Ecuador 2021 Team 11 Cotopaxi Skills Expedition

Nov. 22, 2021

Guide: Ramiro Garrido

Climbers:
1. Whitney R
2. Andrei T
3. James N
4. Scott B
5. Richard W
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Hello! Today 4 of 5 summit Cotopaxi, they’re tired and happy, we are resting in Tambopaxi lodge at 3800m

Ecuador 2021 Team 11 Cotopaxi Skills Expedition

Nov. 21, 2021

Guide: Ramiro Garrido

Climbers:
1. Whitney R
2. Andrei T
3. James N
4. Scott B
5. Richard W
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Hello! This is the resume of staying in Los Mortiños Hacienda yesterday. We had a free morning and the plan was to do a short hike on Pita river to visit its waterfalls in the afternoon. Unfortunately the rain came after lunch and we decided to cancel it, it wasn’t necessary to get wet. Then I suggested the things and the way I pack for Cotopaxi. We had a nice dinner and now we are ready to go to the hut to spend the night before the climb up to 5897 m/ 19347 ft.


See you tomorrow after noon for news from the climb

Ecuador 2021 Team 11 Cotopaxi Skills Expedition

Nov. 19, 2021Guide: Ramiro Garrido

Climbers:
1. Whitney R
2. Andrei T
3. James N
4. Scott B
5. Richard W
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Good evening,

Here is Cayambe’s attempt from today. You may know that we didn’t summit, in fact we didn’t leave the hut because there were no good conditions from the weather. The plan was to make two groups, first with Scott and Mauricio Beltran, mountain guide to leave at 23:00 and then the rest with Diego Zurita, another guide and myself.

However, yesterday, around 14:00, when we were back from practices on the glacier, the mountain weather changed quickly. It began to get cloudy, then a rain started and by midnight It became snowing, not super strong but continuously.

That type of weather complicated the visibility and began to charge the higher section of the mountain. So we waited, awake until 01:40 of today, and then I decided to go to bed and see the condition again at 04:00. At that time we got may be 10cm of snow around the refuge and was again wet precipitation. I decided, this time, not to wake up the team.

Today the mountain didn’t want us and we respect that; the group rested well the second night at 4600 m and we drive to Otavalo indigenous market to visit it and had lunch there. Now we are in Cotopaxi National Park area in beautiful place Los Mortiños lodge.

Ecuador 2021 Team 11 Cotopaxi Skills Expedition

Nov. 18, 2021Guide: Ramiro Garrido

Climbers:
1. Whitney R
2. Andrei T
3. James N
4. Scott B
5. Richard W
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Hi! This is Thursday's report:

Today was a light activity, we went up to the entrance of the glacier to refresh some skills about the proper way to use crampons and ice axe. Also at the end we found a good slope to practice the self arrest break with the ice axe. Scott didn’t want to go to the practice and rest in the hut all the day
I see all the group motivated and ready for the first high summit of the trip; at the moment they are already in bed. We will wake up soon to get ready and start at midnight.

Ecuador 2021 Team 11 Cotopaxi Skills Expedition

Nov. 17, 2021Guide: Ramiro Garrido

Climbers:
1. Whitney R
2. Andrei T
3. James N
4. Scott B
5. Richard W
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Hello from Ramiro!

Today was the First day in Cayambe!

Today we arrived at the hut (4600m) at 13:30 after a fun 4x4 drive on mud and loose rocks. Then in the last section, we walked.

We had a light lunch, including chicken soup and empanadas and after that we rested for about 90 minutes. After resting, the group hiked out to the lake at the toe of the glacier at 4900m. Here, we reviewed glacier travel skills.

We were back in the refuge by nightfall and were able to see a beautiful full moon rising over the ridge of the glacier, in the higher part of the mountain.

Dinner was delicious (Whitney mentioned that it was better than Ilatoa!) and included quinoa soup, goulash, potatoes, carrots and cauliflower.

Ecuador 2021 Team 11 Cotopaxi Skills Expedition

Nov. 16, 2021

Guide: Ramiro Garrido 

Climbers:

1. Whitney R 

2. Andrei T 

3. James N 

4. Scott B 

5. Richard W

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Hello! This is Ramiro!

Rucu Pichincha climb and summit for all! All the climbers reached the summit within 4 hours, with about a 2 hour descent.

After the climb, we went to the equipment rental shop in Quito and were outfitted with the remainder of the gear that we need for the next pursuits.

Everyone is back at the lodge for another night before we head north to Cayambe.

Ecuador 2021 Team 11 Cotopaxi Skills Expedition

Nov. 15, 2021

Guide: Ramiro Garrido 

Climbers: 

1. Whitney R 

2. Andrei T 

3. James N 

4. Scott B 

5. Richard W
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Hello! This is Ramiro!

It is now dark. It is night. I just wanted to tell you about today. It was a very nice day. The four of the five of the climbers summited Pasochoa today, 4260m. And it was a very nice and long hike from a different route than we typically climb Pasochoa. Was very enjoyable in the highland. The weather was great because it was kind of cloudy, so it was refreshing to hike in the shadow of the cloud. And We arrived just in time to get to the van again, escaping from the rain.

After we got in the van, there was thunder and lightning and a very hard rain on the way to the Lodge.

On the way to the lodge, we stopped at the supermarket to buy some stuff and stopped by the ATM.

Tomorrow we are heading to Rucu Pichinciha, higher elevation and more difficult than today’s hike. And after that , we are moving north for the first glacier mountain, Cayambe Volcano.

Okay that’s from my side today!