32 / Volcán Rucu Pichincha (15,413’)

9/21/25: Between travel to Southeast Asia and picking up a gnarly respiratory infection on the way back, I have been sidelined for almost three weeks now. With only 20 days until my summit attempt on Cotopaxi with the Climbing for ROMP team, I have been itching to get back on the trail.

Today was a perfect sunny Quito day with some of the snow from Friday’s big storm still hiding in holes and behind rocks. Trusty Steve, as always, there to say “Hello” at the summit, I would not say that I felt my strongest today; however, I’ve got a few weeks yet to get back into alpine shape.