Random street scenes from Quito...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 21 hours...

of continuous travel - from Spokane to Seattle to Los Angeles to Lima, Peru and finally  to Quito, Ecuador - I have finally settled in and met with other Zegrahm staff as we plan our tour of this sprawling city at 9,400 ft above sea level.  The magnificent snow and ice-covered Cotopaxi stratovolcano looms in the distance;  fingers crossed for an eruption!

 

It will be southern hemisphere springtime...

when I explore the west coast of South America on this upcoming Zegrahm expedition.  (I am on personal leave from the university the next three weeks.)  Here's a map showing the itinerary of the voyage where I will work as the geologist lecturer and guide, as well as expedition photographer and Zodiac driver (click to enlarge):

 

Click the link above to see the detailed itinerary and meet the other staff members for this amazing travel experience.

Here are the field reports...

for my two summer expeditions with Zegrahm (see previous post) in .pdf format:

Wild Alaska and the Bering Sea

Best of the Russian Far East

Enjoy!

For nearly the next five weeks...

I will be traveling once again with Zegrahm Expeditions as their full service geology lecturer, hiking guide, Zodiac driver and photographer, following the routes depicted in the maps below (click on images to enlarge).  I'll do my best to post a pic or two every day or so, as time and conditions allow.

Piles of gear are organized and ready to stuff into a huge duffel, and I just confirmed my flights into Anchorage.  There's been a little drama in obtaining my Russian visa, but it will be released today from the consulate in Seattle and Fedexed overnight to the hotel in Anchorage.

UPDATE:  Whew! Fedex tracking shows my passport will arrive at the hotel before me.  Close.