Hola! This is obviously not a video related to where we are now but for osme reason I cant write it in a new post while this is uploading! So we are currently in a lovely farm like hostel called Papagayo about an hour and a half outside Quito up in the base of the mountains and very picturesque valleys. We are spending 5 days here as part of an acclimatisation programme in preparation for climbing Cotopaxi. (I just realise I think I already said all this in my last blog - sorry for repetition!)
Anyway its Day 3 now and we are on a rest day . The last 2 days we have climbed 2 inactive volcanoes called El Corazon and Illinizas Norte, the first being 4,788m and yesterdays 5,100ish (cant remeber exactly but there was a bot of snow at the top of it! The first day was tough enough, had to walk very slowly as it was steep and altitude was affecting breathing but we made it to the top after 3hours 40 climbing and then 2 hours back down. The worst part of the climb was the dodgy old Land Cruiser we had to come back down from the base of the mountain in! The petrol tank was stuffed with a cloth, the whle vehicle whined like crazy, and smelled like it was going to explode into flames at any minute. The trip back down reminded us of mudplugging as we had to have a spotter in the passenger seat to ensure we got around all the obstacles - rivers/ trees/ rockls / giant gorges and didnt turn over. it was all quite funny apart form the ongoign feeling that we were going to collapse by being fummagated! The hostel here has a tradituion of welcoming you back from every climb with a cup of tea nad homemade chocolate cake - we like this - a lot!! And all the way back down form the climbs this is what we day dream of - aswell as the hot jacuzzi!

So tired and exhausted with aching limbs we went to bed at 8.30 and up for breakfast at 6.30 yesterday and headed off again in the dodgy jeep to the base of our next mountain. The weather was chillier and a few more layers were needed. We began climbing and the first half hour I didnt feel great at all. Took it very slowly, deep breaths and positive thoughts and tried to ignore the weid pain in my heart! Anyway we took lots of regular breaks and continually snacking on choclate, nut bars and gatorade helped a lot and soon I was feeling fine again. 2 and a bit hours later we reached the refuge, stuffed some sandwiches and biscuits in and clambered in to the harness and helmet. Looking up at the peak we were about ot climb we were excited but also a bit nervous as neither of us had climbed this altitude before. Anyway off we set with our guide and one other English guy from our hostel and soon we were actually rock climbing and the peak was appearing to get nearer but then then theres always another corner to turn and its still seems so far away!
The views as we went up were amazing, will get pics up soon. The other peak of this volcano (theres a male and afemal one) was covered in snow and below us in the old crater was a beautiful green lagoon. So on we went up and up, finding our way between the rocks , the weathe rgot colder and snow began to appear in places but the head remained strong and we were both feeling ok altitude wise which was good news as far as prpeartion for Thursday nights climb goes. Almost 5 hours later we reached the summit and congratulated oursleves with some more sandwiches and snacks! As the weather was beginning to close in and hail stones began to fall our guide set about getting us back down. it all looked very daunting from the peak but Jo led the way and soon we were scrambling back down the roc face. After about an hour of serious rock clambering the tr\errain changed to steep l;oose gravely grit nad we had to run / slide down the mountain whihc was quite funny and felt a bit like skiing in boots rather than on skiis. As we approached the base we bumped into a herd of bulls, the guide stopped abruptly and started whistling,. I was a little nervous as I was wearing a red jacket! However the magic whistle worked and soon enough they were off and we were back on our way again. About 8 hours of hiking later we reached base again and looked forward to the chocolate cake and jacuzzi!!
So today we rest and eat and loosen up the muscles in the jacusssi and tomorrow we hike to the refuge which is at 4,800m . there we spend the night (well go to bed at 6.30 and get up at midnight!) At midnight we gear up and begin the hike up top the summit , fingers crossed weather will be o our side and we will be feeling ok altitude wise. So hopefully next time we blog we will have some very cool photos to put up and an adventure to tell! Love to all xoxox