Quilatoa Loop

First stop Chugchilan, which is on the Quilatoa loop... A very pretty loop of a road that goes through villages in hills.  From here there are a number of hikes you can do, and it's a great introduction to the high altitude.  Chugchilan is at 3200m, and all the hikes from there just go up!

Above is Cotopaxi which we spotted on the way to Latacunga (needed to route through here to get to Chugchilan).  A snow covered Volcanoe, just outside and Quito.  Base camp for the climb up Cotopaxi is around 4500m I believe ~ on our 'to do list'.

One of the coolest places we've stayed on this trip.  Our room in Chugchilan, had it's own and loft with hammocks and additional furniture.  More room than we needed.  But the coolest is in the picture below.  As it get pretty cold here at night due to the high elevation.  Nothing like hanging out in your room with your own fireplace/wood stove to keep you warm!

First hike, and it was a doozy... nothing like a 30km (9hr) hike down from 3000m to 2500m, then up to 4100m, and then back down to where you started again.  Our legs were feeling it at the end of the day, and were our lungs during as we acclimitized.  But we were sure rewarded with some great views.

Taking a bit of a break after nearly falling over from the altitude... It was a great hike, but I was sucking wind big time!

A few of the views that rewarded our efforts!

Lots of sheep farming happening here...

The destination of our first grueling hike... Quilatoa crater lake.

Not sure if this picture does this section of the hike any justice (above and below)... but there was actually a path down this steep cliff, and we needed to make our way down.  Was certainly some of the most interesting hiking we've done in a while!

Now this was interesting... we did the hike with another couple from Salt Lake; and at the end of the day we ran into a little dude whom had been apparently drinking all day!  He decided to befriend us, and started to follow us.  Unfortunately he lost his ability to walk near to the 'middle of nowhere'!  We didn't have the heart to leave the guy whom was passing out in the middle of the path.  Right before the freezing cold night sets in where no one could find him, so we ended up helping him back to civilization where people knew him a would give him the care he needed.  This picture was taken in one of his 'better' moments!  Dragging a drunk up the mountain isn't high on my list of priorities though at the end of a long day when you're dog tired...

Further punishment... some local young girls the same night came and put on a dance recital for us.  And of course, aftter, actually wanted to dance with us!  All we wanted to do was sit/lie down, but it was cute none the less.  I excused myself quickly using the excuse that I wanted to take a few pictures!  :)

More hiking... with addtional rewarding views...

You know you're high when you feel like you're looking down on the clouds!  We enjoyed our time exploring the Quilatoa Loop, but it was time to warm up.  Next stop; Carnival in Banos!