Vinson 1 Team Heading to Low Camp
Our first Vinson team of the season is in high spirits and moving on schedule.
Following a night at Union Glacier, they flew in 2x twin otter ski plane flights over to Vinson Base Camp in clear weather.
Domes and tents all set up, Vinson Base Camp is looking good.
It's so cold at Vinson that we've spent the last few seasons investing heavily in having a higher level and quality of equipment in one of the most remote places in the world so that our climbers can get out of the cold. Our central dome hang out tent has custom made insulated walls & flooring, proper tables and chairs, which means the team aren't huddled under the old school 'hoochie' type tents of yesteryear, (open sided/upright creating a temporary - albeit very cold - shelter) sitting on ice benches eating dehydrated meals like everyone else. This conserves energy and keeps morale high for when they need it up high. We grill up ribeye and salmon steak, bacon and eggs and all the good things, accommodating any dietary needs.
Today they are moving up to Low Camp (where we also have a dome pre-cached and ready) and the plan is to acclimatize there before moving up to High Camp.
Guide Robert Jantzen reported in overnight with a short and sweet "team is having a blast, weather is good!" - here in the back office we love these kind of updates as it means everything is singing along as it should.
Photographs from CTSS Vinson Archive.
Vinson Team Ready To Go!
The first CTSS Vinson team of the season have all arrived in Punta Arenas and are getting ready to head down to Antarctica! With members coming from all over the world often the hardest part of any expedition is simply getting everyone, and all their bags, to the jumping off point. For this team travels were relatively smooth and all baggage arrived without any delays. That's a great way to start their adventure!
The town of Punta Arenas, Chile is the logistics hub for all activities running through Union Glacier Base in Antarctica, including all Vinson climbs. Located on the Strait of Magellan in the Tierra Del Fuego area the city's southern location and well developed airport serves Antarctic expeditions of many types.
Our Vinson team has spent the last 3 days recovering from jet lag, packing, and meeting with the flight teams for a detailed orientation on all the details it takes to travel responsibly in Antarctica. By now their bags are all packed and ready to go, last minute preparations completed and the excitement is starting to build.
The latest update from Union Glacier and the flight team has a storm moving through the Antarctic area, so the flight team has elected to postpone for 24 hours until conditions improve. This type of short delay is very common with such remote locations, and our itinerary has several contingency days built into it for just that reason. The team is spending today relaxing around town and enjoying the Austral summer, this evening they'll receive an update about conditions and adjust accordingly.
While CTSS has excellent communication with their guides via several redundant satellite options, normal communication for team members to and from Antarctica is hit and miss. For those following along with friends and loved ones you can expect regular updates via this blog, but if you send them a message directly and don't hear back - don't worry! As always, no news is good news. We'll have frequent updates from our guides and will pass them along here as the team flies to Union Glacier, then on to Vinson Basecamp, and moves up the mountain over the next few weeks.
Stay tuned!
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Cayambe Summits!
The CTSS Ecuador team had a successful morning today with 7 climbers, plus their guides, standing on top of Volcan Cayambe, Congratulations from all of us at CTSS!!!
After spending the past few days recouperating at Hacienda La Cienega the team took their bus to the Caymbe National Park entrance yesterday afternoon. From the park entrance 4x4 trucks carried the team the last few miles to the Cayambe Refuge, Refuge Oleas Ruales. A quick dinner was in order as the team tried to get as much sleep as possible before an early (11:00PM!) wakeup. This type of early 'Alpine Start' helps climbers avoid afternoon thunderstorms, climb in firm overnight conditions, and descend in softer mid-morning conditions.
Cayambe is located less than 25 miles from the Amazon basin and is well known for its wet and fickle weather patterns. Today, however, our team enjoyed near perfect weather throughout their climb! Good snow conditions, clear skies, and moderate winds allowed our team to ascend the route in about as good of form as could ever be hoped for.
After their descent the team took a short drive to the outskirts of the famous market town of Otavalo. After a climb like Cayambe it's great to relax for a while, and tonights accommodations at the beautiful Puerto Lago Country Inn are certainly ideal for relaxation.
Tomorrow the team will spend the morning exploring the famous Otavalo Indigenous Market before driving to the Papallacta Hot Springs in the afternoon to continue their recuperation. Climbing mountains is hard work, but recovering from them doesn't have to be!
Up next, a few of our team fly home at the end of the "Standard" Ecuador Volcanoes expedition while the rest of the team continues on to climb the highest volcano in Ecuador, Chimborazo.
Cheers,
CTSS Team
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
