Entries from Ecuador
Hola from the climber's hut on Cayambe! We just enjoyed a high-altitude soup and bread dinner at 15,300'. Everyone is doing great up here. We'll touch base soon.
RMI Guide Mike Walter
On The Map
After a couple of nice days in Quito, our team packed up early this morning and left the city life for more rural flavors. We traveled north a few hours from Quito to the beautiful mountain lakes of Lagunas Monjanda and went for a great acclimatization hike up Fuya Fuya.
The hike consisted of a steep trail through high altitude Andean grassland, or "paramo", followed by a rock scramble to the summit...with great views of beautiful lakes below us. Everyone climbed really well as we made short work of the 14,000'-plus peak.
Now we're resting at the tranquilo Casa Sol, watching Ecuador play Honduras in the World Cup. Buena suerte Ecuador!
RMI Guide Mike Walter
On The Map
Hola from Ecuador. We had great weather today as our team went on our first acclimatization hike, summiting Rucu Pichincha, a volcano that forms part of the western perimeter of Quito's valley. To start our hike, we took a gondola from Quito up to an altitude of around 13,500'. Then a well-maintained trail with stunning views led us out onto a ridge toward Rucu Pichincha. An easy rock scramble later and we were on top, at 15,700'.
Our climbing was very strong today, making quick work of the altitude. We had good views of volcanoes Cotopaxi, the Ilinizas, Pasachoa, and Ruminuai the south, and Cayambe and Cotacachi to the north. We will leave Quito tomorrow morning, heading north towards Cayambe. But, before we get to Cayambe, we'll take another acclimatization hike tomorrow on Fuya Fuya, and then visit the market in Otavalo the next day. We'll keep you posted!
RMI Guide Mike Walter
On The Map
safe climb and God’s speed
Posted by: boyd on 6/20/2014 at 8:27 am
Shobita
Way to go Shobita. The picture looks great. I will be their on your climb in my imagination. Have fun and safe return
Usha
Posted by: Usha on 6/20/2014 at 3:00 am
Greetings from Ecuador! Our team all arrived in Quito, Ecuador yesterday, and we met for our first official team meal this morning. After introductions and reviewing trip logistics, we departed the hotel and spent the day on a city tour of Old Town Quito. We visited the Basilica, the presidential palace, and various other historically significant locales while learning about the foundation and history of Quito and Ecuador from our very knowledgeable local guide, Jorge.
After lunch we headed north to the Equator, and visited an ethnographic museum where we were able to straddle the Equator, as well as learn about various native cultures of Ecuador. A fun day of sight seeing was just what we needed, as we get used to the altitude of Quito (9,000') and recover from a long day of travel yesterday.
Tomorrow we will venture out on our first acclimatization hike up the Volcano Rucu Pichincha. We'll keep you posted with updates along the way.
Hasta luego!
RMI Guide Mike Walter
On The Map
Posted by: Billy Nugent
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Well, we are off the mountain safe and sound back at the hotel in Quito. Our descent went extremely smoothly with the snow conditions making for a much easier time than we had on Cayambe. At our lunch pit stop on the way back to the city we happened to randomly run into another RMI team headed by Casey and Topo that was headed from Illiniza Sur into Cotopaxi. I hope they come across the same great weather and conditions we enjoyed today. Anyway, we are all resting and cleaning up at the hotel before we meet one last time as a team tonight for a celebratory dinner.
Until next year...
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team
Hey, it’s Billy here checking in with our crew 100% on top of Cotopaxi. Enjoying another gorgeous day and another summit of an Ecuadorian Volcano! We have been taking probably hundreds of photos here on the top and we are going to gear up shortly and begin our descent. We will check in when again when we are down safe and sound, so wish us luck.
Ciao ciao!
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team
Billy Nugent calling from the summit of Cotopaxi.
