Ecuadorian Andes Archives

Ecuador 2020.12

Cayambe Summit!

Congratulations Ecuador team on yesterday’s summit of Cayambe (5790m/18,996ft)! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, called in this expedition dispatch with the details of the climb:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Ecuador Volcanoes team in Quito, Ecuador.

We just climbed Mount Cayambe yesterday – over 19,000 ft. It was a snowy day. We were in the clouds most of the day and then had a view near the top on New Year’s Day. It was a full-on climb! We had some snow, a little wind, but we made it and got back down to the hut last night, celebrated, spent the night there at 13,000 ft. in the Cayambe Hut.

Today we drove back to Quito for a brief rest. The day after tomorrow, we’re going to make our way towards Cotopaxi.

Everyone’s doing well! We had a great first climb. Happy New Year 2021!

Cayambe Hut – Refugio Ruales Oleas Bergé

Climbing Cayambe

Getting above the clouds on Cayambe

Celebrating summit number one – Cayambe

Enjoying the Cayambe Hut

Sunset on the Cayambe Hut

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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions

– Instagram:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

https://madisonmountaineering.com/maps/ecuador-2020-12

January 2, 2021/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ecuador 2020.12

Imbabura Volcano

One last day of acclimatization hiking around Otavalo before the team heads to Cayambe tomorrow. Garrett provides the details of today’s hike up the Imbabura volcano:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Ecuador Volcanoes program. Today we hiked up the volcano Imbabura – 15,000 ft.! It was a beautiful hike up this inactive stratovolcano in northern Ecuador. It hasn’t erupted in over 14,000 years, but its intermittently capped with snow – no permanent glaciers. Very fertile slopes around Imbabura.

We got back down this evening, had a nice dinner here at the Hacienda Pinsaqui for our last night. Tomorrow we’re gonna pack up and drive to Cayambe, up to the mountain hut on the volcano and get ready for our first glaciated climb.

All’s well here in Ecuador! We’ve been having a great time and are excited to head to our first mountain soon.

Acclimation hike on the Imbabura volcano

Nearing the summit of Imbabura

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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions

– Instagram:

December 31, 2020/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ecuador 2020.12

Lake Cuicocha and more acclimatizing

Our Ecuador team continued their acclimatization today with a hike around Laguna Cuicocha just west of Otavalo. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, has today’s dispatch:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Ecuador Volcanoes program. Today we hiked around Lake Cuicocha and it was nice weather, we got to see the lake and some nice views overlooking the hills around including the summit we did yesterday and tomorrow’s objective as well. Another great day here acclimitizing in Ecuador. We’re staying at the Hacienda Pinsaqui, which is a great accomidation.

We are excited for tomorrow’s hike and then heading over to Cayambe, the first glaciated volcano in our program. Everyone’s doing well and all’s good here in Ecuador!

Acclimatization hike near Laguna Cuicocha, Ecuador

Hiking around Laguna Cuicocha, Ecuador

The view of Laguna Cuicocha, Ecuador

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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions

– Instagram:

December 29, 2020/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ecuador 2020.12

Acclimatizing on Fuya Fuya

Our Ecuador team has jumped right into their acclimatization after just arriving in Quito last night. Garrett Madison provides a recap of the day:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in the Ecuador Volcanoes climb program. Today we left Quito in the morning and drove to our first acclimatization hike, Fuya Fuya, and we hiked up to 14,000 ft. (4275m). Day one! Wow, really strong crew.

And then we came to Hacienda Pinsaqui, an old hacienda here in the countryside of Ecuador, and had a nice evening cocktail, some music, and a nice dinner. Looking forward to a good night’s rest and tomorrow we’re heading off for another acclimatization hike.

All’s well here in Ecuador. We’re very excited to be here with our good friend and local guide, Estalin Suárez, and heading to Cayambe soon after.

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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions

– Instagram:

December 29, 2020/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ecuador 2020.12

Ecuador Volcanoes Expedition Kick Off!

Today we kick off our final expedition of 2020 in the capital city of Quito, Ecuador. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, provides this initial Ecuador Volcanoes expedition dispatch. We hope you will follow along.

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Ecuador Volcanoes program. Today we are meeting in Quito, Ecuador. I’ve just arrived and tomorrow we are heading out to the small town of Otavalo and going for our first acclimitization hike up to about 12,000 ft. (3658m).

Our first volcano that we are heading towards is Cayambe (5758m/18,891ft). And then after Cayambe, we’ll come back to Quito for a couple of nights and then head off to Cotopaxi (5897m/19,347ft) and then Chimborazo (6310m/20,702ft), the highest peak in Ecuador and the closest point to the Sun.

We’re looking forward to a great trip here in Ecuador with Todd and Jen. We’ll get started here tomorrow. All’s well!

