// Trip Reports  

Report name	Queen Mary's College
Date submitted	Sep-06

On Friday 14th July two members of the College gained the summit of Cotopaxi – 5897m, the second highest peak in Ecuador and the highest active volcano in the world. The summiteers, consisting of Darren (Sherwood), a member of staff at Queen Mary’s and Sian (Williams) a student there, made very good time. The summit would have had more visitors from the College had not the weather changed dramatically for the worst.

All of this activity was the final phase of an intense mountaineering experience for the students. To begin with they undertook glacier training in crampon and ice axe use with snow and ice skills also introduced to them by a combination of British leaders and experienced Ecuadorian guides. They also had to tackle the altitude, an essential element in climbing Cotopaxi, which was achieved by a gradual process including a number of ascents of lower peaks, worthwhile in themselves. The first peak, Pasochoa, 4200m was followed by Guagua Pichimcha, 4787m the latter offering spectacular views from the crater rim. The program continued with a trip to Cayambe, Ecuador’s third highest summit. From this point training on the glacier occurred before the next project of attempting point 5535m on Cayambe. Eight team members actually reached the point with one traveling some distance on the glacier.

Certainly all the students, whatever point they reached on the mountain, gave their very best. They worked tremendously well together as a team and gained great strength from this unity.

Ecuador was not just about high altitude ascents and snow and ice. Our expedition commenced in Quito, an exciting city in a magnificent setting. A city tour was both cultural and pragmatic in that it aided our acclimatisation and offered an interesting cultural insight. After four days in Quito the group departed Otovalo and its world famous market which is one of the biggest markets in South America.

The group also participated in a community project where the young people moved to the village of El Chaupi. Extensive work on the central Plaza saw much improvement in the village whilst a further project at Urbina involved the planting of hundreds of trees and much interaction with local people.

The expedition ended with a thrilling trip to the jungle and a day white water rafting on the River Napo.

It was a group united by experiences that departed Quito early on Thursday morning. They had worked hard together to achieve much. Uncomplaining and dynamic throughout they adapted very well to the demands of South America and expedition life. I’m sure many will return. Allan and Jane Gibbs.