Once upon a time I went to Quito to learn Spanish and my host family dragged me off to climb this volcano topped with ice.

I didn’t object when we rented the boots with crampons, because I actually had no idea what they were.

We started from the transfer hut at about 4800 meters, just below the ice line. This is about 15,000 feet above sea level, or 7,000 feet higher than where people tend to get altitude sickness, if they’re not used to it. I had come from sea level the week before.

This is about where I said, “Okay this is amazing and all, but I am not climbing another foot. Meet y’all back at the hut!” They had hot chocolate in the hut. It was very nice.