NEVADO DEL RUIZ
Nevado del Ruiz, an active volcano which actually killed about 23,000 people in 1985 with its pyroclastic flow, has a peak elevation of approximately 17,700 feet (placing it at #7 among Colombian peaks; the highest is almost 19,000 feet). On the tour that day, we (about 15-20 Colombians plus one non-Colombian--me) reached (on foot) an elevation of about 16,600 feet above sea level, where the Colombians had a rare encounter with snow. This wasn't a very long walk as the bus took us to almost 16,000 feet.

Between about 12,000 and 14,000 feet, there was a lot of páramo, a habitat consisting of large shrubs, bunch grasses and wildflowers. Timberline is somewhat ill-defined here as there is a gradual transition from trees to shrubbery.

First...a view of Nevado del Ruiz from Manizales (around 7000') when the clouds broke just enough to see the mountain top (actually taken the following day).



Colombia Highway 50, taken near the intersection with the road to Nevado del Ruiz (east of Manizales) at about 11,200 feet. There was only patchy fog here (versus widespread dense fog along most of the route).



The road to Nevado del Ruiz (looking away from Highway 50). This looks nice and paved here, but it turns into a rough dirt road soon...



Now a few pics of the páramo (in fog)...





Near the upper limit of the páramo...



The pino de páramo (Hipericum)...



The frailejón (Espeletia hartwegiana)...







In Cráter la Olleta (around 15,000')...



The very rough dirt road (a little above 15,000')...



Now...a view of the top (in a break in the clouds)--from a little below 16,000'...





And during a cloudier (but still visible) moment...



The path up to the snow...



A woman got sick shortly after the beginning of the ascent (at this 16,000' elevation)...note they're lifting her legs to try to get more blood/oxygen to the brain...



Up a little above the snowline (the temperature here was around 32 degrees F)...



A couple people making little "slushies" with some sweet drink or concentrate and (sort of) fresh snow...



The tour guide...



And finally, a picture of me (the woman in the background is the wife of the guy who took the pic--the three of us chatted a lot later on)...



All of the above pictures on this page were taken in June 2009 by Brandt Maxwell.

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