Are previous hikes a predictor of altitude sensitivity?
Hi all,
I have about 4 days to spend traveling in Ecuador, and I'd really like to summit cotopaxi - but I don't know if it's too risky with a short timeline. I've been in the oriente region of Ecuador (598 m) for about 7 months, and I previously hiked the quilotoa loop (3,914m), rainbow mountain (5200m) and chimborazo (up to 5100 m). When I did rainbow mountain i had been in Cusco for i think 3 or 4 days, but quilotoa and chimborazo I came straight from 598m or lower.
I will say that when I did rainbow mountain and chimborazo, I definitely felt winded, tired, and weak, and had a bit of a headache, but did not really feel sick. On chimborazo when I was at rest I felt fine. I know none of this is a great indicator for how I might fair on cotopaxi, but if im spending Thursday and friday night at the secret garden cotopaxi (3800m) and then spending Saturday night at the refuge, does that still seem like not enough time? It's my first time summiting anything, i had a guide tell me if I hiked up to the refuge on one day and then summited the next that would be enough aclimatazation but I just don't know.
Thanks so much for any advice!