Jason Heflin is our eyes and ears on the ground in Ecuador following the Huairasinchi Adventure Race which began earlier today. Jason and I were to tag team the event for AW until I was unable to get out of my home airport of Pittsburgh due to extreme weather conditions in the mid Atlantic states.

Brief Bio: After diving into debt to take summer school in Ireland during college Jason realized a life of adventure travel was his destiny. Today he has found adventure in 25 countries around the world. The back country is where he feels most comfortable however. From sleeping under the stars on an African summit to hiking between villages along the Mediterranean he has been seeking out the path less traveled since he left the nest. Jason spends much of his time testing outdoor gear and writing for outdoor and travel magazines and The Outdoorzy Blog

What has been your favorite thing so far about Ecuador?

Definitely the landsape. The Andes are lush. Green pasture blends into cloud forest and then up to high craggy peaks. I love mountains and Ecuador has no shortage.

Have there been any surprises?

The weather is nearly perfect every day. Starting out in the 60s, then into the 70s and 80s in the afternoon. I expected more rain since it´s the rainy season and cooler nights but the weather has been magnificent.

If there was anything that you could do prior to leaving the country…what would that be?

I would definitely bag a peak. If there is time I´m going to try and climb Guagua Pichincha, just outside of Quito. At 15,763 feet it should be a great lung tester.

Follow Jason’s reports in the coming days as he covers the highest adventure race on the planet.