We depart the hut at about 11:30pm for the hike to the summit. Irene is doing badly with the altitude medication, so wisely chooses to turn back. The rest of us plough on, with the full moon to show us the way and save headlamp battery power. We are tied into three rope teams, each lead by an Ecuadorian guide. In front and behind are other groups all heading in the same direction ... up! Everyone finds the climb to be more than expected. It is steep, icy in places, but always staggeringly beautiful and unlike anything we've done before. We follow a well beaten trail up the glaciated slopes, following the easiest route, avoiding the big crevasses and stepping over some small ones. The air is very thin (there is half the oxygen there is at sea level) and we are gasping while climbing. As soon as we stop, though, we get our breath back very quickly and begin to look around at the landscape. There are few clouds, so we are treated to the most amazing view of the surrounding plain, dotted with other snow-capped volcanoes. There is not much time to admire the view as we have to push on. It is cold in the wind but it's only noticeable when we stop.

The summit arrives at about 6:30am, just as the sun rises. The view is beyond words.

Click on the image to enlarge

The summiters. Left to right; Edgar, Romeil, Judy, Sam, Gwen, Cameron and Jamie. Missing are Colon and Andrew (as usual). Notice the triangular shadow of the mountain on the right. This would reach forty or fifty miles across the plain.

Cameron, happy to be on the summit

Jamie on the summit

Sam on the summit

The summit crater