On Friday we walked to the camp site arriving just before the rain! After our lunch we retired to the tent in an attempt to get some sleep - stopping us was the rain beating against the tent, the altitude (4000m) and Julian's snoring.
The tent proved more or less leak-free; more damage was done by us bringing our own water supply.
On Saturday we got up at 2 a.m. for breakfast before starting walking at 3 a.m. It wasn't raining and the walking was steep but sound. We made good progress and arrived at the hut near the top (4750m) just after dawn. We rested and had part of our lunch before attempting the summit. The final stretch was very hard work, scrambling across a partially frozen snow scree slope.
The guides were brilliant and we all made it to the summit (bar Julian who stayed in camp because he twisted his knee badly on the first day).
We arrived at summit by 9.00 a.m. Exhausted, we were rewarded by spectacular views between the clouds. We were above cloud level and saw our first glimpse of Cotopaxi, its glacier covered peak peeping above the clouds. Fantastic.
We all made it down safely to the very comfortable lodge at the base of Cotopaxi. Food & accommodation has been excellent.
'Worms', invented by (… ?) involves getting into your sleeping bag upside down & having a wrestling match! Having a rest day today (Sunday).
Simon
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