The group of the 7 Summits Club have a meaningful acclimatization at the refuge and on the slopes of Iliniza Norte

Guide and manager of the 7 Summits Club Anastasia Kuznetsova reports from Ecuador:

 In the morning, we left the capital of Ecuador - Quito early and moved towards Machachi (local Chamonix), where there are many volcanoes large and small around. Today, the plan was to continue acclimatization on the next volcano - Iliniza Norte (5127 m), with a height comparable to Ararat. We have to get to the refuge at 4800 m, spend the night there and go out on the mountain in the morning.

On the way to Iliniza, we stopped for rent and had lunch at one of the authentic Machachi restaurants, which turned out to be very useful before going to the shelter with a 900 m climb (the march from 3900 to 4800 m). On the way to the refuge, panoramas of the volcanoes of Cotopaxi, Antisana, Cayambe, Corazon (translated as heart) were opened. At sunset we reached the Nuevos Gortzontas shelter at 4800 m. For many members in the team, this is the first experience of a night in a mountain shelter and the first night at such an altitude.

We got up early in the morning to go to Iliniza. But, the weather did not please. A cloud hung over the mountain and all the slopes were wet and dusted with snow. We decided not to go to the top along the rocky route along the ridge, but to walk along the saddle in order to acclimatize better.

As soon as we left the refuge in the direction of the valley, the weather began to improve, the clouds dispersed, the sun came out and all the snow on the slopes instantly melted, as if nothing had happened.

 After a night at the refuge, we had lunch in a traditional Ecuadorian restaurant and rest in the ancient hacienda of La Cinega. The hacienda itself is a unique atmospheric place with a rich 400-year history. This estate has been owned from generation to generation by one family, starting from Marquis Mateo, that is, from 1695 to the present.

This estate has witnessed important events in the history of Ecuador, establishing itself as one of the oldest and noblest mansions in the country. Important people stayed here, including Alexander Humboldt, the founder of botanical geography.

And now our group is resting before moving on towards the Cayambe volcano.