Cotopaxi from Quito

[Jake]

If anyone is interested in climbing Cotopaxi within a week please contact me. I'm in Ecuador now acclimatising. I got all equipment except a rope. Also if you have any updates on the situation with the guides please post it here. I'm the member of the alpine club.

[athom110]

Judging by mountain-forecast.com, your best day this week will be Saturday or Sunday night.

http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/ ... casts/5897

I'll be flying into Quito Sunday... Cotopaxi and Chimborazo sometime around Feb 8... keep me posted on conditions! (even though they can change day by day). Are you a certified mountain guide? They're required now in Ecuador.. even as early as last year it was only strongly recommended and loosely required for Chimborazo, but I hear that the park people have been strictly enforcing the new rules, even when offered a bribe.

[Jake]

Hi Athom110, I haven't found out if it's true or not yet. I'm not a guide, just regular climber. If it's true then I'm going to give up on climbing high volcanoes in Ecuador. I'm not going to pay someone to take me up to the summit of relatively easy route.
Will see if I can go to Iliniza Norte by myself...

[Jake]

I have managed to climb Cotopaxi yesterday without the guide and without staying in the refuge. You will need to have a car to do this.