Ecuador

 

Mountaineering School (continued)

Cayambe (18,997’)

Extension available for Cotopaxi (19,348’)

and Chimborazo (20,703’)

 

 

Itinerary

Day 12 — Casual wake-up; return trek to Cayambe Village; transfer to Quito.  This morning we trek out to the trailhead at Cayambe Village where we load into 4x4s for the drive back to Quito, arriving in the afternoon. After hotel check-in we inventory gear and pack for travel. This evening, join your teammates for a celebration dinner and expedition debriefing. For those team members continuing on the Cotopaxi and Chimborazo extension today is a rest day in Quito.

Day 13 — Casual wake-up; transfer to airport; return flights home.

 

Cotopaxi and Chimborazo Extension

Day 13 — Early wake-up; transfer to Parque Nacional Cotopaxi.  After breakfast we load into 4x4s for the drive to Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, 35 miles south of Quito. The valley south of Quito is bordered on either side by two mountain ranges and is home to all but one of Ecuador’s highest peaks, and half the country's population. There are a number of Indian villages throughout the area, with most of the population earning a living by farming the dark volcanic earth of this high agricultural valley. We follow the Panamericana Highway to the village of Machachi, where we enter the park, and are treated to views of Ruminahui (15,459’), Morurco (15,879’), Sincholagua (16,033’) and Quilindana (16,004’). We continue up a rough road to about 15,120 feet and arrive at our drop-off, where we unload and make the short trek to the Refugio Jose F. Ribas (15,748’).

Day 14 — Alpine wake-up; Cotopaxi summit; trek to trailhead; transfer to Rumipamba.  From the refugio we climb switchbacks up scree and volcanic sand, arriving on the glacier after about an hour. We continue up the glacier crossing over huge crevasses, some of which are bridged with ladders; peering into the depths of some crevasses we can see the mangled remains of last year’s ladders. After some hours we reach a steep section just below the crater rim and climb it to the summit. After the summit we descend and then make the short trek back out and meet our drivers for the ride to Rumipamba, just outside of the town of Salcedo (9,141’), where overnight at a local hosteria.

Day 15 — Casual wake-up; transfer to Riobamba.  After breakfast we load into 4x4s for the drive to Riobamba (9,022’), in the Chambo River Valley; the trailhead for Chimborazo. Riobamba was founded 1534, destroyed by an earthquake in 1797, and subsequently rebuilt a few miles from the original site. The convention that proclaimed Ecuador's independence from Greater Colombia met there in 1830. Today, Riobamba is the capital of the Chimborazo Province, a major junction on the main rail line from Quito to Guayaquil, and an important trade center for this cattle ranching region. In addition to the manufacture of textiles, ceramics, leather goods, beer and dairy products, there is a festive open-air market in town where artisans display their goods. Riobamba has all the amenities including a university. We spend the remainder of the day relaxing and acclimatizing.

Day 16 — Casual wake-up; transfer to Refugio Carrel; trek to Refugio Whymper.  This morning we drive to the Refugio Hermanos Carrel (15,748’), where we are dropped off. From here we make the short trek to the Refugio Whymper (16,405’) where we overnight. Chimborazo was first climbed by Edward Whymper and two guides, brothers Jean-Jacques and Jean-Antoine Carrel; these high mountain huts bear their names.

Day 17 — Alpine wake-up; Chimborazo summit; return trek to Refugio Carrel; transfer to Banos.  Leaving the refugio we travel up the glacier moving over mostly moderate terrain with the occasional steep section thrown in for variety. The Whymper Route was for many years the trade route on this peak, but has recently fallen out of favor because of warming trends resulting in unpredictable serac- and rockfall. Our route, the Standard Route, takes a line to the left of the glacier towards a rock formation called El Castillo, over several false summits, and eventually to the summit proper. Our planet is not a perfect sphere, and in fact has a pronounced bulge at the equator. It is this fact that makes Chimborazo’s summit the farthest point from the center of the earth. Chimborazo has five named summits: Whymper (or Ecuador) Summit (20,702’), Veintimilla Summit (20,561’), North Summit (20,341’), Central, or Polytechnic Summit (19,685’ and Eastern, or Nicolas Martinez Summit (18,045’). Chimbo was thought to be the highest mountain in the world until the discovery of Dhaulagiri (26,794’) in 1808. We descend to the Refugio Carrel where we load into 4x4s for the drive to the town of Banos (5,900’).

Day 18 — Casual wake-up; R&R in Banos.  The town of Banos is a popular destination for visitors to Ecuador. In addition to serving as the gateway to the Amazon, Banos offers shopping, international restaurants and everything in between. The main reason people visit Banos, however, is for its namesake public baths and pools fed by the thermal springs of Volcan Tungurahua, and this is precisely why we are here. Today we also inventory gear and pack for travel.

Day 19 — Optional day.  This day can be used at any time during the expedition, and is built in to the itinerary to allow for illness or injury; to be used for additional rest and acclimatization; or as an additional summit day to allow for unfavorable weather or route conditions, or to climb a secondary objective.

Day 20 — Casual wake-up; transfer to Quito.  This morning we load into 4x4s for the drive back to Quito, arriving in the afternoon. After hotel check-in, take some time to relax or explore the city.

Day 21 — Casual wake-up; transfer to airport; return flights home.

 

Note on Itinerary

Although our guides take reasonable measures to adhere to the itinerary, it is subject to change due to variables including, but not limited to, weather and route conditions, the condition and ability of the team, local and US government restrictions, airline changes or cancellations, other variables outside the control of Expedition-Logistics, blah, blah, blah.

 

Land Cost

Land Cost Includes
Professional U.S. and local guides, basecamp cook/manager, porters and pack animals, in-country ground and air transportation, all overnight accommodations, all scheduled meals, permits, group climbing equipment (ropes, rock, snow and ice protection, etc.), group camping equipment (tents, stoves, fuel, cooking pots, first aid kits, etc.), and oxygen where necessary.

Land Cost Does Not Include
International roundtrip airfare, personal climbing and camping equipment (see Personal Equipment Checklist for more information), trip cancellation insurance, medical or evacuation insurance, excess baggage fees or airport taxes, expenses incurred as a result of inclement weather or other conditions of nature, government action, illness, flight delays, or any other delays beyond the control of Expedition-Logistics, including unscheduled hotel nights and meals, incidental personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, room service, etc.), alcoholic beverages, or gratuities to guides, porters and staff.

 

Additional Information

See our Terms & Conditions for more. If you have questions regarding this expedition or your suitability for it, contact us at climb@expedition-logistics.com; please include your telephone number and the best time to call.