Cotopaxi

 

I don't may not have succeeded, but had earnestly planned to climb the active volcano Cotopaxi. Strangely, in Bogota, I dreamed of being on its side while it started to rumble and then erupt. I Quito I was told that it really did erupt just days prior, and that there had been, as every night, climbing teams (usually four and one guide) on the mountain. They had to be airlifted out with esophagus and lung damage from the thick sulphor cloud that descended on them, as well as being treated for burns from the hot ash that rained down on them. The entire Cotopaxi National Park was subsequently closed to all but scientiests and military.

 

YIn spite of that, I went on to Latacunga, hoping that I would get some good views of Cotopaxi. When I arrived at the hotel, my first question was, can I see the volcano from anywhere. Walking to the hotel didn't do it. I could not see it on the horizon. They said, definitely, from our rooftop. I dropped my stuff in my room and raced to the roof level and saw - nothing. Nothing that I did not see from town. I was confused and disappointed. I thought that the volcano would loom large. Went back down and settled in.

 

Later that day it looked like there may be a nice sunset with all of the clouds in the sky and I decided to go back up to the roof. There was a dramatic change of scenery.

 

In the days that followed, Cotopaxi slowly revealed more of itself. As it was, it was affecting the climate of the entire region.

 

 

Here and in the subsequent image you can just make out the whole cone. Actually, most of the day it was invisible behind it's own cloudy shroud. To see it as I did was a hit and miss issue that would take patience and persistence.

 

 

An impressive show of force that went on day after day. Sometimes there were warnings, mostly it just silently continued in the distance, day and night.

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