2023.11.18 Ecuador expedition dispatches

Climbing Illiniza Norte with Illiniza Sur seen behind (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

The Madison Mountaineering Ecuador Volcanoes expedition team has completed their acclimatization hikes and are primed and ready for their upcoming attempts on Cayambe and Chimborazo! Weather and climbing conditions have been outstanding so far, and will hopefully continue for the climbs ahead. Expedition leader, Estalin Suárez checks in with this dispatch from Ecuador:

Hello! This is Estalin calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ecuador Volcanoes expedition.

Today, we summit the Illiniza Norte which is 16,800 feet with the summit. We finished our acclimatization process! The group is feeling pretty strong and motivated. We had a great day on the mountain and some really nice views of the other peaks around! Now everybody is resting at the lodge.

Tomorrow we are going to move to Cayambe volcano which is our first big mountain on this expedition. Stay tuned… Bye!

Summit photo on Illiniza Norte! (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

Summit photo on Illiniza Norte! (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

Ascending the ridge which leads the way towards the summit of Illiniza Norte with Cotopaxi behind (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

Ascending the ridge which leads the way towards the summit of Illiniza Norte with Cotopaxi behind (Photo by Estalin Suárez)


In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.

Instagram:

Summit photo on El Corazón (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

Two acclimatization hikes done and only one more to go before the Madison Mountaineering team positions themselves for summit attempts on Cayambe and Chimborazo! The team is feeling strong and becoming well acclimatized to the elevation of the Ecuadorian Andes. Expedition leader, Estalin Suárez checks in with this dispatch from Ecuador:

Hello! This is Estalin calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ecuador Volcanoes expedition. Today we had another great hiking day in the Ecuadorian Andes! We summit our second peak here, El Corazón (4790m/15,720ft) which is 15,700 feet of height. This is part of our acclimatization process. The group is feeling pretty good and getting used to the altitude!

So, now we are at the lodge just resting and getting ready for our next step. Okay, so stay in tune… Bye!

Climbing among the clouds on El Corazón (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

Climbing among the clouds on El Corazón (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

Approaching towards El Corazón (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

Approaching towards El Corazón (Photo by Estalin Suárez)


In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.

Instagram:

Our team on the approach to Pasochoa volcano (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

We are thrilled to be back in the Ecuadorian Andes! Our team arrived in Quito, and with a good nights sleep after a long day of travel, our team has headed for the mountains and begun their climbs on the Ecuador Volcanoes. The team completed their first acclimatization hike, and with a few more days of acclimatization ahead, look forward to climbing some of Ecuador’s highest peaks, Cayambe and Chimborazo! Expedition leader, Estalin Suárez checks in with this dispatch from Ecuador:

Hello! This is Estalin calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ecuador Volcanoes expedition – today is November 19.

We just did our first acclimatization hike, it was the Pasochoa volcano (4200m/13,800ft). We got the summit, had some really nice views of all the volcanoes surrounding, and had a really great day! We got 13,700 feet and now we are in a really nice lodge resting and getting ready for tomorrow.

Our next hike is going to be the Corazón volcano (4790m/15,720ft). Stay tuned! Bye.

The team on the summit of Pasochoa Volcano! (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

The team on the summit of Pasochoa Volcano! (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

At the trailhead (Photo by Estalin Suárez)

At the trailhead (Photo by Estalin Suárez)


In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

  • Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.

Instagram: