The view from Cotopaxi

The Saturday before last, a group of us from the hostel travelled to Cotopaxi, climbed to the refugio (hut) at 4800 m (c. 15750 ft), then descended to the lower edge of the cloud and sleet, where we started mountain biking down the access road. The bikes were appalling, but at least this meant the faster among us had time to stop and admire the views while we waited for those whose bikes had failed (or were about to). Here, Sean surveys the páramo (grass-and-shrub-lands) that comprise the bulk of Cotopaxi National Park.

Notwithstanding the bad bikes, and either despite or because of the weather (sun, cloud, rain, sleet, snow, wind) we had a great day. Hard to believe I was swimming in the Amazon a couple of days later.

I leave for the Galapagos in the morning, and won't be accessing the Internet much (if at all), so my responses to comments over the next fortnight might be late. I'll schedule a few more photos to appear, though, so keep checking in. I'd thought the Galapagos was far out of reach of my budget, but after reading Renato's post, I investigated further and found an independent journey is more than feasible. Thanks, Renato :^)


[27 August 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 14 mm, ISO 200, 1/250 at f11]


All content © 2011 Pete McGregor