Saturday, October 24, 2026 - 7:24 am PT

Cumbre! 

After departing Chilcabamba (Ecuadorian Hacienda), the team met up with the local Ecuadorian guide team and made their way in the national park. We loaded up our backpacks and made the short, sandy climb up to the Cotopaxi Rufugio at nearly 16,000 ft, the highest most members of the team have ever slept. We had an early dinner, summit talk, and then off to bed to grab a few hours of reprieve and rest before the alpine start. 

The team woke at 11pm, with an hour and a half on the shot clock to get packed, eat breakfast, and get squared away before heading out the door. The morning presented calm and cool conditions with virtually no wind and firm and stable walking conditions. It was a beautiful night to climb. 

Hour by hour the team chugged their way up the ice flanks of Cotopaxi, breaking to refuel and restock the mental stoke for the next stage of the climb. By first light, the team found themselves creeping onto the crater rim, meandering through an icy labyrinth of penitentes to the true summit of Cotopaxi at 19,347'. For most of the team, this was the highest elevation they have ever been, a massive step in their climbing careers. With great effort and determination, the entirety of the team was fortunate enough to stand on the summit, a great moment for the group and a proud triumph for the guiding team. 

Now off the mountain and recovering in the beautiful grass lands on the flank of Cotopaxi, laughter and storytelling occupy the conversation as the team reflects on the accomplishment that just transpired. Soon we will be off to Quito and back to our lives, taking our memories, and perhaps a bit of sunburn with us. 

RMI Guide Mike Bennett