Climbing the northwest ridge.

Planning for Pasochoa

I met Jana (Czech Republic) while climbing Cotopaxi but being part of different rope teams. Somehow we ended up planning a bunch of climbing trips and hikes all over Quito's surroundings after her returning from Ecuador's coast, where she was volunteering for a Health Organization.

Two weeks later, Jana and I were climbing our first mountain together... Pasochoa a 4,230 m. (13,878 ft) volcano located just an hour and a half of Quito, and one of the main peaks used for acclimatization purposes.

The Climb

Our climb started at 9:30 am from the Nature Preserve Visitor Center (Refugio de Vida Silvestre). We paid the entrance fees and continued hiking up on a good marked trail which steepened as we were approaching to the volcano rim.

An hour later we reached a muddy steep section. We climbed it up taking advantage of the good root hand holds featured along the gully. After sorting a couple of short passes where scrambling was required (3rd class), we reached the first fake summit. Took a look at the surroundings and to the crater and kept hiking up towards the true summit visible at the distance.

One more scramble through thick vegetation and we got it!. The afternoon was fully clouded but it was awesome being up there together with Jana.

We came back to Quito by the Western side (normal route) of the mountain (Agua Potable Station).

Images

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