Well, we had a really exciting time and wanted to share the highlights with everyone, so here is the itinerary, with links to pictures.

Here are the members of our trip. Cick on the name to see what we looked like

Cameron Gwen Irene Jamie Sam Judy Andrew

Day 1 Arrive at the airport really late and meet with Edgar, our guide. He turns out to be an amazing man and one who would take the best care of us for the next 18 days.

Day 2 Learning to breathe the thin Andean atmosphere is not helped by the unnaturally thick stuff found in Quito. Today we visit A LOT of churches, cathedrals and religious museums. Click here for images of Quito.

Day 3 Van ride to Pululahua mountain crater, the largest in South America, full of trees, villages and scruffy dogs. We also visit the famous 'middle of the world' monument so we really know we're in the southern hemisphere. Drive north to the town of Otavalo, site of famous Saturday market. Click here for images of the 'Middle of the world' (coming soon).

Day 4 We do the Otavalo market, or rather it does us. Lots of amazing pictures, masks, rugs, jewelry, gringos and some very nice hats. Much money is spent. Click here for images of Otavalo (coming soon).

Day 5 Our first real hike. Imbabura is mostly grass with a steep rock finish in the clouds. Height; 15,186ft. We learn that when Edgar says 'it is easy, only steep at the end', he means it, especially the second part. Of course, he says this about all the mountains we climb, except Chimborazo, which is steep all the time. Return to Otavalo for New Year's. After the day's exertions, we barely make it to midnight. Life size effigies of local and national politicians are dragged into the street and burned. Small children hold lengths of string across busy roads, asking for money and creating huge traffic jams. Everyone has fun.

Day 6 Drive back to Quito, pausing only for a scenic row around the lake and lunch. We are learning that this is, in fact, an eating trip. With Filet Mignon for $1.50, no one complains. Click here for images of the lake

Day 7 Climb Gua-Gua Pichincha (15,701ft) mountain, famous for erupting in 1999. Still smells a bit but this is our first taste of snow. Everyone climbs well. Back to the hotel for more food at the 'Magic Bean' restaurant, or 'Gringoland' as it is better known. The only place in town where you can trust the salad. Click here for pictures of Gua Gua Pichincha

Day 8 Visit the Pasochoa forest preserve, where we are in the trees for the first and last time. Hike up a long ridge to a blank cliff face, turn round and hike down again. Edgar tells us this is for 'the conditioning'. This is the only day of hiking where we get rained on. The blue van takes us to the 'Loving Mist' lodge where we prepare for the climb up Illiniza Norte, out first big mountain. Click here for pictures of Pasochoa.

Day 9 A most amusing truck ride up an approach road to the trailhead. Lots of pushing. Gwen decides to jog along behind for a bit while Sam and Judy in the cab wish they couldn't see what's up ahead. We hike up into the clouds and our first experience of Ecuadorian huts and smelly Germans.

Day 10 Up at 5am to reach the summit at around 9am. Illiniza Norte is steep at the end, with some rock scrambling that requires helmet and harness to be clipped into the ropes that are set up for our safety. We get splendid views of the other half of the mountain, Illiniza Sud, just across the way, as well as some of the other great peaks in the valley of the volcanoes. We then go all the way back down to the lodge, braving the downhill truck ride (less pushing but just as scary). Drive to a new lodge, 'Quinta Colorado' home of great food and huge dogs. Click here for pictures of Illiniza. Click here for pictures of Quita Colorada

Day 11 Today we packed and drove to Cotopaxi, allegedly the highest active snow capped volcano in the world. Whether it actually is or not is irrelevant at this point as it is still very, very tall. We go half a mile from the refuge and Edgar teaches us the snow skills we will need to know on the mountain; ice axe arrest, crampon use and how not to get tangled in a rope. We sleep (ha!) in the J Rivas shelter, full of smelly Germans, Americans, Brits, and cheerful Ecuadorian guides. Assistant guides Romeil and Colon cook an amazing dinner which few people eat as it is now 6pm and we have to be up at 10:30pm. We leave the refuge (along with everyone else) shortly before midnight, and helped by the full moon start our way up the mountain. Click here for pictures of Cotopaxi

Day 12. All but one of us summits, just after sunrise, after the most exhausting six hours of climbing anyone can remember. The sunrise is amazing, throwing a triangular shadow of the mountain tens of miles across the valley floor. We stand at 19,342 ft and are in awe of the view. Judy has climbed with a monumental head cold, which is a pretty amazing feat. Pictures are taken, banners held up, and then it's back down, toes jammed in the front of boots, shouting encouragement to those still going up. A day no one will forget. Once down, we drive back to the Quinta Colorada and sleep the sleep of the dead. Jamie doesn't move for approximately 18 hours. Click here for more pictures of Cotopaxi

Day 13 Decision day. The indigenous population will block the roads in three days as a protest against governmental tax increases in public transport. We have to get back to Quito before they close the roads. Do we go for Chimborazo tonight or bag it? It is decided to go for it. This is a major sacrifice by some in the group. Drive to the refuge of the Carrel brothers at the base of Chimborazo. This is the highest peak in Ecuador and the place on Earth closest to the sun, thanks to the planet bulging at the equator. Early to bed, early to rise. Five of us set out at midnight.

Day 14 By 8am, three of us still going and we are an hour or so away from the summit, 1,500 vertical feet to go. Some are feeling strong, some are wondering who put the elephant in their backpack. It is decided to head down to keep the group together. Click here for pictures of Chimborazo. Drive back to Quito while we still can. Van fun on the way. Click here for pictures of our favourite van.

Day 15 Day of rest. We wander around, eat good food, go to the movies, sleep. A much needed day at this stage.

Day 16 A splendid day of sun and hot springs. The hot springs are really nice. Andrew gets burned and Edgar eats a lot of fish.

Day 17 Visit the ancient ruins of (name coming soon!) , built over 1,000 years before the Incas or Spanish showed up. Continue on to Otavalo in preparation for our last hike of the trip. Food, parrots, hammocks. Click here for pictures of the ancient mounds.

Day 18 Drive to a high Andean lake. Up a nearby peak for some, around the lake for others. The summit provides a panoramic view of all the peaks we climbed on the trip. Drive back to Quito for out last night in Ecuador. Edgar shows us a good time. Click here for pictures of our last hike

Day 19 Up early to get to the airport. Lots of standing around and waving goodbye. We fly right over the peak we hiked up yesterday. Two hours from Quito by van, five minutes by plane. So ends our time in Ecuador and an safe, exciting trip for Hamilton College.