More from Ecuador in 2015

It's been awhile since I posted anything on this blog so I'll take a few moments to post a few pictures I've taken on various treks and climbs since climbing Illiniza Sur and falling just short of the summit of Cotopaxi in January 2015.

While working in Ecuador from January through May 2015, I had the opportunity to trek to the top of Rucu Pichincha several times.  Having hiked the mountain numerous times previously, I enjoyed serving as companion/guide for several different groups of Americans who were interested in seeing if they could make it to the top, having never experienced this type of adventure.  I have found it to be very enjoyable helping others succeed when they are a bit unsure about the outing.

 

In April, 2015, I decided on a solo climb of Imbabura while Barb and I were visiting Otavalo and Ibarra on a weekend trip.  I was well acclimatized to make the trek to the top of this 15,000 mountain and the climb started well but after reaching a 100 vertical feet from the summit, I decided to go down when the weather turned bad and I was engulfed in a cloud with almost no visibility. I got lost on the return and hiked down the wrong drainage for about an hour before I realized I was on an animal path and totally lost.  I had to hike back up about 1500 vertical feet and as I neared the summit for the second time, the clouds parted enough for me to see where I had gone wrong.  I ran down as much as I safely could to try to catch my ride back to Ibarra, and fortunately, even though I was 2 hours late, my ride was still at the trailhead.  His patience saved me from an even longer day hiking many miles back into town. 

Imbabura as seen from the city of Ibarra, Ecuador

The clouds moved in near the summit and I got lost on my way down.  I should have been more prepared with a compass.

I had a number of other adventures while working in Ecuador with family (Sara and Kelly McCabe) and friends (Rich and Caroline Yonker).  We traveled to Mindo in the cloud forest as well as Riobamba and the coast. While working in Riobamba on our research project in the village of San Juan, I finally caught of glimpse of Chimborazo (20,700), which my daughter Hannah and I summited in 2004.  Owing to the equatorial bulge, it is the highest mountain on earth if measured from the core of the earth and was first climbed by Edward Whymper in 1880, who was also the first person to reach the summit of the Matterhorn in Switzerland. It is one of the most magnificent mountains to view from its base.

Unfortunately, while body surfing on the coast of Ecuador, I caught a wave that threw me violently into the floor of the ocean and tore up my shoulder, which required surgery and a 12-month rehabilitation, which put a damper on any adventures for time.