Action (A) (IYA trip to Cotopaxi)

IYA trip to Cotopaxi

This trip was done in preparation for the Final Silver Award IYA expedition for my year group. This time we went to the Cotopaxi National Park for 2 days and one night. I have been here before with my parents, so I had some knowledge about the cold weather conditions and the beautiful landscapes you can see there, but I didn't have much experience about navigating with a compass to find our way around the reserve as a group.

This activity was really interesting for me, as not only did I once again get to see the landscapes of Cotopaxi and the vicinities, but I also got to spend much more time with my class mates. It was really enjoyable to be around them for a change and talk with each other during the trip. There were many moments in which we had to keep an eye out for the rain that was constantly approaching us and for the different bulls in the area, so we had to rely on each other in a sense.

Moreover, we had to help and wait for people who were finding it tough to walk in the altitude as some began to get really tired after walking a short distance and there were times in which many of us found it difficult to keep a good pace while walking. We, out of the three different groups that were formed that morning before leaving the starting point, had the longest track to walk, which is why  by the time that we arrived the camp site we were really late and very tired. Despite the cold weathers in the night, we managed to work as a team in the dark in order to prepare something warm to eat before heading to build a camp fire. Here, we all had to work as a team once again in order to get enough firewood to light the fire. We constantly made sure that the wood didn't run out by taking turns between each other to look for more and by the end of the day we were all quite warm  and ready to go to sleep.

However, the night got really chilly, so the next day various of us were complaining about the cold and we once again had to set up the stoves to prepare something warm to eat. After we helped in packing up the tents and our bags and making sure that the area in which we camped was clean, we starting walking once more to look for some rewards placed around the reserve in a scavenger hunt. Here, we had to rely mainly on our navigation skills, as we were given map references that we had to follow in order to get to our aim. Despite our best efforts, we didn't succeed, but it still contributed in increasing our teamwork and individual abilities. We had to walk a long way to the gates of the reserve and there were parts in which we talked and helped each other in the way, which is why I think that this activity taught me teamwork and perseverance most of all.