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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions

– Instagram:

December 27, 2020/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ecuador 2016.11

Ecuador climbers have reached the summit of Cayambe volcano!

Early this morning our Ecuador climbers reached the summit of Cayambe at 5,790 m (19,000 ft)! Located in the Cordillera Central, this glaciated super-volcano runs along the Ecuadorian Andes mountain range. The volcano and most of its slopes are located within the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve. Weather conditions looked beautiful on the summit today with epic views from high above the clouds! After a short rest at the high altitude hut, our team packed up their gear and will now drive back down the mountain and toward their next mountain ascent on Chimborazo.

Way to go team!!

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William enjoying the amazing summit views from Cayambe.

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Summit success!

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Route to summit.

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Lower glacier crossing.

November 9, 2016/0 Comments/by Andrew

Ecuador 2016.11

Climbers arrive in Quito for our Ecuador volcanoes expedition!

Beautiful views in the Andes as our climbers set off for the Ecuador volcanoes! Our team will spend the first few days acclimating on local peaks close to Quito in preparation for Cayambe at an elevation of 18,996 feet. For a detailed overview of this exciting climb please visit our page here.

To the top!

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William celebrating his first summit of Pasochoa. This extinct volcano is located in the Guayllabamba river basin in the Ecuadorian Andes.

November 6, 2016/0 Comments/by Andrew

Ecuador 2016.05

Ecuador climbing team successfully summited Pasochoa!

Today our Ecuador climbing team successfully summited Pasochoa (13,860ft) outside of Quito, Ecuador. Jared and Andrew got caught in a unexpected afternoon hail storm on the summit which made for a bit of fun for the descent. It poured and hailed on us on the way down which made for a wet ride home to our hotel in Quito. The team is in good spirits and is enjoying the adventure!

It is currently raining with thunder and lightning in Quito. Jared and Andrew are back at the hotel, sorting through some gear for tomorrow’s climb of Rucu Pinchincha. To view our Ecuador team’s upcoming climbing itinerary click here.

So far, so good! Team is one for one in the summit department!

Pictures provided by Jared. Enjoy! 🙂

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June 1, 2016/0 Comments/by Andrew

Ecuador 2015.11

Relaxing day on Quilotoa Lake before Chimborazo!

Today our Ecuador climbing team had a relaxing day on Quilotoa Lake, a water-filled caldera that is also the most western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The day was filled with gorgeous panoramic views and blue skies as Estalin, Luke and Zack prepare for the ascent of Chimborazo tomorrow! Tonight the team will be organizing gear and preparing for the next day’s climb to our high camp on Chimborazo. On summit day, the team will begin to climb before dawn, and reach the summit of Chimborazo (20,560ft) shortly after sunrise with good weather conditions. The summit of Chimborazo is the closest point to the sun and provides climbers a spectacular mountain top view!

Estalin Suárez Valladolid continues to share his beautiful photographs shown below of this amazing journey through Ecuador! Enjoy 🙂

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Our team waiting for lunch, Luke looks hungry!

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Luke and Zack enjoying the descent!

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Luke and Zack spending time exploring near Quilotoa Lake!

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Luke and Zack taking in the beautiful country side near Chimborazo!

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Team bonding at the lodge!

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Stunning view from Quilotoa Lake, only a day of relaxation before Chimborazo!

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A short walk up to Cerro Chalata near Chimborazo lodge.

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Summit of Cerro Chalata at (4,230 m/13,874 ft)!

November 27, 2015/0 Comments/by Andrew

Ecuador 2015.11

Relaxing day on Quilotoa Lake before Chimborazo!!

Today our Ecuador climbing team had a relaxing day on Quilotoa Lake, a water-filled caldera that is also the most western volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The day was filled with gorgeous panoramic views and blue skies as Estalin, Luke and Zack prepare for the ascent of Chimborazo tomorrow! Tonight the team will be organizing gear and preparing for the next day’s climb to our high camp on Chimborazo. On summit day, the team will begin to climb before dawn, and reach the summit of Chimborazo (20,560ft) shortly after sunrise with good weather conditions. The summit of Chimborazo is the closest point to the sun and provides climbers a spectacular mountain top view!

Estalin Suárez Valladolid continues to share his beautiful photographs shown below of this amazing journey through Ecuador! Enjoy 🙂

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Our team waiting for lunch, Luke looks hungry!

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Luke and Zack enjoying the descent!

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Luke and Zack spending time exploring near Quilotoa Lake!

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Luke and Zack taking in the beautiful country side near Chimborazo!

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Team bonding at the lodge!

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Stunning view from Quilotoa Lake, only a day of relaxation before Chimborazo!

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A short walk up to Cerro Chalata near Chimborazo lodge.

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Summit of Cerro Chalata at (4,230 m/13,874 ft)!

November 27, 2015/0 Comments/by Andrew

Tag Archive for: Ecuadorian Andes