goes as such: 'If you don't like the weather in Quito just hike 5km in any direction and it's bound to change.' Here we go!"
It's raining cats and dogs as we pack for our 6 day Trek of the Condors. Toured the old city of Quito and went to the equator where we balanced eggs on nail heads.
We'll leave Quito tomorrow morning, trek for 6 days at altitudes of 13,000 to 15,000ft, have a day of rest at a Hacienda, and then head up to Cotopaxi for 2 days of ice climbing school before our alpine (midnight) ascent up Cotopaxi.
We're bracing for bad weather but the saying goes as such: 'If you don't like the weather in Quito just hike 5km in any direction and it's bound to change.' Here we go!"
Arrived Safely!
"Buenos Dias,
We arrived safely in Quito last night after a fairly easy day of travel compared to Kilimanjaro. It was nice to have only a one hour time change, to have the same 110 voltage, to have hot and cold water and to see the currency is the universal USD. We had a light dinner of empanadas, pitas and guacuamole and starting to learn our first critical Spanish words - por favor, gracias, and buenas noches. We'll have a day of acclimatization in Quito (9700 ft) and then begin our Trek.
We're working on our team name - it will take a while for our story and identity to reveal itself. Stay tuned."
We arrived safely in Quito last night after a fairly easy day of travel compared to Kilimanjaro. It was nice to have only a one hour time change, to have the same 110 voltage, to have hot and cold water and to see the currency is the universal USD. We had a light dinner of empanadas, pitas and guacuamole and starting to learn our first critical Spanish words - por favor, gracias, and buenas noches. We'll have a day of acclimatization in Quito (9700 ft) and then begin our Trek.
We're working on our team name - it will take a while for our story and identity to reveal itself. Stay tuned."
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Andes here we come!
Only one more sleep!
Tomorrow the Ecuador team, all past LOLA Kili climb for Kids climbers, are flying to Quito to begin their two week adventure in this beautiful country - trekking, mountaineering, and experiencing the beauty of the Andes and the andean culture, it's music, language, food and crafts. Have a great trip, laugh lots, climb hard, sleep well and make sure you try the cuye! (that's their local dish - guinea pig!)
Tomorrow the Ecuador team, all past LOLA Kili climb for Kids climbers, are flying to Quito to begin their two week adventure in this beautiful country - trekking, mountaineering, and experiencing the beauty of the Andes and the andean culture, it's music, language, food and crafts. Have a great trip, laugh lots, climb hard, sleep well and make sure you try the cuye! (that's their local dish - guinea pig!)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Mt. Cotopaxi team getting ready!
Well the countdown has begun....the Mt. Cotopaxi team is counting down the days until they depart from sea level and fly to 10, 000ft! Yes, Quito is almost at 10,000 ft elevation. Where's the diamox?
Sleep well team.....you'll need it!
Sleep well team.....you'll need it!
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