39 / Volcán Rucu Pichincha (15,413’)

11/14/25: (Re)acclimatization and recovery hike up old faithful about 36 hours after returning to Quito. Steve, in all his glory, there to welcome me back to Ecuador.

Might as well as have a sign around his neck: “Too beautiful to fly - busy modeling.”

Despite the altitude, felt good and strong - anytime I can bag one of these reacclimatization jaunts up Rucu in less than 3 hours and stay under AeT the whole time, that is a big win.