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DESCENDING INTO
A LIVING CRATER
This however, no doubt, is a crater
of Pichincha. Its depth, reckoning from the highest point
of the mountain, is probably not less than two thousand
feet; its breadth is fully as much, and the length of the
part we saw was at least a mile. It had none of the
symmetry of the crater of Cotopaxi.
Edward Whimper, 1892.
The Pichinchas are two volcanoes known
as Guagua and Rucu located some 10 km due west of Quito
and easily visible from the capital. This is a good trek
to do in order to be in good shape before trying some of
the higher mountains.
Suggested itinerary:
| Day
1. |
Departure
from Quito early in the morning. After passing a
little village placed in a beautiful valley, both
of which are called Lloa, we will drive up a dirt
road until we reach a place called "La
Ensillada". From this point we will hike
until we reach the Defensa Civil Refuge (4,600 m
- 15,093 ft). Here we will have lunch and later
try for the Guagua's summit (4,874 m, 12,380 ft),
two hours round trip. Dinner will be served, and
a brief explanation about what we will do the
next day will be given by our guides. |
| Day
2. |
After
breakfast we will descend into the crater of
Guagua Pichincha where we can observe its
activity. We will walk around the crater where we
will feel the force of the earth. Lunch will be
served, and we will return to the refuge to spend
the night. Dinner will be served. |
| Day
3. |
After
an early breakfast we will leave the refuge.
First, we will follow an old trail which will
lead us to "Padre Encantado", from
which point we will hike up to the Rucu's summit
(4,787 m, 12,159 ft). From the Rucu we will go
down hill to a place called Cruz Loma the
where our car will be waiting to take us down to
Quito. |
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Trekking in Ecuador: Crater of Pichincha