We awoke to a perfectly clear night and were on the move by just after 1am on Friday.  The first section of the climb, which is often a trail through pebble scree was covered in a perfectly hard, thin layer of snow.  In fact, conditions on the entire route were near perfect.  We followed La Ruta Antigua due to crevasse conditions on the more standard route.  Shortly after sunrise we were walking up La Arista de Yanasacha, staring down the final headwall and trying to catch our breaths above 18500'.  Upon reaching the summit, we were rewarded with 360 degree views of the highlands of Ecuador including numerous other active and dormant stratovolcanoes.  Everyone did their standard summit rituals, ate a favorite snack, took some pictures and headed down.  This team made quick work of the descent and we were eating pancakes at the hut by a normal breakfast hour. 

Thanks to all the members of this team for showing up ready to climb and thank you to you all for following along with our travels!

RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier & Team

When we arrived in Ecuador last weekend it had been rainy for weeks on end.  Even the first couple days of this trip were quite stormy in the afternoons.  But over the last couple days the patterns have been changing for the better.  This morning we leave the Chilcabamba Eco Lodge and have our fingers crossed for one more day of good weather!  Tomorrow is the main event, Cotopaxi summit day, and the excitement is palpable.  Looking out the main window of the dining room at Chilcabamba we can see the summit of Cotopaxi and most of the route.

Included in the pictures are a couple from Iliniza Norte yesterday and one of Cotopaxi from the back porch at Chilcabamba.

RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier

November 2, 2021 - 6:33 am PT

Yesterday we did our first serious acclimatizing by hiking Rucu Pichincha.  It is a fun hike that includes a gondola ride to 13,000' where we began our ascent to Rucu Pichincha, with an official summit elevation of 15354'.  The entire team made it to the summit after a few hours of hiking and a short scramble.  We then hustled down to avoid the afternoon rains and arrived back at the gondola before getting wet.  This morning we are headed to Iliniza to make a summit attempt on Iliniza Norte tomorrow!

RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier

The members of the team arrived safely in Quito and ventured out yesterday for a city tour of Quito.  The first (and generally favorite) stop on the tour was at the Mitad del Mundo museum, which means "middle of the world".  This museum is located on the equatorial line and the tour guides give us a review of some 8th grade science (which it seems we have all forgotten).  At an elevation greater than 9,000' we are already getting our breathing in check and today are looking forward to a warm-up hike on Rucu Pichincha!

RMI Guide Dustin Wittmier