Being on the western face of the Andes this area
was clothed in lush forest, in contrast to the eastern parts through
which we had travelled previously. This was not our final destination
however, the track veered sharply to the right, going ever higher
until mist closed in around us. Here we landed in a strange fairyland,
cold and damp. Stunted gnarled trees appeared festooned in dripping
lichens and ferns, ghostly in this misty atmosphere. Epiphytic plants
clothed the trees; magnificent bromeliads, some with red or orange
tipped leaves crowded on heavy boughs of the trees, together with
myriads of different kinds of Orchids, giant leafed Anthuriums,
climbers, the pink blossomed Joyapa (Macleania sp) climbed rampantly
over anything it could get hold of.
Dense thickets of a creeping bamboo, Chusquea sp,
made progress impossible. Dainty pendulous passion fruit flowers
would show, right off the end of the branches of trees to gain that
extra bit of light. Although it did not rain we got drenching wet.
If it were not for these mists these forests could not exist, its
only precipitation being the moisture held in these mists induced
by the warm moist air coming up from far below condensing at this
height at about 3200m asl. When the clouds briefly lifted we had
a great view towards the west, endless forests deep below covered
by swirling clouds. To the east the giant snow capped volcanoes,
Cayambe and Imbabura were edged against an almost black sky.
Kiwis In The Mist
