Ecuador - Land of Volcanoes

Peak Bagging Andean Volcanoes and Another 250km Run

 

All content copyright © Ashley Burke 2015. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission.

 

The Cotopaxi volcano from Illiniza Norte, July 2015

Introduction

In July 2015 I went to Ecuador to participate in Racing The Planet Ecuador 2015, my second Racing The Planet Roving Race. This 250km foot race was held over 7 days with daily running distances of up to 63km. The race began on the foothills of the Cotopaxi volcano at an altitude of about 3400m. Much of the race for the first 4 days was at altitude, with lots of ascending and descending at altitudes ranging from around 2500m to just under 4000m. On Day 5, the longest day of about 63km, the race made a huge descent off the Pacific side of the Andes, dropping deep into the coastal jungle and cloud forest. The race concluded in the jungle town of Pucuyacu.

A key to completing the race successfully was good acclimatisation to altitude, given that much of the race was run at altitudes exceeding 3000m. So I arrived in Ecuador about 3 weeks before the race and spent some time at altitude in this beautiful and diverse country, and in the process I climbed on Ecuador's three highest mountains, and some lower peaks as well. Add to this some time in the rainforest town of Mindo, in the adventure sport hub of Baños, and the thriving capital Quito, and this trip to Ecuador was a diverse, active and adventurous experience.

I hope you enjoy this site.

El Corazón

Altitude: 4800m

8 Jul 2015

Pasochoa

Altitude: 4500m

11 Jul 2015

Gagua Pichincha

Altitude: 4800m

12 Jul 2015

Illiniza Norte

Altitude: 5100m

13-14 Jul 2015

Cotopaxi

Altitude: 5897m

15-16 Jul 2015

Chimborazo

Altitude: 6263m (Whymper Summit) or 6230m (Veintimilla Summit - reached this summit)

18-19 Jul 2015

Cayambe

Altitude: 5790m

21-22 Jul 2015

Racing The Planet Ecuador 2015

A 7 day 250km foot race from the slopes of Cotopaxi to the jungle.

26 Jul - 1 Aug 2015

Mindo

A rainforest retreat. Lush jungle, waterfalls and abundant wildlife. An interlude from the mountain climbing.

9-10 Jul 2015

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Web page created 27 Feb 2015, last updated 27 Feb 2017.

All content copyright © Ashley Burke 2017. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission.