![Title image - BAI takes you to: Ecuador](/v3_assets/images/trip_images/south-america/SAEC00_title.jpg)
Ecuador Volcanoes Expedition Dispatch
November 16, 2010 – A Long but Beautiful Summit Attempt on Cotopaxi: Part II
By 6:30 AM the new snow near the summit had beaten us. Oswaldo was breaking trail in waist deep snow in places. He returned to where we were waiting to report the dangerous conditions on the last part of the climb. We knew the prudent thing to do was to turn back.
![While we were still climbing some of the conditions were enjoyable, and the glacial terrain was awesome.](assets/11-13-spectacular-climb.jpg)
While we were still climbing some of the conditions were enjoyable, and the glacial terrain was awesome.
![Nearing our high point](assets/11-14-near-high-point.jpg)
Nearing our high point
![A group photo before we started down](assets/11-15-group.jpg)
A group photo before we started down
![One the way down](assets/11-16-on-the-way-down.jpg)
One the way down
![Lynette on the descent](assets/11-17-Lynette-on-the-descent.jpg)
![Steve give a thumbs up on the descent](assets/11-18-steve.jpg)
Left: Lynette on the descent;
Right: Steve give a thumbs up on the descent
![We were back at Riba hut, still quite early in the morning.](assets/11-19-back-at-riba-hut.jpg)
We were back at Riba hut, still quite early in the morning.
![Team photo at the end of the climb](assets/11-20-team-photo.jpg)
Team photo at the end of the climb
![Pointing out our high point on Cotopaxi](assets/11-21-point-at-high-point-on-cotopaxi.jpg)
![Another view of our high point](assets/11-22-another-view-of-high-point.jpg)
Left: Pointing out our high point on Cotopaxi;
Right: Another view of our high point
![Time to load in the bus, begin to dry our boots and head off to the next mountain, Chimbrazo](assets/11-23-head-off-to-Chimbrazo.jpg)
Time to load in the bus, begin to dry our boots and head off to the next mountain, Chimbrazo