https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20200128_Ecuador_TerraySylvester_0210.jpg8001200Kurthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgKurt2021-01-29 20:39:102021-01-29 22:39:07Checking-in from the slopes of Cotopaxi
Acclimatization wrapped up today with a successful climb of Ecuador’s Iliniza Norte (5126m/16,813ft). Next up is Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. Here’s guide Terray Sylvester’s recap of the two-day climb of Iliniza Norte:
Yesterday we hiked up to the New Horizons Refuge (Refugio Nuevos Horizontes) at just about 15,500 ft. (4724m) and had a restful night there plus a great dinner of fried trout and guacamole and soup and fresh pineapple. Then we woak up early this morning – a couple of hours before dawn – and climbed up to the summit of Iliniza Norte, which is 16,800 ft. (5126m). It’s the eighth highest peak in Ecuador. It was a great climb, the clouds parted and gave us views of three of Ecuador’s major volcanoes: Antisana (5704m), Cayambe (5790m), and our next objective, Cotopaxi (5897m).
So now we are right on scheudle to be back at our hacienda for lunch. We will relax the rest of the day and then tomorrow we will drive into Cotopaxi National Park to begin our ascent. We’ll be in touch!
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Krisli-enjoying-the-summit-of-Illiniza-Norte.jpeg8001200Kurthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgKurt2021-01-28 21:33:142021-01-29 00:08:51Iliniza Norte (5126m/16,813ft)!
On day three of our 12-day Ecuador Volcanoes expedition, the team continued their acclimatization by climbing the Corazón volcano (4790m/15,700ft). Here’s expedition leader, Terray Sylvester with today’s audio dispatch:
Hello, this is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ecuador Volcanoes expedition. We are back down at our hacienda in El Chaupi after successfully climbing Corazón volcano today. That was another beautiful acclimatization hike. We started out through the lush Ecuadorian highlands, just like yesterday. This was a fun climb because we gain a rocky ridge about half way up, and some scrambling and a little bit of rope work took us up to the summit at 15,700 ft. (4790m).
Then we returned down to hacienda and the team just finished enjoying a soak in the jacuzzi and some time in the sauna and now we are all just sort of relaxing and waiting for dinner. So another good acclimatization ascent!
Tomorrow we head up to the refuge between Iliniza Norte and Iliniza Sur where we will spend the night before climbing Iliniza Norte the following day. So, we’ll be out of touch for a little less than 48 hours until we come back down to El Chaupi and have access to Wi-Fi and cell reception yet again.
Getting going up Corazón
Deep into the mist on the slopes of Corazón
Damp, misty, rocky ridge to the summit of Corazón
Happy Corazón summiteers with a canine friend
Enjoying another great day out acclimatizing
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:
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20200126_Ecuador_TerraySylvester_0018.jpg8001200Kurthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgKurt2021-01-26 22:47:482021-01-28 22:30:01Acclimatizing on Corazón
Our third Ecuador Volcanoes expedition of the season kicked-off today with all of the team arrived in Quito and already tackling their first acclimatization climb. Here is expedition leader, Terray Sylvester with today’s dispatch:
Hello, this is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ecuador Volcanoes trip. The whole team arrived safely and smoothly in Quito over the last couple of days and today, January 25th, we left Quito and did our first acclimatization ascent on the old, extinct volcano Pasochoa – it’s a couple of hours south of Quito. The climb went well, went up to the summit at 13,700 ft. It was a peaceful, beautiful walk through the very lush Ecuadorean highlands here.
Then we drove down to the little town of El Chaupi where we just had a great dinner at the Chuquiragua lodge and now we are going to get to bed early in anticipation of an early start tomorrow for our second acclimatization ascent – that will be another extinct volcano called Corazón. We’re all looking forward to the two main objectives on our trip, which will be Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. Those are the two highest points in Ecuador and they are two of the world’s most famous high altitude volcanoes.
So, all is well and we’ll be in touch!
Heading up Pasochoa for some acclimatization
Crossing the beautiful heathered slopes of Pasochoa
Happy guides and happy climbers on their way up Pasochoa
Krisli, Jonathan, Mary Lynne, and Cokie on the summit of Pasochoa with guide 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:
