Summit Trekking Ecuador - Page 4

Refugio Nuevos Horizontes (4.700 m)

This morning, we had the chance to calmly reorganize our belongings in daylight before our bus took us toward Illiniza Norte. The twin peaks of Illiniza Norte and Illiniza Sur are located south of Quito. We started at 3,960 meters, this is where the parking lot and the base camp, La Virgen, serve as the starting point for summiting both peaks. In Ecuador, there are regulations governing the ratio of mountain guides to tourists or climbers. Because of this, new guides joined us this time. This meant: the challenge level would increase again. However, today we didn’t head to the summit just yet; we first hiked to the Refugio Nuevos Horizontes (4,700 meters) for further acclimatization. Initially, we walked through steadily rising grasslands, but the trail became increasingly rocky and steeper as we ascended. Some members of the group used a mule to transport their luggage, but we carried ours ourselves, it wasn’t much for just one night. After about three hours, the refuge appeared around a bend. It is located on the saddle between the two peaks.

Inside, it was cramped, damp, dark, and cold. Bunk beds for 20–30 people were available. The first challenge was unpacking in such a confined space. However, the nearby kitchen smelled inviting, and hot tea was always available. The hut was managed by a local caretaker. Its location was spectacular, as the sky gradually cleared, we had stunning views of the valley and Illiniza Norte. We took a short hike up the ridge before dinner. The slope toward the mountain ridge we could see hinted at what awaited us tomorrow. But for now, it was time to warm up and eat. The cook was quick and skilled, soup to start, pasta, delicious. Popcorn and tea were always on hand. We had to take turns eating in the small kitchen. I still remember the advice from Richard, our Kilimanjaro guide: drink plenty, eat well, sleep high, and always walk slowly. We kept these principles in mind every day. Drinking plenty always has its downside for me at night, having to leave the sleeping bag and step out into the cold every hour. It was the same here, except this time, an Andean fox curiously looked at me outside before slowly wandering off 🙂.

Illiniza Norte (5.126 m)

We woke up in the dark. After a quick breakfast, we climbed the short path up to the mountainside. From there, it got intense right away, a long, steep slope of sand and scree leading up to the southern ridge. At the top, things didn’t get any easier. There were rocky sections close to the edge, and we often had to climb. Some sections were so dangerous that the guides set up ropes. A few of us formed rope teams with the guides for safety. Thankfully, the weather was dry. Even though it was only 400 meters of elevation gain from the refuge to the summit, we had to fight hard for every meter. The rocky ridge involved constant ups and downs. Sharp rock spires kept appearing, and we repeatedly asked if each was the summit. The guides always smiled and said, No, it’s behind that one. But eventually, they had to confirm it, and we stood before a tiny summit cross. The space was tight, so we took turns getting our summit photos. Unfortunately, the clouds didn’t reveal much of the surrounding mountain landscape this time.

The descent was no easier. On the rocky sections, it was a constant climb up and down, and the final slope proved even more challenging. The steep incline made it nearly impossible to avoid slipping, and several stones began rolling down the sandy slope. We had to shout warnings so everyone had time to jump out of the way. Back at the refuge, there wasn’t much time to pack and eat, we still had to hike down to the valley. Jeeps took us to the lodge where our travel bags were waiting, and then our bus drove us two hours to Cotopaxi National Park. At the beautiful Tambopaxi Lodge, located at the base of the elegant Cotopaxi (5,897 meters), we finally started to unwind after the long check-in process. A wonderful dinner awaited us, and our room was warmed by a wood stove 🙂.