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International Mountain Climbing School 2733 Main Street, Rt. 16 P.O. Box 1666 North Conway, NH 03860 PHONE: (603) 356-7064 FAX: (603) 356-6492 EMAIL: guides@ime-usa.com |
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| 16th
Annual Women's Rock Day |
| Ecuador Climbing Expeditions | |||||||||||
| Cordillera de los Andes | |||||||||||
| November 2-18, 2006 | |||||||||||
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| Climbing Peaks | |||||||||||
| Chimborazo | 6,310m / 20,720ft | ||||||||||
| Chimborazo is Ecuador's highest peak and it is unique because its summit is the closest point to the sun and farthest point from the center of Earth. The sheer bulk of the mountain is more impressive than its height. Chimborazo is the southern-most peak in the Cordillera Occidental chain of mountains. It was first climbed in 1880 by Jean Antoine and Louis Carrel (Italy) and Edward Whymper (UK). This peak is usually in best condition during late January or early February. |  |
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| Cotopaxi | 5,897m / 19,347ft | ||||||||||
| Cotopaxi is a nearly perfect snow-capped volcanic cone, situated 55 kilometers south of Quito in Cotopaxi National Park. It is Ecuador's second-highest peak and the highest active volcano in the world. It is possible to drive to within 30 minutes of the climbers' refuge, and from there it is a 6-8 hour climb to the summit. First climbed in November 1872 by Angel Maria Escobar (Colombia) and Wilhelm Reiss (Germany). | |||||||||||
| Cayambe | 5,789m / 18,993ft | ||||||||||
| Cayambe is the highest and coldest point on the equator. It is the only place on earth where the latitude is zero degrees and so is the temperature. Long thought extinct, Cayambe is deemed to be active and is closely monitored. We smelled sulfur on our ascents in 2000 and 2001. Cayambe is considered to be more technically difficult than either Cotopaxi or Chimborazo. | |||||||||||
| Antisana | 5,758m / 18,891ft | ||||||||||
| Antisana is big, high and covered in crevasses. Antisana is also wild and remote. It offers some of the most interesting climbing in Ecuador. Climbing Antisana is serious business and is as technically difficult as Cayambe. This peak has seen relatively few ascents and will remain part of the IMCS itinerary for years to come. | |||||||||||
| Iliniza Sur | 5,263m / 17,267ft | ||||||||||
| Iliniza Sur This peak offers the most accessible hard climbing in the country. A steep route requiring use of crampons and ice axe ss well as knowledge of self arrest and glacier travel/crevasse rescue skills. The route is suffering from glacial retreat but if it is good condition it is always worth the effort. Done in a single long day from the town of El Chaupi. | |||||||||||
| Acclimatization Peaks | |||||||||||
| Guagua Pichincha | 4,794m / 15,782ft | ||||||||||
| Guagua is an active volcano on the outskirts of Quito that last erupted in October 1999. Guagua is a convenient and scenic acclimatization climb that affords memorable views (and odors) from the crater's rim. Most of our trips arrive in Quito on Thursday evening. We plan on climbing Guagua on Saturday to start the acclimatization process. |  |
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| Ruminahui | 4,634m / 15,203ft | ||||||||||
| Ruminahui named after Atahualpa's (Inca ruler) most famous general who led the fight against the Spanish conquistadors after Atahualpa was murdered. Tall tales say that Ruminahui hid a large cache of the Inca ruler's gold in an undisclosed, and yet to be found, location. This climb is an obvious warm up climb while in Cotopaxi National Park affording magnificent views of Cotopaxi. | |||||||||||
| Imbabura | 4,630m / 15,190ft | ||||||||||
| Imbabura is a large hill with a long walk up it requiring a bit of exciting and exposed 3rd class climbing near the summit. The summit ridge offers great views of Imbabura's impressive open caldera and Lago San Pablo. Imbabura is located in the small town of La Esperanza which is near the market town of Otavalo. | |||||||||||
| Iliniza Norte | 5,126m / 16,817ft | ||||||||||
| Iliniza Norte is an excellent acclimatization peak with an exciting scramble to top out and magnificent views. Although it looks like a horrendous pile of scree, the rock is pretty good by Ecuadorian standards, as long as you stay on the route. Done in a single long day from the town of El Chaupi. | |||||||||||
| Pasachoa | 4,199m / 13,794ft | ||||||||||
| Pasachoa is an ancient and heavily eroded volcano which has been inactive since the last ice age. It is located 30km south of Quito. There is one short 3rd class section otherwise the ascent is a hike. In November 2002 the IMCS team had the great fortune to see two Andean condors close up as they flew directly above us near the top of a grassy ridge. | |||||||||||
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