We took the children on an exciting school trip last week up the mountain Puñalica, of wet and misty fame from the ascent a few weeks back. We only took the 6th and 7th grades (10-11 year olds) as there were only 3 adults accompanying them: Me, Gonzalo and the headmistress Delia.
A few Puñalica statistics: Its summit is just under 4000m and is pure páramo (moorland) on the highest part. It is apparently an extinct volcano. The lower slopes are gentle and cultivated then the (long) last part a steep climb. The school, our starting point, lies at around 3100m.
We set off around 9.30, taking fortunately a camioneta (pick-up truck) from the school up until the road ran out: unfortunately leaving us on a side of the mountain Gonzalo and Delia don´t seem to know. So we start off at a lively pace along a track though the children are desperate to go off the track and just run/climb straight up. Which after about 15 boring minutes on the track, we do.
They all go running ahead leaving me (accompanied by my little friends Luz and Jessica) and Gonzalo struggling in last place. We find all sorts of plants. Rabbits. Treasure-filled (allegedly) lagoons. A little frog. A talking log (an invention of Gonzalo´s). The mist chases us uphill and threatens to envelop us but never succeeds. After about 2 hours we reach the giant cross on the summit and have well-deserved lunch stop. Popcorn, potatoes, rice, biscuits and jam, even the extra-special guinea pig has been brought for the occasion.
It starts getting cold and we pack and head down - straight down! As the descent is steep the path zigzags all the way down... but the children run and jump (and fall) in a straight line directly down the mountain. The first ones are nearly at the bottom when I am not even halfway and my legs are like jelly! We make it back to school around 13.30. Me and Gonzalo exhausted and the children as if it was just a gentle stroll.
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