This was tough…
There are three elements that determine how difficult I consider a hike to be.
The first is the elevation gain. The steepness of the hike usually means you’re going get to a high point with a beautiful view. But the constant uphill walking can do a number on your feet. The second is the technicality of the trail. This is basically how many times you have to scramble and how often you end up doing it. Spending the majority of your time using your hands to climb can add a bit of strain to the hike. And lastly but not least, is the altitude. Hikes generally take you uphill, and the higher you go, depending on whether you have acclimated, the more you are affected by the lower oxygen levels. This hike contained all three of the above.
The trail started above the city of Quito at 13,000ft. From people such as myself who live at sea level, just walking around at that altitude was draining.
