Quesos y Bosque Humedo

Los Quesos y El Bosque Humedo

Another day in the Andean paradise that is Black Sheep Inn…after a hearty breakfast, we headed for another beautiful hike, this time bound for a cheese co-op and then cloud forest. Hiking to the cheese factory involved a lot of hills and climbing. When we first arrived, no one was there…but then an older man came running to open the small cheese factory and give the grand tour. This cheese factory was started 32 years ago by a Swiss aid organization. They produce 4 types of cheeses, mostly selling them throughout Ecuador, but in some cases they export to Colombia, Peru and Spain. The cheese co-op buys milk from the local milk farmers and members of the community take turns working in the factory. We tried some of their sharper cheese and it was actually good! (I’ve never been impressed with the normal Ecua cheese, queso de campo. TO my palate it’s soft, bland, rubbery and liquidy). After the factory we headed up some more to the high paramo (this is above tree line and dry, dusty, windy and cold). After walking on the paramo for several miles we came upon a new eco-system, the cloud forest. Amazing that you have so many micro climates here. I didn’t quite get the full story on how a cloud forest can survive here, but it does! For those of you who don’t know, cloud forest is basically the rain forest but at higher altitude. As we entered it suddenly got humid (but remained chilly), lots of verdant moss, huge trees, orchids, bromeliads, mushrooms and these weird trees that grow together to form twisting, winding branches. We passed waterfalls, mud holes, heard birds singing, it was really magical. Suddenly, the cloud forest kind of just ended and we were back into the dry air of the Andes. Sr. Miguel, my guide explained all the medicinal plants along the way…plants for fever, colds, infections, problems with kidneys, even one for heart problems! I’ve got just one more half day here, then it’s back to reality in Quito. It’s good to know though that when I need an escape from the city I can spend a few days here at Black Sheep Inn.