Erika Barrett

Ecuador sits at the intersection of the Andes, the Amazon, and the equator, and the result is one of the most extraordinary mountain environments on earth. The Avenue of the Volcanoes runs through the heart of the country, a chain of glaciated peaks rising above highland valleys and tropical forest that has drawn climbers and explorers for centuries. This eleven-day expedition climbs two of the finest: Cayambe at 18,997 feet, the only snow-capped point on earth that sits directly on the equator, and Cotopaxi at 19,348 feet, one of the world's highest active volcanoes and one of its most iconic.

The program is designed for intermediate climbers ready to step into serious high-altitude mountaineering without committing to a full expedition-scale objective. Cayambe comes first, providing the acclimatization and technical review that sets the team up for Cotopaxi. A skilled Ecuadorian guide joins the program alongside RMI's lead guide, bringing local knowledge of the peaks, the conditions, and the culture that shapes every aspect of how the expedition unfolds.

The expedition begins in Quito, one of the best-preserved colonial cities in South America and a UNESCO World Heritage site. At 9,350 feet, Quito itself begins the acclimatization process while the city's markets, architecture, and neighborhoods offer a genuine introduction to Ecuadorian culture before the climbing begins. This is a program where the mountains are the objective and the country is the experience.

The Ruth Glacier's Great Gorge sits in the heart of the Alaska Range, surrounded by walls and peaks that provide exceptional terrain for expedition-level instruction. RMI's Expedition Skills Seminar is built around this setting, using nine days on the glacier to teach the systems that define performance on bigger objectives. The program is designed specifically to prepare climbers for guided ascents of Mt. McKinley and Aconcagua, and to build the self-sufficiency needed to pursue glaciated peaks independently.

The curriculum covers glacier travel and navigation, ice climbing, crevasse rescue, camp construction, sled hauling, and fixed-line travel. Skills are introduced in structured sessions and applied directly on the terrain surrounding base camp, with the summit of 9,545-foot Mt. Dickey via the West Face as the primary climbing objective. Mt. Dickey is a serious and rewarding Alaska Range peak, and the program is structured so that the skills developed in the early days translate directly into what the climb demands.

The 3:1 climber-to-guide ratio keeps instruction focused and personal throughout. Guides move between teaching fundamental systems and leading the team toward the Mt. Dickey objective, with evening discussions covering expedition medicine, weather interpretation, route planning, and decision-making. Climbers leave with a working knowledge of expedition mountaineering systems and the on-mountain experience to apply them.

The Five Day Rainier Climb offers the classic Mount Rainier experience with added time, margin, and flexibility built into the schedule, allowing teams to move deliberately, adapt to conditions, and fully engage with the mountain rather than rushing to meet a narrow summit window. That extra day provides the flexibility to choose the best timing for summit day (especially valuable when weather is less predictable) making it ideal for first-time Rainier climbers and anyone seeking a deeper immersion in one of North America's most iconic glaciated peaks.

The climb begins with a half day orientation at BaseCamp, then a full day of mountaineering school on the mountain, then spends two nights at Camp Muir in the private hut RMI uses — the only guide service with its own shelter there, giving climbers time to acclimatize, refine movement skills, and recover between efforts. Throughout, you climb in small rope teams at a 2:1 climber-to-guide ratio for closer instruction and more individual attention. Before and after the climb, your team is based at Rainier BaseCamp in Ashford, home to the BaseCamp Bar & Grill, Whittaker Mountaineering, and Whittaker's Bunkhouse.