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)
18th May - Off to the Summit
Evening of the 17th May
Our second team have now departed from the South Col to the summit, in good weather and calm winds, looking to reach the top in the morning;
Pushing for the top of the world, we have;
- Ludivine L and Dawa Jungbu
- Sam C and Thu Nang
- Ott and Guide Dorjee
- Jen W and Guide Big Pasang
- Rajat and Guide Pega
- Lisa B & Guide Prakash
- Travis & Guide New Tendi
- Rohan F with Guide Sujan
At midnight tonight, heading for the Lhotse summit;
- Damian M (Lhotse) and Doma Chhiri Sherpa
- Kevin C and Guide Ashish
- Roberto T
We will keep you updated when they hit the top, but remember this is a long day, news is sparse as the Guides will keep the radio/sat phone batteries conserved in the cold air and no news is good news.
Goodluck team, we wish you well.
First Summit Team Safely Back to Camp
All of our 26x 17th May summit climbers, guides and sherpa have returned to the relative safely to the South Col where they will rest tonight on oxygen, before dropping down to Camp 2 in the morning.
Feeling strong, Olivier and Casey, Ben S, Bruce Mc and Schuyler E have already come down to Camp 2 and we expect to welcome them back to Base Camp tomorrow.
Roberto T & Kevin C will remain at the Col and scale the Lhotse Couloir tomorrow morning attempting to summit Lhotse before descending to Camp 2.
Our climbers hard work and peresistence has paid off for them and a life goal has been achieved. This is their day and we are proud to support them in their great accomplishment.
Cheers
CTSS Team