Tungurahua Refugio

This is an account of our walk to the refugio of Vulcan Tungurahua. Tungurahua is over 5000m high and the refugio is situated at 3800m. This meant that we had to gain 2km of altidtude to get there.

Setting of on our great adventure

It was an amazing experience. I have not done a lot of hiking (and my previous hiking experience was not a good one) so I was a bit nervous about the climb and when it started raining the night before we were to set off I was hoping it would be cancelled. But no, it continued and there was no way I could not go. Which turned out to be a good thing because I really enjoyed it.

We started on the morning of the 14 of July. It is a coincidence, but this date was the first anniversary of a big eruption the previous year. Brian, Richard and me did the walk with Mario as our guide and companion.

Tungurahua Tea Room

The walk turned out to be a lot tougher than we expected and the rain of the previous night did not make it any easier. Where the path was supposed to be was more like small rivers flowing down the mountain, and everything was of course very muddy. The last part of the hike alhtough the most difficult was by far the most beautiful. The whole of the last 4km were cloudforest, which is an amazing ecological zone. It is called cloudforest because the vegetation gets almost all its water from low cloudcovering. Everywhere on the twisted trees were mosses and linchens. And it is green and magical, it feels like you stepped into some kind of wonderland. We took so many photos, maybe because it is overwhelmingly beautiful and photos is an easy way to cope with the beauty.

Just starting of

When we finally reached the refugio after 7 hours of walking we were in for a horrible disapppointment. The whole refugio was flooded and what remained of the roof had big holes burned in from the eruptions of the previous year. I felt like crying when I saw it because it was getting cold and we were tired. Luckily Mario came to the rescue, informing us that the actual refugio was ten minutes walk up. The second refugio was not exactly homely but at least it was dry. By the time we got there it was raining and very cold. It cleared a bit in the late afternoon so we could see the sunset but it rained throughout the night. Rain was exactly what we did not need because we had to descent the next day - unfortunately our needs had no influence on the weather and we had a very very muddy descent.

A steep walk

I am trying to describe our experience in the refugio, but it feels like the words just won´t do justice to the cold we felt and the incredible sights we saw. I think what I remember most about the experience is the sence of accomplishment I felt when I reached the refugio. Physical challenges aren´t my forte, but I survived the climb and did it pretty well (not wanting to turn back once). I think that feeling made everything worth it.

Please look at the photos because they are a much better representation of the experience than my words.

Beautiful View

Lunch, before we begin the final leg

Another beautiful view

Taking a rest with Leo

Tunnel of cane

Lava Destruction

Green Pastures

Through a tunnel

Another tunnel

Do I look like someone from Lord of the Rings

Cloudforest

I´m not really ok

Most of the path looked like this

Colibri

Cloudforest 2

Rainbow

To the top of the volcano

The view from 3800m

Heaven?

Cold and tired after 7 hours of walking

Brian

Soaking up the sun

Looking at the clouds and drying his boots

Is it not spectacular?

Aah, sweet

Sunset above the clouds

If you don´t have dry socks...

It was sooo cold

Is he homeless?

Our great accomodation!

Beautiful..again