Illiniza Summits!
Our Ecuador team saw great success yesterday climbing Illiniza Sur and Illiniza Norte!
After hiking to the Illiniza Hut on Thursday afternoon each climber selected their preferred objective, Illiniza Sur or Illiniza Norte, packed their bags and went to bed as early as the busy mountain hut allowed. Each of the objectives hold very different yet wonderfully challenging routes.
Our Illiniza Sur team woke at midnight and departed the hut at 1:00AM. From the hut to the base of the climb is about 45 minutes of hiking over rocky trail until a short rock scramble is performed leading onto the glacier. Current conditions have led to around 200 meters of exposed glacier ice ranging from 35 to 70 degrees where often would be found steep snow and about 50-60 meters of 60-70 degree ice. Despite the more icy conditions the Illiniza Sur climbers dug deep and summited just after sunrise.
Our Illiniza Norte climbers woke up slightly later, around 4:00AM, and departed the hut around 5:00AM. The Norte route is typically a 4th class rock scramble all the way up the ridge so the recent dry conditions haven't affected its character as drastically as on Illiniza Sur. After working their way through 1,200 feet of challenging ridge scrambles they reached the summit and were treated to a fantastic panorama of the Ecuadorian Andes.
Once all climbers had returned to the hut the team packed up and descended back to the bus for a short drive to the famous Hacienda La Cienega. Built at the end of the 1600s, Hacienda La Cienega is a beautiful step back in time and ideal location for some well earned rest and relaxation.
Today the team will continue resting at La Cienega for another night before moving up to the Cayambe Hut tomorrow afternoon in preparation for their Sunday night/Monday morning summit climb of Cayambe.
Congratulations to our team! Best of luck as they prepare for Cayambe and beyond.
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Training on Cotopaxi
Our Ecuador expedition continues to enjoy great weather as they work their way up to their first big climb. Yesterday was spent training on the lower flanks of Cotopaxi covering fundamental skills that they'll be using for the rest of the expedition. After a successful training day they returned to the beautiful Hacienda Los Mortinos.
Today the team packs up and drives to the start of the approach for the Illiniza group. Both Illiniza Norte and Illiniza Sur offer challenging but manageable routes for the team to select from. Today's goal is to hike about 3 hours to the refugio between the two peaks before going to bed early in anticipation of an early morning summit bid.
Best of luck to our Ecuador team on their first big climb of the trip!
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Ecuador Team Tours Quito and Acclimatizes
Our first Ecuador Volcanoes Expedition of the season is underway!
Yesterday the team had a busy day doing gear checks, taking an acclimatization hike, visiting the Equator, and topping the whole day off with a fantastic Welcome Dinner. Sitting between 9,500ft and 10,000ft Quito is an uniquely good city for the start of a mountaineering expedition, your acclimatization starts at the hotel! Our teams build on this by taking a local Teleferique (Gondola) up to 13,000ft before completing a light acclimatization hike.
Today the team loaded up their bus and drove out of Quito and into Cotopaxi National Park to hike Ruminahui Central as a way to acclimatize and fully stretch their legs after long plane flights. Topping out at 15,190 feet Ruminahui Central is directly across a small valley from Cotopaxi. With Beautiful weather our team was treated to an amazing set of views culminating in an amazing sunset.
Tomorrow the team will head up to the lower slopes of Cotopaxi for skills training. Though Cotopaxi is still closed for climbing all the way up to the summit, the park allows climbers to go up to the base of the snow for training. Recent reports suggest that the volcanic activity has settled down again, hopefully we're back climbing Cotopaxi soon.
Congrats to the team on a great start to their trip!
Employment Opportunities
Employment Opportunities
Guide Staff
CTSS guides are the backbone of our clients’ experience on the mountain, and we are committed to hiring only the finest talent available, those capable of operating at the highest standards of both safety and client care. We’re looking to recruit new team members who are highly trained, well respected, and trusted colleagues with impressive high-altitude climbing resumes and certifications. If you’re committed to excellent in guiding and teaching, especially on the world’s most magnificent and challenging peaks.
