Chimborazo

Location: Andes, Ecuador

Height: 6,310m AMSL

Date Summited: December 19th, 2013, at 7:25 (ECT) – local time

Expedition: Guided

Route: El Castillo Route

Précis:

Friend André Simoneau and I regrouped once again for an expedition, this time to the Ecuadorian Andes, climbing a series of volcanoes including: Illiniza Norte, Illiniza Sur, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. Because of permit issues and regulations on Cotopaxi, we hired the legendary local guide Ivo Veloz.

Standing at 6,310m AMSL, Chimborazo is the only 20,000 ft peak in Ecuador. It is also the furthers point from the Earth’s core, which means that it is the closest point on Earth to the moon.It was a long climb and a difficult one, being exposed on the El Castillo Route to winds. The climb roughly took eight hours for the ascent, with another three to four hours for the descent, which resulted in close to a twelve hours climb. Like the other summits in Ecuador, we arrived at the peak with a majestic sight, clear sky above a layer of stratus. It was one of the most beautiful summit I have ever reached. The summit was covered with ripples of frozen snow, which they call ‘Angel Wings’! Our project was complete, with four mountain peaks in seven days.