Time to get climbing in Ecuador!
Over in Ecuador - it's time to get climbing!
Today started with a short drive from Quito to Cotopaxi National park where we begin our acclimatisation hike up Ruminahui. A fine start to the day, with some great views of Cotopaxi, (who is showing off more than usual) turned south mid afternoon when the rain and hail moved in.
Our team did a great job and got to just below the summit at 15,140ft, where hail stones made it more like skating than climbing and for the sake of safety we descended to the cars and headed for the flamboyantly named Chilcabamba Lodge for some well earned dinner by a nice warm wood stove.
Tomorrow its off to the lower slopes of Cotopaxi and up to 16,600ft for some snow training! Onwards and upwards!
Ecuador Team Expedition Kicks Off
And they’re off!!! Our first Ecuador team expedition of 2023 kicked off today in Quito.
Today the team got rolling with gear checks in the morning before heading over to the Teleferico for the first round of acclimatization hikes. Located on the flanks of Pichincha, a volcanoes overlooking Quito, the Teleferico takes passengers from about 10,000 feet to 13,200 feet and drops them off at the base of a gentle hiking trail. By taking the Teleferico our climbers get a chance to “climb high, sleep low” priming their body to adapt to a higher altitude.
After spending a little over an hour hiking above 13,000 feet the team descended and drove to the Equator for lunch and to visit the museum surrounding the location of the first official survey of the Equator in 1736 during the French Geodetic Expedition.
Tomorrow brings a departure from Quito for another acclimatization hike on Ruminahui, an extinct volcano within Cotopaxi National Park rising to 15,203 feet.
Good luck to our climbers!
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Ecuador Cayambe Summits!
Our private Cayambe climb summited yesterday in fantastic conditions, congratulations!!! The mountain provided excellent snow conditions and the weather was ideal with no clouds, good temps and low winds. Getting a full day with hardly any clouds is rare in Ecuador and our team made the most of it.
After summit the team drove down to a nearby resort town of Papallacta for some well deserved rest and relaxation. Today they returned to Quito to wrap up the expedition.
Congratulations on a well earned summit!
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Ecuador Team Moves out of Quito
The last 3 days have been busy for our private Cayambe team. CTSS lead guide Robert Jantzen reported that everyone arrived smoothly (with all their luggage) and gear checks went off without a hitch. Yesterday the team toured around Quito acclimatizing on the Teleferico up to over 13,000 ft and touring the equator.
Today they loaded up into the bus and drove into Cotopaxi National Park for an acclimatization hike to the top of Ruminahui. By now they’re all settled in at the Tambopaxi Lodge resting up for tomorrow.
Currently Cotopaxi is closed to summit climbs due to an increase in volcanic activity but its lower flanks remain accessible. Tomorrow the team will head up just past the Cotopaxi Refugio for a solid snow school course before returning to Tambopaxi lodge for one more night.
Then the attention turns to Cayambe!
Cheers,
CTSS Team
Vinson Team Back to Union Glacier
A quick one to let you know the team have flown back on the ski planes to Union Glacier from Vinson Base Camp and will have a few days to relax and recover, before their scheduled flight back to Chile on the 9th. It's a great place to be for a few days with good food, hot showers and a wonderful mix of people coming and going from all their polar adventures.
Every one happy and doing well.
Cheers
CTSS Team
100% on top of Kili
Fresh news from our Kili team who all stood on top of Africa at 8:15am this morning. They had a fantastic sunrise, perfect weather and a magic summit.
Congratulations;
Brothers; Jon & Dan Z
Colin M
Maryna K
Guy S
CTSS Guides Tendi Sherpa & Gerry and the entire Guide, porter and support crew
They are all back to Barafu Camp now to have a rest and some lunch before they drop further down to Mweka Camp for their final night on Kilimanjaro. Tomorrow they will finish their descent and head back to the creature comforts of the hotel! What an amazing adventure for the team.
Cheers
CTSS Team
High on Kili
Over in Africa, the team are doing a great, strong and steady job.
They are currently at Karanga Camp (3,963 m) today.
Today is a relatively short day but saw the team tackle the famed Barranco Wall. A bit of a scramble, you need to use all four limbs as you traverse the Wall to the top of the Karanga Valley. From here, the trail undulates through many inclines and declines to Karanga Camp. Our selection of Karanga Camp is strategic – significant time at altitude is essential for safe acclimatization. Sunsets here are particularly spectacular with views of the southern glacial valleys and ice fields towering over 3000 feet above you.
Tomorrow they will move to their final camp before the summit bid Barafu Camp.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Vinson Team Back to Base Camp
The team are already back to Base Camp from High Camp and are resting and will now await a clear weather window to fly in the ski planes back to Union Glacier and from there, a hot shower and onward to Punta Arenas.
As with all aviation in Antarctica, flights are entirely weather dependent and the pilots will only fly in perfect visibility. With a little cloud cover at Vinson Base Camp, the team will have turned their eyes to the skies.
Not a bad place to take in the majesty of Antarctica! and they have 24hour daylight to do it.
Cheers
CTSS Team
Aconcagua Summits!
A massive congratulations to our Aconcagua team who put in an enormous 16hour summit effort today. Fighting through some of the toughest conditions the mountain offers (on top of it being one of the most physically demanding climbs already!) the team pushed through heavy new snow, with cold and windy conditions.
On top,
Johannah M
Jocelyn B
Sharon M
Tom D
Eric C
Kirsty M
We are proud of them all and grateful to Guides Quique and Nani who said it was one of the toughest summit days they have ever had which is saying a lot!
Everyone is safe and sound back at High Camp and they will descend tomorrow.
100% on top of Vinson!
The entire Vinson team have stood on top in absolutely perfect weather!
Congratulations Peter V, Maria S, Devin G & Sidharth R! and Guide Mike Hamill.
They are back at Camp and tucked up in bed. Tomorrow they will drop quickly and efficiently down to Base Camp, pack up and hopefully bounce all the way over to Union Glacier for hot showers! and to await their flights back to Chile.
Congratulations Vinson Team!
Photos from a previous expedition.
