This is it!

A day after we left the base-camp we found ourselves climbing again to the base-camp. IT is located 4,800 meters above sea level and 200 meters below the glacier. When we got there it was full of climbers (most of them were American students on their MBA college trip; I don't think that in my university we had such a trip :)).

The Base Camp

After we found a corner to put our stuff amid all the groups, we went out with our guide to practice a walk while carrying all the gear that we will need to carry with us while climbing the Cotopaxi (always try the gear you are renting before going on the climb: you don’t want any surprises on the way to the summit).

The beautiful glacier is melting down (the glacier lost 38.5% of its mass between 1976 and 2006! To read about it click here) due to the climate change. Its only matter of time until it will be completely gone, it's so SAD!
By late afternoon, the only thing left for us to do is to eat our pasta (it's recommended to eat Carbohydrate meal 4-5 hours before anyone start a climb) and trying to "kill" some time until we will leave the base-camp toward the summit tomorrow morning. I find it hard to sleep on high altitude, and it's even harder to sleep in high altitude on the floor of a corridor in a base-camp with more than 50 other people.
This happened to be the time when all the thoughts regarding this trip were running constantly in my head. When first planning this trip, I took in consideration the option that I will need enough time for more than one attempt to climb this mountain whether the first time will not be successful, (to climbing the Cotopaxi was the main reason I chose to come to Ecuador). But as I learned from my life experience; when you do something, anything for this matter, it is better to do it properly and not look for short cuts. Sometimes those short-cuts actually take you through a longer way than if you would have chosen the right way in the first place.
I think that I did it properly; 10 intensive days of training, I found a great partner that I was confident in. I was sure we will make it to the summit tonight; the only thing that left to hope wish for is good weather and clear sky.

Quito and the lighting storm above the Ilinizas

I think that one of the most important aspects in climbing is the psychological aspect – if you are not in the state mind setting yourself goals and striving to achieve them, it is unlikely you will accomplish them. On the other hand, you need to realize when you reach a point that you might risk your life or health, or those of your partners and be brave enough to acknowledge it; the summit will probably stay there long after we are all gone.

Half an hour before midnight the base-camp was brought to life, the climb to the summit of the Cotopaxi, like climbs to many other mountains starts around midnight. At this time of night, the ice is more comfortable to walk on. We had a small meal before we left, put on the gear, and were ready to go!

The view outside was spectacular, the sky was clear; looking north we could see the lights of Quito, and an amazing lighting storm above the Ilinisaz.



The Ilinizas and the Cotopaxi shadow

 On the way up, the lights from the head-torch of the other climbers lead you the way and the weather was great. After about an hour of walking in silence, we arrived to the glacier- grampons on! As we continue towards the summit, we found ourselves in a queue due of the quantity of the climbers that started their way that same night.

After about an hour on the glacier, my partner started to feel a bit exhausted and we decided to rest there for a few minutes. We decided to continue while reducing the pace of our progress.

At 5 a.m the sun starts to rise and the view was incredible, clear sky and we could see all the highest peaks of Ecuador. We walked for 5 hours already, which considering where we were, was a normal pace to reach the summit. Though the sun started to rise, the summit was nowhere to be seen. My partner was really exhausted by that point and I saw my dream falling apart. Nonetheless, her safety was much more important than reaching the summit. Our slow pace made an effect on me too and I started to feel the tiredness.



The Antisana (on the center) and the Cayambe (on the left)



Surprisingly, Erika, my partner decided to continue regardless of her exhaustion. I admire her spirit and willpower, what can I say, I got the proof that women are much stronger in their mind than men (at least that's what they say). I'm sure that if I was in her condition, I would have given up already. As we continue on our climb, we met climbers making their way downwards. I can even remember the point in the road where we saw the final stage of the way before the summit. I thought I went blind for a minute – a steep climb of another 200 meters was there in front of us! This was not going as easy as I expected... by that point you could also smell the sulfur from the volcano, which is still active. The finial part of the climb was steep and slow because of the queue of climbers before us. We spent another hour walking until felt and understood how close we are and that we are almost there!

The "wall" another 200 meter to the summit

Me and Erika - Last stop before the summit

At 10am, ten hours after we started the climb, we finally reached and conquered the summit!

Exhausted but full of joy and a sense of accomplishment- we did it! I think that most people I know would not understand this feeling; it is so hard to describe it. The view from the summit was worth any minute of effort we made on the way up and the sky was clear.

One of the things I was concerned about was whether we will have clear sky when we reach the summit. I met many people who climbed the Cotopaxi only to reach the summit to find out they couldn’t see anything, include the crater due to cloudy skies. But what can I say, beginners luck! After taking a few pictures from the summit, we started our way down, bearing in mind are we still on the mountain and need to stay focused in order to reach the base-camp healthy and in one piece.

On our way down we met some crazy Americans (but really crazy) who climbed to the summit with ski equipment and made the way down by skiing, part by part with a guide that secured them. Crazy! By noon we finished our trek and were back in the car, absolutely knackerd but so satisfied.

I think that by this point the objects to this trip were accomplished, and so the following two weeks were spent by traveling inside Ecuador, around Banos, and Quito.

No more mountains to conquer their peaks for me in this trip .

This is it!