We started out to Quito on Saturday April 3 going up the "back" way with a friend. We drove at 300ft - 13,100 ft above sea level. this is going through the Anzu valley out side of Tena.
When we were out side of Archidona we started to climb...

We were working our way up the Sumaco National forest, and saw our first land slide.

It was switch backs all the way up, not a clear day but still beautiful among the clouds.
This is the major road for trucks and buses!Goose bumps at 13,100 feet and very dry on this side of the continental divide.


Saturday night found us in the heart of old Quito very beautiful and rainy!
Our cab driver took the risk and went through this under passthe next night we were on the hillside looking at old Quito ....and the car wouldn't start!

Spent Monday in Quito, Steve had meetings and I was making arrangements for some missionaries arriving in June, Wanted to travel back to Shell with some other folks early Tuesday Am when we heard the roads were closed....lots of information of all kinds but what was true? so we all waited till Wednesday am to travel.There are 2 roads to Shell from Quito the road we came up on (which we heard a bridge was out on) and the regular way ( the Pan American highway) which was closed due to land slides . All this is very typical during the rainy season but usually one of the roads is open!


leaving Quito and had no problems till we were 10 miles from homeWe counted about 8 land slides...

the little streams were too full and trees and mud clogged the gutters so the rivers went over the roads, new and beautiful water falls were seen.
they just pushed what came down onto the road into the river.
this is usually a nice 2 lane road.


from here on down it was one big mess!







they look the same but around every corner there was another!