Over 4000 again

I have no problem with doing nothing. So I could have stayed at home today. But when Manuela asked yesterday via WhatsApp who would like to come to Pichincha today, well, that was an alternative to doing nothing. A good idea, and if Manuela was happy that someone came along, it was actually the same for me. So we agreed to look out this morning and if it's nice, leave at 8:15 am and take the gondola up to Quito's local mountain peak.

By the way, the Teleferico is an attraction in Quito. It's exactly like the gondolas in Switzerland or Austria, except they leave at least two hundred meters of distance between each gondola here. If they had to serve a ski resort, the last guests would probably only arrive at the ski slope inspection.

So back to the day trip: From the mountain station at 3900m, you can reach the summit of Ruca Pichincha at 4600 and something meters in about two and a half hours. Can!

You can also go faster. Just like in the Alpstein, there are many trail runners who easily accomplish this in their sports clothes and at a leisurely pace. You can, or sometimes have to, go slower too. Damn, we're at 4000 meters and I can feel it. Not with a headache or anything, but while running. It's tough and the lungs are working hard. Manuela had a hard time too. So we went more or less well until 4400m. Since Pichincha was constantly covered in fog, I had no perspective on how far it still was. A local Andinist, who apparently goes to the mountains frequently with his family, gave us hope by announcing that it would only take half an hour from now. After dealing with two slightly tricky sections, we turned the corner, the fog lifted, and above me, I saw steep rocks and some tiny figures struggling up a path somewhere high up. That was it for me. I told Manuela that I would turn back. We agreed that I would wait at the power transmission tower further down. So I went back, convinced until now that I made the right choice. I lacked the strength and there's still the way back. With the muscle soreness from yesterday and an empty stomach (no breakfast because we left early), it was perfect. There was a nice spot by the roadside at around 4300m. A dry hollow in the Andean grass, the sun came out and I lay down with my head on my backpack. Gorgeous! Nice mood changes. Sometimes sunny, then clouds passing by again. At some point, however, it started thundering in the south, or so it seemed. Darker clouds moved in around me and it started raining. Then even hail. I put on my rain jacket and went down. In the fog and hail, all the way to the power transmission tower, and it was better there. So I waited there. In the meantime, many especially the lightly dressed trail runners ran past me. In such cases, I prefer to have protective clothing with me.

After half an hour at the power transmission tower, Manuela appeared happy and tired from the fog, together with the Ecuadorian family, who we had always been in reach of during the ascent. They have actively supported Manuela on the way to the summit. According to her, it was on the brink of what was possible. Congratulations from me. For me, the decision to turn back was still the right one.

The rest is quickly told: Back to the mountain station - farewell to the Ecuadorian family - exchange of phone numbers beforehand - waiting in line (approx. 30 min) - going down - taxi - ...and immediately to a restaurant, because we were both hungry.

It was another great day. Exhausting, but the best excuse for tomorrow. It's a holiday here in Ecuador: May 1st. I have no school and can sleep in, doze off, do nothing, and go into town ...
Tomorrow will be a lazy day. I deserve it.