TRAVELING ECUADOR'S SIERRA IV – Biking at Chimborazo

6. March 2012, Day 4

After an early breakfast at 7.30am we were ready for the trip to Chimborazo. We were picked up by the guide at the hostel and by van we slowly made our way to Chimborazo.
Chimborazo is not only Ecuador’s highest volcano it also is the mountain with the longest distance to the center of the earth (because of the equatorial bulge).
Along the way there were cows, pigs and sheep as anywhere else but there were also torros (huge bulls ready to fight and worth 11,000$ each) as well as llamas and vicunas (a wild relative of the llama).
As we made our way up, it got colder and colder. From the first refugio at 4,850 m we walked up to the second refugio at 5,000 m above sea level. It was cold, cloudy (we couldn't see the top of Chimborazo) and it started snowing. Walking was difficult at that altitude but eventually we made it. After a nice hot chocolate at the refugio we made our way back to the lower mountain hut where we got on the bikes. The first part was easy downhill biking on a dirt road. The most difficult part here was the fog and that it was snowing for a while. And it was cold. I couldn't feel my hands and for a moment I was wondering why I'm doing this (for the fun and the beautiful landscape).
After about 8 km and a short stop we went on a much smaller trail. Biking was a little more difficult but a lot of fun. On the way down the trail changed between rough narrow trail, dirt road and asphalt. There was a fairly short uphill part. At an elevation of over 3000 m, this was much more difficult than it sounds and involved walking for parts. And even that was exhausting. The last kilometers was easy rolling down on asphalt streets and it was great to speed a little.
On the way back to the city we had great views of volcanoes Tungurahua and El Altar. Only Chimborazo was always at least partly covered in clouds.
After returning to Riobamba just before sunset we were quite tired and only managed to get some Chaulafan (Chinese style rice with shrimps and chicken) before falling to sleep.

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