Well, the Ecuador trip is now concluding. Day 2 of the acclimatization plan went well. We climbed Illinizas N. on Saturday. It was great, a relatively short trip to 5100m. All of which I felt great.
Started the Cotopaxi climb on Sunday. Went to the refuge at 4800m in the afternoon to rest until midnight. Still feeling good we set of a 1:00 am. The wind from the time we arrived at the refuge was relentless. sudden gusts capable of knocking one over. This also starting making things pretty cold. The entire time in Ecuador right up until about 5300m on Cotopaxi I was feeling great. Acclimatizing in just 3 days to go above 5000m was the goal. But unfortunately Cotopaxi was also a goal. At around 5700m it was time to turnaround. Between the wind and a newly experienced sense of tiredness, Cotopaxi will have to wait.
Of course this is disappointing. Could I have pushed the last 200 vertical meters?, how dangerous would the last traverses really be with the wind?. I´ll never know for sure. But I will be back to avenge.
sP
