Google Earth is telling me it's about 9km, but as far as I remember it was closer to 15km when all the twists and turns are included. I'm talking about a one way walk now.
Hiked Imbabura on 23.09.2018. A couple of comments on the hike and logistics:
- most of the freshwater tanks are fenced and locked, and it looks like they are building a new fence around the part that is currently still accessible, so maybe don't rely too much on being able to refill your bottles there
- we took a taxi from the centre of Ibarra to Casa Aida (5 USD), where we stopped for an amazing breakfast (pancakes and fresh croissants with mora jam); we didn't stay at Casa Aida, but it looks like a great place (18 USD per person per night including breakfast and dinner, breakfast was 4 USD)
- from the bridge just up the road from Casa Aida we took one of the caminetas (pickups) to the trail head (6 USD for both of us); this shaves off a significant amount of distance and elevation gain
- from the trailhead at the end of the cobbled road where we were dropped off it was 5.8 km to the highest point and 1300 m of elevation gain according to my GPS watch; the trail/scrambling along the ridge from the north summit to the south summit adds more than a third of the total distance
- at a fairly leisurely pace and with lots of photo stops (it is a stunning place!), it took us 4h 20 minutes to reach the south summit
- we were very lucky with the weather, the peak was clear until about midday, and afterwards the clouds moved in and out; same on the following day, the peak was completely cloud free in the morning
- we only started the hike at 8:00, but starting earlier has the advantage of less sun exposure (the sun only comes over the mountains opposite around 7:30)
Math.Grenier - Apr 4, 2017 10:02 pm - Hasn't voted
QuestionI want to know how many kilometers from de Hostal Casa Aida ?
Corax - Apr 18, 2017 12:19 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: QuestionGoogle Earth is telling me it's about 9km, but as far as I remember it was closer to 15km when all the twists and turns are included. I'm talking about a one way walk now.
Konstantin - Sep 24, 2018 2:49 pm - Hasn't voted
Updates on hike and logisticsHiked Imbabura on 23.09.2018. A couple of comments on the hike and logistics:
- most of the freshwater tanks are fenced and locked, and it looks like they are building a new fence around the part that is currently still accessible, so maybe don't rely too much on being able to refill your bottles there
- we took a taxi from the centre of Ibarra to Casa Aida (5 USD), where we stopped for an amazing breakfast (pancakes and fresh croissants with mora jam); we didn't stay at Casa Aida, but it looks like a great place (18 USD per person per night including breakfast and dinner, breakfast was 4 USD)
- from the bridge just up the road from Casa Aida we took one of the caminetas (pickups) to the trail head (6 USD for both of us); this shaves off a significant amount of distance and elevation gain
- from the trailhead at the end of the cobbled road where we were dropped off it was 5.8 km to the highest point and 1300 m of elevation gain according to my GPS watch; the trail/scrambling along the ridge from the north summit to the south summit adds more than a third of the total distance
- at a fairly leisurely pace and with lots of photo stops (it is a stunning place!), it took us 4h 20 minutes to reach the south summit
- we were very lucky with the weather, the peak was clear until about midday, and afterwards the clouds moved in and out; same on the following day, the peak was completely cloud free in the morning
- we only started the hike at 8:00, but starting earlier has the advantage of less sun exposure (the sun only comes over the mountains opposite around 7:30)
Corax - Sep 26, 2018 12:18 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Updates on hike and logisticsThanks!
All included on the main page now.