CTSS is currently seeking experienced guides with the following attributes, qualifications, and certifications:
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, especially under pressure
- Ability to gauge individual and group needs for safety and success
- Experience climbing, and ideally guiding, in the areas where CTSS operates programs (optional, but preferred)
- U.S. Pro 1 (or equivalent) Avalanche certificate
- Wilderness First Responder medical certification or IFMGA medical certification
- Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor (optional, but preferred)
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we actively encourage applications from qualified female, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ candidates as we aim to diversity the outdoor industry.
To apply, please submit the following documents to info@climbingthesevensummits.com with the subject line, “Mountain Guide Application.”
- One-page professional resume, including your education and previous work history
- Climbing resume highlighting relevant climbing, guiding, and outdoor experience
- Relevant documentation of certifications and training
Join us in creating unforgettable adventures and shaping lives through the transformative power of the mountains!
Denali Team at 11k Camp
CTSS Denali lead guide Dallas Glass checked in via Sat Phone earlier this afternoon. The team is hunkered down waiting out some weather but doing well with all members plus their food and gear shuttled up to 11K Camp on the Kahiltna Glacier.
With a gear and food cache already in place at around 13,000 ft their current plan is to move through the "Windy Corner" and up to 14 Camp tomorrow. Of course, as with all plans on Denali, weather will have the final say on if they move tomorrow stay at 11K Camp for another night.
Patience is the name of the game on Denali this season with unstable weather patterns dominating the entire season so far. Not to worry though, waiting on weather is a major part of any Denali trip and our team is strategically taking advantage of weather windows as they come. The good news is forecasts are trending towards better weather starting tomorrow!
All is well on Denali, the team is strong and focused.
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Morning of 20th May
Good morning everyone, a quick update for today.
As most of our climbers descend, and trickle in to Camp 2, Base Camp and Kathmandu (soon to be home to you all) Julie McK and Guide Tendi Sherpa are making great time and progress and heading uphill. Today they are climbing from Camp 1 to Camp 2 vying for a May 23rd summit which if the forecast holds looks like a magical day to climb Mt Everest.
Cheers
CTSS Team
10x Lhotse Summits! 19th May News
Morning of the 19th May
We are thrilled to continue applauding our incredible climber and sherpa team, together they have achieved amazing feats in the past couple of days.
Today, at 8am; on the summit of Lhotse completing their Double Everest/Lhoste Header:
- Travis Van Overbeke - USA
- Tendi Sherpa, Dolkha, Nepal (Guide)
- Ott Tinn – Estonia
- Dorje Sherpa – Bhojpur, Nepal (Guide)
Congratulations!
They are descending and have already reached Lhotse High Camp and will drop back to Camp 2 today.
Julie McK and Little Tendi have left Base Camp on their summit rotation and are currently at Camp 1 resting and will move to Camp 2 tomorrow.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Photo CTSS archives
18th May 44x Everest & 6x Lhoste Summits
Morning of the 18th May
Congratulations to Everest Summiteers;
- Ott Tinn - Estonia
- Dorje Sherpa - Bhojpur, Nepal (Guide)
- Namgyal Tamang, Pangboche, Nepal
- Dawa Sherpa, Sankhuwasabha, Nepal
- Sam Cairns - UK
- Thunang Bhote, Sankhuwasabha, Nepal (Guide)
- Rajat Sharma - India
- Pega Sherpa (Guide)
- Lhakpa Sherpa, Chatuk, Nepal
- Travis Van Overbeke - USA
- Tendi Sherpa, Dolkha, Nepal (Guide)
- Dawa Phinjo Bhote - Snakhuwasabha, Nepal
- Ludivine Lonchampt - France
- Dawa Jangbu Sherpa, Sindupalchok, Nepal
- Lisa Barge - UK
- Prakash Gurung, Tanahun, Nepal (Guide)
- Pasang Bhote, Sankhuwasabha, Nepal
Congratulations to Lhotse Summiteers
- Damian Mannix - Australia
- Mingma Dorje Sherpa- Phorste, Nepal
- Kevin Cagney - USA
- Ashish Gurung - Sankhuwasabha, Nepal (Guide)
- Roberto Terzini - Brazil
- Pasang Tendi Sherpa - Juving, Nepal (Guide)