OK, back to posting about a trip from 8 months ago... this is quite painful, but this is the last post!
A quick flight... a short drive... and soon we went from the heart of the jungle to the thin air of Ecuador's mountains. We rented a car from the airport and drove to El Chaupi where Fernando, a friend of Dres runs the Hostal Andes Alpes. We only had a day in the mountains with him, so we just went on a half day stroll up to the Refugio on Cotopaxi.... actually it's closed as the volcano is too active, so that's about as high as you can get these days.
Here's a soundtrack for ya. Loved going to Mars Volta shows in college...
He's got a nice view...
The next morning after a quick run we went up to Cotopaxi National Park.
second highest in Ecuador at 19,347 ft! Cotopaxi is quite active and has erupted more than 50 times since 1738.
The last eruption lasted from Aug 2015 to January 2016...
And since then Cotopaxi has been officially closed for climbing.
no trees... Lorax sad...
This made the trek quite windy.
Almost up to the refugio...
Huzzah!
Tea at the hut to warm up. I think I had every single layer on that I brought.
The Jose F Ribas Refuge was built in 1971 and updated in 2005.
Elevation of 4800 m! Almost 16,000 ft. From the jungle to 16,000 ft... quite a difference. One the draws to Ecuador it this ecological diversity.
Not sure who this was, but he was important... and came with an entourage.
Including a few of these guys.
Wild, wild, horses...
after the hike, we bid farewell to Fernando and drove back to Quito.
Returned the rental car...
And made it to the White House (Estadio Casa Blanca)! I love going to soccer games in foreign countries...
For some beer with ice...
and some Ecuadorian food tipico...
Barcelona vs LDU Quito
That's the LDU Quito fan area... lots of flares...
after the game we got some street food...
This might have been the best meal of the trip...
and soon enough we were back home with our boys....
Nikko giving the air "high five"... Kai not looking, and their parents being silly...
... and their parents tagged along as well... After a fun ride towards the bug, we had a nice meal at the bug and met up with the Craigs. We settled in quickly and got some rest for tomorrow.
The kiddos enjoying a special hot chocolate in the morning after they ate their breakfast.
we drove in to Badger pass for some snowplay...
unfortunately the kiddos didn't want to get in the sled, and weren't cooperating...
so after approx 100 yards, we took a lunch break. And I went on a quick 30 min sprint on my skate skis.
and made it back to make a snow man!
stopped at tunnel view on the way down to the valley so Nikko could soar!
And quickly noticed the crowds and the cars lined up along the way waiting to catch a glimpse of the firefall... what a zoo...
Hey... I got a good idea... let's go to the most beautiful place in the world... sit around for 6 hours and wait to catch a glimpse of the most photographed phenomenon... FOLKS... walk around. Enjoy NATURE. Not your camera... sheesh... yup... you just heard it here... forget your camera and enjoy it...
Yosemite Falls with it's huge snow mound at the base...
site of our wedding...
Kai and I skated around for an hour or so. That was really fun. We did see an older lady fall and probably got a concussion... I think folks should definitely wear helmets ice skating. Much more so than skiing...
On our way back, we had good timing as the traffic was insane...
... pretty cool...
firefalls
...
Crazyness...
The next morning, we decided to hike out to Lower Yosemite Falls...
Deer!
Kiddos!
Sleeping human!
With a bobcat slowly approaching!
Basking in the sun...
The kiddos were singing Raffi the whole way home...
