Volcano!

Haven't quite figured out how to make this Blog work properly so all the postings are coming out in the wrong order... sorry about that. Anyway, much more importantly I have conquered my first active volcano!!!! Somehow or other after several ecuadorian beers some NBFs talked me into climbing Gua Gua Pichincha, one of the volcanos that looks down on Quito. It last erupted in 1999 so is apparently due for another about now but after hearing everyone else's stories it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. At 15,681.68 feet, 12 hours later I didn't feel quite the same... The climb was amazing, exhilarating, terrifying and literally breathtaking all at the same time. We drove up to the base, a seismic measuring hut (all clear for the climb) and started to climb, but even the first few steps were exhausting because the air was so thin. It probably took almost three hours to navigate the rocks and steep slippery narrow paths and all the time the clouds were rolling in so you couldn't see more than a few metres infront. Then the freezing wind started blowing! I don't mind saying, it was pretty terrifying standing on a steep rocky surface only a metre wide when you are struggling for breath with sheer drops on either side. My heart was pumping like mad, but not hard enough to get the oxygen to my legs.. But hey, can't come all the way to the Andes and not make it to the top!