Post 80: "So, that's where all the dust is coming from"

Fellow mountain trekkers,

Today Gavin and I trekked 10 miles round trip with 1 mile vertical distance, up to the Mirador del Volcan. It was a sunny, cool 73 degrees Fahrenheit.  We had some fantastic views along the way of the town below and the surrounding mountains.  We walked by cows and horses grazing on the dusty grass.   There were narrow, rocky passageways filled with butterflies we needed to climb through.  Getting to what is supposed to be a close up view of the peak of the Tungurahua Volcano, was a trek and adventure within itself.

click to enlarge

The Tungurahua Volcano is Ecuador's most active and most dangerous volcano.  As of this past November 29th, the surrounding communities were evacuated because of huge clouds of ash and hot gas rising up approximately 4 km into the air.  Also, due to pyrocalstic flows (avalanches of hot gas, ash and blocks of lava).  The town, the flora and fauna are all coated with a thick dusting of ash.  Our visit here has been quite a filthy one, and there may be an impending, explosive eruption.  News is, activity has increased.

When we finally did make it towards the top, we could see the peak at times through the passing clouds. A Peruvian now living in South Africa, Agusto, whom we had met and spoke with on our way up the trail, made it to the peak shortly after we did.  The three of us took in the views, breeze, and sunshine before beginning our descent down.  We took a different trail back towards the Mirador Virgen, which was where Gavin and I hiked to yesterday.  To our surprise, at our arrival there the sky had cleared over the volcano.  We could finally clearly see the peak, with ash spewing high above it.  The tradewinds were carrying the ash we saw towards the West.  Seeing an active volcano for the first time, one that could potentially blow at any moment, was pretty exciting.

Our new friend Agusto joined us for dinner.  We shared a grilled meat platter, complete with chorizo, a weisswurst like sausage, blood sausage, pork ribs, pork loin, steak and chicken.  Quite delicious, but a bit too much meat for me.  We ended our evening soothing our muscles in the local hot springs, before I retired and the boys stayed out for an additional drink.

Tomorrow, we leave for Peru.  I have really liked Banos, and Equador. Unfortunately I have not had the chance to try all the local Ecuadorian foods I would have liked, but many I could not find. Agusto gave us many good tips about food in Peru, so I am very much looking forward to that.

June y Gavin

mas fotos and vids after the break