Mountain dwellers
Unedited shot after a rain storm at dusk in the high altitudes
Another sharp mountain
The lady onthe right is turning into a raisin
The white road below climbs up through fertile valleys from 9800 to 11,000 feet.Quito – Cuenca – Marcara – 280 + 270 = 550 miles
These two rides were in the high Andes. Until the last 20 miles we were between 8,600 feet and 11,300 feet. I was once again very surprised. I was under the mistaken impression that ‘The Andes were a range of bare naked rock (where I got that impression I don’t know). As I hope the accompanying photos will show Ecuador’s Andes are an enchanting and vibrant land. We really did ride for nearly two days above 8,600 feet. The only people living here are the indigenous peoples that were here before the Spanish. They are agrarian. At this altitude, this close to the equator, anything grows. They also have livestock. Women are often herding 3 -5 cows along the road. Pigs are everywhere.
The people are short and all have black hair. The men grow theirs very long and wear it in a thick braid down their back. The older women wear a man’s bowler-type hat. Everyone wears some type of hat to keep the intense sun from soft boiling their brains. The Equator, of course, is where the sun is nearest to the earth. Coupled with the altitude this makes the sun extra dangerous. One of my traveling mates didn’t wear gloves today and both of his hands are blistered badly.
I noticed that women here seem to go from 30 to 60 in one jump. You don’t see any that look to be in the 31-59 range. I believe the sun wizens them like it turns grapes to raisins. I didn’t notice that with men, but maybe it’s because I wasn’t looking.
These two rides were in the high Andes. Until the last 20 miles we were between 8,600 feet and 11,300 feet. I was once again very surprised. I was under the mistaken impression that ‘The Andes were a range of bare naked rock (where I got that impression I don’t know). As I hope the accompanying photos will show Ecuador’s Andes are an enchanting and vibrant land. We really did ride for nearly two days above 8,600 feet. The only people living here are the indigenous peoples that were here before the Spanish. They are agrarian. At this altitude, this close to the equator, anything grows. They also have livestock. Women are often herding 3 -5 cows along the road. Pigs are everywhere.
The people are short and all have black hair. The men grow theirs very long and wear it in a thick braid down their back. The older women wear a man’s bowler-type hat. Everyone wears some type of hat to keep the intense sun from soft boiling their brains. The Equator, of course, is where the sun is nearest to the earth. Coupled with the altitude this makes the sun extra dangerous. One of my traveling mates didn’t wear gloves today and both of his hands are blistered badly.
I noticed that women here seem to go from 30 to 60 in one jump. You don’t see any that look to be in the 31-59 range. I believe the sun wizens them like it turns grapes to raisins. I didn’t notice that with men, but maybe it’s because I wasn’t looking.
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