Ecuador (2011): Hiking Quilotoa to Chugchilán

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Hitching a ride in the back of a truck from Zumbahua to Quilotoa. This is Lindsay.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán The vistas were incredible. A camera simply doesn't do them justice.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Our first view of the crater lake at Quilotoa. We were about to hike all the way (6 mi) around the rim.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Resting on an unknown stone monument along the rim.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán A view of the trail along the rim of the caldera. This part was very easy going: flat and debris free.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán The first big peak along the trail, still about 15 minutes away.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Approaching the first peak. Where the trail dissapears is actually one of the most difficult portions, and I forgot to take pictures of it :(

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Making our way up the trail.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán The beginning of a 45 minute long upward hike.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán We were never very far from the edge of the rim.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Most of the flowers along the trail were purple or yellow.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán It got very cloudy and dim around 3pm. We heard thunder, though it never rained.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Step, step, step

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán We collected pieces of firewood along the way. Dry kindling was very difficult to come by.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán The third peak along the trail.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Around 5:30 with the sun going down and the fog rolling in, we decided to make camp.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Dinner in front of the fire (which took ages to get going).

Camping in Quilotoa A quick summary of our night.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Our POS borrowed tent collapsed in the middle of the night.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán The next morning was sunny and almost cloudless.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán The view of where our next hike would take us (into the horizon).

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán Our final view of the crater lake as we descended towards Chugchilan, our next stopping point.

Quilotoa -> Chugchilán A quick headstand.