Posted by: Billy Nugent
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
Hi all... Just checking in on a rest day here at Chilcabamba. Been enjoying the views and the rustic setup of this farmhouse turned lodge and lazing about like monarchs. The famous dogs of Chilcabamba, Pacha and Toa are still around and friendly as ever (anyone who's been here knows what I'm talking about). These guys might be easier to adopt than the aforementioned monkey but I'm pretty sure the folks here won't give them up so easily. Not much else to report besides views, wood burning stoves, hundreds of hummingbirds, and ponchos! Enjoying our rest and letting our brains as bodies recoup after yesterday's challenge, getting ready for the next...
RMI Guides Billy, Garrett & Team
Posted by: Billy Nugent
Categories: Expedition Dispatches Ecuador
All smiles on the summit of Cayambe!
Our strong team made short work of Cayambe today and were on the summit in about 6 hours and 45 minutes after leaving the refugio. Conditions were very firm on the glacier and when combined with fair weather and almost no wind it made for a quick trip up. A rope length of steep snow and ice just below the summit required some front pointing and a belay especially because the runout emptied into a giant chasm of a bergschrund. A little ice climbing is always nice to keep you on your toes. The sun came up at some point while we were negotiating this steep pitch and we enjoyed the dawn from the summit. We took pictures and exchanged high fives on top and after a short while began our descent because we wanted to pass over several hollow spots on the glacier before the day heated up. Those firm glacier conditions that made the climbing so nice on the way up made the descent a fair bit more taxing. Despite being tired and a bit worked we were back at the refugio just after 10:30 am. A quick pickup and we were headed down the road to meet Victor and jump on the bus for the long ride to the Chilcabamba eco lodge at the base of Cotopaxi. And after a time warp of a bus ride, here we are chilling and filling up on a hot meal with a rest day ahead.
Time for sleep...
RMI Guide Billy Nugent & Team
Hey everybody! It's Billy here checking in for Garrett, Jaime and the rest of the crew. We are on the summit of Cayambe right now with clear skies and calm winds. Enjoying a perfect day. That's all to report really. We will be headed down shortly here and wish us luck for us a safe descent. All is well, bye bye.
RMI Guide Billy Nugent
RMI Guide Billy Nugent calls from the Cayambe summit!
On The Map
Way to go Dad! We love you!
Anne, Sarah, Jake and Abe
Posted by: Jen Blodgett on 2/18/2014 at 11:48 am
Woohoo! Go team, go!
Posted by: Amy on 2/18/2014 at 8:43 am
Woke up this morning to beautiful blue skies up here at the Cayambe hut with views of the mountain, Antisana in the distance, and a sea of clouds blanketing the lowlands. It was a bit of a rough night being our first evening sleeping at over 15,000' but everyone took it in steed and felt much better once we were moving around and enjoying a not so rustic breakfast. After downing breakfast burritos and coffee we packed up for a day of training and set out from the hut for the glacier. After about an hour and change of scrambling up a buttress, we hit the glacier and geared up with helmets, harnesses, ice axes, and crampons refreshing up on some of our basic climbing skills. Clouds came in and out, we chilled and boiled... Then headed back to the Refugio to eat dinner and get to bed early for tomorrow's alpine start. If the weather continues doing what it has been we should be poised for a good crack at the summit.
Wish us luck!
RMI Guide Billy Nugent and the gang
On The Map
So exciting! Good luck Charlie and the team! Can’t wait to hear how it goes :)
Posted by: Anna on 2/16/2014 at 7:16 pm
Go Dad GO.
Love reading about what you are doing.
Ken, Alex and Sophia
Posted by: Veronica on 2/16/2014 at 7:10 pm
Hi Tommy! Thinking of you :) One foot in front of the other all the way to the summit! Stay strong! Can’t wait to hear all about it when you arrive home. Have fun and be safe! Good luck tomorrow! Sending love and support from MN! Miss you!
Posted by: Lizzie on 6/22/2014 at 8:00 pm
Hi Shobita and Team,
It looks like your goal is getting closer. That’s a nice picture of the summit. It looks like you’ll have good weather for the summit. Stay strong!
Posted by: randy shetter on 6/22/2014 at 8:17 am
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